As the final monster vanished, the scene before Qin Zhizhi shifted. She found herself in a valley filled with the chirping of birds and the scent of flowers, where a crystal-clear stream meandered and colorful blossoms bloomed in competition, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance. A woman in white with a gentle expression emerged from the flowers, smiling and reaching out a hand to Qin Zhizhi. "Child, you have suffered."
"Who are you..." Qin Zhizhi looked at the woman, her heart full of doubt.
"I am your guardian spirit, and also the source of your power," the woman said softly. "Child, the power within you comes from the Ancient Divine Beast, the Phoenix. You are a descendant of the Phoenix, destined to shoulder the mission of protecting all living beings."
"The Phoenix?" Qin Zhizhi murmured to herself, recalling the fairy tales she had heard in her childhood. Legend had it that the Phoenix was the king of all birds, possessed the ability to be reborn through fire, and was a symbol of auspiciousness and hope.
"Child, your power has awakened. Now, you can control it." As the woman spoke, she sent a ball of golden flame into Qin Zhizhi's body. Qin Zhizhi felt a warm current surge through her entire body; she felt filled with power, as if she could control everything.
"Child, go! Go fulfill your mission!" The woman's voice grew more and more distant until it finally vanished altogether.
Qin Zhizhi opened her eyes, and golden light gushed forth from within her, illuminating the entire night sky. She slowly stood up, the golden flames burning fiercely around her, making her look like Jiutian Xuannü—sacred and inviolable.
However, right at that moment, an icy voice suddenly rang out. "Sister, you're finally awake! I thought you were going to play the coward forever!"
Qin Zhizhi turned her head to look and saw Qin Jiaojiao dressed in a long black gown, a malicious smile on her face as she slowly walked toward her.
"What do you want?" Qin Zhizhi looked at Qin Jiaojiao with vigilance; she could sense a dangerous aura radiating from Qin Jiaojiao.
"What do I want? To stop you, of course!" Qin Jiaojiao sneered. "What do you think you are? You're just relying on a little bit of talent! Let me tell you, everything about you should be mine! Including your power, your man, and everything else you have!"
"In your dreams!" Qin Zhizhi shouted angrily. The golden flames in her hands condensed into a long sword, pointing straight at Qin Jiaojiao.
"Hmph, you think you can fight me with just that?" Qin Jiaojiao sneered disdainfully. A black dagger suddenly appeared in her hand, and she lunged fiercely toward Qin Zhizhi! The black dagger tore through the air, aiming straight for Qin Zhizhi's heart. At the critical moment of imminent peril, Qin Zhizhi's body was suddenly pulled away by an invisible force, narrowly dodging the fatal blow.
The black dagger, shrouded in fierce killing intent, pressed straight toward Qin Zhizhi's chest. At the critical moment, a powerful force suddenly pulled her backward, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike. Still shaken, Qin Zhizhi looked up to see Yin Sichen descending like a heavenly deity to block in front of her, the cold light of the long sword in his hand gleaming as he forced Qin Jiaojiao back several paces.
"Sichen!" Warmth filled Qin Zhizhi's heart, but worry immediately followed; to save her, Yin Sichen's left arm had been slashed with a deep bloody gash, fresh blood staining his sleeve.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Yin Sichen gave her a tender look, his gaze then turning to Qin Jiaojiao, the chill in his eyes piercing. "You actually dared to hurt her!"
Instead of getting angry, Qin Jiaojiao laughed in reverse. Pointing at the golden flames burning around Qin Zhizhi, she said in a venomous tone, "Sister, do you think you've really won? Look behind you! With just the likes of you, how can you hope to make an enemy of the entire Immortal and Demon Realms?"
Hearing this, Qin Zhizhi was startled, realizing only then that at some unknown point, they had been surrounded by a dense, crushing alliance of forces from the Immortal and Demon Realms.
These immortal sect disciples, who had once been so respectful toward her, now had eyes filled with greed and murderous intent, clearly viewing the Phoenix Power as spoils already within their grasp.
"Zhizhi, don't be afraid. Even if I must risk my life, I will protect you!" Yin Sichen shielded Qin Zhizhi behind him, his tone resolute.
"Sichen, why must you throw your life away for her? She's just a fool whose brain has been addled by power!" Qin Jiaojiao shrieked shrilly, her eyes full of jealousy and hatred.
"Shut up!" Fury burned in Qin Zhizhi's chest. The golden flames in her hands instantly surged, transforming into a giant phantom of a Phoenix that let out a deafening cry, blasting the surrounding coalition forces of the Immortal and Demon Realms flying backward.
"Is... is this the Phoenix Power?"
"Too terrifying! We are no match for her at all!" Shaken by this immense power, the coalition forces were stunned, not daring to step forward for a moment.
A flash of resolute determination crossed Qin Zhizhi's eyes. She could not sit and wait for death, nor could she let Yin Sichen sacrifice himself in vain for her! "Sichen, do you trust me?"
Qin Zhizhi turned to look at Yin Sichen, determination shining in her eyes.
"I believe in you," Yin Sichen answered without the slightest hesitation. He had never doubted Qin Zhizhi's choices.
With Yin Sichen's support, Qin Zhizhi's heart steadied. She took a deep breath and released all the churning Phoenix Power within her body.
The golden flames soared into the sky, transforming into countless pillars of fire that crashed down upon the alliance forces like a meteor shower.
"Ah—"
"Run—"
Screams rose one after another. Caught completely off guard by this sudden attack, the alliance forces suffered heavy casualties. Qin Zhizhi's figure flickered in and out within the blazing firelight, like a Phoenix reborn through fire, radiating a power that made hearts pound.
Looking at the purgatory-like scene before her, Qin Jiaojiao felt a trace of fear flash in her eyes. She knew she had completely lost—lost to this "trash" of a sister whom she had always looked down upon.
"Damn it! I won't let you off!" Gritting her teeth, Qin Jiaojiao spat out a harsh threat, spun around, and vanished into a streak of black shadow.
Qin Zhizhi paid no mind to the fleeing Qin Jiaojiao. Right now, she only wanted to end this battle as quickly as possible and protect the people by her side. However, the prolonged combat had already consumed far too much of her energy. Just as she was about to collapse, Yin Sichen suddenly appeared beside her, pulling her tightly into his embrace.
"Zhizhi, you did well. Leave the rest to me." Yin Sichen's voice sounded softly beside her ear, laden with deep love and reassurance.
Powerless, Qin Zhizhi leaned against Yin Sichen's chest, feeling his warm embrace as her heart flooded with emotion and happiness. Gently stroking Qin Zhizhi's hair, Yin Sichen wore a tender expression mixed with a trace of heartache.
Enduring the pain of the wound on his arm, he continuously channeled his Spiritual Power into Qin Zhizhi to help her calm the turbulent Phoenix Power within her body.
The flames on the battlefield gradually died down. Amidst billowing thick smoke hung a suffocating oppression. The coalition forces of the Immortal and Demon Realms had scattered in defeat, leaving behind only utter chaos and wounded soldiers strewn haphazardly across the ground.
The leading elders of the Immortal Realm looked at one another in dismay, their eyes filled with shock and horror.
They had originally thought that, relying on their numerical advantage and Qin Jiaojiao's incitement, subduing Qin Zhizhi would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. Never had they imagined that Qin Zhizhi would be able to erupt with such terrifying power—enough to make even old monsters like themselves tremble with fear.
"This power... is definitely not something an ordinary cultivator can possess!" an elder with white hair said in a deep voice, a hint of wariness in his tone. "It seems we all underestimated this girl of the Qin Family!"
"Could it be... that the rumors are true? Is she..."