Inside the Phoenix Palace, Liu Yunyan and Qing Jie were sitting together and sipping tea, while Feng Gui stood respectfully alone below.
"Ancestor, Uncle Demon Ancestor, we're here."
As soon as she stepped into the main hall, Luo Yue deftly slipped down from Shen Shuanghan's arms and scampered over to Liu Yunyan and Qing Jie.
Seeing Luo Yue approach, Liu Yunyan quickly set down her teacup, stood up to welcome the child, and scooped her up into her arms.
Below, Feng Gui frowned slightly upon seeing the person behind Shen Shuanghan.
"Well, little one, is this Phoenix Clan fun at all?"
Qing Jie looked at Luo Yue with a smile and asked.
"Not fun at all. I even ran into a bad guy named Feng Mian."
Hearing Luo Yue's words, Feng Gui's heart immediately tightened.
"Oh? Did someone bully our little one?"
Qing Jie's tone was unhurried, carrying no trace of blame; he merely glanced calmly at Feng Gui.
Yet that single glance was enough to break Feng Gui out in a cold sweat.
In Qing Jie's view, with a God Emperor like Shen Shuanghan protecting Luo Yue, not even those reclusive members of the Phoenix Clan would dare harm a hair on the child's head.
"Yue'er was strolling in the garden when she saw that bad guy named Feng Mian and his younger siblings bullying Luoli."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Qing Jie looked at Luo Yue with an inquiring tone, acting as if he truly didn't know, though how could a dignified Divine Lord Realm expert not know what had happened?
"If this seat remembers correctly, this Feng Mian happens to be the eldest legitimate son of your Phoenix Clan."
As the words fell, Feng Gui hastily dropped to his knees.
"What the Demon Ancestor says is true. I hope the Demon Ancestor will take pity on my son's tender age and... and deal with him lightly."
"Hmm, punishments won't be necessary. It was just some minor scuffling between children; this seat isn't petty enough to pursue the matter."
"Little one, is there anything else you want to tell Uncle?"
Seeing that Luo Yue had forgotten her previous point, Qing Jie had no choice but to prompt her himself.
"Um... it seems not... no, wait, I do! Yue'er met someone without a name and gave her the name Luoli, but she said the Empress wouldn't allow it. I want Uncle Demon Ancestor to help, can you, Uncle Demon Ancestor?"
"Why ever not? Our little Yue'er is so adorable, Uncle is certain that whatever Empress she is will agree. What do you say, Phoenix Lord?"
"Agreed, most definitely agreed! From now on, her name is Luoli."
Hearing Qing Jie speak, Feng Gui immediately kowtowed in assent.
"That's wonderful, A-li! From now on, you have a name of your own."
Seeing Luo Yue dancing around with joy, Luoli also broke into a knowing smile.
"Alright, alright. The Illusory Birth Pond has been prepared, and right now we happen to be lacking someone to lead the way. Since this little phoenix of yours hasn't officially entered the path of cultivation yet, why don't you be the one to guide the little one?"
"Lu... Luoli tha... thank you, Demon Ancestor."
Kneeling on the ground, Luoli stammered out her gratitude to the Demon Ancestor, while feeling deeply fortunate to have met Luo Yue.
"She seems like an obedient little thing. This seat happens to lack a young disciple to pass on my mantle. Feng Gui, what do you think?"
"To become the Demon Ancestor's disciple is the supreme fortune of our Phoenix Clan, and of Luoli as well."
"Very well, take these two little ones to the Illusory Birth Pond."
Seeing Qing Jie wave his hand, Feng Gui hurriedly retreated and led Luo Yue and Luoli toward the Illusory Birth Pond.
"I'm not entirely at ease about Yue'er. I'm going along as well."
Sensing that something was amiss, Shen Shuanghan quickly followed after Luo Yue's group.
"Since this seat has already promised to protect your Demon-Slaughtering God Domain, naturally I will not break my word. What is the meaning of this?"
"You worry too much. Little Yue'er is the future Yaoguang Divine Monarch destined to make her name known across the God Domain. Those who associate with her must be her equals in status and standing. Once there is a disparity in status, a rift will naturally form. Since my position as the Demon-Slaughtering God Monarch currently stands vacant, why not grant fulfillment to the two of them?"
Hearing Qing Jie's words, Liu Yunyan's expression froze instantly.
"You should know that my Yaoguang Holy Land does not involve itself in worldly affairs. If you are doing this simply to shackle my Yaoguang Holy Land to your chariot and drag little Yue'er into the mortal world of dust, this seat will personally ensure that this little girl named Luoli is obliterated from this world."
Qing Jie casually twirled the teacup in his hand before looking up at Liu Yunyan.
"Don't be so hasty. In the dark currents of fate, everything is preordained—much like how your Yaoguang Holy Land inexplicably came to possess two Supreme Spirit-Origin Physiques. This is simply destiny."
"You certainly seem to know a great deal."
"We of the Demon Clan are naturally far more sensitive to these things than the Human Clan. Furthermore, a child so profound that even this seat cannot see through her... when you eliminate all impossibilities, however surprising the remaining result may be, that is the truth."
"In truth, the simultaneous appearance of two Supreme Spirit-Origin Physiques is an incredible phenomenon in itself, and both landed under the tutelage of you, the Master of Yaoguang. If this isn't the will of heaven, what is?"
Liu Yunyan drained her cup of tea in one gulp, gazing off toward the horizon in deep thought.
She was acutely aware of what a terrifying consequence it would be if the world ever discovered that both master and disciple possessed the Supreme Spirit-Origin Physique. At worst, it could lead to the complete annihilation of the Yaoguang Holy Land.
"Rest assured, this seat will not tell a soul. Moreover, you can set your mind at ease: apart from me, not even the other Divine Lords in this world could perceive the slightest clue."
"After all, this seat has been bathed in the power of heaven and earth for hundreds of millions of years and is a divine beast by birth, which is how I could guess a thing or two. Those other little fellows who have only lived for tens of millions of years lack that capability."
"After all, Luo Yue is far too natural, returning to the simplicity of the uncarved jade, isn't she?"
Hearing this, Liu Yunyan finally let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
Indeed, even she herself had not perceived Luo Yue's uniqueness at first, only forming a vague suspicion after listening to Shen Shuanghan's description.
"That much is true. The child Luo Yue is far too ordinary, appearing just like a mortal. This seat didn't notice anything special about her back then either. Unlike the mediocrity of other Supreme Spirit-Origin Physiques, unless one is very close to her, it is truly easy to overlook."
Qing Jie refilled Liu Yunyan's teacup and gazed off into the distance on his own accord.
"After this trip to the Illusory Birth Pond, perhaps little Luo Yue will become the very first Supreme Spirit-Origin Physique in the world to awaken a special constitution."
"If that truly happens, it would indeed make for a perfect cover story."
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At the entrance of the Illusory Birth Pond
Shen Shuanghan held Luo Yue in her arms, with Luoli following quietly behind. Ahead of them, Feng Gui was channeling his arts to open the Illusory Birth Pond.
"Step through this gate, and beyond lies the Illusory Birth Pond. The pond comprises five cycles: the first is called Awakening Life, the second is Shedding the Mortal Shell, the third is Changing the Bones, the fourth is Tempering the Meridians, and the fifth is Nirvana."
Feng Gui turned to look at Shen Shuanghan, then shifted his gaze to Luoli. "The intricacies of these trials are inherently known to all of us in the Phoenix Clan. As for the specifics, Luoli can simply lead the Divine Monarch through them."
Shen Shuanghan set Luo Yue down on the ground, her eyes brimming with encouragement.
"There is one more thing that Emperor Shuanghua surely knows: the Illusory Birth Pond is not an absolute safe haven. A moment of carelessness can cost one their life. I hope Divine Monarch Luo Yue will proceed according to her capacity."
"You needn't worry about that. With her master here, if Yue'er is in any danger, I can simply tear this secret realm apart."
Shen Shuanghan cast a casual, indifferent glance at Feng Gui, causing the latter to hurriedly lower his head, not daring to retort.
"Yue'er, go ahead. Master will wait outside for you to come out."
"Mhm."
At Shen Shuanghan's word, Luo Yue took Luoli by the hand and stepped into the entrance of the secret realm.
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Inside the Illusory Birth Pond
"Is this the inside of the Illusory Birth Pond?"
A golden boulevard materialized before Luo Yue, at the end of which stood a towering golden gate that seemed to stretch on infinitely.
"This is the first of the five cycles of the phoenix, Awakening Life. This place is also known as the Path of Awakening Life, where one's innate potential and talents are excavated."