Chapter 16: The Titan Ape and the Azure Python

As the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix emerged, its massive form resembled a towering mountain, occupying two-thirds of the nest. The Radiant Phoenix beside it looked like a sparrow confronting an eagle.

The Nine Nether Azure Phoenix glared angrily at Qian Wenyu. “I was sleeping! Little girl, why are you calling me now?”

Qian Wenyu paid no mind to the phoenix’s attitude. Smiling softly, she stroked the deep blue feathers on its body. “I need to absorb a soul ring. Please keep watch over the surroundings.”

Reluctantly, the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix agreed. Though it still could not accept being reduced to a mount for a human soul master, the mysterious space within the little girl’s body was truly valuable. It accelerated its cultivation, albeit subtly, which made it envious. This was far better than its own slow, year-by-year progress. For this reason alone, it found it somewhat easier to stay by Qian Wenyu’s side for the time being.

Qian Wenyu thrust her spear into the head of a Human-Faced Demon Spider, then quickly sat cross-legged to absorb the black soul ring that materialized from its body.

Shortly after Qian Wenyu entered meditation, Qian Renxue finished absorbing her soul ring and opened her eyes. Scanning the area, she spotted Qian Wenyu absorbing her soul ring, guarded closely by the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix.

Rising to her feet, Qian Renxue was greeted by everyone who gathered around to congratulate her.

“What happened? Why is Yuer absorbing a soul ring at this moment?” Qian Renxue asked with confusion.

“Sister…” Hu Liéna recounted everything that had transpired in detail.

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue smiled proudly. In this world, only her sister Yuer could slay a ten-thousand-year soul beast with just three soul rings at the Soul Environment realm—no one else could achieve such a feat!

“Next, we need to claim the soul rings of Sun Chuantao and the other two. Let’s head to the forest’s outskirts,” Qian Renxue said, glancing at Qian Wenyu who was still absorbing the soul ring. After a moment of thought, she decided, “Yuer is protected by the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix, so there’s no need to worry about her safety. I’ll lead the rest of you to the outer perimeter first.”

“Sister, shouldn’t we wait for the little junior sister?” Hu Liéna asked.

The Nine Nether Azure Phoenix lifted its eyes and said sternly, “With me here, no danger will come near the little girl. If there’s a threat I cannot handle, what use would you be? Hurry up and leave. Don’t hold me back.”

Though the phoenix’s words were blunt, Qian Renxue paid it no mind. She only cared that the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix would protect her sister well; everything else was unimportant.

With the phoenix’s assurance, Qian Renxue felt at ease leading the group toward the forest’s outskirts.

***

Qian Wenyu had always absorbed soul rings quickly. Absorbing a soul ring from a two-thousand-year beast only took her three hours, and now it was deep into the night.

The Starry Forest at night was cloaked in flickering faint lights—mysterious and perilous.

Opening her eyes, Qian Wenyu saw two copper-sized eyes staring at her, causing her to jump in fright. When she recognized the gaze belonged to the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix, she rolled her eyes silently and patted her chest with exasperation. “You scared me! Can you not be so frightening at night? You know people can die from fright, right?”

The Nine Nether Azure Phoenix responded solemnly, “I am not a human!”

Qian Wenyu was speechless.

“That was a metaphor, a metaphor! Do you understand?” she said.

The phoenix replied, “I am not human. I do not understand.”

Qian Wenyu sighed, “Forget it, I don’t want to argue. Where did my sisters go? Why don’t I see them?”

“Your sister took those humans to the forest’s outskirts. She told you to meet up with them once you woke,” the phoenix explained.

“Oh, then I’m in no hurry. With my sister’s strength, protecting them at the forest’s edge is easy,” Qian Wenyu said thoughtfully, then cast a sly smile toward the deeper part of the Starry Forest. “Nine Nether, let’s explore deeper inside. There might be unexpected treasures.”

She knew well that the deepest part of the Starry Forest held the Lake of Life. A place called the Lake of Life surely contained precious things—perhaps even more valuable than the Immortal Herb nurtured by the Ice-Fire Duality Eyes.

Come to think of it, she had forgotten about that treasure spot—the Ice-Fire Duality Eyes. Blame it on being born, then self-sealing, and falling into deep sleep for what felt like a century. Her already scant memories had become even more blurred.

“Why do you want to go deeper?” the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix asked, puzzled. Now that its life was bound to Qian Wenyu’s, it had to advise her against such a dangerous idea for their own safety.

“The deeper parts are too dangerous even for me,” the phoenix said. “I sense a perilous aura there. Even your human Douluo of the title rank would struggle to contend. It’s best we don’t go.”

***

Qian Wenyu paid no heed to the phoenix’s warning and leapt onto its back. “Don’t worry about it. Just follow me. Except for the gods, no one in this world can break through my defense.”

Hearing this, the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix thought of Qian Wenyu’s terrifying defense and silently fell silent. It had always wondered how a Soul Sect’s shield could withstand attacks from ten-thousand-year soul beasts—it seemed utterly impossible!

Seated on the phoenix’s back, Qian Wenyu was carried deeper into the heart of the Starry Forest.

As they flew past a lake, Qian Wenyu looked down and saw a ten-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape resting on the shore.

Through the clear water, the silhouette of a ten-thousand-year Azure Bull Python wavered beneath the surface.

This time, Qian Wenyu’s memory did not fail her. She recalled these two ten-thousand-year soul beasts—the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python—were companions of Xiao Wu.

“Nine Nether, if I petrify them using the World-Moving Stone, can you weaken them until they barely have a breath left?” Qian Wenyu’s eyes flickered with a hidden plan as she lowered her voice to ask the phoenix.

At her words, the phoenix’s heart tightened. “Why suddenly want to attack them? Did they offend you, or are you scheming again? Two ten-thousand-year soul beasts—you really dare to think that far!”

Qian Wenyu sneered. “I just don’t like them. Just say yes or no.”

There was old enmity between generations. She and Tang San were destined to be adversaries. Because of Xiao Wu’s relationship with Tang San, these two ten-thousand-year soul beasts would naturally side with Tang San. Rather than let them become Tang San’s soul rings, it was better to seize them first and sever Tang San’s support.

Her future enemy was a prodigy like Tang San, and Qian Wenyu dared not be careless. She would snatch away any chance and sabotage any aid Tang San might obtain.

If she had not encountered them or remembered now, it would be one thing. But having come across them, she was determined to claim Tang San’s opportunity at all costs.