The Phoenix

The Phoenix maids stared dumbly at the village in front of them. 

They can sense the Phoenix bloodline in these people. But… it's much more potent than theirs!

How is this possible!?

"Interesting isn't it?" 

Their Young Master's voice brought them back.

"Y-Young Master! This doesn't make any sense! How can there be another Phoenix Trial Ground!?"

"And why not? If you think logically, a God would leave many trial grounds just for its blood to continue existing in this world. Your Empire is doing just that. Spreading the Phoenix Blood far and wide."

"..."

They had nothing to say against that, but this could have huge consequences for their Empire! 

However… Their Master is already moving in and claiming this trial ground for himself!

They need to contact their Elders…but that would just destroy their hard work if they contact them without permission. Instead, they need to make Xiao Long contact their Empire.

"...Young Master… we are certain that our Divine Phoenix Empire would give you enormous benefits and resources if you tell them about these Trial Grounds."

"Hmm… they will learn about it, eventually. But this will be used for my clan. This is a gold mine which can be reused for a very long time."

"..."

"..."

The Phoenix Maids just ended up nodding at him. Well, they tried…

"We will see what kind of trials this place holds."

As he said that he looked at the ruins in the distance.

After that, he left the maids to their own devices. Though they quickly found themselves in the presence of a cute girl who was looking at them with big and sparkly eyes.

"Waaa! Big sisters, you are so beautiful!"

'Why does this girl remind me of those two?'

One of the maids thought as she recalled the twins… those two must have some sort of technique which allows them to ignore the atmosphere around them. 

Serious or not, they will simply ignore it and do their own thing.

"...Say! Are you really from another Phoenix village!?"

"...Umm…we come from the Divine Phoenix Empire."

"...Oh…what is an Empire?" She asked curiously.

This made the maids sigh at the same time.

"... It's a…"

"...well…"

"...a very big village which took other villages…expanded a lot…"

Hearing that, the small girl moved her head to the side.

"...But Phoenix God forbids taking over other villages… are you sure your God was a Phoenix God?"

This made the group of maids grimace… as maids, they can't show any sort of anger or dissatisfaction…

In other words… the little girl can roast them and they can't do anything about it!

"...we have proof…"

As the maid said that she lifted her hand and showed an orange flame. 

"...Oh…wow…you do have the Phoenix flames… but…"

The girl showed her flame…

She was peak [Elementary Profound] but… this Throne maid…felt her flames getting suppressed by this little girl!

How…pure is her bloodline!?

However, the flame quickly disappeared which made the girl pout.

"...The curse… doesn't allow us to use the flames…" The girl said with a sigh.

"...We can barely create the flames. Even then it's hard to keep them manifested long enough."

The group of maids stiffly nodded. 

'This village… their bloodlines are so pure… if Young Master properly trains them…'

They felt horror growing inside of them. They need to do something!

"Anyway! Big sisters are from the Phoenix clan! Say… do you know how to join you? I wish to be with the Young Master!" 

The group of maids looked at each other. 

This girl already is aiming at their Young Master!?

"This…is something we can't decide. Since your village will be absorbed into his clan, you can ask the Clan Leader if you could join as maid-in-training for Young Master."

For a moment the girl frowned. She wanted something more than just a maid. 

After seeing how Young Master was with his wife… It was so beautiful. She wants something like that.

"I see…"

~~~

As the maids were spending time in the village, Xiao Long went to the ruins. Feng Baichuan removed the barrier which kept the trial ground sealed off.

Once inside the dark cave, a pair of majestic golden eyes manifested in front of him.

They were massive…so massive that the space in the cave warped to make the Phoenix Majesty fully manifest.

[You are not from the Feng Clan. You are an outsider. Do you wish to partake in the Phoenix Trials?]

The voice of the Phoenix spread through the surroundings.

"I have a deal for you Phoenix God."

[What kind of a deal?]

"Where you can be reborn."

[...]

[...Interesting… however…I will listen to this deal IF you pass the trials.]

Xiao Long snorted in amusement.

He already knew this would happen.

The gods and their amusing rules.

"Fine. Let's do it."

After his reply, the surroundings changed and The Young Master was in a lava field of some sort. It was a world of flames. 

[First Trial! Purgatory Flame Demon! You have to beat an opponent who has a higher cultivation than you!]

As the Phoenix said that, lava rose and it took the form of some sort of creature.

The things cultivation was at [Sixth of Emperor Profound].

"..."

The thing was about to move but Xiao Long lifted his hand and snapped his fingers.

'Coffin of Eternity…'

The Purgatory Flame Demon turned into a popsicle… 

Then his Profound Energy surged and a multitude of spears of solidified Profound Energy manifested around the popsicle.

They got even more realistic as runes appeared on them.

With a simple hand motion, the spears rushed into the frozen Purgatory Demon. 

A chain explosion followed after, which turned the frozen thing into ice dust.

[...]

[First Trial completed. I didn't expect you to know the Ice One's art.]

"I picked them up when I took over an Ice Sect of females. It was not as hard as I thought it would be."

[...]

The Phoenix didn't comment as the next Trial started.

[Second Trial! Arrows of the Phoenix! Survive the countless arrows which descend upon you!]

As the Phoenix God said that, the skies turned bright red as countless flaming arrows started to descend upon him.

Xiao Long looked at the sky. He simply lifted his hand and a massive wall appeared. Multiple texts on the walls appeared after a few short seconds.

'Barrier arts, and runic casting as well… he is full of surprises…'

The Phoenix thought to itself as she watched arrows just bounce off the wall.

Instead of breaking the wall, it looked like it just got stronger and stronger.

A few minutes later, the trial ended.

[Impressive. You have passed the Second Trial.]

After saying that the surroundings disappeared and turned into darkness before transforming into a familiar room.

It was his manor… the original one… the one which he got from Xiao Yulong.

As he walked around he noticed that, it was empty. Only one person was in the whole manor and it was his wife.

"Yue'er?"

"Husband."

As she said that the beauty approached him.

"...I wish to ask something of you." She started the conversation. With strange and ambiguous words.

"...Oh do ask." He said with a curious tone. He already knew where this was going.

"...Would you die for me?" As she said that she pulled out a knife and was about to stab him but a small profound barrier appeared in the path where she was about to stab him.

Next moment. He grabbed her hand and disarmed her.

"This is not how my wife behaves. Time for your punishment."

"...W-Wait! This…well…"

Before she could complain more, sounds of butt-smacking started. In other words… Xiao Long proceeded to smack some sense into her AND then he proceed to fuck some sense into her as well.

All Phoenix could think…is well…

Does he have a strong sense of character? He doesn't take shit even from his wife… instead of getting angry for trying to kill him, he proceeds to educate his wife in the most dominant way possible.

[Third Trial… you have passed.]

Once the Phoenix announced the end, they returned to the cave where the Phoenix spirit resides.

[You have passed all the trials and as I have promised you, I will listen to what you have to say.]

"Good to hear. As I said before I could bring you back to life. At the same time, I know that you were instructed to be the one who controls the trials and gives away the blood of Phoenix.

However, what if I say that I could make you return to life but the trials could continue?"

[...This would be acceptable. However, how would you be capable of that?]

Instead of answering he lifted his hands and created a miniature version of his Pagoda.

"I already have a small version of similar trials in my clan. Seven floors, each floor summons stronger beasts with increasing intelligence."

He showed it to the Phoenix through his barriers and array of arts, which is an impressive sight on its own.

[Interesting…how will this rebirth work?]

As he said that he pulled out an… egg…

"This is an [Earth Profound] Beast's egg. The life inside of it is not fully formed yet. Since you are a spiritual being and you have bits of your original blood we could create a perfect rebirth."

[...The only issue with your plan is that this egg could not hold my power. It would crack upon the weight of my soul and blood.]

"I agree. However…"

He then proceeded to create and add arrays to the egg… a few minutes later it was no longer a simple egg but something more…

Almost like a Profound core…in the shape of an egg.

"This will allow you to concentrate on your very being and use the egg to cause a rebirth. The more power you put into this the stronger the shell will be. Until it becomes an egg of Phoenix."

[...Why?]

"Why what?"

[All of this?]

"Because you will be part of my clan. The Feng Clan will be part of it. So will their Phoenix God."

[*Snort*]

[Fair enough. If this works. Then you have resurrected a God. I will play along. I want to see what you have in store for the future.]

After saying that, Golden orange energy rushed into the egg. The egg proceeded to change… from pure white, It started to turn golden orange.

Seconds later, a multitude of drops of blood proceeded to drop on the egg…and merge with it.

The thing was… the cultivation he could feel was absurd but at the same time it started to drop extremely fast.

In other words… The Phoenix God started to convert its cultivation into energy needed to perfect the rebirth. 

However… such a thing would mean that the Phoenix will need to re-cultivate to become a God once more. 

Eventually. The whole thing stopped and the cave turned into a regular-looking cave… Xiao Long could see that nearly a bucket of blood had been left… followed by several red pills and a broken jade slip.

All of this, he has collected swiftly and stored away.

He has done it!

He owns the Phoenix!

Yep!

Xiao Long smirked as he looked at the tattoos he has… There is his fire dragon tattoo and just next to it, there was a Fierce Storm Hawk tattoo which morphed into Divine Phoenix…

That's right… he had the egg as his contrasted beast now the contract altered and became Phoenix.

"Fantastic…" 

With extra vigour in his steps, he started to walk out from the ruins.

He saw that his darling wife was cultivating just outside the Phoenix ruins.

The moment she sensed him she swiftly stopped and got up on her feet.

She then walked over to his side. Her eyes eventually ended up on the golden orange egg.

"...This is…"

"Divine Phoenix."

"..."

"Reborn. I made a deal with the Phoenix, she will be reborn and be part of my clan."

"...Oh…wow… that's great news… you have an actual Phoenix god reborn…" The beauty tried to process that. As she didn't expect such… thing! 

Ever!

"I know right!? I got some other interesting stuff from the cave."

She nodded at him before looking at the egg.

"Oh, it reminds me. I went through the trials and the last trial was interesting."

"Hmm? What was it?"

"You, trying to kill me."

Her eyes widened as she paled when she heard that.

"So, instead of allowing you to do anything I disarmed you and then proceeded to spank that delicious rear of yours before proceeding to put you to sleep."

Hearing that her cheeks exploded to an absurd level. This was embarrassing! Why did this Phoenix thing have to put her through this!? How can she now look at her husband's face without blushing like a little girl!?

"...Husband…it was not me…"

"I know, I know. Still, I needed to tell you that. Regardless, let's return to the clan. I need to put this egg away so that it can grow properly."

"Un!"

~~~

Once they were back at the clan, Xiao Long proceeded to fly towards his manor where he created a place where the Phoenix egg can continue to grow in peace. 

To make the atmosphere even better for the egg, he created arrays which would heat the surroundings and the purest of Fire Profound energies would saturate this area. 

It was the most perfect place he could come up with.

However to make it even better, he added some sprinkles of Purifying Profound energy.

Though his adventure didn't go unnoticed. The Phoenix maids were already on the case.

"...Young Master…"

"That is…"

The girls can sense… something…their blood is telling them… that egg is VERY special…

"The Divine Phoenix. I have turned it into an egg. After passing the trial I made a deal with it. Now the Phoenix is mine… in the most literal sense."

As he said that he showed his hand. 

The tattoo of Phoenix.

"...No way…"

"Not only you brought it back to life but you made it…into a Contracted beast!?"

Their God…was a contracted beast of Xiao Long…

If the rest of the world finds out about this!

Hell, even the Divine Phoenix Empire will bow its head in submission!

"Indeed. As a bonus, I got a whole bucket of blood, some Phoenix Pills and a Profound Arts manual with stages 5 and 6. 

The girls' minds turned blank… this was absurd…

"...Young Master… our lives belong to you… there is nothing more we can give to you."

"That is correct. I will teach you this at a later date. So far, I still need to lift the village into the air."

The maids nodded at him… they were desperate now… things are crumbling around them. With Xiao Long having Phoenix itself and people with purer bloodlines, they could lose everything if they are not careful.

Truly…seriously difficult times are coming!

~~~

Unlike before, Xiao Long now has experience on how to lift the village. 

In his mind, he has an improved schematic of how the Arrays and Formations would look like.

It will look like the plus symbol just like before, however, the gathering of the Profound energy array will be much more potent with its draining capacities. 

So, to start with that, he dug in the middle of the village, the same way he did in his floating village, then proceeded to create another hall deep underground. Then, he proceeded to lay down the array. 

In a few short hours he was done with the array. Now, it was time to make the tunnels and place the formations at the end of those tunnels. 

Short work, but it was monotonous.

Once those were done, he proceeded to start the array's Profound Energy gathering process.

In the meantime, as the array started to gather the energy, the Young Master improved upon that while using his Transcended Focus. He could see how Profound energy was flowing.

So, this way he proceeded to improve the flow by adding the same arrays he is using in his Floating Island.

Those arrays turn profound energy into Wind Profound Energy to flow, once close to the main array they transform right back into the original form.

'The Remnant Soul of the Phoenix has saturated the area with Profound Energy, which will accelerate the gathering…'

However, he was not done. Since they are collecting everything from this area, he will take the Profound Energy as well.

This means he will be rerouting the entirety of the area's Profound energy into the array.

And this was not hard… as his men were everywhere in the forest, collecting beasts…so all he needed was to drop formation rods all over the area and then just wait for the magic to happen.

With all the preparation done, Xiao Long returned to the village.

He went to see the village head who was waiting for him patiently. They all already noticed what was happening.

"Young Master. We have heard the news. My clan is fully committing itself to your rule. I never thought there would come a day when someone will rebirth the Great and Divine Phoenix God." Feng Baichuan said with a respectful tone. His wife and his children followed suit as they respectfully bowed to him.

"This is fine. Now let me see the cursed seal." As he said that he motioned for him to come over he made several small barrier walls appear as he proceeded to analyse the seal.

'Interesting design… I could copy this… and rework some aspects…'

He realised that he could make something similar using any sort of blood…as long as he gets someone's blood.

It appears the trip to the village had a value far, far greater than he ever thought!

He got more labour, a God Beast as a pet, then Phoenix blood for research…and now he got this curse to study…

Truly… he should leave his clan grounds more often!

"...And done…"

That moment the Village head experienced a breakthrough to [First of Nascent Profound]!

"...I-I incredible!"

"Waaa! Young Master is amazing! It only took you a few short minutes to lift the seal!" The girl exclaimed loudly as she had stars in her eyes.

~~~

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