Chapter Thirty-Six: Innate Sword Artifact

Within the Immortal Palace atop Phoenix Mountain, there was a secluded place known as the Phoenix Pavilion—a sanctuary inaccessible to ordinary folk, imbued with tranquility and serenity as if it existed outside the bounds of the five elements. Naturally, such a place belonged to the mistress of the Immortal Palace herself, the Lady of Phoenix Palace.

Phoenixes are reborn through nirvana, undying and indestructible. This speaks not only to her profound mastery of the mystical arts and her unique powers, but also to the reason behind her unending vitality: the Phoenix Flame, also called the Inextinguishable Fire.

Among the Wu tribe, Zhu Rong was revered as the God of Fire, and the fiery red robes she wore exuded the very breath of flame. It was not that she was incapable of restraining her aura, but rather that her very nature was flamboyant, like an untamable blaze.

Yet the Phoenix, too, commanded one of the most terrifying fires in all existence. But she herself was calm and composed, akin to the pale flame burning silently and ceaselessly beneath the alchemist’s furnace in the Supreme Mystery Palace.

Every corner of the Phoenix Pavilion seemed touched by her presence: peaceful, restful. To see her at this moment, who could imagine that she once stood alone against the greatest sorcerers of eight directions—a legend among legends?

"This time, you must be especially vigilant at the gathering. Lately, I have felt an unease, as if someone is plotting against us from the shadows. Alas, I am not versed in the arts of divination..." Reclining upon a blazing vermilion phoenix couch, her brows furrowed lightly, the Lady of the Phoenix Palace sighed.

Standing before her was Kong Xuan, draped in a robe of five radiant colors.

"Rest assured. Whoever is plotting against us, in the end, it will all come down to strength. Does Phoenix Mountain have anything to fear?" Kong Xuan replied with a smile.

The Phoenix gave a soft sigh. "You have never tasted defeat, and so you’ve grown used to disregarding all others. Sooner or later, that will cost you dearly..."

Kong Xuan smiled but said nothing, though the ageless image of the Supreme Mystic Master from the Supreme Mystery Palace flashed unbidden through his mind.

"If there truly is someone scheming against us, tell me, when calamity strikes, what is the true power of Phoenix Mountain? Is it those who come to hear the teachings every decade?" There was a hint of irritation in her voice.

Kong Xuan was silent for a moment before answering, "No, it is not."

"Precisely. In the end, we must rely on ourselves. Only with true power can we claim to fear no one’s machinations. I know you want to say that your innate mastery of the Five Elements is now complete, that none can threaten you. Let me ask you just one thing—do you think yourself stronger than I?"

At this, Kong Xuan laughed hurriedly, "Of course, I am no match for you."

The Phoenix gazed at him, and after hearing his reply, sighed again. "You see? Ever since you fused the innateness of the Five Elements, your powers have grown, and so has your pride. Now even in front of me, you won't speak the truth. You’re surely thinking, ‘I may not necessarily lose to her,’ aren’t you?"

Kong Xuan lowered his head with a quiet chuckle, offering no reply.

"See? I knew that’s what you were thinking. I suppose I’ll have to fight you myself, or else I can’t keep you in check." Rising gracefully, the Lady of the Phoenix Palace moved with ethereal poise, untouched by the dust of the mortal world.

"How could that be? At your word, I would ascend the highest heavens or descend to the deepest underworld," Kong Xuan said, still smiling. He addressed her simply as "you," yet his respect was unmistakable in his tone.

"Ascending to the heavens or descending to the underworld would hardly trouble you..." the Phoenix said with a soft laugh.

"If not for you, I would never have come so far. Rest assured: no matter who lurks in the shadows, so long as I, Kong Xuan, am here, none shall enter this Phoenix Pavilion." As he spoke, a sharp brilliance flashed in his eyes.

"Enough of this. The boy you’ve taken as your disciple this time is not bad—very much like you." With a wave of her crimson sleeve, the air rippled. As the red sleeve floated down, a great mirror like liquid appeared in the air, though it reflected not the Phoenix or Kong Xuan.

She pointed to the vision within the mirror. "Look—just like you, stubborn to the core, always using force to solve problems. Drawing his sword within the palace, honestly… Go fetch him before he’s brought here; I’ll have no choice but to punish him otherwise."

Kong Xuan watched the mirror in silence. After a while, he said, "I’ll go soon."

"If you wait, he’ll be captured for sure—look, the guards are already on their way." The Phoenix pointed to the scene as she glanced back at Kong Xuan.

In her eyes, Nan Luo’s meager power was hardly a match even for one of her palace guards.

"He still wants to kill the Black Attendant. If I take him away, how can he do that?" Kong Xuan kept his eyes on Nan Luo in the mirror, a smile on his lips. Though the distance between them was vast, it was as if he could read the young man’s thoughts.

The Phoenix’s gaze shimmered, and in an instant, she understood why Kong Xuan said this. "You have such faith in him? Even if he has the heart to kill the Black Attendant for the sake of his friend’s future safety, does he have the strength? That innate sword he holds is powerful, but the gap in cultivation is too great. A single sword won’t bridge it. And even though you gave him one of my talismans, it’s only been a few days—can he truly wield it?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Nan Luo, as if to prove himself, suddenly produced a red, cloud-like talisman and slapped it onto his body. A burst of flame surged from him, making him appear as though engulfed in burning fireworks.

His sword flashed instantly from its sheath. The snowy-white blade shot upward, its brilliance undiminished even by the raging flames of the Phoenix Talisman. Through the mirror, the murderous intent in that sword light was palpable.

The sword danced like a swimming dragon, weaving among a dozen guards, elusive and relentless. In the blink of an eye, they retreated in panic, none of their weapons left intact.

At that moment, the captain of the guards, Zhenfeng, threw a silver cord that appeared as if from the void, suddenly descending over Nan Luo’s head. Like a wave of silver, it coiled downward, instantly enveloping him.

Within the mirror, the Black Attendant’s eyes were cold, but his lips curled with disdain. Suddenly, a flash of cold white light streaked across his throat, and a green figure materialized before his eyes.

His mocking smile froze upon his face, meeting a gaze as icy as his own.

Kong Xuan smiled as well, but when the Phoenix turned to glare at him, his smile vanished at once.

"My disciple killed your man. Are you pleased with yourself?"

Kong Xuan gave a slight smile, but said nothing—at this moment, words were useless, for the Phoenix had seen his satisfaction.

She merely shot him a glare, appeased in an instant. With another sweep of her red sleeve, she dispelled the mirror. "You may have a poor temperament, but your eye for talent is remarkable. To wield earth magic inherited from another and use it with such finesse is impressive, and his use of that Phoenix Talisman is commendable as well."

"I think his swordplay is even more extraordinary," Kong Xuan replied with a gentle smile.

The Phoenix glanced at him, as if seeing through all his thoughts, and offered a faint smile—like fireworks blossoming in a silent night.

"You want me to grant him the sword, don’t you? That is an innate sword, one of only seven in the world that I know of, including this one."