CHAPTER 181: FENG TIANCHENG'S PAST GLORY

"Don't be like this. I finally gained a new ally," Lu Chen said, his tone laced with sorrow as he stood before the green-robed Daoist. "Can't you unlock just a few more abilities for me? Just a little more, please."[1]

"Forget it. The power of the Fire Phoenix isn't something you can wield at your current level. Unless, through your own strength, you can anchor me within Wan'er's mind as a spirit-sealing pillar, you'll have to wait until you reach the Core Breakthrough Realm to truly command its power."

"And also..." The green-robed Daoist tossed both swords back to Lu Chen with an indifferent look, "The Sealing Formation from earlier has already bound Fire Phoenix. Those chains were forged with my Void energy. Even if you wield the Hunyuan Greatsword, you won't be able to break them."

"Don't do this. Fire Phoenix's seal has only just been lifted. At least let it rest for a few days."

Lu Chen murmured an incantation, restoring the Fire Phoenix Jade Token. Golden flames erupted as Fire Phoenix reappeared, its seven crown feathers radiating dazzling light that heightened its mystique.

Eggy and the twin fish watched as Fire Phoenix took to the air, then leapt from Lu Chen's shoulder onto its back.

"Three... Two..."

Lu Chen held Fire Phoenix in his arms while looking at the green-robed Daoist. "What are you counting?"

"I'm checking how long until the Sealing Formation activates..." The green-robed Daoist waved lazily and called out, "One."

As soon as he said that, Fire Phoenix's black-and-white wings twisted into chains of the same colors. In the blink of an eye, the phoenix vanished from Lu Chen's arms and reappeared bound to the core of the Innate Green Sovereign Divine Tree. It could still move, but only within a set range around the Divine Tree.

Eggy and the twin fish tumbled to the ground. Feeling Fire Phoenix's sudden absence, Eggy lifted the two fish above its head and gestured frantically at Lu Chen.

"Fire Phoenix has been pulled back into the small world. The little fellow wants you to open the portal," the green-robed Daoist said with a sigh as his gaze fell on Eggy. "Remember, this planet must be treated as your most precious treasure. We went through immense effort to preserve it. It's the most important treasure in the entire continent, and also our last hope."

"Eggy is our last hope? And he's been around for a long time?" Lu Chen frowned. "Hasn't he only just begun to develop intelligence?"

"Don't worry about that. Just remember, he's our hope," the Daoist looked at Eggy again, then pointed at Lu Chen's Heavenly Pool. "I've also left a blank planet in your Heavenly Pool. It won't be of use to you for now, but if the continent ever faces disaster, it can serve as a refuge."

He straightened, his voice firm. "I'll be leaving now. From here on, tread more carefully. Don't always expect me to clean up after you."

Surveying the ruined surroundings, the green-robed Daoist released a formation with a casual wave. He said before fading away, "There are still eight days until the mist surge. Prepare well. The items below will be greatly helpful for your future cultivation. Collect them all."

Following his departure, the scene restored itself to the moment Lu Chen had first entered the second floor of the Scripture Hall. It was as if everything that had just occurred was nothing more than an illusion, and they had never entered at all.

Lifting Eggy and the twin fish from the ground, Lu Chen sighed with envy. "This formation... It's incredible! It can reset time and space entirely. When will I be strong enough to do something like this?"

But almost immediately, he shook his head. "Ah, forget it. Let's go check on Fire Phoenix while we can."

With that, he turned and stepped into the small world.

***

Inside the small world.

Lu Chen stepped through the portal and emerged beneath the Innate Divine Tree. "Grandpa Feng, I'm back."

He tossed Eggy and the twin fish toward Fire Phoenix, which hurried to catch them. The phoenix tried to fly to him but was yanked back by the black-and-white chains.

It tumbled to the base of the Divine Tree, lifting its head to look at Lu Chen with pitiful eyes. "Chirp...

"

It struggled forward again, but the chains pulled it back once more. "Chirp... chirp..."

Seeing Fire Phoenix disheartened, Lu Chen sighed deeply. He gently placed it back in its nest. "Be good, Fire Phoenix... This is my fault for not being strong enough. I'll train hard, and in the shortest time possible, I'll set you free."

Eggy and the twin fish chirped softly, rubbing against Fire Phoenix to comfort it until it slowly calmed and began playing with them.

Turning to Feng Tiancheng and the gathered beast leaders, Lu Chen said politely, "Thank you for your concern. Thankfully, everything turned out fine. I even gained a valuable ocular art."

"Hehehe, that's good, that's good," Feng Tiancheng patted Lu Chen's shoulder, his expression kind as he smiled warmly. "It's only been a month, and you've already grown into a proper cultivator. That truly eases my heart."

"Hahaha, Grandpa Feng, you really underestimate me. They probably haven't told you about what I've gone through these past few days.

"I spent more than two hundred years in the Beast King Trial's illusion realm, and nearly a hundred years in the Tower of Time. Altogether, I've cultivated for over three hundred years. If I hadn't gained something by now, I'd truly be a useless fool."

This was the first time Lu Chen had a proper conversation with Feng Tiancheng since leaving the Demonic Beast Forest. A wave of warmth and familiarity surged through him, and for a moment, he once again felt like the child from Greenheaven Village who could not cultivate.

"I've seen it all, I've seen it all," Feng Tiancheng said with a hearty laugh, pointing at the Innate Divine Tree and the changes around it. "For the small world to change this much, you must have had some extraordinary encounters."

Lu Chen laughed and recounted his recent trials and the new companions he had met. "Hahaha

, it's all thanks to you, Grandpa Feng, for opening the path of cultivation for me. Without that, I never could have become a true cultivator."

At that moment, Wind Dragon emerged from Lu Chen's mind with the three avatars. The instant he saw him, he exclaimed, "Little Lu, something about you feels different. You seem lighter, as if a burden has been lifted."

"Really?"

"Of course! I've spent more time with you than anyone. Naturally, I'd sense it best," Wind Dragon said, circling him. "Something must have happened just now. I can feel you're carrying much less weight in your heart."

"It seems what Wind Dragon said is true..." Nine-Tailed Red Fox leaned in from the other side, sniffing at Lu Chen. "You have a sweeter scent now. Did something change in the outside world when the mirror suddenly shattered?"

"This is growth of the mind. Our king's mental state has advanced once more," Bai Ze said, gently pushing Red Fox aside with a smile. "Just now, an immensely powerful force blocked the mirror's transmission. That force far exceeds this continent's cultivation limits. I believe someone of great status has returned."

Flame Demon shuddered at Bai Ze's words and murmured, "It seems the Imperial Lord of Rituals has completed his affairs. Coincidentally, we've just finished ours as well."

Feng Tiancheng keenly detected Flame Demon's momentary lapse in thought. "Flame Demon, what were you thinking just now? Do you know who has returned?"

"N... No," Flame Demon stammered, trembling under Feng Tiancheng's sudden oppressive aura. "Lord Seventh, we've only just escaped the secret realm. We haven't even been to the outside world. How could we possibly know who has returned?"

"That's for the best..." Feng Tiancheng snorted coldly, retracting the thousands of enchanted artifacts that had locked onto Flame Demon. "I may have lost much of my cultivation, but don't think you can scheme in front of me."

Flame Demon trembled uncontrollably, his face pale and drenched in cold sweat. "Y-yes... Lord Seventh, I wouldn't dare. I absolutely wouldn't gamble with our king's life."

The suffocating pressure of those countless artifacts made him feel as though he had been thrown back thirty thousand years, to the age of prodigies, when Feng Tiancheng alone commanded tens of thousands of treasures to suppress the Northern Region.

"Even if it's a contingency arranged by the Sixth Ancestral Avatar, don't ever think you can use Lu Chen to carry it out. Otherwise, bear the consequences yourselves." Feng Tiancheng's cold snort echoed as he withdrew his energy, his posture reverting back to that of an elderly man.

"Yes, my lord. Please believe us. We would never harm our king," Flame Demon said, kneeling to the ground as he sensed the warning in Feng Tiancheng's words. The other beast leaders followed, equally shaken, kneeling in fear.

Flame Demon struggled to rise and pleaded, "Please, my lord, trust us. We may carry our own mission, but we will never involve the king."

"Yes, my lord. We would never gamble with our king's future. Please, you must believe us," another beast leader said, echoing him.

Watching the group kneel, Wind Dragon grew confused. He had never received such contingency orders. "What... What is going on? I never knew of any mission."

Flame Demon cast him a glance. "At that time, you were still cultivating and were away from the Beast King Manor. You wouldn't know what happened later. Lord Beast King left in haste, and we had no chance to explain it to you."

"I see..." Wind Dragon muttered. He then turned and knelt before Feng Tiancheng. "Lord Seventh, I've been with Little Lu the longest. I can vouch for them. They've never harmed him."

Feng Tiancheng glanced at Wind Dragon, but remained silent.

1. TL note: I understand Fire Phoenix has been with Lu Chen for some time, but until now, it couldn't be used in combat. In this sense, calling it a new ally means he finally has another skill he can rely on in battle. ☜