Chapter 942: The Sparrow and Phoenix Debate |
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Within Li Qingran's Battle Soul Space.
Chen Huaian sat cross-legged, surrounded by a dense aura of golden-red light.
His primordial spirit hovered quietly in the center of his Sea of Consciousness, a trace of solemnity between his brows. His hands formed a seal, continuously channeling Sword Immortal power forward—
There, two fist-sized "fire eggs" floated in mid-air.
One was slightly lighter in color, emitting a gentle yet scorching radiance, like the newly risen morning sun, giving off a sense of balance and harmony.
The other was a deeper color, crimson tinged with hints of dark gold. As its flames danced, they carried a violent, destructive intent, as if ready to incinerate everything to ashes at any moment.
These were precisely the primordial spirits of the Phoenix and the Vermilion Bird.
Chen Huaian was not entirely unaware of what was happening outside.
The moment Li Qingran drew her sword, he had even diverted a wisp of his Divine Sense to watch—only confirming that the girl had stabilized the situation with a single sword strike did he withdraw his attention, continuing to focus on the matter at hand.
This girl has improved quite a bit.
The corner of Chen Huaian's mouth lifted slightly.
But before this sense of gratification could spread, it was interrupted by two bickering voices.
"It's all your fault!"
The slightly lighter-colored primordial spirit trembled violently, flames churning, as an exasperated voice erupted from within:
"You mangy bird! If you hadn't sucked away half of the divinity, would Little An be working this hard to stabilize our primordial spirits for us now?
If I, a single bird, had absorbed all that Fire God divinity, I'd be seventy or eighty percent recovered by now!"
"You have the nerve to blame me?"
The Vermilion Bird's primordial spirit was not to be outdone. Its dark golden flames surged fiercely, even more blazing than the Phoenix's:
"What are you anyway? You think you're worthy to compete with me? I am the noble Vermilion Bird Sacred Beast! One of the Four Auspicious Beasts of Heaven and Earth! Sharing a mouthful of divinity with you is already me showing you respect!"
"Pah!"
The Phoenix was so angry its flames trembled chaotically:
"I am the Phoenix! King of All Birds! In terms of bloodline, in terms of status, where am I inferior to you?
Besides, that Fire God divinity was originally ownerless, why should you alone absorb it?"
"Because I woke up first!"
"I sensed it first!"
"I was first!"
The two fire eggs flew up and down within Chen Huaian's Sea of Consciousness, colliding with each other, sparks flying everywhere.
Chen Huaian: "..."
He felt his head was about to explode.
These two Sacred Beast seniors were perfectly fine when they first awakened, so weak and feeble they could barely speak, and he had felt quite distressed for a while.
But as soon as they finished absorbing the divinity and their primordial spirits had just stabilized, they immediately started arguing.
They had been arguing from the moment they boarded the ship until now, from who woke up first to whose bloodline was nobler, from the distribution of divinity to past grievances and grudges—
Chen Huaian was forced to listen to a bellyful of ancient secrets:
How the Phoenix once bowed its head before the Vermilion Bird, how the Vermilion Bird once had a mate stolen by the Phoenix lineage, how the Azure Dragon and the Phoenix were the original pair, and the Vermilion Bird knowingly became the third party...
Listening to it all made his head spin.
"Two Seniors."
He helplessly opened his eyes, looking at the two fire eggs still bumping into each other:
"Stop arguing."
"None of your business!" The two fire eggs spoke in unison.
Chen Huaian took a deep breath: "There are people outside waiting for me to come out. If you keep arguing like this, my primordial spirit is going to be shaken apart by you."
This statement actually had an effect.
The Phoenix and Vermilion Bird both quieted down for a moment.
But only for a moment.
"Hmph."
The Vermilion Bird snorted coldly, its dark golden flames slightly receding, but still carrying a hint of dissatisfaction:
"Little An, it's not that I want to argue. Ask this mangy bird. We both belong to the fire element, but our attributes clash—I am Yin Fire, governing destruction and slaughter; it is Yang Fire, governing vitality, balance, and harmony. The two flames are inherently incompatible. Now forced to squeeze together in your dantian, do you think it feels good?"
"You think I feel good?" The Phoenix retorted, "My Yang Fire detests Yin-cold energy the most. That Yin Fire aura on you makes me feel utterly uncomfortable!"
"Then you get out!"
"You get out first!"
"..."
Chen Huaian closed his eyes, silently reciting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra.
When he reached the third recitation, he suddenly froze.
The Battle Soul Space was connected to the outside world; he could sense the commotion on the deck.
At this moment, that elf-like woman was standing beside Li Qingran, smiling as she looked at his girl.
And Li Qingran...
Chen Huaian's mouth twitched.
That girl was leaning against the ship's railing, looking up at the sky, murmuring incantations under her breath:
"Husband, where have you gone... Your little wife is being used as a laborer, do you know that..."
Her voice was full of grievance, pitiful and pitiable, as if she had suffered the greatest injustice.
Chen Huaian's heart softened.
This girl...
He was just about to withdraw his Divine Sense when the Phoenix's voice suddenly rang out:
"Huh?"
The Phoenix Egg floated closer to Chen Huaian, its flames flickering slightly, as if sensing something:
"Little An, that girl outside... is she the little disciple you're always talking about?"
Chen Huaian was taken aback, then nodded.
"Profound Yin Body?" The Phoenix's tone carried a hint of surprise, "And... a Profound Yin Body that has already been... broken?"
Chen Huaian: "..."
He didn't speak, but his silence itself was the answer.
"Tsk! This Profound Yin Body has actually been tempered by Pure Yang power over three thousand times..."
The Phoenix Egg fell silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a meaningful laugh:
"Oh—I see. No wonder. You seem so upright, kid, but it turns out you're also... ahem."
"Shut up." Chen Huaian's face darkened.
The Vermilion Bird Egg, which had been quietly floating nearby, heard this. Its dark golden flames flickered slightly, as if also reaching out to sense.
A moment later, she surprisingly didn't pick a fight with the Phoenix, instead saying calmly:
"It is indeed a Profound Yin Body. And her foundation is extremely solid. There's also a trace of... hmm? That little disciple of yours, is she cultivating your technique?"
Chen Huaian nodded: "She's learning the Green Lotus Sword Manual from me."
"No wonder." The Vermilion Bird said thoughtfully, "Sword Intent entering the Dao, Sword Qi condensing the soul... This girl's talent is quite good."
The Phoenix Egg bounced nearby:
"Quite good? She's achieved this much at such a young age. Little An, this disciple you took in is worth it!"
Chen Huaian didn't respond.
He knew these two Sacred Beasts wouldn't bring up Li Qingran for no reason.
Sure enough, the Phoenix's next words followed:
"Little An, I have a proposal."
The Phoenix Egg floated forward a bit, its flames slightly receding, its tone unusually serious:
"Although the Vermilion Bird and I both belong to the fire element, as I just said, we are also divided into Yin and Yang—I am Yang Fire, balanced and harmonious, governing vitality and Nirvana; the Vermilion Bird is Yin Fire, violent and destructive, governing slaughter and incineration."
"These two flames, if separated, can each unleash their ultimate power.
But if squeezed together, they will clash and consume each other.
Just like now, neither of us feels good, and even stabilizing our primordial spirits requires you to expend mental effort to maintain."
Chen Huaian fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
He had sensed this long ago.
The primordial spirits of the Phoenix and Vermilion Bird inside him were like two mutually repelling magnets, constantly vying for dominance.
If he hadn't suppressed them with all his might, these two Sacred Beasts' primordial spirits would have started fighting long ago.
"So then?" he asked.
The Phoenix continued: "So—why not place the Vermilion Bird's primordial spirit inside that little disciple of yours?"
Chen Huaian: "Huh?"
He stared blankly at the Phoenix, then looked at the Vermilion Bird.
He had expected this hot-tempered Sacred Beast to immediately refute, even curse.
But contrary to expectations, the Vermilion Bird Egg floated there quietly, its dark golden flames flickering slightly, not making a sound.
No refutation.
No cursing.
Just quietly... silent.
Chen Huaian's mouth twitched.
Could it be that this Vermilion Bird senior actually has such thoughts?
The Phoenix's voice continued, persuasive and enticing:
"Think about it. That little disciple of yours is a Profound Yin Body, and she's cultivated your Green Lotus Sword Manual, entered the Dao through Sword Intent, her foundation is solid.
Yin Fire and the Profound Yin Body are a natural match from the start—Yin Fire needs the nourishment of Yin-cold energy, and the Profound Yin Body also needs the warming nourishment of fire to achieve balance. The two combined complement each other."
"And—" The Phoenix paused, its tone carrying a hint of teasing, "That little disciple of yours has already had intimate relations with you, so her body is more or less tainted with a trace of your aura.
The Vermilion Bird's primordial spirit entering her body won't be rejected. Not only can it quickly recover by utilizing her Profound Yin Body, but through your connection with her, it can also maintain a link with you.
When the time comes, you'll be on this side, the Vermilion Bird on that side. If anything happens, you'll know immediately."
"Isn't that better than squeezing together while we can't stand the sight of each other?"
After speaking, the Phoenix fell quiet, waiting for Chen Huaian's response.
Chen Huaian remained silent.
He looked at the Vermilion Bird Egg.
That dark golden fire egg still floated quietly.
Silence meant tacit consent.
Chen Huaian took a deep breath.
For Li Qingran, this matter was undoubtedly only beneficial, with no drawbacks.
And anything beneficial to Li Qingran, he would not hesitate about in the slightest.
"Vermilion Bird Senior." He spoke, his voice low: "You... are you willing?"
The Vermilion Bird Egg's flames flickered slightly.
After a long while, a clear, cold voice came from within:
"That girl is not bad."
Just these five words.
But Chen Huaian understood.
He nodded, looking at the Phoenix:
"After this matter is settled, I'll discuss it with Qingran. If she agrees..."
"She'll definitely agree." The Phoenix interrupted him, laughing meaningfully, "That girl practically wants to stick to you every day.
Giving the Vermilion Bird to her is equivalent to leaving a wisp of your aura within her body—she'll be overjoyed."
Chen Huaian: "..."
Come to think of it, isn't he also inside Li Qingran right now?
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