Chapter 221: Phoenix Blood Stone

Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii

On the bustling street, a group of men and women turned heads frequently, especially the two women, one older and one younger, each showcasing their own unique charm, making people’s imaginations run wild.

The most enviable was the ordinary-looking man in the middle of the three men. His cultivation was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet the beautiful woman was clinging to his arm.

Li Haoran maintained a stoic expression. Despite Su Yiren’s seemingly delicate demeanor, she was a genuine Unity Stage cultivator. If she wanted to hold on to him, he had no chance of breaking free.

Turning calmly to meet Su Yiren’s gaze, he said, “I know you really want to walk with me, but please control your strength. This is the third time you’ve broken my arm.”

Li Haoran shook his arm to show that it was seriously injured.

Su Yiren quickly took out a healing pill from her storage ring and mended his bone.

Given Su Yiren’s cultivation level, she shouldn’t have such control issues. Li Haoran could only attribute it to her excitement of being with him, causing her to lose control of her strength.

“You didn’t even scream when your bone broke?” Qin Yanyan looked at Li Haoran in astonishment. Did this man not feel pain?

Li Haoran chuckled, “After soaking in magma for a year, I don’t know what pain is anymore.”

Recalling his early days in the sect when his master threw him into magma, Li Haoran felt he survived purely by luck.

“Magma? For a year?” Qin Yanyan’s eyes widened. Was he even human?

Li Haoran spoke wistfully, “When I first entered the magma, I screamed my lungs out. The pain was unbearable, and I kept screaming until my voice went hoarse, but the pain remained.”

“My master wouldn’t let anyone help me, insisting I overcome it on my own. Senior Sister Zhou Lulu couldn’t bear to see me suffer, so she secretly brought me a cup of water infused with rare herbs, saying it would help alleviate my condition.”

Qin Yanyan shuddered at the thought of being in magma herself and couldn’t help but ask, “Did it help you adapt to the magma faster?”

“It was a hundred-year-old monk fruit soaked in water. Senior Sister Zhou saw my throat was hoarse from screaming and brought it to soothe my throat.”

Qin Yanyan: “…”

Since Lu Yang learned that Li Haoran had been soaked in magma for a year by Elder Zhou Xin, he no longer thought it was a big deal for his senior sister to bathe him in boiling water.

To be fair, if Li Haoran weren’t a fire spiritual root, Elder Zhou wouldn’t have dared to immerse him in magma. It was a unique cultivation method for fire spiritual roots.

Each single spiritual root of the five elements had its exclusive cultivation methods. For example, fire spiritual roots could soak in magma or be burned by fire to comprehend fire-related spells or abilities, such as Li Haoran mastering artifact refining.

Earth spiritual roots could be buried in the ground to learn earth escape techniques.

Water spiritual roots could be thrown into water to comprehend water control techniques.

However, there were exceptions.

Lu Yang had heard that Senior Brother Dai Bufan, who had a water spiritual root, was thrown into a pool by the Grand Elder, hoping he would comprehend water control or underwater breathing techniques. But unfortunately, he comprehended space techniques instead, drinking all the water in the pool.

“Dear niece, what do you fancy? Uncle will buy it for you,” Meng Jingzhou teased Qin Yanyan, boasting about his wealth.

Qin Yanyan was infuriated at being called “niece” by Meng Jingzhou but had no way to retaliate.

“What is this?” Qin Yanyan tried to change the subject, pointing to a blood-red stone being sold by the roadside.

The stone was bright and vivid, naturally formed, and reflected an enchanting light under the sun.

“Oh, that’s a Phoenix Blood Stone, a specialty of Luofeng County.”

“Phoenix Blood Stone?” Everyone except Su Yiren hadn’t heard of this stone before.

Li Haoran explained, “You may have heard of our Luofeng County’s origin story. Long ago, a pure-blooded phoenix flew freely between heaven and earth. But it grew too old to fly and found a place to rest, falling into an eternal sleep.”

“The old phoenix’s bones and flesh turned into hills,” Li Haoran pointed to the distant mountains vaguely surrounding Luofeng County, “Do you see those mountains? Don’t they resemble a phoenix?”

“The phoenix’s feathers turned into forest trees, which is why there are so many red plants on the hills.”

“The phoenix’s blood stained the stones, which are now known as Phoenix Blood Stones.”

Lu Yang wondered if this was a phoenix or Pangu. (TL Note: Pangu is a primordial being and creation figure in Chinese mythology and Taoism. According to the legend, Pangu separated heaven and earth, and his body later became geographic features such as mountains and roaring water. )

“When I was a child, I thought it was just a legend. But when I joined the Dao Seeking Sect and learned artifact refining, I found out that Phoenix Blood Stones are indeed stained by phoenix blood. They are excellent materials for artifact refining.”

“A phoenix…” The Everlasting Fairy, hearing this long-forgotten term, recalled some memories.

“Back then, not only the qilin but also dragons and phoenixes had the potential to become immortals. Both the dragon and phoenix clans meticulously nurtured two talented youths, with unparalleled gifts and strong support from their clans, giving them a high chance of becoming immortals.”

“In contrast, although the qilin was called Heaven’s favorite, it actually meant it had no roots and was weak. Most of the demon clans didn’t think highly of him.”

“The qilin faced many strong enemies and was often defeated. Yet, he rose rapidly within the demon clans, overcoming enemies he shouldn’t have been able to defeat. His ariya-phala concept was similar to those of the dragon and phoenix clan prodigies. To become an immortal, a deadly battle was inevitable.”

“With immense fortune, the qilin fought and defeated the dragon and phoenix clan prodigies, achieving the ariya-phala and becoming the Qilin Immortal.”

“Did the Qilin Immortal kill the dragon and phoenix prodigies?” Despite the Everlasting Fairy’s calm tone, Lu Yang detected a hint of cruelty.

Yes, becoming an immortal wasn’t child’s play. The winner took all, and the loser might lose everything, including their life.

“No, they got married.”

“What?”

“Demons admire strength. After losing to the Qilin Immortal, the dragon and phoenix prodigies fell in love with him. Eventually, they got married. I wanted to attend the Qilin Immortal’s wedding, but he said I was too beautiful and would steal their thunder, so he didn’t let me come.”

“What a shame. I was planning to showcase my skills at the wedding.”

“What skills did you want to showcase?”

“Cooking, of course. Let me tell you, those four couldn’t cook at all. I was the only one who could cook.” The Everlasting Fairy looked disdainful, feeling that the four of them were disgraceful.

Lu Yang thought it made sense that the Qilin Immortal didn’t invite the Everlasting Fairy.

After all, with many guests at the wedding, if the Everlasting Fairy cooked, there wouldn’t be enough antidote to go around.

“Later, I thought, since it’s a friend’s wedding, I should give a gift. So, I gave them an immortal fruit blessed by me, with a note saying ‘For the most beautiful demon.'”

“I heard this gift caused quite a stir. Maybe they had never seen such a precious gift before.”

Lu Yang was silent for a few seconds before asking, “How many immortal fruits did you give?”

“One.”

Lu Yang sighed deeply, “You thrive on chaos, don’t you?”

“Ah, why?”

(End of the chapter)