Mica was a powerhouse of unparalleled caliber, a mere thread away from the Emperor realm. Were it not for the Nine Heavens’ rules, he might long ago have shattered his shackles and ascended to new emperorship.

  Thus, his primordial spirit was incomparably vast—like an endless starry expanse.

  The instant he descended upon Five Phoenixes, his primordial spirit surged outward.

  He sought to detect and locate where Lu had hidden the Dao reserves stripped from the imperial weapons.

  But…

  When Mica’s primordial spirit flooded Five Phoenixes’ origin space, it froze.

  As a peak saint from a first-tier high-martial world, he knew origin spaces intimately.

  A world’s origin space centered on its core origin; Dao reserves etched upon it elevated the world’s tier.

  Thus, a world’s most vital place.

  Mica assumed—if Lu hid them—he would conceal the plundered Dao reserves there.

  So upon entering Five Phoenixes, his primordial spirit beelined for the origin space.

  Five Phoenixes’ origin space was uncomplicated, lightly restricted.

  Mica saw it clearly in an instant.

  Yet in that instant of clarity, he sensed something extraordinary.

  “This is… a Heavenly Dao?!”

  Mica’s primordial spirit avatar hovered in the origin space, staring blankly.

  The spherical star gleamed brilliantly, suspended in the origin space—Mica’s body trembled faintly.

  An independent Heavenly Dao!

  Five Phoenixes had birthed an independent Heavenly Dao?!

  How could a third-tier high-martial world birth a Heavenly Dao?

  Mica’s hundreds of thousands of years of experience felt shattered in this moment.

  Around Five Phoenixes’ Heavenly Dao, Dao reserves wove like oceanic vastness.

  A sensation…

  Utterly unique.

  Mica gazed entranced—intoxicated.

  Roar!

  Suddenly.

  In the origin space, a colossal beast emerged—blotting heaven and earth, human-headed and serpent-bodied.

  It inhaled and exhaled origin, radiating terrifying aura. Its two eyes swirled with black-and-white qi.

  Mica felt the beast faintly familiar.

  As though seen somewhere.

  Soon, a fleeting image flashed: the serene girl with closed eyes.

  The aura she unleashed matched this beast perfectly.

  So the serene girl… cultivated via this Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao!

  Mica’s mind shuddered. He could imagine: as long as Five Phoenixes’ Heavenly Dao endured, that girl’s future knew no bounds!

  Boom!

  Candle Dragon divine ability unleashed. Night and day became yin-yang millstone, grinding instantly.

  Mica’s primordial spirit avatar… crushed outright.

  On Five Phoenixes Continent, over the vast sea.

  Agitated waters still poured as torrential rain.

  Mica regained composure, complex emotions as he gazed at nearby Lu.

  “Never imagined…”

  Mica inhaled deeply, aged face dawning realization.

  “No wonder you could strip imperial weapons’ Dao reserves. Five Phoenixes birthed a Heavenly Dao—absorbing Dao reserves… instinctual for a Heavenly Dao.”

  Mica said.

  “A third-tier high-martial world birthing a new Heavenly Dao.”

  Mica sighed long, head lifted, gaze shifting.

  He saw the Heavenly Gate, ascension grounds beyond—and ascendants cultivating diligently within.

  He saw the Nether Realm, the wailing figures in the nine prisons.

  The three seemed to form a unique profound meaning in the unseen.

  Perhaps this birthed Five Phoenixes’ Heavenly Dao.

  “Could it truly… be the ancient emperors’ contingency?”

  Mica murmured.

  Next instant.

  Phoenix Feather Sword streaked horizontally. Terrifying heat waves seemed ready to evaporate the sea.

  Mica raised hand, grasping the blade tip—feeling immense force.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  As Mica marveled at Lu’s pressure.

  The sea surface blasted another ring of shockwaves.

  Perhaps due to being in Five Phoenixes—neither used full strength.

  Merely blasting an irreparable massive crater in the sea.

  “Lord Lu, never expected… Five Phoenixes birthing an independent Heavenly Dao.”

  Mica’s expression deeply complex.

  What fortune, what luck—to birth a Heavenly Dao in a third-tier high-martial world.

  The entire Nine Heavens had but one Heavenly Dao—the Nine Heavens’ own.

  Yet Five Phoenixes’ Heavenly Dao emerged within it—unannihilated by the Nine Heavens’ Heavenly Dao.

  Incredibly rare.

  Birthing a Heavenly Dao… meant future potential to grow to current Nine Heavens’ level…

  Profound implications—even… future emperors unbound by Nine Heavens’ restrictions!

  Lu’s face impassive, watching Mica.

  This man struck without word—instantly entering Five Phoenixes, beyond even Lu’s anticipation.

  Strength unfathomable.

  Five Phoenixes birthing a Heavenly Dao—momentous. Lu long worried attracting Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao’s notice, thus never publicized.

  Too many knowing risked harm—current Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao still fragile, infant.

  Lu held three Dao sources unused, fearing Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao’s attention—thunder punishment annihilating the tender young Dao.

  Lu always protected Five Phoenixes’ Heavenly Dao.

  Yet paper cannot contain fire.

  Mica entered Five Phoenixes—sensed it.

  Mica, unmoved for hundreds of thousands of years—upon seeing Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao, emotions uncontrollable.

  His heart… stirred.

  Hope gleamed in his eyes.

  Once-extinguished hope—now reignited.

  “Lord Lu stripping eight imperial weapons’ Dao reserves… to nurture Five Phoenixes’ Heavenly Dao?”

  Mica asked gently.

  Lu gazed at Mica, sensing his attitude… off.

  Yet nodded.

  Purpose of plundering Dao reserves?

  To rapidly grow Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao—faster elevate immortal-martial foundations.

  “As expected…”

  Mica inhaled deeply.

  Eyes flashing myriad brilliance.

  “Break to rebuild… hope reborn from a shattered world.”

  Mica dispersed his aura.

  Bathed in falling rain, allowing it to soak him.

  Eyes closed, arms spread—savoring it all.

  He laughed—openly, joyously.

  Laughter of found hope.

  “Lord Lu…”

  Mica said.

  “So far, Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao escaped Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao’s notice—partly because the latter distracted by greater matters, mainly because Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao too weak, too tender—like newborn bamboo shoot overlooked amid towering bamboos.”

  “Eight imperial weapons’ Dao reserves—each capped at hundred thousand.”

  “Even less—eighty to ninety thousand. Total roughly seven to eight hundred thousand.”

  “Such volume merged into Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao—inevitably attracts Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao’s attention.”

  “One mountain brooks no two tigers; one world no two Heavenly Daos, two rules…”

  Mica stared at Lu, golden hair drenched.

  Lu frowned—what did Mica intend?

  Faintly, Lu guessed.

  “But without merging Dao reserves—Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao cannot grow…”

  Lu said.

  Mica nodded: “Thus, Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao must not be discovered too soon. Later discovery—greater chance.”

  Mica’s words left Lu speechless.

  Roles swapped unwittingly?

  Wasn’t he the protector of Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao?

  Why Mica more zealous?

  “What do you want?”

  Lu asked directly.

  He sensed… this fight might not happen.

  Mica’s attitude—Lu felt awkward striking. Originally, upon discovery—Lu planned to slay him.

  He knew too much.

  “Lord Lu…”

  “Dao reserves—I no longer want.”

  Mica shook head.

  Golden hair cascading, standing over vast sea.

  “No wonder Gu Mangran guards this land for Lord Lu…”

  Mica sighed long.

  “Opportunity—and fortune.”

  “Whether ancient emperors’ contingency or not… I have no choice left.”

  Mica’s gaze profound.

  In Thousand-Bladed Chair, Lu grew puzzled.

  Then Mica looked at Lu, smiling, raising hand pointing skyward: “World thinks First Heaven supreme—Nine Heavens’ pride…”

  “But how know… Nine Heavens truly a cage? Even atop it—still caged.”

  “I cultivated bitterly hundreds of thousands years—never found breakthrough path… yet found it in Five Phoenixes.”

  Mica’s words heavy with complex emotion.

  Lu silent, seated—listening.

  No killing intent or malice sensed—not feigned capture.

  Thus, Lu listened.

  “I differ from Gu Mangran. He should have died in that war—yet slumbered in coffin, lingering hundreds of thousands years. He awoke to now… but I—no. Hundreds of thousands ago, I reached saint pinnacle. These years sought breakthrough—emperorship.”

  “But… too difficult.”

  “Difficult to despair.”

  “Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao allows only nine emperors. No matter my monstrous talent—no chance…”

  “Some born at peak.”

  Mica said slowly.

  “Others bleed head to climb—never reach.”

  Lu’s brow arched.

  “Saint lifespan mere hundreds of thousands… mine nears end. Intended quiet close, burial in First Heaven.”

  Mica continued, primordial spirit sweeping vast.

  As though taking in all Five Phoenixes.

  Sweeping the petrified saint stone mountain—body stiffening briefly, then smiling, withdrawing spirit.

  “Yet never expected meeting Five Phoenixes—world birthing independent Heavenly Dao.”

  “Perhaps my limit precedes Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao maturity—but my only chance. I’d rather gamble…”

  Mica gazed solemnly at Lu.

  Lu offered no reply.

  “Lord Lu, I’ll aid Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao growth… hope only for fair chance in future.”

  “No extravagance.”

  “Even fleeting glimpse suffices.”

  “Just to prove—I’m no weaker than those ancient emperors.”

  Mica declared with bold spirit.

  Lu narrowed eyes, studying Mica.

  Judging sincerity.

  “You question Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao’s fairness?”

  Lu asked.

  Mica smiled meaningfully.

  Thunderous boom.

  Gu Mangran descended from beyond.

  He expected Lu and Mica battling cataclysmically—yet they chatted amiably.

  Mica raised hand, tapping gourd—eight imperial weapons emerging.

  “Lord Lu, these imperial weapons—I no longer want. Ancient emperor issues—I bear. Remember our pact.”

  Mica said.

  Golden hair flying, nodding faintly to Gu Mangran.

  Hands behind back, laughing heartily.

  Streaking away from Five Phoenixes.

  Leaving Gu Mangran utterly baffled.

  “Lord Lu, don’t extinguish all sacred clans. Each tied to Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao—total annihilation draws reactions. Heavenly Spirit Emperor and Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao shift focus to Five Phoenixes.”

  “Then Heavenly Dao existence hard to conceal.”

  “One Emperor probing—surely uncovers Five Phoenixes’ secret.”

  “While Heavenly Spirit Emperor and Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao distracted—not on Five Phoenixes—strengthen Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao well.”

  Mica transmitted, reminding Lu.

  Then fully immersed in spatial profound meaning energy—vanishing.

  Gu Mangran, peak saint, sensitive to transmission.

  “What did Mica say?”

  Gu Mangran asked puzzled.

  Lu propped chin one hand, tapping armrest lightly: “Nothing much—reminded don’t extinguish sacred clans, else attract Heavenly Spirit Emperor’s notice.”

  “From his words—inference: First Heaven’s ancient emperor attention not on Nine Heavens—likely distracted by grand matter.”

  Lu said.

  “Likely tied to primordial battlefield’s vanished ancient emperors… perhaps their return—so Heavenly Spirit ancient emperor prepares.”

  Gu Mangran said.

  Of course, he voiced confusion—Mica seemed… unwittingly aligned with Five Phoenixes?

  Lu merely smiled.

  With such ancient fossils—Lu couldn’t fully trust stance.

  Mica’s claims—his narrative. Perhaps delay tactic, perhaps… scheming.

  Though Mica claimed all-in on Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao.

  Lu remained cautious.

  Perhaps Mica lulling him—later coveting Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao?

  Independent Heavenly Dao—escape Nine Heavens, hope for emperorship.

  Immense temptation.

  Even system deemed Five Phoenixes immortal-martial foundation.

  Once achieved…

  Golden Immortal emperors—what then?

  Daluo Immortal true freedom.

  Watching departing Mica—Lu pondered.

  Fingers lightly tapping armrest.

  Suddenly, eyes brightened.

  Distant.

  Lu Jiulian and Five Phoenixes immortals descended.

  Lu directly addressed Lu Jiulian: “Recall those assailing Upper Realm sacred clans for saint-slaying breakthroughs—withdraw Five Phoenixes coalition.”

  Lu Jiulian paused briefly—no questions—departed.

  Gu Mangran bid farewell to Lu, returning to ancient tomb.

  Though Mica-Five Phoenixes relations grew ambiguous—Gu Mangran prioritized rapid strength recovery.

  Lu pondered long in place.

  Eyes faintly gleaming.

  From Mica’s intel—current Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao distracted by other matters.

  Perhaps…

  Lu could attempt merging his remaining three Dao sources into Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao!

  Fortune favors the bold!

  Action immediate.

  Returning to Lake Heart Island.

  Initiating seclusion—mind swiftly sinking into origin space.

  Preparing to fuse three Dao sources.