Chapter 159: The Golden-Winged Phoenix: Detailed Beneath a Rough Exterior (2/4)

Luo Feng was deep in contemplation regarding his own magical treasures and hidden projectiles.

After all, the primeval world was fraught with danger, and given how weak he was, he did not possess a single Primordial Supreme Treasure.

The only innate spiritual treasure he had as his natal artifact was an axe formed by a grand Dao resonance when he attained the Primordial Ancestral Qi. For all these years, he had cherished it so carefully that he never once had the heart to let it enter battle.

This clearly showed how weak and helpless he truly was.

Therefore, he simply had to get his hands on a jade ruyi, and a qin, sword, needle, and poison should also be arranged.

Luo Feng silently praised himself for his own ingenuity.

Do not look at my usual practice of ruling by doing nothing; most of the time, I am immensely clever.

While Luo Feng’s thoughts wandered in a myriad of directions, Fairy Tai’er wore a peculiar expression, keeping his gaze locked on the jade ruyi dancing through the air.

Recovering his wits, Luo Feng asked curiously, "Ancestor, is something the matter?"

Gazing at the jade ruyi, Fairy Tai’er spoke leisurely, "As expected of old Daoist Huaqing, he once listened to the Dao preached at Yuxu Palace—truly cut from the same cloth!"

Yuxu Palace?!

Catching the underlying implication, Luo Feng suddenly recalled that among the statues of the Three Pure Ones, the position of Yuanshi Tianzun usually depicted him holding a jade ruyi.

He could not help asking, "The Second Master of the Dao Sect also does this?!"

He had originally thought it was merely used for ceremonial majesty, never expecting it was actually thrown to bludgeon people.

Was Pangu's Banner not easy to use, or was the Apricot Yellow Flag not appealing enough?!

Lowering his gaze, Fairy Tai’er transmitted his voice mentally, "That thing is just handy! When the Celestial Venerable lectured on the Dao, there were bound to be a few eyesores..."

Luo Feng was instantly rendered speechless. Was that personage in Yuxu Palace really so down-to-earth?!

He could practically imagine it: atop the towering, sacred Mount Kunlun, Grand Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi clad in seventy-two colors, with a halo of complete self-realization glowing behind him, casually taking aim at anyone who displeased him, pinching his fingers to make a calculation, and tossing a jade ruyi right at them.

It was just like a teacher throwing chalk during a lecture—easy, satisfying, and thoroughly exhilarating.

Yet, this kind of behavior clashed completely with the dignified style of a Great Heavenly Venerable of the Dao Sect.

Suddenly, Luo Feng noticed a problem: how on earth would Fairy Tai’er know about what happened during the Celestial Venerable's lectures?

Unless...

Luo Feng cast a meaningful look at Fairy Tai’er. He had thought this transmigrator and shut-in immortal was hiding deep enough, but well, well, well.

Of course, Luo Feng did not expose him.

Some matters might be guessed by oneself, or intentionally revealed by others.

It was enough to have a mental inkling; blurting it out would not be very kind.

While Fairy Tai’er and Luo Feng were chatting, the two peak-stage Heavenly Immortals above the grotto-heaven were locked in an intense battle, neither able to gain the upper hand.

With various immortals observing from the Huaqing Sect's encampment, things remained safe for the spectators, but the grotto-heaven itself was utterly fragile. In the blink of an eye, space shattered everywhere, and continent after continent was beaten into fragments of island chains.

This sight caused the current sect master of Huaqing Temple immense heartache. Yet, he had no time to deal with that, instead driving the grotto-heaven with all his might to support Patriarch Huaqing, blessing him with all sorts of enhancement buffs.

If Patriarch Huaqing were to fall, the Golden-Winged Phoenix naturally would not spare their generation of disciples and grand-disciples. While immortals who maintained friendly relations might take away a few disciples to leave behind a spark of their lineage, they would certainly never risk their lives fighting the Golden-Winged Phoenix. In that case, leaving the grotto-heaven behind would be completely useless.

If Patriarch Huaqing won, however, as long as he attained the Golden Immortal realm, let alone a grotto-heaven, he could open up a lesser chiliocosm or a middle chiliocosm right before your eyes.

From then on, the status of Huaqing Temple would transform entirely, instantly leaping to become a great primeval immortal sect.

The master immortal of Huaqing Temple was no fool; he could clearly calculate this ledger.

Although the Golden-Winged Phoenix was slightly inferior in strength to Patriarch Huaqing, it must have obtained some benefits to dare to provoke Patriarch Huaqing today.

However, having been startled by the jade ruyi earlier, it had lost the initiative.

Furthermore, the Huaqing Grotto-Heaven was opened up by Patriarch Huaqing himself, and below him were disciples and grand-disciples shouting encouragement and operating the grand array, which meant he possessed the home-field advantage.

For a time, the Golden-Winged Phoenix, which had arrived full of confidence and arrogance, was actually suppressed and beaten by Patriarch Huaqing.

Its previous overbearing aura seemed to have become a laughingstock among the immortals.

Luo Feng gazed at the Golden-Winged Phoenix in the sky, whose attacks were growing increasingly anxious, and shook his head.

Acting tough when you have the strength is awesome; acting tough when you have none makes you a fool.

He did not know what methods the Golden-Winged Phoenix possessed to be so confident upon arrival, but judging by the current situation, barring any accidents, the Golden-Winged Phoenix was about to become a fool.

Earth Immortal methods could move mountains and drain seas, shifting the universe, while Heavenly Immortals were even more extraordinary. Although the two immortals above kept their moves restrained and vicious, every strike shattered space, occasionally laced with strands of the power of time meant to delay their opponent.

Patriarch Huaqing hurled down another jade ruyi. Indestructible like a primordial boulder, it struck the Golden-Winged Phoenix’s right arm in an instant, causing several blood-stained divine feathers to fall away.

The Golden-Winged Phoenix retreated step by step. Pressing his advantage, Patriarch Huaqing closed in, launching the jade ruyi once more.

A trace of a sinister, chilling sneer crossed the corner of the Golden-Winged Phoenix's mouth. With a piercing shrieking sound, the golden feathers that had previously fallen off instantly transformed into a golden-winged bloody sword, stabbing into Patriarch Huaqing's back!

Patriarch Huaqing was instantly alarmed, mobilizing the power of space and time in an attempt to leap beyond the three realms and undergo dimensional ascension to dodge the blow.

Yet the golden-winged bloody sword was unfathomably profound and bizarrely strange; no matter where Patriarch Huaqing jumped, it followed him relentlessly.

A chilling burst of laughter echoed across the sky.

"Hua Sangeng, you old undead! This deity knew you achieved Dao through Qingyun; ordinary methods cannot kill you!"

"However, baleful Qi is the ultimate counter to your immortal body. This deity has searched for ten thousand years, capturing countless sect disciples, and utilized the Ninefold Baleful Qi, the Black Demonic Baleful Qi... Heh, through repeated experimentation,"

"I have finally found this Golden-Mystery Earthly Baleful Qi. Today shall be your day of death!"

Watching Patriarch Huaqing plummet continuously, the Golden-Winged Phoenix laughed aloud, acting supremely arrogant.

The immortals below shook their heads and sighed, feeling that the Golden-Winged Phoenix had plotted extensively in secret without anyone knowing, much like traveling in embroidered clothes at night, deliberately speaking out now to taunt his old rival, Patriarch Huaqing.

Only the master and elders of Huaqing Temple turned deathly pale, shouting in low voices, "Wicked scoundrel!"

"He means to sever our orthodox lineage!"

Huaqing Temple had been founded by Patriarch Huaqing, and its entire system of cultivation arts originated from him.

If Patriarch Huaqing were to fall and Huaqing Temple be destroyed, the incense lineage would still not be entirely extinguished; friendly immortals would surely step in to take away three or four disciples to pass down the tradition.

This was the passing of the torch. What if among those disciples or their descendants, a peak-stage Heavenly Immortal emerged to attain the Golden Immortal realm?

They could then exact revenge for their teachers and sect.

And what if the ancestral graves smoked with auspicious vapor and a Great Heavenly Venerable emerged, capable of pulling them back out of the river of time to live another life?

This was precisely why numerous rogue immortals, once reaching a certain realm, would choose to establish mountain gates and lineages.

Rogue immortals knew that even if they became immortals in this lifetime, they could not go very far.

Thus, they pinned their hopes on a few exceptionally talented children of fortune popping up among their later disciples to sustain them, allowing their founding master to bask in some reflected glory.

Yet, the Golden-Winged Phoenix's words right now were cutting off the very lifeline of their orthodox lineage!

Capturing countless sect disciples, utilizing the Ninefold Baleful Qi, the Black Demonic Baleful Qi... through repeated experimentation.

This exposed Huaqing Temple's foundations and weaknesses clearly and lucidly.

Dealing with low-level disciples of the Huaqing Temple lineage required the Ninefold Baleful Qi and Black Demonic Baleful Qi, while dealing with sect masters, elders, and immortals required the Golden-Mystery Earthly Baleful Qi.

Though the Golden-Winged Phoenix seemed carefree on the surface, it was actually meticulous behind the scenes.

These words, falling into the ears of those with discerning minds, spelled absolute disaster for the continuation of Huaqing Temple's orthodox tradition.