Origin Lake, lake heart island.
Atop the White Jade Capital pavilion, Lu sat calmly.
The Spiritual Pressure Chessboard glowed faintly, black and white pieces scattered like stars.
Elbow on the wheelchair armrest, chin in palm—one hand idly holding a piece, bored.
Eyes on the system panel.
Host: Lu
Title: Qi Refiner (Permanent)
Qi Refinement Layers: 8
Spiritual Qi Reserves: 9.9/10 (billion) strands
Primordial Spirit Power: 9527 (units)
Chaos Force: 54609 (Ha)
World Rating: Five Phoenix Small World [High-Martial (Immortal Martial Foundation)]
Vaguely, Lu felt breakthrough nearing.
This time—no bottleneck likely. Intuition.
After returning to mortal, his mind transformed—insights sustaining long. Short-term, no obstacles.
He needed time.
Though tempted to accelerate the time array around Five Phoenix... conditions forbade.
Current ratio: 100:1 external.
Limit for Five Phoenix beings.
Faster—mortals' bodies rupture; cultivators' realms and foundations collapse.
Disrupt balance.
Lu desired top high-martial, even immortal martial.
But... not overnight.
"Great Luo Immortal Scripture's emergence elevated all cultivators' strength."
"Next—accumulation over time, fortune buildup, steady development: best path."
"But solely that—insufficient."
Lu frowned, placing a piece.
"Ease erodes will, devours essence..."
"Thus, matching tribulations needed."
"Dao and Cloud Clans destroyed—tribulations lessened. But cannot stop; ease breeds laziness."
He smiled.
Eyes gleaming—idea forming.
...
Ancient tomb.
Gu Mangran sank into deep doubt.
Withdrew primordial spirit—no more contact with Lu Jiulian. Expression lost.
"Dao and Cloud Clans... truly destroyed?"
Million-year legacies, third-level high-martial forces—wiped by Five Phoenix?
Unknowingly, Five Phoenix grown so?
"Development swift... time flow one factor; frequent opportunities another."
"Netherworld, Heavenly Gate plus Five Phoenix—qualitative change."
"Truly ancient emperor scheming?"
Gu Mangran sat in coffin.
Tomb eerie, silent—once four kings gone.
But heart burned.
Suddenly—saw thriving vigor in Five Phoenix!
Given time—first-level high-martial, restoring void heaven's glory!
"If emperor returns—seeing today's void heaven, surely pleased."
Eyes joyful.
"No... must confirm Dao and Cloud truly fallen."
"Young Master Lu too youthful—potential oversights hinder growth."
Boom!
Vast Ocean exploded.
Gu Mangran emerged—streaking across sea.
Soon beyond Five Phoenix.
Stolen novel; please report.
Hovered outside—gazing time-array-shrouded continent. Sighed deeply.
"Five Phoenix's rise—inseparable from Young Master Lu... this array—none but him sustains such efficiency."
Gu Mangran strong—but couldn't fathom Lu.
Cultivation... or combat.
But no probing.
Believed Lu's devotion to Five Phoenix—heart and soul.
Left—streaking beyond void heaven.
Suddenly...
Mind trembled.
Familiar feeling—waking jolt!
Hm?
Gazed outward—Pingyang Heaven. Void tore; figures emerged.
Terrifying auras—annihilating nearby ninth/eighth-level worlds.
"Saint realm!"
Instant certainty.
Yes!
Vast saintly might—saints.
Dao/Cloud ancestors alive?
Lu Jiulian lied?
No...
Not their auras.
Gu Mangran's gaunt face—eyes narrowed. Certain.
Fought Cloud Ancestor—aura different.
Then...
Pupils contracted.
Other ten great saint clans?
Body tensed—immense pressure. Grave.
If true—Five Phoenix faces unprecedented crisis!
Rumble!
In void heaven.
Gu Mangran sat coffin afloat.
Staring Pingyang.
They noticed him.
"Hm... Blood-Clothed General Gu Mangran aura."
Surprise echoed.
Then—hazy figures in saintly might emerged.
Hovered in Pingyang—not entering void heaven. Knew ancient emperor rules lingered.
"Oh, it's you lot."
Gu Mangran rose slowly from coffin—hands on sides. Calm gaze.
Steady demeanor, unflinching.
Grave for the seven in Pingyang.
Blood-Clothed fame... deterrent.
Gu Mangran half-smiled—calm.
Though inwardly panicking.
No weakness shown.
Foe unmoved—I unmoved.
"Ten great saint clans... seven here. Truly honor Five Phoenix. Why no Dao or Cloud?"
Words fell.
Seven froze.
Bold Gu Mangran!
Threatening?
Dao/Cloud destroyed by Five Phoenix.
With what?
Only Blood-Clothed—ancient emperor's top general.
Heard Cloud Ancestor blocked ascension to deny divine medicines.
Yet medicines flowed.
With them—life energy restored saint power.
Not peak—but desperate fight: slaying Dao/Cloud ancestors feasible.
"Heh... Blood-Clothed General, dormant hundreds of thousands years—might undimmed."
"Dao/Cloud fallen—your unmatched feats. No need dragging corpses."
"We merely passing... heard void heaven birthed new high-martial. Curious glance."
Saints spoke.
Gu Mangran stunned.
Dao/Cloud... truly his doing?
But no time—seven posed crisis.
Crisis meant...
Seven imperial weapons!
Seven weapons plus saints—Five Phoenix doom easy!
"Heh? Passing."
"Slept hundreds of thousands—not idiot."
"Come in void heaven? Chat properly?"
Leaned back like comfy sofa—arms wide. Casual.
Seven exchanged—grave.
Words implied—knew their weapons.
"General jests. Void heaven holds ancient emperor rules. Emperor gone hundreds of thousands—might lingers. How dare we trespass?"
Smiled.
But terrifying auras released—Pingyang beings wailing.
Gu Mangran smiled.
Drew chrysanthemum-like divine medicine from coffin.
No Vermilion Bird from Lu—borrowed chrysanthemum from Lu Changkong.
Placed on coffin.
Petals trembled—vast life energy.
Pingyang seven exchanged—grave.
He had medicines!
Cloud/Dao died by his hand!
Displaying now—threat: enter—he swallows, revives, fights to death.
Your fate—theirs!
Atmosphere heavy.
But seven unwilling—exchanged glances.
Dao/Cloud weapons trapped—million-year reserves. Divide—closer to first heaven.
Thus...
Unwilling miss.
"General, no offense to void heaven. New high-martial birth—life's miracle. We no sinners erasing it."
"But Dao/Cloud weapons upper realm's. Purpose: retrieve."
"Ten imperial weapons—upper foundation. Even if we don't—first heaven won't ignore."
"With Five Phoenix strength—holding them disaster."
"We... come dispel calamity for Five Phoenix."
Smiling.
Words changed Gu Mangran's face.
Thought acting scare them off.
But target—weapons.
Bitter inwardly.
Should've known.
Saints ruthless—clans fallen, ownerless weapons with reserves: supreme treasures—even ancestors covet.
No camaraderie—suspicion, confrontation.
Without weapons deterring—long warring.
Swallowing you—saves million years. Why not?
Gu Mangran leaned in coffin.
Sunken sockets deep as void.
Dry lips curled—half-smile.
"So for Dao/Cloud weapons..."
Laughed easily—mocking.
"Know why trapped?"
"Think I capable? Overestimate."
Slow, mocking tone.
Calm—unnerved seven.
Indeed—their greatest fear.
Otherwise—weapons swung, invaded long ago.
Why trapped?
Two imperial weapons—wielded by ancestors, partial might.
Unless ancient emperor—no fall.
Worried void heaven emperor remnants.
For two weapons—risk clan ones? Regret eternal.
Upper Nine Heavens—storm.
Silence.
Seven mute in Pingyang—auras terrifying beings.
Little Thunder Sound's Great Senior—fortune vast, but ant to saints.
Seven in Pingyang—catastrophe.
Dared not move.
...
Five Phoenix continent.
Lu pondering Five Phoenix tribulations—jolted awake.
Looked beyond.
Primordial spirit surged—capturing seven hazy saints in Pingyang.
Gu Mangran confronting.
Overhearing dialogue.
Eyes lit—weapons? They carry imperial?
Glanced quiet Stealing Heaven Tower on armrest—stroked chin.
Hand raised—tearing spatial rift.
Silver-gray profound surged.
Streaked as thunderlight in.
...
Gu Mangran relaxed—like beach vacation.
Arms wide—side-eyeing seven.
Daring: come on.
Void heaven's mystery deterred—even with weapons, wary.
Unclear Dao/Cloud fall—risk clan weapons?
Outcomes fresh.
Suddenly...
Silver-gray energy.
White-robed youth emerged on wheelchair—youthful, harmless.
"Young Master Lu."
Gu Mangran saw—face twitched. Maintained cool—slight nod.
Lu smiled—cupped hands. Turned to seven.
Saints noticed.
"Five Phoenix legendary Young Master Lu."
"Heard resists saints—tough."
"Five Phoenix pillar—Lu Ping'an?"
Scanned.
Lu gazed eagerly—almost feverish.
Uncomfortable for seven.
Gu Mangran brow raised—Lu's eyes?
So passionate?
Like spotting beauty?
Water Saint Ancestor beauty—but viper heart. Hundreds of thousands years—old maid. Mismatched with tender Lu.
Gu Mangran thought remind later.
"Long admired. Saint clans famed upper—Nine Heavens known. Today—indeed awe-inspiring, majestic."
"Meeting saint friends—deep respect."
Lu on Thousand Bladed Chair—blooming smile, cupped hands.
"Heard for trapped Dao/Cloud weapons? I worried handling them—you timely."
"I, Five Phoenix Lu Ping'an—always kind to others. Enter void heaven quickly—I have million-reserve business to discuss."
Brilliant, sincere smile.
Business—sincerity key.
Gu Mangran stunned.
Not just him—seven too.
Million reserves business?
Tiny Five Phoenix—where million?
First-level accumulation!
Nine Heavens—only first heaven has. Fool who?!
Words fell.
Seven exchanged—first chill.
Gazing smiling youth like blooming flower—terrifying killing intent enveloped.
Yes—killing!
Void heaven crisis—this eager lure—ill intent.
If only Gu Mangran—perhaps bluffing weakness.
But Lu enthusiastic—definite trap.
Dao/Cloud how fallen?
Gu Mangran combat—Lu Ping'an schemed evil plans, mastermind!
Allied Cloud—destroyed Dao. Ruthlessly turned—destroyed Cloud!
Depth of cunning, ruthlessness!
Daunting!
"Trick!"
Exchanged—retreating from void heaven.
Deep chill.
Gu Mangran mouth agape—Lu's few words routed seven clans?
His top general deterrence—less than Lu's?
Youth awesome!
Admired deeply!
Lu saw retreat—anxious.
Expression flowed—acting flawless. Gu Mangran marveled.
Crushed in acting!
But soon—stiffened, chilled.
Lu anxiously rushed out void heaven—to Pingyang.
Hand waving.
"Friends, wait!"
