CHAPTER 996: CHAPTER 123: THE THRONE

Rumble.

The great array was shattered by Sword Qi, soul banner and soul flag uprooted, falling into the volcano along with the Evil Cultivator’s corpse, splattering fiery specks.

Xie Xuanyi waved his sleeve, tearing all array talismans to pieces, restoring the original scenery of Jinli Mountain.

The snow whirled.

Light steam rose from the mountain mouth.

"Brother... where are they?"

Jiang Huang struggled through the layers of wind and snow to reach the summit, finding it peculiarly clean, the array flag planted in the snow, the talisman hanging in the wind, along with the tall figure that had shouted fiercely earlier, all were gone.

"Those two from Yin Mountain, I sent them on their way."

Xie Xuanyi looked down below, nodding with his chin: "Now... they are all down there."

The molten lava at the volcano’s bottom was still churning, bubbling with red foam.

Jiang Huang uttered a sound in response.

She knew her brother hated the Evil Cultivators from Yin Mountain the most.

She also knew that the Evil Cultivators from Yin Mountain were all killed.

The little one came next to Xie Xuanyi, squeezed tightly, staring incredulously at the boiling lava below, and asked, "Did I... live here before?"

Is this really a place where people lived?

Though the Phoenix may love fire, the temperature of this molten lava is too high, causing waves of palpitations even when standing at the mountain mouth.

Hot wind surged forth.

Jiang Huang’s expression was somewhat perplexed.

She could hear the heated beating within her chest.

Yes.

This was indeed the place she lived before... These days a surge of impulse frequently rose from her Heart Lake, pointing north, pointing to her "ancestral home."

Eating, sleeping, cultivating.

No matter what method was used, it was impossible to dispel the urge bubbling from her Heart Lake.

This guiding thread in the Heart Lake, like a tide, surged increasingly.

Hence she pestered Xie Xuanyi, determined to head north once, to look at her own "ancestral home". Now standing on Jinli Mountain Peak, the impulse from her Heart Lake was finally satisfied, the void born from the longing to return home soothed, Jiang Huang’s breath initially turned rapid, then gradually calmed down.

"Did I... live here before..."

Jiang Huang spoke again, but her voice was no longer confused.

The molten lava gradually settled.

Xie Xuanyi summoned [Chen Ke], taking Jiang Huang down from the peak. The Flying Sword descended slowly, finally hovering about three meters above the lava, Xie Xuanyi condensed a domain with Sword Qi to shield against the heat waves, the internal temperature of this volcano is so high, even Yin God Venerables struggle to resist.

Xie Xuanyi’s Martial Arts Divine Embryo had achieved Great Success, only a step away from condensing a Sacred Body.

Even so.

He still did not wish to get too close to this molten lava.

"Two years have passed, and this environment has become... hotter."

Xie Xuanyi looked at the ocean-like expanse of red lava before him, sighed lightly.

He initially wanted to say, the environment here had become more hostile.

But upon reconsideration.

To Pure Blood Phoenix, the molten lava at the base of Jinli Mountain should become more comfortable the higher the temperature.

"Huh?"

The little girl standing on the Flying Sword let out a soft sound.

Jiang Huang’s gaze was drawn to something at the end of the lava sea, she tiptoed, squinting her eyes, effortfully peering over... it was a black shadow, as the Flying Sword neared, she saw clearly, the black shadow was a throne.

The throne sat upon the molten lava, composed of hundreds and thousands of strands of Phoenix Fire.

These Phoenix Fires flickeringly emitted pitch-black chilling killing intent.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi certainly saw this throne too.

He remained silent, a trace of surprise arising in his heart.

This throne, after two years, it’s still here...

Back then, upon waking from Yuzhu Town, encountering Jinli Mountain’s eruption, he only wished to quickly take Jiang Huang away, having no extra time to survey Jinli Mountain’s bottom environment.

Now, it is evident that this throne is a high-grade Spiritual Treasure.

Possibly... a treasure surpassing the grade of Spiritual Treasure!

No wonder so many Cultivators are drawn here to form arrays and cultivate.

If guessed correctly, the abundant Primordial Energy of Jinli Mountain, along with the increasingly scorching volcanic abnormality, all stem from this throne.

Whoosh.

Jiang Huang suddenly leapt off the Flying Sword, Xie Xuanyi controlled the impulse to reach out and stop her...

The lava sea splashed a large "wave."

Unlike when those two Evil Cultivators fell earlier.

Jiang Huang was not submerged, this sea of lava held her, the molten lava swayed, supporting her, the little girl not only remained unharmed but not even her hem was damaged. Her bare feet stepped upon the thousand-degree scalding lava, walking step by step towards the throne, countless Phoenix Fires flew like fish in the air, this entire volcano world seemed to "come alive" at this moment.

With each step Jiang Huang took.

A strand of black Phoenix Fire leaped from the throne.

The girl trod on the path paved with Phoenix Fire, the molten lava trembled as it flattened, the lava sea parted to the sides, opening up a straight path.

Step by step.

Jiang Huang arrived before the throne, she did not immediately sit upon it, but quietly stood in front of this throne, facing away from Xie Xuanyi, pondering something unknown.

Jinli Mountain fell silent.

After some time, Jiang Huang spoke.

"Brother, is this... where my true home began?"

The voice of confusion echoed at the mountain’s base, lingering as it collided within the mountain wall.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi did not respond to this question.

He merely stood on the Flying Sword, quietly watching the little girl in red, the molten lava churned as the sound gradually faded away.

Jiang Huang slowly turned around.

She slightly tilted her head, but her eyes shimmered with two radically different colors, Jiang Huang reflecting in the molten lava, her face swept by strands of black and red aura.

Xie Xuanyi knew that the second strand of Divine Soul was vying for the body.

"Uh..."

A muffled sound arose.

The slender figure before the throne, due to the contention of Divine Soul, supported her head with her hand, her expression extremely pained.

Jiang Huang’s youthful face showed a struggle... After extracting the Nine Death Forbidden, the two Divine Souls began to fuse, during the days of cultivation at Da Sui Sword Palace, the Main God Soul consistently suppressed the "Demon Race nature," she was well aware of who dictated Da Sui Sword Palace, once she unleashed her nature and provoked Zhao Chunyang, even achieving Great Success, she still wouldn’t escape death.

But now, things were different.

After enduring for days.

She finally awaited today’s arrival.

Numerous black Phoenix Fires integrated into the little girl’s red body.

The pain on Jiang Huang’s face gradually disappeared.

Ultimately.

She exhaled a long breath of foul air, her eyes completely transformed into a bright red.

"Huff..."

Jiang Huang lifted her head, her red clothes were already dampened by sweat.

This Divine Soul conflict proved more intricate than she imagined, she, as the original owner of this shell, almost failed to best a two-year-old fledgling.

Thankfully, the final outcome was favorable.

Peering through the ever-narrowing Jinli Mountain mouth, towards the Heavenly Peak compressed to a sky-white cloud the size of a palm.

Jiang Huang’s expression was somewhat weary, but predominantly satisfied and leisurely.

She extended both hands, naturally pressing against the throne’s armrests, leaned back, fitting into the towering throne that belonged to her.