In the Junwu Empire, within the Imperial Capital.
Feng Wu was only eight years old.
Splish—
A sharp purple sword in Zuo Qingyun's hand pierced straight into the center of Feng Wu's brow!
A drop of amber-colored True Phoenix Blood was hooked out by the tip of the sword, hovering in mid-air.
Zuo Qingyun grabbed with her left hand, catching the amber pearl of blood, and with a soft pop, crushed it directly!
Her hands were covered in fresh blood, yet a bizarre, cold sneer spread across Zuo Qingyun's face.
Looking down at the little girl curled up on the ground in agony, Zuo Qingyun sneered:
"Feng Wu! In this world, there can only be one person who possesses the True Phoenix Blood! Since I already exist, why did you have to appear too?"
"Who wants to be paired with you as the Twin Phoenixes of the Imperial Capital? What qualifications do you have to be mentioned in the same breath as me?!"
"So what if you were betrothed early? The position of Crown Princess is mine, and Jun Linyuan is mine as well!"
"To think the Palace Master of Biluoge Palace actually took a fancy to you? Heh, now you're nothing more trash! The Goddess of Biluoge Palace can only be me! So, you can go die!"
The purple cold sword in Zuo Qingyun's hand thrust directly toward the center of Feng Wu's brows!
Feng Wu gripped the purple sword tightly with both hands. The blade sliced into her palms, blood gushing out, yet she seemed to feel no pain at all.
Between her brows, spiritual energy continuously leaked away, and her genius-level cultivation was vanishing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Her genius-level cultivation was being utterly destroyed along with the disappearance of the True Phoenix Blood!
Feng Wu's pitch-black, profound eyes stared fixedly at Zuo Qingyun!
"Go to hell!" Zuo Qingyun exerted force in an instant, driving the purple cold sword straight into Feng Wu's heart. With a sickening squelch, the blade burst through her back, and bright red blood sprayed like a mist, splashing all over Zuo Qingyun's face.
A bizarre smile spread across Zuo Qingyun's blood-stained face: "From now on, my name is Zuo Qingluan! The Azure Luan and the Fire Phoenix—king of all birds. I, Zuo Qingluan, am the one and only true destined phoenix of the Junwu Empire!"
Feng Wu collapsed onto the ground, her once-clear pupils gradually blurring. She saw the head of the Zuo Clan shielding Zuo Qingyun as they walked further and further away. She felt her consciousness growing dimmer and dimmer, realizing her life was steadily fading away...
Zuo Qingyun, you took advantage of the moment my Beauty Master was condensing his true physical form to destroy my True Phoenix Blood. When my master emerges, will your entire family, your entire clan, or even the entire Junwu Continent be able to withstand his wrath?!
Her master was not human—or more accurately, he was a wisp of soul residing within her Dragon-Phoenix Spiritual Ring.
They say reincarnation determines your destiny, and having a good father beats everything else.
Feng Wu had always boasted proudly that although she had never laid eyes on her biological father, she had a Beauty Master who was the most formidable being in the entire continent!
She still remembered the first time she triggered the Dragon-Phoenix Spiritual Ring, when Beauty Master strolled out from the spatial realm within the ring.
Back then, at three years old, she had innocent and wide-eyed innocence as she looked up at the youth whose clothes were as white as snow, untainted by the mortal world: "Are you... very powerful?"
Beauty Master placed his hands behind his back and said casually, "Not bad, I suppose. I used to be the master of this continent."
Over the past few years, Beauty Master, existing in a soul state, had finally condensed the True Phoenix Blood and was preparing to forge a true physical form for himself, so that he would no longer be merely a soul living inside the Dragon-Phoenix Spiritual Ring.
Was this just a hallucination before death? Feng Wu's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as she seemed to see Beauty Master—a god-like figure, dressed in white surpassing the snow, standing tall and graceful.
Pure white Chinese alpine gentian blossoms drifted down in flurries, resembling purified, sacred snowflakes.
He stepped upon the gentle breeze, strolling out from the Dragon-Phoenix Spiritual Ring.
By the time Feng Wu collected her senses, she realized she was already resting within his warm arms.
He carried the purest scent in the entire world, lingering with the fresh vitality of plant spirits.
"Master..." At the sight of her family, a sourness rose in Feng Wu's nose as raw emotion broke through.
Master was able to hold her now! Master had successfully condensed his physical form! The wish of many years had finally been fulfilled!
Beauty Master's snow-white, wide-sleeved robes cascaded in layer upon layer to the ground. His profound, calm, and composed eyes gazed down at the wound between Feng Wu's brows, his emotions seemingly without a single ripple.
"Master, am I going to die?" The little girl's pupils were as clear as water.
Her master's brows remained as light as a passing cloud and a gentle breeze: "No."
With that, he tapped with a slender, jade-like finger, and shortly after, a droplet of golden blood flew out from between his brows.
Feng Wu's eyes contracted violently! This was the True Phoenix Blood! Her master's True Phoenix Blood! A True Phoenix Blood far more formidable than her own!
Her master's lips were cold and indifferent: "Don't move."
He placed that drop of True Phoenix Blood right into the center of Feng Wu's brow.
"No!" A terrible foreboding gripped Feng Wu's heart. "Master! I won't die, but what about you?! The True Phoenix Blood is your fundamental life essence! Without the True Phoenix Blood, this body of yours..."
Her master's eyes were unfathomably deep: "The True Phoenix Blood is temporarily sealed. Once the Nine-Turn Spirit-Returning Pill activates it, you will be able to cultivate once again..."
Before he could finish, her master's body gradually grew translucent.
"No!"
Covered in blood, Feng Wu strained every tendon in her body as she let out a piercing, desperate cry! She reached out with all her might to grab Beauty Master!
"Master!"
Yet Beauty Master, sacred as an immortal, slipped right through her fingertips and vanished into nothingness...
"Master!"
Drained of all strength, Feng Wu collapsed heavily onto her knees. Her red clothes were soaked with blood, her fair, jade-like face was mottled with stains, and her eyes wept tears of blood!
Her heart ached so fiercely she could not breathe!
The anguish made her entire body convulse!
Self-reproach made her wish she could simply kill herself!
When Zuo Qingyun destroyed her True Phoenix Blood, she hadn't hated her this much!
She would rather have died herself than let the pure and flawless Beauty Master suffer even the slightest harm!
Hatred—oh, how she hated!
Feng Wu clenched her fists in fury, her fingernails digging deep into her flesh, blood dripping from her fingertips!
Zuo Qingyun, this is an irreconcilable blood debt, and I, Feng Wu, swear I will never share the same world with you!