Chapter 1462 - 522: Disappointed Expectations
The Phoenix Clan lived in isolation; unlike Spiritual Beasts, they were not enslaved by the Human Clan and reduced to Beast Pets.
Yet, they were not demon beasts either, and had maintained good relations with the Human Clan over the years, coexisting peacefully.
The existence of Jiunie Mountain transcended the geographical boundaries of the Ancient Nine Provinces, making it a small-scale Outer Heaven.
But the Fire Phoenix never expected that Rui would, in order to help his father win, secretly descend the mountain to steal the Water Spirit.
"Every word is true. If I hadn’t discovered his plot earlier, all eighteen villages in Ah County would have become wastelands by now. Tens of thousands of villagers would be either dead or injured. If you don’t believe me, you can go to those villages and inquire."
Ye Lingyue said with certainty.
"That child Rui is truly lawless. Fortunately, it was discovered early. If it were any later, it could have alerted the higher-ups of the Jiu Provinces Alliance, and the Phoenix Clan would have faced annihilation."
The Ice Phoenix was deeply alarmed upon hearing this.
Especially when she heard Ye Lingyue say that her daughter, Little Wuya, had also fought with Rui.
Her heart pounded anxiously; she knew Rui’s strength well.
He was a low-level Array Master, whose power was comparable to that of the clan’s adult warriors, even slightly surpassing her children.
"You said earlier that Rui had condensed Water Bright Stones in eighteen villages, and one village was destroyed by your people. Even so, he only has a maximum of seventeen Water Bright Stones. Then why do you say there will be variables in this clan leader selection?"
The Fire Phoenix was also very indignant at Rui’s actions, but knowing it was the critical moment of the clan leader election, even if Rui were accused now, the third brother’s family would staunchly defend him. Given their father’s favor for Rui and the fact that the stolen Water Bright Stone was urgently needed by their father, this matter would probably be brushed aside.
The most prudent course of action was to wait until after their father’s secluded Ascension, when he could inherit the clan leader position and then deal with Rui.
"Although he only has seventeen Water Bright Stones, what if he also possesses a Water Bright Crystal?"
When Ye Lingyue mentioned the Water Bright Crystal, the Ice Phoenix couple were again greatly astonished.
Today, they had to take in too many shocking revelations.
"Benefactor, you say Rui found a Water Bright Crystal? That’s impossible. In the Ancient Nine Provinces, natural Water Bright Stones might still exist, but Water Bright Crystals are incredibly rare, virtually extinct. Only in the Divine Realm could one possibly find a Water Bright Crystal."
The Ice Phoenix said incredulously.
She was one of the few living Ice Phoenixes and only she could locate Water Bright Stones.
In recent times, she had traversed more than half of the Ancient Nine Provinces, where even the Water Bright Stones were rare, let alone Rui finding one.
"What’s real cannot be fake. That high-quality Water Bright Crystal is right now sitting well in your third brother’s treehouse. If you still don’t believe it, wait a few days until the clan leader selection day, and you’ll regret it then."
Ye Lingyue would never tell the Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix couple that the Water Bright Crystal was actually a creation of her Cauldron Breath.
She couldn’t disclose the matter of the Cauldron Breath to anyone.
"Fire Phoenix, I feel our Benefactor is speaking the truth. What should we do? A Water Bright Crystal, in value, is at least equivalent to ten Water Bright Stones. In such a short time, where can we find additional Water Bright Stones?"
The Ice Phoenix was troubled.
Just as they finally received news of their daughter, the emergence of the Water Bright Crystal plunged the couple back into a dilemma.
"Huang’er, don’t worry too much. Remember, the reason we vie for the clan leader position is to find our child. Since our daughter is returning soon, does it really matter if we gain the clan leader position?" The Fire Phoenix, seeing how his beloved wife had become worn looking in recent days in her quest for the Water Bright Stones, felt his heart ache and couldn’t bear for her to stress over such matters any longer.
"You are right. Our family is about to reunite, and there is no need to fight to the death with the third brother’s family."
The Ice Phoenix had a serene nature, as did her spouse; otherwise, they wouldn’t have left the Ancient Nine Provinces to train in the less spirited Qing Province, which was essentially a journey of leisure.
Ye Lingyue nearly spat blood in disbelief.
This couple, they’re just too...what’s the word, lacking in ambition?
No wonder their children, although born in the spiritually rich Ancient Nine Provinces, couldn’t match Little Wuya in talent and cultivation.
"I implore you both; while it’s noble not to have the intention to harm others, it’s also imperative to protect oneself. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to claim the clan leader position, but have you considered if others plan to let you off? Particularly Fire Phoenix’s virtuous nephew; at such a young age, he’s already terrorizing his neighbors and oppressing others. If Little Wuya returns to the Phoenix Tribe, with her looks, she will undoubtedly become a woman of great beauty. If at that time Rui intends to harm her, would you stand by and watch your precious daughter fall into such hands?"
Ye Lingyue wished she could crack open the couple’s heads to see what lay inside.
As Guangzi often said, the Phoenix couple truly had a critical intelligence deficiency.
Hearing this, the Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix became deeply alarmed once more.
"Truly, a word awakens those asleep. Fire Phoenix, I too think that Rui’s character is utterly unsuitable to inherit the clan leader position. But what should we do? Tomorrow is the day the Old Clan Leader evaluates the Water Bright Stones."
The Ice Phoenix had a change of heart, but she had no means of finding more Water Bright Stones.
"In this regard, I can offer assistance, which could not only aid Fire Phoenix in obtaining the clan leader position but also solve the problem permanently..."
Ye Lingyue finished speaking, whispering into the couple’s ears.
After hearing her words, their expressions varied. Though the Fire Phoenix hesitated, recalling Rui’s actions, he resolved himself and agreed to Ye Lingyue’s plan.
Meanwhile, after Ye Lingyue entered Jiunie Mountain, Little Wuya and the others hurried overnight towards Jiunie Mountain as well.
Jiunie Mountain was situated in deep mountains; it appeared close but was a long trek. With the many prohibitions set by the Phoenix Clan in the area, only the Bird Clan could fly over.
This way, the group’s pace was forced to slow down.
Anxious about her leader’s safety and eager to see her parents, Little Wuya decided to temporarily part from the group, transforming into her Phoenix Form alongside Little Zhiyo, reaching Jiunie Mountain in just half a day’s journey.
Standing before the Ancient Wood Forest, Little Wuya returned to human form, feeling a bit anxious, while Little Zhiyo searched for their leader’s presence nearby.
"Little Wuya, here and there I can sense our leader’s marks. If we follow them, we can enter Jiunie Mountain."
Little Zhiyo looked back, seeing Little Wuya gazing into the depths of the Forest Sea with a complex expression on her face.