Chapter 877: Chapter 357: Phoenix Yi’s Schemes and Suspicions
South Sea.
Land where the Phoenixes dwell.
Now, the Embers Disaster is becoming ever more terrifying, with an immense amount of embers constantly attacking cities, and on this side of the South Sea, a super city akin to the East Sea Bone Demon Royal City has been established.
However, this city is not underwater, but in the massive Phoenix city on an enormous island created by moving mountains and filling seas.
Not living under the sea...
Is probably the Phoenix Sea Race’s final bit of stubbornness.
Ning Zheng fell into the city, gazing at the bustling market area, noticing that it has circles within circles, altogether a hundred rings, housing several trillion people.
It seems that various major tribes and races of the vast South Sea have gathered here, preparing to seek refuge, awaiting the destruction and rebirth of an epoch.
"They’ve learned from our East Sea Royal City quite well."
"They also have the Eye of Identification, hand out tasks, and along the way employers recruit temp workers with question marks [?] above their heads; it’s amusing."
Ning Zheng casually glanced around the streets, as the blacksmiths’ complete societal systems were fully reproduced here.
After briefly looking around, leisurely walking several streets, Ning Zheng directly entered the Phoenix Royal Palace.
"Welcome Xirong Manor Master from afar."
A little phoenix girl, carved from jade and dressed in bright red, waited respectfully at the gate.
Evidently, the entire refugee city is safeguarded with extremely sophisticated arrays; as soon as Ning Zheng entered, they already knew he was coming.
"I have business here to discuss."
Ning Zheng nodded and followed the phoenix girl into the palace gates, suddenly asking: "Which Phoenix Emperor, reborn through nirvana, are you?"
"No, I’m a newborn." The phoenix girl smiled and said.
Ning Zheng showed a hint of surprise.
Indeed, the Phoenix Race has profound foundations; it seems they have resolved their reproduction issues with some kind of fused Immortal Spirit Root.
The tribe now has more members!
It really is so; these top-tier giants are not to be underestimated.
The Phoenix Race that’s always in the open is Phoenix Yi, while the hidden Phoenix Palace surely holds many cards, a study of a whole new era.
This is also true for Cursed.
Behind his nursery, Ning Zheng has never been there, and doesn’t know what kind of research and trump cards are hidden.
However, he’s not interested in these things at all.
Only that vile person the Painter likes to pry into privacy; Ning Zheng is not that kind of person.
Walking into the palace, he saw over a dozen phoenix children playing, clearly indicating the race is expanding.
The Phoenix Race did not hide anything from Ning Zheng.
Walking along the path, he finally reached the palace and saw Phoenix Yi sitting in a courtyard eating pink fruit.
This is the true form.
Her Dharma Aspect is stationed at the Bone Demon Royal City year-round, or perhaps traveling elsewhere.
Ning Zheng sat with her, sipping a few cups, discussing the recent dynamics, the various information outside, and even flattered each other before getting down to business.
"You’ve broken through to Self-Transformation after all."
Phoenix Yi, upon opening her mouth, discerned a hint of Ning Zheng’s achievements, noting the aura change.
"Just fortunate."
Ning Zheng was unfazed, saying indifferently: "Having been in One Heart Realm for years, breaking through to Self-Transformation is merely a matter of course."
Phoenix Yi was not surprised either.
After all, this Manor Master outwardly claimed his cultivation has always been at the One Heart Realm.
Only after this breakthrough, a certain level of unrest is expected outside.
In fact, she understood the situation more clearly than anyone: it’s currently a mythic era with one superpower among many strong ones.
And that superpower...
Could be said to be the power of Xirong.
Yes, no mistake, a non-combatant blacksmith power, strangely enough, has ascended to the pinnacle of the world’s power.
This is why there was a frenzy of discussion across the Nine-State before.
The opponent is indeed a non-combatant power.
But if they wished, they could support someone with six seven-colored Immortal Artifacts, achieving victory, reaching the pinnacle, and defeating others.
Although these top bosses are very reluctant to admit it.
Xirong is currently the key that influences victory or defeat.
Getting Xirong means getting the world!
Furthermore, although they appear to be a non-combatant power, who knows if they have powerful Immortal Spirit Root cultivators behind the scenes?
Ultimately, if Xirong secretly made a super cultivator with Six Immortal Armor, wouldn’t they be fooling everyone?
So.
It’s not just Xin Xichen constantly wary of this Human Race Saint, but Cursed, Phoenix Yi, Nine-headed Dragon Emperor, etc., are the same way.
If they knew the location of Xirong Manor’s lair, they’d join forces in a heartbeat to capture them, rather than respecting them.
Phoenix Yi raised her tea, her beautiful phoenix eyes revealing a trace of a smile, suddenly speaking:
"For you to forge weapons for cultivators of the world, openly taking orders, accepting hundreds to thousands of disciples, is indeed a wise move!"
"Why?" Ning Zheng asked.
Phoenix Yi smiled:
"Do you think I can’t see through the situation? Only by taking orders for forging seven-colored Immortal Weapons evenly, can Xirong avoid being targeted."
She spoke confidently, eloquently:
"After all, human energy is limited!"
"You forge seven-colored Immortal Weapons for us, which means you have no time to forge for yourselves, and without hoarding Immortal Weapons, no one will think you’re vying for the honored position."
"If you don’t forge for us, and hoard Immortal Weapons instead, it’s clear you’re plotting something big, and we’d unite to kick you out first."
"Even that Ancestor Demon God power’s Night Emperor would join us in hunting you down, like stripping the land bare searching for your true form."
Ning Zheng understood.
Indeed, possessing such preciousness marks you, the opponent’s analysis is reasonable.
Ning Zheng suddenly said: "When Xirong is forging immortal weapons for you, why can’t we take the time to forge some private ones?"
Phoenix Yi laughed more brilliantly, "How can your speed be that fast? The forging speed of immortal weapons can’t be fast at all!"
"The think tank can estimate how many immortal weapons will be produced during this period, and it’s all accounted for."
"Either sold to us, or you kept them for yourself."
Ning Zheng thought and agreed.
Usually, it’s not fast.
Unless you outsource it to the Celestial Destiny World factory next door.
A hundred years in a day, making ten immortal weapons a day is more than enough, as long as the embers artifact spirit from the manor can keep up.
But openly taking orders is indeed a good thing, not only for making money but also showing you’re not hoarding weapons, which is definitely friendliest to Ning Zheng.
Phoenix Yi finally brought up the main issue, "Did you come here for something related to weapons?"
Ning Zheng got straight to the point: "I want the divine technique of the phoenix flame to forge immortal weapons."
Phoenix Yi frowned immediately, "You should know that this is the foundation of our livelihood, not easy to be leaked out."
Only Jiu Shui is generous enough to offer lifebound divine techniques.
As for Firewood, Cursed, and other people, they won’t easily hand them over.
"You can make a request." Ning Zheng said.
"How about you marry me?" Phoenix Yi suddenly suggested with a smile.
Ning Zheng frowned.
Even this one wants to form a marriage alliance, eyeing the Xirong faction.
Phoenix Yi smiled lightly, her posture perfect and demeanor full of charming softness, "You are indeed in the Self-Transformation Realm, of the same tier as me. We join forces, forge unparalleled immortal weapons, then the world naturally belongs to us."
"Forget the marriage alliance, I can forge more immortal weapons for you." Ning Zheng said plainly, "You can make some reasonable requests."
Seeing the refusal, Phoenix Yi wasn’t surprised, instead, she smiled warmly:
"Could it be that you prefer men? In this world, major factions are all led by men, except for my side, which is led by women. A marriage alliance is the best solution; I can’t figure out why you wouldn’t agree."
"It’s possible to marry several too."
Ning Zheng had a dark line across his face.
If he was truly the Xirong Manor Master with no backing from any faction, this would indeed be the best method.
After all, being a non-combat cultivator, right now it seems he is popular, everyone seeks to forge immortal weapons in the era of dominance.
But later, who wouldn’t settle scores with him?
Non-combat cultivators can only dominate temporarily.
Finding a good patron now is the right path.
Moreover, the Phoenix Race has the best reputation among the Four Great Divine Beasts, mild-tempered, truly a good place to go.
If agreed, indeed one would rule externally, one rule internally, who in the world could resist?
But unfortunately...
Ning Zheng has too many secrets, inconvenient to disclose to outsiders.
The Xirong faction isn’t as simple as it appears.
"Even this isn’t agreed upon, seems your Xirong isn’t as simple as it looks, ambitious, with grand schemes."
"What you want probably exceeds what I’m offering, even co-ruling the world below the Empress, don’t you want?"
Phoenix Yi saw Ning Zheng’s firm refusal attitude, and she laughed:
"You don’t really plan to secretly cultivate some direct lineage, to compete in this era, do you?"
"Or is that direct lineage you? Did you suddenly breakthrough into the Self-Transformation Realm using the One Heart and Seven Apertures method? The mightiest Seven Spirit Roots Immortal Path cultivator, secretly pairing a few immortal weapons..."
Ning Zheng sighed internally.
These people are too clever; talking with them is too troublesome.
The Phoenix Race probes, guards; other factions will surely be on guard too.
This world is very realistic.
People don’t look at whether you have intentions to rebel, only at whether you have the strength to do so.
"We indeed have no intention for this matter, but even saying so you wouldn’t believe... Let’s not discuss this." Ning Zheng said: "How many divine weapons must be forged to obtain the phoenix divine technique."
Were it not for the few people in the Phoenix Race, and if they didn’t venture out, always with Dharma Aspects...
Ning Zheng would have long since ambushed one.
He currently doesn’t wish to expose strong Self-Transformation Realm combat power.
First, his actions would signify entrance into the competitive scene.
He doesn’t want to expend heart power on these people.
If he enters, he would truly play hide and seek, and these people would surely crazily team up for a carpet search.
Second, after making a move, what about the painter?
His Dharma method isn’t yet practiced, a blank slate, no time to learn various stealthy, Seventy-Two Transformations divine techniques.
If Ning Zheng doesn’t conceal his divine techniques, the painter would immediately guess that the real identity of the ancient bronze emperor appearing next door is the Xirong Manor Master.
Phoenix Yi contemplated for a moment, then changed the topic, "Do you really want to create a phoenix fire, resurrection-type immortal artifact? Why would you create such a thing?"
Phoenix Yi grew increasingly uneasy with her thoughts.
Her divine technique is indeed powerful, but in outsiders’ eyes, it’s far inferior to others.
This thing, baptism of fire, currently offers no direct combat power aid to the battle situation.
And the other side is willing to pay such a high price?
She distinctly sensed the other side seemed to be planning deeper schemes.
Her sixth sense has always been sharp, especially now becoming a Destiny Immortal Beast, learning some Destiny techniques during combat from the Celestial Destiny Night Emperor.
Now she has a certain divination ability, but if there’s no problem in divination, that’s the biggest problem!
She feels Xirong...
Like an ordinary iceberg, revealing only a tenth or twelfth.
The foundation beneath the sea is their true strength, and it must harbor many terrifying secrets.
Phoenix Yi realized long ago: Xirong’s visit is very unusual, they seem ambitionless, always peaceful, yet seem to hide a greater ambition.
