Chapter Sixteen: The Innate Way of the Five Elements

"Who... Who dares to wield such sorcery with such audacity within the palace?" Before the guards could react, the void erupted in utter silence, as if a new sun had suddenly emerged, dazzling and resplendent. In that instant, no one could open their eyes; even those who shielded themselves with spells were powerless. The world was submerged in a boundless tide of iridescent light.

"It’s Prince Kongxuan!" Those who had witnessed Kongxuan's magic before now remembered, whispering in awe and uncertainty. In their minds, Kongxuan was always gentle and smiling, his voice warm, his expression kindly... Yet at this moment, all they could feel was the terrifying power enveloped in that all-consuming brilliance.

"Who would have thought Prince Kongxuan possessed such miraculous powers?"

As everyone stood dazed and astonished, a mighty voice thundered from the sky, "Kongxuan, how dare you! Don't blame me, Jinpeng, for showing no mercy!"

It was Prince Jinpeng.

"Since when was there any mercy between us?" Kongxuan's voice was cold as ice...

By now, the overwhelming, color-stealing radiance had vanished. No one knew where Kongxuan was, but his chilling words echoed through the emptiness.

Was this truly Prince Kongxuan? The crowd could hardly believe it.

"It seems there is some deep-seated enmity between Prince Kongxuan and Prince Jinpeng," someone muttered. Among them were those who had returned wounded from the Golden-Winged Roc Hall, and they began to suspect the reason behind Kongxuan's actions today.

"Kongxuan, you court death..." Jinpeng's voice reverberated through the void, shaking it as if the very sky trembled. As his words faded, a flash of golden light appeared in the air, and Jinpeng manifested high above the Golden-Winged Roc Hall.

Jinpeng was furious. He had not expected Kongxuan to challenge him so openly—he himself had not yet sought him out, but Kongxuan had come instead. He had long forgotten how he had once, with a casual blow, sent the boy Nanluo from the Peacock Hall flying.

"Today, I will see what possible excuse you have for this. If you cannot give me a reasonable explanation, I will capture you and seal you for a hundred years—even the Lord of the Palace will have no cause to object..." Jinpeng was thinking to himself. But at that moment, a brilliant streak of light appeared in the void—distant as the horizon, yet fine as silk before their eyes. No one could fix their gaze upon it, yet all watched it intently.

Suddenly, that threadlike radiance expanded in a flash, as if the sun itself had emerged from the clouds.

"This is... the Innate Five Elements Dao!" Jinpeng exclaimed in shock. With a wave, he cast a golden radiance before him, transforming in an instant into a massive golden roc, his entire form shimmering with pale gold. His wings stirred to break free of the five-colored brilliance that now enveloped him...

The Golden-Winged Roc was the fastest flying creature in the world, born with the art of Wind Evasion; with a single flap, it could soar ten thousand miles. But Jinpeng was a step too slow. As he transformed, the five-colored light closed in, five shifting rays like ropes of different hues binding him tightly.

On the tips of the great bird's golden wings, two feathers shone with a deeper gold than any other, each emanating a stream of wind that rippled invisibly through the air. Yet all was suppressed beneath the iridescent glow. The roc’s wings beat, sending clouds scattering a thousand miles away. Within the Undying Palace, ethereal flames suddenly ignited, startling those inside who looked up. They knew this was a forbidden art of the palace, last awakened during the great Phoenix War. Now, it had activated on its own, triggered by the violent clash of spells between Kongxuan and Jinpeng.

How terrifying must their power be? The thought resounded in everyone’s heart.

At last, the golden roc’s mighty wings slowed, the radiance pulsed ever brighter, blinding all who looked. When they dared open their eyes again, the sky was now empty.

"Jinpeng, today I take from you two Wind-Spirit Gold Feathers. If my boy suffers any true harm, I shall return for your life..." Kongxuan’s voice faded, and Jinbao fell from the void, crashing down upon the Golden-Winged Roc Hall. For a long time, he lay unable to speak or move. The palace guards quickly rushed to his side. Though they could not intervene in the battle just past, now they moved swiftly, lest the Lord of the Palace’s wrath bring disaster upon them all.

No one had ever imagined the gentle Kongxuan could be so ruthless. All knew that Jinpeng’s Wind-Spirit Gold Feathers were innate treasures, embodying the primordial wind, and now they had been torn from him by force.

At that moment, a ball of flame suddenly appeared in the void, no larger than a lamp’s flame, yet exuding a world-destroying aura. It found fuel and blazed higher, until it stood as tall as a person, taking the shape of a phantom.

"That’s Princess Vermilion Bird!" The onlookers gasped. Jinpeng and Kongxuan had just fought a dazzling duel—would Princess Vermilion Bird also challenge Kongxuan?

Among the three, Vermilion Bird was acknowledged as the mightiest in magic, Jinpeng second, Kongxuan third. Yet Jinpeng had just been helpless before Kongxuan’s power. As for the "Innate Five Elements Dao" Jinpeng had shouted, none could say what kind of spell it truly was.

"Kongxuan, those Wind-Spirit Feathers are the foundation of Jinpeng’s power. How could you destroy your own brother’s magic for the sake of an outsider?" Vermilion Bird’s voice was clear and melodious, her form in the flames lifelike.

"Outsider or brother, I know well enough," Kongxuan replied from the void. Without waiting for Vermilion Bird to speak again, he vanished in a flash of light, descending into the Peacock Hall. Moments later, a five-colored glow and a fiery red radiance shot out from the hall, disappearing into the sky.

This day’s events would be whispered of in the Undying Palace for a long time. Kongxuan’s parting, giving no face to Vermilion Bird, once again revealed his icy pride to all.

Of all those present, none was more shaken or understood the whole affair more clearly than Chiba. He had only brought Nanluo to report on his behalf, hoping to avoid punishment, never imagining it would spark such disaster. Nanluo had been struck down by Jinpeng’s casual blow—Chiba felt a moment’s guilt, but it quickly passed; he had never thought much of Jinpeng’s quick temper, for Jinpeng was always volatile, capricious by nature.

Now a single thought echoed in his mind: "How could Kongxuan possess such power? How could he be so domineering..."