12 Evolution
It had been another week since he had killed Xia Yuanba, and Hong Chen had already comprehended the first stage of the [Star God's Broken Shadow], which almost broke Jasmine.
'It…It took me almost 3 months to comprehend the 1st stage of the [Star God's Broken Shadow].' She thought as she saw him perform it in his room while she was sitting on his bed with a dumbfounded expression.
"Looks like we will be able to heal you sooner." Said Hong Chen as he made his way to the bed and relaxed.
"Okay. This is just ridiculous! What in the world are you!?"
"Didn't I tell you? I was a Spring Autumn Cicada"
"You can't be serious with that!?"
Hong Chen just turned his head and looked out the window as if he was contemplating the dao of heaven.
Jasmine was mesmerized when she saw the moonlight fall on Hong Chen's face and he seemed almost ethereal.
'Being good-looking is such a convenience! Had I been a fat, greasy man with a receding hairline, I don't think I could've pulled any girl even with all this talent.' He thought as he saw the blush appear on Jasmine's face.
In this week, he had taken a step further in his flirting with Cang Yue, who appeared to have a crush on him.
A handsome powerful man, who had a mysterious background and was also humble in nature. Leave Cang Yue, even many powers of the Blue Wind Empire were very interested in him as he had sensed quite a few spies shadowing him in the last 2-3 days.
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Hong Chen would always take Cang Yue's hand in his own while they walked together and almost always ignore the existence of Murong Ye, while also standing really close to her every time.
Sometimes in mid-conversation about medicines or missions, he would tuck her purple hair behind her ear, which always flustered her.
Initially, Cang Yue was very embarrassed and shy, pushing him away every time, but how can she just push away a Spirit Profound Realm practitioner?
She realized this as well and just accepted the fact in her heart that Hong Chen was pursuing her romantically and felt a little guilty about not telling him about her background, or even her real name.
She still used the name Lan Xueruo, whose meaning, as Hong Chen pointed out quite suited her as she was pure as the white snow, and distant away from the corruption and impurities of the world.
That was the first time she had felt waves in her heart for Hong Chen as the name "Lan Xueruo" comes from "Lan" which was the surname of her mother and "Xueruo" before her mother passed away.
She felt validated and was extremely emotional to find someone who understood her so intimately as her mother was very close to her heart and it was the exact same thing she thought before using her name as an alias.
Qin Wuyou's banquet was still weeks away, and Hong Chen although found these days to be quite relaxing and enjoyable, was starting to get impatient and worried in his heart.
In the entire week since the day he killed Xia Yuanba, his every [Divination] would show one or the other omen in which something very bad was happening to him.
He was not entirely sure as to who wanted to harm him, but with the kind of twisted plan he had in his mind, he was not very surprised.
Still, he was on the edge and was feeling fear for the first time in his life.
He was also quite surprised that even Xia Yuanba's disappearance didn't raise any investigation.
'Can't drag this any longer.'
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"Just monitor that kid. We need to know if he is from the four Major sects or not. Although Chances are low, I feel that he is from the Heavenly Sword Villa."
"Understood Master."
Hong Chen was using [Legilimency] on one of the spies who was staking out his room after Apparating behind him, and after thoroughly searching his mind, he returned to his room.
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Cang Yue these days had only one person in her mind and it was Hong Chen. It was blatantly obvious to everyone that they were going to be a thing sooner or later and it made her very nervous these days.
She never wanted to start something based on a lie, and she couldn't delay it any longer as well. She understood that Hong Chen was going to be the best genius she could ever find for representing the Blue Wind Profound Palace in the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament and she decided to approach him for it today.
It was the morning and there was finally some news about a student running away from the New Moon Profound Palace.
"Hey guys, did you hear? The kid from Xia Family ran away from the palace."
"Yeah! Apparently he was being bullied by his classmates. It is sad."
"I heard Elder Han will go to the Xia Family next month in the Floating Cloud City to get him back."
Hong Chen was not volunteering in the Infirmary today and was learning the magical patterns and inscriptions on the [Mirror of Erised] when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
He didn't need to open his door to check that it was Chang Yue who had come here. He sensed her coming the moment she started walking towards his room from hers.
"Well well, Today will be a very happy day now that I've seen you, Sister Xuerue."
Cang Yue smiled at Hong Chen before replying
"Wouldn't you invite Sister inside?"
"Oh Please! By all means, come."
They both got seated on the sofa in his room as Hong Chen took out tea from his storage ring and poured a cup to her.
"So, To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Why? Can't I just come without any reason to talk to you, Brother Chen?"
Hong Chen smiled at her playful retort and was going to say something when Cang Yue suddenly pulled out an envelope from her sleeves and put it on the table.
"Brother Chen, there is going to be a banquet in about 5 days to honour the new Palace Chief. This is an invitation for you to attend it."
Hong Chen looked at the envelope and then shook his head.
"No Senior Sister. I have decided that I am going to be taking a leave from the New Moon Profound Palace for some time. I will not be attending this banquet."
Cang Yue's face suddenly lost its colour.
'He is going to take a leave? But I have yet to tell him about my true identity, about..about why I came here. I want to ask him for his help! He can't go out safely when there are so many people shadowing him every moment! His life will be in danger as soon as he steps out. No…'
A whirlwind of thoughts were swirling inside of her head as she heard Hong Chen going to apply for a leave,.
"Why-"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that."
The resolute refusion of Hong Chen made Cang Yue's eyes a little red.
She had put all her hopes of the Blue Wind Tournament on Hong Chen, and in these past few days, have also realized in her heart that she had a huge crush on him.
Now if Hong Chen leaves the New Moon Profound Palace before the Banquet, she won't have a chance to tell him about her identity and he didn't even tell her when he would come back.
'I can't wait till Banquet' She told herself in her heart after which she looked at Hong Chen who was leisurely sitting on his sofa and sipping his tea.
"Brother Chen, There is something else I had been meaning to talk to you about."
"Oh? Then please do, Sister Xueruo, I am, all ears."
"I..I want to invite you to the Blue Wind Profound Palace, in the Blue Wind Imperial City."
Hong Chen looked at her with a raised brow and gestured her to continue.
"Actually. I want you to take part in the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament in five months and represent my Blue Wind Imperial Family"
Hong Chen put down his cup and looked at Cang Yue with inquisitive eyes, before pouring himself another cup of tea and saying
"To be able to invite me into and make me represent the Imperial Family, who are you, Sister Lan Xueruo?"
"It's..Cang Yue. My real name is Cang Yue. I am the princess of the Blue Wind Empire."
Cang Yue took out the Imperial Family Decree at this moment and Hong Chen just kept staring at her.
"So all this time, everything that happened between us. It was all fake? Just so you could recruit me?"
Hearing Hong Chen's voice which was devoid of any emotion, Cang Yue panicked and immediately said
"No! Nothing was fake. Although I admit that I approached you for the reason of recruiting you, but I cannot deny that I do have feelings for you!"
A look of surprise appeared on her face as she confessed it and she instantly put her head down in embarrassment, waiting for Hong Chen's reply but when the reply didn't come, she looked up only to suddenly find his lips on hers.
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The sounds of the bedsheets rustling in Hong Chen's bedroom couldn't escape outside due to his privacy charms on the door but for the amount of time they were together in his room, both Hong Chen's and Cang Yue's stalkers realized what transpired today.
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A bright smile was on Hong Chen's lips as he was sitting reclined with the support of the headboard on his bed as a quilt bedding covered most of his naked chest while Cang Yue rested her head on his chest with a smile on her rosy face.
Hong Chen finally not only lost his virginity but also felt a lot better as seeing his death in almost all his Divination had put him on the edge.
He was really just too ambitious with his plans and after changing them again and again, he simply wondered if he had come to the wrong world.
Had it been better for him to have chosen a lower-tiered world?
His head was a lot more clear now and when he felt Cang Yue wake up, he asked with a smile.
"So does that mean that I am the future Emperor Consort of the Blue Wind Empire now?"
Can Yue's face brightened up when she heard it and the blush which was starting to go away came back in full.
She had not thought that this would happen when she had come to Hong Chen yesterday. She thought that he would be angry, and was prepared for his anger, but what she wasn't prepared for, was things to escalate so fast that her mind couldn't even keep up.
Hong Chen had picked her up from the sofa while he was kissing her cherry lips, and placed her on the bed.
She did try to defend everything at first, but she found that her hands have lost all their strength.
'Maybe it was due to my anxiety?' she thought as she remembered her struggle melt away in his kisses and before long, he was inside her.
It pained at first, but slowly and slowly a wave of pleasure struck her and she started to reciprocate.
"Chen'er…Will you participate in the Blue Wind Ranking TOurnament?"
Hong Chen smiled at her which instantly relieved all her stress and she hugged him even more.
"You can go back to the Imperial City now. I still have to do some things before I come to the Imperial Capital."
"I understand. Please be careful. You can take my flying beast, It will help you lose the spies who are watching you."
"Meh, I don't need any birdie right now. To tell you the truth, it will be an inconvenience for me. I am going to do something long due and when I come to the Imperial City, you will finally know about my real background."
Cang Yue's eyes suddenly widened and she exclaimed
"I KNEW IT! I knew you didn't come from the Wastelands of Death!"
"Well, Don't worry, you will know soon enough."
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In the evening, Hong Chen saw her off as she flew away on her flying bird and after he could no longer see her, his face flashed with a dangerous glint and he disappeared from his place.
"Huh!? What movement technique was that!? Where did Brother Chen go?"
His stalkers were surprised to see Hong Chen just vanish while all the spies who were shadowing him started frantically spreading their profound senses and to search for Hong Chen, but to no avail.
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A month had passed since he came out and disappeared from the New Moon Profound Palace, and Hong Chen was finally standing in front of the cursed Phoenix Tribe.
"Hey, Look! That Brother doesn't look like those bad guys. His is so handsome!"
Suddenly, as if on queue, many children from the Phoenix Tribe started to surround Hong Chen and it didn't take long for the elder of the village to come and greet him.
"I don't know who the Excellency is?" He said in a respectful tone as he could see at a glance that Hong Chen was not someone who should be underestimated.
"Well, Why don't we discuss it in a little private?"
The elder couldn't really refuse him, and hence took him to his hut.
"Tell me, Your Excellency? What did you want to discuss?"
The Elder, Feng Baichuan, expected an answer but what he got was a heart attack.
'Use the Phonix Bloodline'
[Cursed Phoenix Bloodline used]
An excruciating pain attacked Hong Chen as his cultivation was sealed in the Elementary Profound Realm while the blood of the Evil God was fighting the curse, but instead of feeling sad or angry about it, he smiled.
Hong Chen was not going to just walk into the trial grounds of one of the Three Supreme Fire Attribute Beasts, and hoped that the guardian's residual soul there would allow him to take the trial as per the canon timeline.
He had changed far too many variables already and he was going to change a lot more, and the butterfly effect cannot be ignored.
While walking with the Tribe Head, Hong Chen had already dug out all the information on the Phoenix Tribe, the Divine Phoenix Empire, which was going to be his new cover and the Phoenix Trial ground.
He was not feeling like interacting with these commoners more than he needed to, and just apparated inside the trial grounds.
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Jasmine had grown attached to Hong Chen. He would always give her new things to play with which she had never seen in her life and her obsession with knowing about his real identity was making her crazy.
She had a lot of doubts about his story of being a Spring Autumn Cicada and she just couldn't accept it, growing impatient each day, but he would always treat her nicely, comb her hair, and give her gifts.
It enlarged the sweet spot of him inside of her heart, and because she was recovering at a faster rate than usual due to the enchanted bed he had given her, her Divine Origin was getting restored.
'Hehehehe…Now I'll see how you block my senses from spying outside of the [Sky Poison Pearl].' She thought as she started using the Pearl's greenish air to continue to refine the [Absolute God Slaying Poison].
In fact, Hong Chen knew about Jasmine being able to restore her Divine Origin soon and it was exactly because of this reason that he waited till now to arrive here.
In the original novel, she helps Yun Che out multiple times and because of that, the poison keeps rebounding and makes her health worse, but now, she was going to restore it sooner and Hong Chen's plan was finally able to bear its first fruit.
Like the original, the remnant soul of the Phoenix came and greeted him, and because he was from the Phoneix Bloodline, he was allowed to take the trial.
Because of his mastery over the [Star God's Broken Shadow], [Wind Lightning Movement], and his complete immunity to Fire, he had no problems in passing the first 2 trials, while in the last trial, because of his mastery over [Occlumancy], Hong Chen had created false memories very similar to Yun Che's and purposely failed the test to show Phoenix that he had empathy and could not kill the people he loved even for power.
"I am surprised. In all those years, Everyone would kill their loved ones to gain the powerful legacy of the Phoneix God, but you, after such a long time, someone like you came. I am happy to say that you have passed the trial with flying colours, Young Man."
"I passed?"
"Yes, and because you also have the bloodline of the Evil God, I will grant you 3 drops of Phoenix Blood, instead of 1. I think you have earned it."
With a dumbfounded expression, Hong Chen received the 3 blood drops of the Phoenix God and felt the shackles which still bound him to humanity shake and shatter.
[User is going through a metamorphosis.]
[[Blood of the Evil God], [Blood of the Phoenix God], [Purple Void Lighnting], [Bone Chilling Flame] and [Purple Cloud Black Fire Eagle Wings] have started a cohesive interpolation.]
[Salavation is upgrading with user]
[[Divination], [Occlumancy] and [Legilimancy] have started to merge]
[Experience of [Wind Lighinng Movement] is being transferred to the [Star God's Broken Shadow]]
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Series after series of notifications started coming to Hong Chen's mind as in the shocking eyes of not only Phoenix, but also Jasmine, who had just restored her Divine Origin and peeked through the [Sky Poison Pearl], Hong Chen's clothes burned away, after which his entire being was covered in white flames and purple lightning.
The entire temperature of the trial grounds started to rise at an alarming rate, when suddenly two beautiful Phoenix wings burst out of his back and his cultivation started to breakthrough level after level and finally stopped when it reached the peak of the Spirit Profound Realm.
After a long time, the white chilly flames and the purple arc of thunder receded inside of Hong Chen and his whole temperament changed.
His hair grew a little, but his previously handsome face had become even more enchanting.
With golden white phoenix wings on his back, he seemed like a literal god standing among mere mortals and the Phoenix couldn't be more shocked if she tried.
"In all these years, no one had ever received the blessing of the Phoenix wings…"
Hong Chen, on the other hand interrupted her when he suddenly summoned a Skill Scroll of the [A Million Lightning Blades], and literally, a million blades appeared in the trial grounds made of extremely frightening power of a Dou Ancestor and attacked the remannt Phoenix soul guarding the trial grounds.
The Phoneix wasn't prepared, and was struck down with a hair raising screech and uttered "Why.."
"I am sorry, But I have to help someone very important to me, and the only way I can do that is to get all the drops of blood you have of the Phoenix God."
"You Stupid Mortal! You dare strike me? You think you can walk out of here alive after this? Not even your soul will leave these holy grounds."
It was a remnant soul of a Phonix which was assigned by the Phoneix God to guard the trial grounds, and hence she wasn't something which could be killed instantly.
The walls of the trail ground started buzzing as Hong Chen felt an earthquake starting to shake the entire mountain.
Jasmine, who was watcihng all of this with shocked eyes suddenly came out of her stupor and instantly used her powers to break out of the [Sky Poison Pearl], and attack the Phoenix which was rising from the ground, and starting to perform a dance from the [World Ode of the Phoenix].
"You stupid idiot Disciple! You never sully the trial grounds of gods! It is a taboo!" screamed Jasmine as her attack fell on the Phoneix and tear drops came to her eyes because she heard him say that she was very close to him and he committed such a taboo for her.
"I need to get stronger to help you, Jasmine" replied Hong Chen with a sad smile as he summoned a purple lighting bolt to his hand and attacked the Phoenix.
The Phoenix who had a chance against Hong Chen before suddenly lost everything when Jamsine decided to strike, and unexpectedly enough, Hong Chen's lightning bolt started to tear her soul apart.
With a cry that could be heard from miles away, the Phoenix perished, leaving behind some words in the ancient language of gods as 9 more blood drops fell from her body, with few Divine Phoenix Pellets and an incomplete [World Ode of the Phoenix].
"Chen.."
Jasmine suddenly fainted as the use of her Divine Origin to kill a holy beast like Phoenix brought back the [Absolute God Slaying Poison] to attack her, and Hong Chen quickly sucked her into the [Sky Poison Pearl].
"Finally, everything happened as it should have. Now only if everything is just this smooth from now on."
Hong Chen quickly collected the [World Ode of the Phoenix] and directly swallowed the blood drops of the Phoenix after which he took the Divine Phoneix Pellet, and started running the [Three Nuclei Empyrean Mantra].
More Phoenix blood turned his original white flame a little golden, and soon, his cultivation broke through to the 3rd Star of the Dou Spirit realm, which was equivalent to the Earth Profound Realm in the world of [Against the Gods].
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The Cursed Phoenix tribe was terrified as they were not able to find their Tribe head and were panicking because of the angry cry of the phoenix which came from the Trial grounds and the earthquake which broke their huts.
The entire Phoenix tribe went on their knees and started praying to their Phoenix God to forgive them when they all felt their curse being lifted from their foreheads and their cultivation starting to gradually come back.
But before they could understand the why and how of the situation and be ecstatic about it, every one of them, from the elderly to children suffered a heart attack and they all vanished from their places.
'Just Salvage Everything. It's Phoenix Bloodline after all, It's got to be worth it'
[[Phoenix Bloodline] x 54 Salvaged. Rewarded: 27000 Salvage Shards]
'Why is it so less? Status'
[Status]
[Name: Hong Chen
Age: 15 (+10 months)
Physical Attribute: 501
Mental Attribute: 516
Bloodline: The Eternal Divine
Domain: Divine Domain (1/10000 Minor)
Cultivation: 3-Star Dou Spirit / Earth Profound Realm
Professions: Inscriptions(1344/5000 Major)
Skills: Three Nuclei Empyrean Mantra(900/5000 Minor), Oscillating Thunder(844/4000 Major), Crazy Lion Roar(Evolve: 9500 Salvage Shards), Absolute Mind Arts(Evolve: 20000 Salvage Shards), Apparition(Evolve: 15000 Salvage Shards), Star God's Broken Shadow (1770/3000 Minor)
Treasures: Salvation, Sky Poison Pearl(Evolve: Locked), The Mirror of Samsara(unrefined)
Special Skills: Evil God's Secret Arts (141/4000 Minor), World Ode of the Phoenix (1/4000 Minor)
Equipment: Cloak of Invisibility(Evolve: 13000 Salvage Shards), 1 x Skill Scroll [A Million Lightning Blades] (Power: 1 Star Dou Ancestor), [Gu Prontiff Shard], Mirror of Erised
Salvage Shards: 38722]
