"Audacious!!!"
"This is the resting place of my avian clan. Who dares to act so brazenly here!"
"Today, many clan leaders are gathered here. If you are a tiger, you better lie down; if you are a dragon, you better coil up."
"..."
"Old Mudfish, if you're not dead yet, how could I bear to die before you?"
As a group of young men raised their voices, the Kunpeng Ancestor revealed a slight smile on his previously calm face. He looked at the spatial rift and softly cursed while laughing.
"Old Mudfish?"
"Scruffy Bird?"
"Could it be him..."
At this moment, seeing the response of the Kunpeng Ancestor, intelligent individuals began to understand. They exchanged glances, perceiving the shock in each other's eyes.
This person was truly a legendary figure of their Divine Beast Clan, even surpassing the Kunpeng Ancestor, a true supreme divine beast of the Great Thousand World.
"Hahaha, you old scruffy bird, still can't bear to suffer any loss!" Amidst the laughter, three figures emerged from the spatial rift, and in the lead was none other than the True Dragon Emperor. At this moment, he looked at the Kunpeng Ancestor with long-missed joy in his eyes. They were relics from the ancient times, people of the same era. In the Great Thousand World, few of their generation remained. Meeting again naturally brought heartfelt emotions.
"Hmm?"
The three figures appeared, and unlike the others who were staring at the legendary True Dragon Emperor, the Kunpeng Ancestor, Feng Wang, Huang Wang, and a few others turned their attention to Jiang Yun and Zi Yan, their eyes flickering.
"Old chap, you've brought quite a 'grand gift' this time!" The Kunpeng Ancestor quickly collected himself and said meaningfully to the True Dragon Emperor.
"Hehehe..." The True Dragon Emperor chuckled in response, not explaining much, instead laughing while looking at the other party.
"Junior pays respects to Senior True Dragon Emperor!"
At this moment, Feng Wang and Huang Wang calmed down, leading the others forward to salute the True Dragon Emperor.
"Hmm!" The True Dragon Emperor nodded lightly with authority, "I have important matters to discuss with Feng Wang, Huang Wang, and Old Kunpeng. You all may withdraw for now."
Hearing this, Feng Wang and Huang Wang frowned slightly, but seeing the calm face of the Kunpeng Ancestor, they nodded and said, "In that case, the three of you, please follow me to the Wutong Palace."
Feng birds rest on wutong trees, and the Wutong Palace was the highest-grade hall of the Phoenix Clan. Not only was it magnificent in appearance, but Jiang Yun also sensed that it was an unparalleled sacred artifact. Using such a sacred artifact as a palace highlighted the deep background of the Phoenix Clan.
After everyone was seated, the True Dragon Emperor observed the flickering gazes of Feng Wang and the others towards Zi Yan and coughed lightly. "I believe you have guessed the identities of these two. I won't keep you in suspense. This is the recently risen Demon Extermination King, Jiang Yun!"
Hearing this, the trio immediately retracted their gazes and looked at Jiang Yun with a mysterious light in their eyes.
"I don't think Jiang Yun needs much introduction, does he? He is very influential recently. Despite his young age, his strength is formidable, even I can't guarantee a victory!" The True Dragon Emperor spoke sincerely, fearing that the trio would underestimate Jiang Yun due to his age.
"The name of the Demon Extermination King is well-known, even in the Mountain and Sea Continent. Young friend Jiang Yun is truly unparalleled among the younger generation!" The Kunpeng Ancestor praised Jiang Yun, unable to contain his admiration.
He didn't trust the True Dragon Emperor blindly, but he had already sensed that Jiang Yun's presence was harmonious and restrained, with no imposing aura. If he hadn't seen him, he wouldn't have even sensed his existence. This indicated that Jiang Yun's strength was unfathomable, something even he couldn't fully discern.
"Senior overpraises me!" Jiang Yun humbly responded, cupping his hands towards the Kunpeng Ancestor.
"There's no need for modesty. Among my avian clan, no one compares to you. A true hero among the young!" Feng Wang and Huang Wang also praised Jiang Yun, with a touch of envy in their tones.
"..."
"This young lady, I assume, needs no further introduction?" After some pleasantries, the True Dragon Emperor looked at Zi Yan and asked the trio with a knowing smile.
As expected, the trio's expressions turned serious, and the Kunpeng Ancestor said gravely, "To think I would be fortunate enough to witness the Dragon Phoenix bloodline in my lifetime, this is a great comfort!"
"Zi Yan greets the three seniors!" Zi Yan, exuding an aura of nobility, looked at the three without arrogance or submissiveness and spoke calmly.
"Dragon Phoenix..." Feng Wang and Huang Wang looked at Zi Yan with complex emotions, filled with sighs.
For a moment, the hall fell into a brief silence.
"This time, we have come on behalf of Senior True Dragon Emperor, to request a treasure from the Phoenix Clan!" After a long while, Jiang Yun stood up and spoke to Feng Wang and Huang Wang.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
Jiang Yun's voice interrupted their thoughts, and they looked at him solemnly. After all, the counterpart was the master of the Ancient Heavenly Palace and the Scarlet Flame Temple, possessing resources beyond compare. What could he possibly need that would prompt such a request?
"The clan's secret art, the Nine Transformations into Saint Technique!" Jiang Yun's calm voice resounded like a thunderclap in the hall.
"You are asking for Zi Yan?" The trio quickly regained their composure. Being ancient beings, they naturally wouldn't be enraged over Jiang Yun coveting their clan's secret art. Instead, they instantly realized that Jiang Yun was requesting it for Zi Yan.
Though the Nine Transformations into Saint Technique was a supreme art, it had limitations. Only someone from the Phoenix Clan could cultivate it. Jiang Yun, being human, could not possibly cultivate it himself but was requesting it for Zi Yan, who possessed the bloodline of both dragon and phoenix.
"Exactly, seniors must have noticed the deficiencies in Zi Yan's Dragon Phoenix bloodline. She evolved from the Taixu Ancient Dragon on our Dou Qi Continent after gaining fortuitous opportunities. She has many deficiencies, and I naturally wish to remedy this." Jiang Yun explained.
"And how do you intend to resolve this?" Feng Wang curiously asked.
"The cultivation of divine beasts is fundamentally about the power of bloodlines. The clan's arts, like the True Dragon Nine Transformations and the Nine Transformations into Saint Technique, have the effect of purifying the bloodline. Zi Yan's Dragon Phoenix body contains the bloodlines of both clans. If she can cultivate both techniques, continuously elevating her Dragon Phoenix bloodline, the results could be unexpected once the techniques are fully mastered."
"Even if it doesn't succeed entirely, any slight improvement would be worthwhile."
Jiang Yun didn't hide his intentions, clarifying his thoughts. He wasn't worried that the Phoenix Clan would steal his idea, as not just anyone could practice these arts. In the entire Great Thousand World, only Zi Yan, with her dual bloodline, met the criteria to cultivate both techniques.
Moreover, only Zi Yan had the chance to practice both the True Dragon Nine Transformations and the Nine Transformations into Saint Technique. For others to attempt it would mean facing the wrath of both the Phoenix and Dragon Clans.
Hearing Jiang Yun's reasoning, Feng Wang and Huang Wang exchanged a surprised glance. In theory, Jiang Yun's explanation made sense. The cultivation of divine beasts was essentially the process of continuously exploring the potential of their bloodlines, raising the upper limits of their bloodline capacity. It did seem plausible.
However, granting their clan's secret art raised concern. Would they be cultivating an invincible supreme Dragon Phoenix, who might unify the divine beast clan in the future? Wouldn't they be aiding a potential adversary?
But refusing seemed unwise, given the True Dragon Emperor's apparent intention to support Zi Yan. The Phoenix Clan risked offending not only Jiang Yun, an influential figure in the Great Thousand World, but also the Dragon Clan's stance on the matter.
Caught in a dilemma, Feng Wang and Huang Wang instinctively turned to the Kunpeng Ancestor, who surprisingly appeared to be dozing off lightly in the grand hall.
'Old fox!' They cursed silently, exchanging a knowing glance before turning to Jiang Yun and saying, "The Nine Transformations into Saint Technique is our clan's sacred art, exclusively transmitted to our own, so..."
"If the Phoenix Clan can agree to my request, I am willing to offer three Dragon Phoenix Supreme Pills, two supreme arts, and one Ascension Pill in exchange!" Just as Feng Wang began to speak, Jiang Yun interjected, cutting off his words.
"Hiss~~~"
Hearing Jiang Yun's offer, everyone in the hall gasped, including the True Dragon Emperor. Even the Kunpeng Ancestor, now wide awake, looked at Jiang Yun in shock.
The Dragon Phoenix Supreme Pill is a powerful elixir to enhance the strength of supreme heavenly beings. Although rare among the avian clan, it is not unheard of. Likewise, their collection included several supreme arts apart from the top thirty-six.
However, the Ascension Pill is different—it helps one breakthrough the restrictions to Saint-tier, making it invaluable and highly coveted by every faction, despite its difficulty to obtain.
Thus, Jiang Yun's proposal astounded them.
"Did the Demon Extermination King just mention the Ascension Pill?" Huang Wang asked urgently, standing and staring at Jiang Yun. "Are you a Saint-tier Alchemist?"
Jiang Yun smiled in response, remaining silent. Observing this, the Phoenix duo and the Kunpeng Ancestor's gazes towards Jiang Yun turned fervent.
A Saint-tier Alchemist could single-handedly raise the status of an entire faction—a formidable ally.
"What do the Phoenix Clan leaders think?" Jiang Yun asked with a smile.
"Cough, cough..." The elder's embarrassed smiles quickly disappeared. "Considering Zi Yan's Dragon Phoenix bloodline, granting her the Nine Transformations into Saint Technique doesn't violate our clan's rules. This way, I contribute to the strength of the Great Thousand World!"
"If the Dragon Phoenix perfects her abilities, our Great Thousand World will indeed gain another measure of strength!"
Seeing their righteous demeanor, the Kunpeng Ancestor secretly scoffed at their shamelessness.
"Haha..."
Everyone chuckled but did not expose them. Jiang Yun responded with a smile, "Senior, your righteousness is commendable!"
The elders nodded approvingly, and Jiang Yun summoned a jade box, sending it to them.
Excitedly, Feng Wang accepted the jade box and carefully opened it, revealing four jade bottles and two jade slips. His eyes locked onto the central bottle, extracting it and slowly opening it to see a brilliantly golden supreme pill inside. It exuded an intense pill fragrance, its dense energy forming various divine beast phantoms, completely harmonious and restrained.
As the fragrance spread through the hall, even the Saint-tier present felt their spiritual powers stir slightly.
"An Ascension Pill! I have witnessed two before, but none as superior in quality as this. Young friend, your alchemy skills are extraordinary!" Feng Wang exclaimed, sealing the pill to preserve its potency before expressing his admiration.
Jiang Yun smiled silently, as this Ascension Pill was not entirely his creation. He had completed an unfinished Ascension Pill acquired in a battle against the Mohe Ancient Clan's spoils, showcasing his near-peerless alchemy skill.
Stowing away the elixir, Feng Wang's palm glowed, a feather exuding ancient energy appearing in his grasp. He gazed at it with mixed emotions, feeling tempted by Jiang Yun's generous offer.
"Given that Zi Yan is not entirely an outsider, it doesn't breach our clan laws!"