Shock and awe - cultivation crippled

The stunned phoenix spirit was the only living being left behind in the trial area. Just when it thought it had found a cultivator with incredible potential who might be able to deal with the oncoming threat of the Demon Emperor, he was promptly incinerated, by the reward given out by the phoenix itself no less!

As the phoenix was still in shock about what was occurring, a change was happening within the ashes.

While the World Dao Profound Veins had collapsed, the physique itself had still been present at the point of incineration, and the physique itself was spread throughout the rest of the body. While the absorption and assimilation ability, as well as the Joss Flame ability, were linked to the Profound Veins, the physique itself gave a special ability, which was that of regeneration.

However, this was only if a trace of DNA was left behind, Ao Rai had truly been incinerated, usually there would be no way for him to regenerate from such a thorough death, however with the trace of nirvana rebirth energy, which contained a trace of Ao Rai's soul energy, still being isolated in the air, Ao Rai was able to use the ashes as the base, and the sliver of his soul left behind to...

Revive!

The ashes began to swirl, and a weak golden flame swept through the ashes, however instead of burning them even further, the ashes seemed to meld together with the influence of the flame, eventually forming into a human figure.

With a fizzling noise, the flame burnt away, revealing the body of a handsome youth. This youth was none other than Ao Rai, lying on the ground unconscious.

The phoenix spirit was at first incredibly shocked, and in complete awe of what had occurred, unable to comprehend what had happened.

"He clearly did not refine the origin soul and gain the power of nirvana, he should have died, but he clearly hasn't?!"

While the phoenix spirit was still shocked, Ao Rai slowly regained consciousness, however upon waking up, he felt a heavy sinking feeling within his chest, as he checked his cultivation.

While his World Dao physique was incredible and was even able to regenerate and revive him with such a tiny sliver of help and trace left behind, in the form of the nirvana rebirth, it was unable to preserve his cultivation, since his profound veins had completely collapsed along with his internal world, since the central point of the world had completely been incinerated, and his physique was unable to replicate that.

The only consolation was that Ao Rai still possessed those 10 drops of phoenix origin blood within his bloodline since had already fused them into his blood prior to absorbing the soul. If he was ever able to gain a new set of profound veins his cultivation talent would still be exceptional, although not on the level that it was before.

"Now the Evil God's blood is even more imperative, otherwise I will be unable to cultivate in this life!"

As Ao Rai set himself on gaining the Evil God's blood, and the phoenix was still in complete shock, a mysterious change occurred within his body, that neither Ao Rai nor the phoenix sensed, a small seed formed within his heart, with a weak golden glow being emitted.

Every time a complete circulation of blood occurred, a small portion of blood would be siphoned off and absorbed by the seed, as if it was absorbing the blood for growth...

Finally the Phoenix recovered from its shock and upon inspecting Ao Rai it was filled with deep regret.

"He must have harnessed the power of nirvana rebirth somehow, since he was reborn but his profound veins have been completely crippled." The phoenix instantly made an assumption about what had happened, which was not far from the truth, but regardless, it still felt deep regret about the situation, since for whatever reason the phoenix soul had reacted with incredible vigour and crippled Ao Rai effectively, rendering him unable to cultivate.

Ao Rai, although he felt incredible anger, did not express it, only spitting on the ground, before pulling himself up and addressing the phoenix with courtesy,"Phoenix Spirit, although I am currently crippled, as a result of your soul origin, I would still like to request to see the World Ode of the phoenix, as well as I would also like to request you to release your curse on the villagers outside."

The phoenix, which still felt intense regret at crippling such a heaven defying genius, instantly felt as if it could make amends, and it had been planning to release the curse on the villagers again soon anyway.

"The villagers' curse has been lifted, and you can comprehend the World ode of the phoenix for as long as you would like, instead of the regular 1 month period, although I doubt you will get much out of it since I only possess the 5th and 6th chapter currently due to-"

The phoenix stopped there, as Ao Rai interrupted forcefully,"I don't care about what happened," Internally laughing in disdain,"Hah I already know that you were forcefully beaten by the other phoenix, you shitty chicken." Ao Rai still felt incredible rage for this phoenix spirit, swearing he would have taken revenge if it wasn't dissipating at a rapid speed after its soul origin was given up.

"Young man, while I am incredibly sorry about what I have done, there is nothing that can be done about it now. Soon I will dissipate fully, however I will leave with you the 5th and 6th chapter of the World Ode of the phoenix in return for what happened, whether you can comprehend anything is up to you, but if you can not, I hope you will return these chapters to the phoenix clan outside."

Ao Rai responded cordially,"I appreciate the help, phoenix spirit, and I will of course return this World Ode to the phoenix to the phoenix clan if I can not comprehend anything."

In his heart though Ao Rai snorted and swore to himself that even if it was just to spite the phoenix that he would never return this to the phoenix clan.

As the phoenix spirit finally dissipated, Ao Rai was forcefully ejected, landing in the middle of the forest near the Phoenix Clan.

Instead of turning around and heading back to the phoenix clan as the phoenix spirit would have wished, for him to return the world ode to the phoenix if he couldn't cultivate it, Ao Rai turned and walked further into the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain range, travelling on foot back towards where he thought Floating Cloud City was.

Relying only on his regenerative abilities, Ao Rai was planning to walk the entire way back, before settling on a plan, and hopefully being able to regain the ability to cultivate.