Chapter 712: What Happened

Ji Yuan, however, was filled with even more awe, as both the male and female phoenix are sacred birds of the highest order and might not truly be able to manifest in the world of "Discourse on Birds."

The Nine-Tailed Fox Maiden was even more astonished. Even though she was known as the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, phoenixes are rarely seen in the world, making an encounter with them far more difficult than finding a true dragon, many of which can at least be traced.

A melodious, resonant cry began.

It had to be admitted that the phoenix's cry was one of the most beautiful sounds Ji Yuan had ever heard, strikingly similar to a flute. It was a call inherently melodious, like listening to a highly artistic musical performance. Ji Yuan couldn't help but squint his eyes slightly and listen intently.

Ji Yuan appeared completely at ease, while the Nine-Tailed Fox Maiden was far more nervous. Seeing Ji Yuan's reaction, she couldn't help but overthink things, yet she dared not make any sudden moves. Even though she knew Ji Yuan was inherently more terrifying, the phoenix exerted even greater pressure on her.

Based on past experience, Ji Yuan knew that the profound divine ability he manifested by combining "Dream Roaming" and "Creation of Heaven and Earth" allowed all beings within its world to evolve naturally; they were not mere puppets. The copper coins from before were the best example. So, as Ji Yuan observed the phoenix with curiosity, and the Nine-Tailed Fox Maiden with trepidation, the phoenix, in turn, observed them from the air.

All the birds in the sea circled the enormous phoenix tree, their colors constantly shifting. Their calls, initially chaotic, unified and gradually quieted after several phoenix cries. Though it was called "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," there were certainly more than a hundred species of birds.

Over the surrounding sea, fierce winds and towering waves surged where the birds soared, yet at the center, around the phoenix tree, the breeze remained gentle. Each flap of the phoenix's wings created no tumultuous winds.

The five-colored divine light merged with the phoenix, and its radiance seemed to trail it as it slowly descended. It appeared that this was the first time the phoenix had seen people standing on its phoenix tree. When its descent brought it within dozens of feet of the treetop, the phoenix finally spoke in human language.

"May I ask who you are, Immortal Elder, and from where have you come? What brings you to the phoenix tree where I reside?"

Although it spoke human words, the phoenix's voice remained incredibly melodious and distinctly neutral. This question was clearly directed at Ji Yuan. As the last word fell, the phoenix, accompanied by a gentle breeze, landed on a nearby branch of the phoenix tree.

The phoenix itself was only about two zhang tall, quite small among divine beasts and demon beasts. However, its tail feathers were several times longer than its body. As they trailed from the branch, they shimmered like a five-colored celestial glow, dazzling and magnificent.

Even within this book, and even though this phoenix was manifested by his own divine ability, Ji Yuan still showed it considerable respect, cupping his hands and bowing towards it.

"My humble name is Ji Yuan. I dare not accept the title of 'Immortal Elder'; those familiar with me at most call me 'Mister.' This time, a junior of mine faced hardship, so I traveled from a distant land to contend with a demon in the North Sea. By chance, I encountered this phoenix tree in the sea, and it is truly fortunate to witness the true form of such an auspicious bird!"

"Indeed, Mister Ji. I, Dan Ye the Phoenix, greet you."

The phoenix nodded gently towards Ji Yuan, inclining its beak downwards so its forehead faced him, returning the greeting. Then, its gaze shifted to the fox maiden beside them.

"And who might you be, fox?"

Although the Nine-Tailed Fox Maiden was seeing a phoenix for the first time, causing her emotions to fluctuate, she felt a surge of anger at the phoenix's distinctly differential manner of speaking. Yet, it was inconvenient for her to express it directly.

"A phoenix, indeed, a rare sight. I am Tu Xin, a Nine-Tailed Fox from the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven. I disturbed you because of a misunderstanding with Mister Ji."

In the phoenix's presence, the Nine-Tailed Fox Maiden had already retracted her nine tails and significantly reined in her demonic aura. Her presence appeared much lighter, and she spoke with graceful composure, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven?"

The phoenix murmured in confusion, its eyes clearly showing amusement. It looked at the Nine-Tailed Fox, then back at Ji Yuan.

"It seems neither of you is truly here in your true form, yet you both appear to have manifested physical bodies. You are not puppets, nor are you mere avatars. It is truly wondrous. Would you enlighten me?"

The Nine-Tailed Fox was slightly startled. She instinctively reached out and touched her arm; it felt soft and elastic, and she could sense its warmth and heartbeat. Previously, preoccupied with confronting or fighting Ji Yuan, she hadn't had the presence of mind to consider anything else. Now, hearing the phoenix's words, she suddenly realized she possessed a genuine physical body.

'How can this be? It shouldn't be possible!'

The Nine-Tailed Fox knew that she was merely a wisp of divine consciousness at this moment, which had previously manifested in Hu Yun's mind. Everything had been illusory, a spirit without a substantial form. Yet now, she was a genuine, tangible "person"?

Seeing the fox maiden's reaction, the phoenix knew she seemed unaware as well. The only one present whose expression remained as calm and smiling as ever was Ji Yuan. Meeting the phoenix's gaze, he chuckled softly.

"I request, Daoist Dan Ye, that you assist me in refining this Nine-Tailed Fox."

The Nine-Tailed Fox Maiden's expression changed. She hadn't expected Ji Yuan to utter such a direct statement. What truly made her scalp tingle, however, was the phoenix's melodious reply.

"Very well. After dealing with this fox, I hope you will then enlighten me, Mister."

"Wait! Why? Stop..."

The phoenix's cry rang out.

Before Tu Xin could finish speaking, the phoenix's cry rose, high and clear as striking metal. Though still melodious, it pierced the spirit, a direct and critical blow to the Nine-Tailed Fox Maiden's wisp of divine consciousness.

The fox maiden reacted swiftly. The instant her spirit was pierced, her nine tails appeared behind her, striking the phoenix tree's trunk, and her body shot away, exploding towards the side furthest from Ji Yuan and the phoenix.

"Bang... bang... bang..."

The white fox tails struck the phoenix tree branches, surprisingly only causing a few leaves to fall from the impacted areas. The branches themselves merely shuddered but did not break.

"Roar..."

A blurry radiance manifested from where Tu Xin had leaped away. Limitless demonic energy surged, once again obscuring the sky, as a colossal white fox with nine tails revealed its true form. It appeared directly on the sea next to the phoenix tree and galloped rapidly towards the distance.

Tu Xin knew that even dealing with Ji Yuan alone was difficult for her at this moment; she certainly couldn't withstand him plus an unfathomable phoenix.

But Tu Xin knew that escaping into the distance was unrealistic. Not only was the chance of Ji Yuan and the phoenix failing to catch her extremely slim, but even if they genuinely couldn't, this world was not the true reality, and she might not find a way to escape it.

Furthermore, this Ji fellow had previously mentioned they were inside a book. If that were true, the only way Tu Xin could think of to escape was perhaps to return to the island where the little fox was and destroy the book it held.

"It must be said, a Nine-Tailed Fox is indeed a Nine-Tailed Fox. With advanced cultivation, her intellect is also sharp; she immediately grasped the crucial point."

Ji Yuan murmured to himself. Normally, the crucial "book" would be on Ji Yuan's person. However, this time, "Discourse on Birds" was formed in Hu Yun's mind based on his memories, so naturally, only Hu Yun himself could hold it. Nevertheless, Ji Yuan was not worried about Tu Xin succeeding. Instead, he bowed once more to the phoenix.

"Daoist Dan Ye, please make your move."

"Hmm."

After a faint assent, the phoenix spread its wings, accompanied by five colors, and the divine light trailing from its tail feathers extended for several miles. With a single beat of its wings, it had already closed one-third of the distance to Tu Xin. Ji Yuan, stepping into the divine light behind the phoenix, also moved with remarkable speed, as if on a fast lane.

"All birds of great spiritual power and formidable demonic energy, slay this fox!"

What a sight! Before the phoenix even arrived, at its command, countless birds, both far and near, those with potent auras, stirred and charged towards Tu Xin, their cries ranging from sharp shrieks to deep calls.

"Roar... Die, all of you!"

"Boom..."

Fierce winds raged across the sea, creating monstrous waves, and lightning bolts struck intermittently. Hundreds and thousands of massive birds continuously converged on the Nine-Tailed Fox. Feathers scattered, and blood stained the sea.

"This fox's primordial spirit is weak! Everyone, attack her mind!"

It was unclear which bird among the flock shouted this command, but the next moment, all the birds shrieked in unison. Piercing shrieks, resonant hoots, and sharp chirps erupted from all the birds.

The sea surface continuously ruptured, and the dark clouds, thin clouds, and even the fierce winds in the sky were torn apart. Tangible and intangible waves ceaselessly swept through the battle.

"Ah..."

Tu Xin's sharp shriek of agony was particularly distinct at this moment. The next instant, sharp beaks and keen talons clawed at Tu Xin. Glimpses of blood and torn fabric were periodically blown out of the battle by the fierce winds.

Ji Yuan floated beside the phoenix, watching the spectacle from several miles away, far from the battle.

"I thought I'd see the Divine Phoenix make its move."

At Ji Yuan's remark, the phoenix turned its head to glance at him, still gently fanning its wings while hovering and gazing into the distance.

"Why bother exerting effort and dirtying one's hands?"

In less than fifteen minutes, under the relentless assault of countless birds, Tu Xin could no longer hold on. The powerful birds around her had, at some point, flown away, either circling high in the sky or gliding low over the sea, revealing a wide path for Ji Yuan and the phoenix to pass through.

Tu Xin gasped for breath, her sounds strained.

Tu Xin collapsed onto a sea reef, barely clothed and covered in blood. Her once neatly coiled silver-white hair was now disheveled and messy, with many strands broken. Her hands propped her up against the reef, and her every breath trembled.

Seeing the faint, trembling white light intermittently emanating from Tu Xin's body, Ji Yuan knew her primordial spirit was on the verge of collapsing; perhaps a single massive wave could disperse her.

"Ji... Ji Yuan..."

"Tu Xin, I don't want you interfering with Hu Yun's cultivation in the future. Since I've encountered you as his elder, it's natural for me to help him eliminate this potential trouble."

"You... must you be so resolute?"

Ji Yuan smiled.

"Did I not try to persuade you kindly?"

Upon hearing Ji Yuan's words, Tu Xin didn't freeze in regret; instead, she was so angered that she laughed.

"Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha... Your so-called kind persuasion was clearly a setup!"

If Ji Yuan had displayed such unfathomable cultivation before, would she, Tu Xin, have been so unreasonable, or would she not have temporarily retreated?

"I know you are not convinced, but after my probing, I also know your true nature; you are not someone to be trusted. There's no need for you to struggle anymore."

As he spoke, Ji Yuan had already reached Tu Xin. She looked up at him, displaying a pitiable expression and making no attempt to conceal her alluring features, but Ji Yuan simply waved his hand and pointed a sword-finger at her forehead.

"Poof..."

The sword energy, like a needle, pierced directly through Tu Xin, instantly obliterating her form and spirit, turning her into a blurry white light. With a lift of his sleeve, Ji Yuan collected all of this white halo into his sleeve.

In the distant Lanzhou of the Western Regions, separated by thousands of mountains and rivers and a grotto-heaven's barrier, deep within a palace in a spiritual part of the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven, a palace-dressed woman on a luxurious bed suddenly awoke from her rest.

"Ugh..."

The woman's face showed a hint of pain. She breathed faintly, gently rubbing her temples with both hands.

Tu Xin's main body had completely lost sensation after her divine consciousness entered the book. Thus, she didn't know what had happened inside the book, nor even Ji Yuan's full name. She only knew that her divine consciousness was destroyed and could never return.

"What exactly happened?"

Compared to the demise of her divine consciousness by the phoenix tree in the sea, Tu Xin's main body felt little resentment. Her primary feeling was apprehension towards the "Mister Ji" she had encountered in her mind.