Against the Gods - Volume 02 - Blue Wind Conspiracy

by Mars Gravity

  This sudden change undoubtedly pleased Yun Che beyond his expectations. It couldn’t be said that he passed by luck, for he would’ve definitely made this choice no matter what the consequences were; because even if he had to betray the whole world, he would never allow himself to betray that girl.

  “Then, can I obtain the power of the Phoenix now?” Yun Che asked expectantly.

  “Of course. You will be granted three gifts from the Phoenix: Phoenix blood, Divine Phoenix Pills and you will have the chance to study the [World Ode of the Phoenix: Fragment].”

  “Right now, I shall bestow upon you the Phoenix’s Veins.”

  The phoenix spirit’s golden eyes flashed, and caused the dark world to turn golden for an instant. Abruptly, a spot of golden light came from the illusionary space. It shot precisely in between Yun Che’s eyebrows to then sink in afterwards.

  “The previously challengers only received a single drop of the Phoenix blood after they passed but you house a Heavenly Profound Treasure, hold the Evil God’s strength, and have perfectly passed the third trial. I have to make an exception and grant you three drops of the Phoenix’s blood. You are already equipped with the Divine Seed of the Evil God, and will not be harmed by any sort of fire. Therefore, the Phoenix’s ability to withstand fire will be of no use to you. But after it has fused into your veins, it will allow you to master fire attribute profound arts and yield twice the results in half the time. The fire attribute profound skills that you could employ would be more powerful than ever! Especially the Phoenix Fire Skill, which will allow you to wield power that’s three times stronger than what a normal person’s veins can.

  “There is also another reason; a drop of the Phoenix’s blood is the most a normal person’s veins can handle. But as you’re equipped with the Divine Seed of the Evil God, even accommodating three drops of blood is an easy feat. You’ll also be free of pain and danger through this process. Now close your eyes and let these three drops of the Phoenix’s blood seep into your veins. Amongst the previous seven challengers, the shortest time a person took for the entire process was three days: but I believe it would not take more than half a quarter of an hour in your case.”

  The voice of the phoenix spirit reverberated within his heart, but Yun Che was already too busy to reply.

  Three small drops of blood might not seem like anything compared to the large veins in a human’s body, but these were drops of blood that belonged to the phoenix after all!

  After the the three drops of the Phoenix’s blood entered his veins, it was as if there were three clusters of franticly burning flames.. and these three clusters of flames seemed to spread through all of his veins in a split second while violently stirring up all the blood in his body.

  Were he a mere mortal, just this burning pain that boiled his veins would have been enough to make him wish he was dead than endure such torture. Perhaps, under immense pressure and resistance, a drop might be able to successfully fuse into his veins, but three drops… As the Phoenix had said, this completely exceeded what a human was capable of enduring. Not only would it be impossible to fuse, they would even be engulfed by the Phoenix blood.

  But to Yun Che, the feeling that this sort of burn brought him only felt like three warm currents that sprung from his body. Only to a mere mortal’s vein would this Phoenix blood be excessively formidable and noble; it would be like burying three precious stones within normal dirt. Yun Che calmly closed his eyes and suppressed the explosive behavior of the three drops of Phoenix blood with his profound energy. While letting the blood go in all directions, he allowed it to fuse into his bloodstream bit by bit.

  His bloodstream gradually grew warmer as the three drops of Phoenix blood began to shrink in size. After a dozen or so times circulating through his body, the three drops of Phoenix blood finally disappeared into Yun Che’s veins.

  Yun Che opened his eyes and a fire-red flame mark flashed between his brows. The size and shape of the mark was the same as that of the Phoenix clan outside, but its color was much more vivid.

  “Good, it seems you’ve successfully fused with the three drops of Phoenix blood, I’ve already sensed the change within your veins. With these three drops of Phoenix blood, your lifespan will also increase by at least three hundred years. Now, I’ll give this Divine Phoenix Pill and the fragment of the [World Ode of the Phoenix] to you.”

  The golden eyes flashed again and two spots of light descended from the skies. What fell in front of Yun Che.. was a white colored jade bottle and a broken piece of white jade.

  “Inside the white colored jade bottle is precisely the Divine Phoenix Pill. It can increase your control of fire energy by a substantial amount. However, because you possess the Divine Seed of the Evil God; its main ability isn’t of much use to you. But at the same time, it can also greatly increase your profound strength. With regards to your current profound strength, it can let your profound strength advance by at least five ranks!”

  “Meanwhile, the fragment of the [World Ode of the Phoenix] is inscribed on this jade stone. Together, the [World Ode of the Phoenix], the [Vermillion Bird’s Consoling Spirit Song], and the [Golden Crow’s Record of the Burning World] were known as the Three Great World Scorching Heavenly Books. Each possessed tremendous power capable of burning the heavens. That year, the Phoenix left behind the first six stages of the [World Ode of the Phoenix]. Only…”

  At this point, the Phoenix’s spirit quieted, as if waiting for Yun Che to check for himself.

  Yun Che picked up the Divine Phoenix Pill and the broken piece of jade. After pressing a hand against the jade, information quickly transmitted into his brain with a touch of his profound energy. His heart also began to become incomparably excited in turmoil…. After all, these were flame techniques that came from the Phoenix! It was known as one of the World Scorching Heavenly Books that was left behind by a divine beast!

  …………

  [World Ode of the Phoenix] Fifth Stage…

  [World Ode of the Phoenix] Sixth Stage…

  …………

  “How come only the fifth and sixth stages are here? What about the first four?” Yun Che raised his head and asked with a face full of astonishment. He reviewed all the messages from the jade stone a few times, but could only find records of the fifth and sixth stages… There was absolutely nothing about the first four stages.

  Without the first four stages, how was he to train in the fifth and sixth stages?

  “This is indeed a great pity, but there’s nothing I can do about it either.” The phoenix spirit’s voice held a deep sigh: “Originally, this [World Ode of the Phoenix] had recorded everything from the first to the sixth stage, but before the first challenger arrived, an unexpected accident happened.”

  “That year, the Phoenix left two trial grounds in this continent. One was here and the other was at the enormous Divine Phoenix Empire a long distance away. The trial ground at the Divine Phoenix Empire was quickly discovered and the Divine Phoenix Sect was created. That trial ground also became a restricted area that belonged solely to the Divine Phoenix Sect. Afterwards, the Divine Phoenix Sect became the number one sect of that empire. The empire was renamed as the Divine Phoenix Empire and even the empire’s capital was established near the Divine Phoenix Sect. Thus, the area where the trial ground was located became the empire’s most prosperous region. Humanity’s avarice, deceit, barbarous acts, and war… Constantly existed and tainted the aura within that region. It thereby infected the Phoenix’s spirit in that trial ground and gave it a consciousness it should not have had… Which led it to betray the will of the Phoenix.”

  Yun Che: “…!”

  “As a part of the Phoenix spirit with a different body, I knew of its existence then; and similarly, it knew of mine. After it had developed the consciousness it shouldn’t have, it actually had the idea of destroying me and this trial ground, wanting to have the entire continent to itself. Thus, it transferred its energy to an common firebird and came here. It fie
rcely battled against me and completely destroyed my copy of the jade that recorded the [World Ode of the Phoenix].

  “During the intense fight, I destroyed a portion of its copy of the [World Ode of the Phoenix], leaving it with only the first four stages. Afterwards, I was no match for it and had no other option but to create a false illusion of dissipating into flames. Only until then did it leave… But it didn’t know that I had removed the fifth and sixth stages of the [World Ode of the Phoenix] instead of destroying them, which is the piece that you are holding right now. After that, I completely severed my soul connection to it. It never felt my existence again and has always believed that I had died but I have continued to carry out the will of the phoenix. While guarding this trial ground, I have welcomed and monitored all the challengers.”

  Yun Che’s mouth fell open slightly, as if he had just heard an inconceivable story.

  Chapter 113: 《World Ode of the Phoenix - Fragments》 (8)

  “So you’re saying, the first four stages of the [World Ode of the Phoenix] are located at the Divine Phoenix Empire’s trial grounds, and only the fifth and sixth stages are located here?”

  Yun Che had simply wanted to acquire power through this trial from the Phoenix and never thought he would chance upon this sort of confidential information. With a might that shook the entire Profound Sky Continent, it was well-known to everyone in this world, that the reason for the Divine Phoenix Sect’s domination and power was their possession of Phoenix blood and had the power of the Phoenix within their body. However, no one knew that there was actually such a secret behind them.

  “No! The first four stages of [World Ode of the Phoenix] are not located at the Divine Phoenix Empire’s trial grounds; they are actually in the hands of the Divine Phoenix Sect. The [World Ode of the Phoenix] became the Divine Phoenix Sect’s treasure after that rebellious Spirit of the Phoenix gave it to them, and assisted their domination of the Profound Sky Continent. The Divine Phoenix Empire’s trial grounds are preserved and used to grant pure Phoenix blood and Divine Phoenix pellet to the Divine Phoenix Sect’s disciples that have passed the trial, because passing the trials is the only way to receive the Phoenix blood and Divine Phoenix pill. The Phoenix set this rule originally, and even us Spirits of the Phoenix cannot change it. This rule also applies to the [World Ode of the Phoenix].”

  “Then why was the Divine Phoenix Empire’s Spirit of the Phoenix capable of handing over the [World Ode of the Phoenix] to the Divine Phoenix Sect? Also, with only the fifth and sixth stages here, it is impossible to cultivate the [World Ode of the Phoenix] without the first four stages. You are the Phoenix’s spirit, so you should know the power inscriptions for the first four stages, right?” Yun Che asked.

  “No, I do not know. Even though we are Spirits of the Phoenix, we do not possess the authority to read the [World Ode of the Phoenix] and more so, cannot give it away to others. The only authority we have, is to grant it to humans who who have passed the trial, and allow them to study the [World Ode of the Phoenix] for one month. However, in our vicious battle, my jade stone that recorded the [World Ode of the Phoenix] was destroyed and his was also fractured, which rendered the imprinted rules the Phoenix had previously set useless. Thus, he gained that chunk of broken jade stone, which was also the complete authority over the first four stages. The bottom half landed in my hands and I could also freely administer it. However, I will never go against the will of the Phoenix. As for the first four stages, I don’t have the slightest knowledge of them. So your wish to obtain the first four stages from here, is completely impossible.”

  “So that’s how it is.” Yun Che’s heart was crestfallen. The inscriptions of the [World Ode of the Phoenix] had fractured, but at any rate, with the first four stages [World Ode of the Phoenix] in the hands of the Divine Phoenix Sect, even if one started training from the first stage without the slightest delay, one would eventually be stuck at the fourth stage. The fifth and sixth stages of the [World Ode of the Phoenix] that he currently possessed were two stages more powerful than that of the Divine Phoenix Sect. But at the moment, it was just as useful as not having it at all… Without knowledge of the first four stages, how would one even begin learning the fifth and sixth stages?

  If a building didn’t have the first four stories, how could it have the fifth and sixth stories? Even if the building was suspended in the air, there would still be some support structure supporting the building.

  “You can consume this Divine Phoenix Pill immediately, and with your current profound strength, you should need three days worth of time to completely refine the pill. As for the [World Ode of the Phoenix], even though we only have a fragment, you can still try to comprehend it through the rules and regulations the Phoenix had left behind in the next month. Of course, if you feel like this a waste of time, you can leave right after refining the pill. But even though you cannot cultivate with this fragment of the [World Ode of the Phoenix], it is still one of the World Scorching Heavenly Books from the world-shaking Prehistoric Era. In this one month, you may read it and perhaps learn something from it. Everything is up to you.”

  “Lastly, I’ll leave you with a warning. Once you leave, you can not bring up a single word of these trials to anyone. If you go to the Divine Phoenix Empire in the future, unless you have enough power, you must cover up any signs of your Phoenix Veins and mark. If any of the Phoenix bloodline discover the Phoenix blood in your body, you are bound to encounter a great calamity since you are not a disciple of the Divine Phoenix Sect… Remember this!”

  The voice reverberated in Yun Che’s mind and the huge pair of golden pupils slowly faded away.

  Holding onto the jade which contained the fragments of the [World Ode of the Phoenix], it was impossible for Yun Che to not be confused and hesitant. What kind of existence was the Divine Phoenix Sect? Just a casual branch sect had the power to match the Blue Wind Empire’s Four Major Sects, so their Main Sect’s strength was simply unimaginable to ordinary citizens. They were so formidable because of Phoenix blood, as well as the [World Ode of the Phoenix] that they had acquired from the Spirit of the Phoenix.

  And the portion of the [World Ode of the Phoenix] in his hands exceeded that of the Divine Phoenix Sect’s by two stages. What kind of frightening concept was this?

  But these were only fragments, and it was impossible to train without the foundation of the first four levels! To have such a treasure but not be able to utilize it, one could only imagine how frustrating this would be. Yun Che wished the Spirit of the Phoenix hadn’t revealed the existence of the fragments at all; then he would be content and not in this current state of hesitation.

  Yun Che sat on the floor and took the Divine Phoenix Pill out of the jade bottle. The Divine Phoenix Pill’s entire color was as red as blood and scorching hot. One could clearly feel the immense power contained within the pill. Yun Che adjusted his breathing, placed the pill at the entrance of his mouth, and swallowed it in one gulp.

  Whoosh!!

  Suddenly, crimson flames rose out of Yun Che’s body, and shot up to a height no less than three meters as it wrapped around his entire body. At the same time, all the pores in his body expanded by a substantial amount; blood frantically rushed around his body at three times the usual speed, and the profound energy in his veins violently swept across his body like stormy water.

  The process of refining the pill should have been very difficult and painful, but due to the cheat in his body, Yun Che actually felt an indescribably comfortable sensation. He merely used not even twenty breaths of time to restore the balance between his blood, meridians, and profound veins. All the while, his expression was completely calm as he enjoyed the minute changes in his body and the slowly thickening profound energy.

  The flames surrounding his entire body did not subside at all as it continued to calmly burn throughout the process. The purpose of the flames was to physically remold the body of the pill taker, increasing their fire resistance, and their affinity with the fire
element. But in Yun Che’s case, the fire was unnecessary.

  The Phoenix spirit had said that not only would the Divine Phoenix Pill improve one’s control over fire, it would also greatly enhance one’s profound power. The Phoenix spirit definitely spoke the truth, as Yun Che could clearly feel an increase in his profound strength… This kind of growth was very slow, and was completely unlike the Evil God’s Fire Seed violent expansion. Rather, the promotion was especially solidly stable.

  An hour later, Yun Che opened his eyes. Over one percent of the Divine Phoenix Pill had been refined in his body. His profound strength had originally been situated at the bottleneck of the Nascent Profound Realm’s first level. In order to stabilize the explosive surge of profound energy from the Evil God’s Fire Seed, he had been suppressing his profound power’s breakthrough. However, under the effect of the Divine Phoenix Pill, in only an hour, he had completely broken through the bottleneck now, and safely entered the second level of the Nascent Profound Realm.

  While still seated, Yun Che picked up the jade with the [World Ode of the Phoenix] inscribed on it. He placed his palm on the top of the jade as feelings of worry and regret filled his heart. Right as he was about to take his hand off the jade and focus on refining the Divine Phoenix Pill, the silhouette of a person suddenly flashed in his mind, and he thought back to the time when that person gently said those words to him…

  “Master, the arts of healing that you taught me, are they all from this [Heavenly Medicine Manual]?”

  “Heh heh, that’s right. This is a particularly odd book. Once, I was gathering medicinal materials and got lost while deep in the mountains. I fell off a small cliff after being chased by a wild beast, and found this [Heavenly Medicine Manual] on a withered skeleton. Only, I discovered upon finding this book that the [Heavenly Medicine Manual] had a total of three sections, and I had only found the third section. I also discovered that this [Heavenly Medicine Manual] was not a just a common medical book; its medical knowledge was suppose to be one of a whole, and it was fundamentally impossible to comprehend the third section without the first two sections.”