“If you want my blood, then it depends on whether you have the ability.” Si Lingxi said coldly.
The next moment, the phoenix phantom behind her shone even more brilliantly, like a small sun truly burning within the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm.
It illuminated the entire realm in a fiery red hue, as if all the demonic qi had been scorched away, incinerating heaven and earth.
Lu Zheng and the other two watched, dazzled and entranced.
To confront the heavens with the power of one person alone, what tremendous might. The fire phoenix spread its wings and soared, its phoenix prestige dominating sky and earth. The whole demon realm seemed to tremble beneath its flapping wings.
“What a fine fire phoenix. Worthy of being the core direct descendant of the phoenix clan in this realm. In just three thousand years, she has reached such attainment. Not bad, not bad at all.”
The Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor laughed strangely. “It is precisely the blood of a phoenix clan heaven’s pride like this that can allow this ancestor to refine a supreme phoenix demon flame. Excellent, truly excellent!”
Si Lingxi’s phoenix divine fire spread across the sky, rivalling the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm in brilliance.
Yet Lu Zheng observed carefully and noticed that Si Lingxi seemed somewhat unable to sustain her strength, as if something was holding her back.
The demonic desire divine blood?
Sure enough, the Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor immediately resolved Lu Zheng’s doubt. “Come on, come on. The harder you fight, the faster the demonic desire divine blood in your body will flare up. Under the burning of desire fire, it will not be a phoenix nirvana, but self-immolation and death. Hahaha!”
Si Lingxi’s expression darkened, yet she remained unmoved and continued to unleash her full power.
The Great Dark Heaven Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor had resolved not to show himself. At this moment, Si Lingxi had no better option and could only force her way through, gambling that she could break the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm before the demonic desire divine blood in her body erupted.
As long as she broke the realm, she could take Lu Zheng and the other two and fly back to Phoenix Mountain. The Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor would not be able to stop her at all.
Phoenix Mountain was connected to the underground fire veins. She had stood there for three thousand years and had set up countless curse seal arrays in the surrounding area. As long as she returned to Phoenix Mountain, this Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor would be powerless against her.
Between waves of her hands, Si Lingxi urged the phoenix divine fire to scorch the demon realm.
The four demonic creatures waved their banners, activating the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm to erode the valley.
The Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor hid in the shadows, secretly stimulating the demonic desire divine blood to restrain Si Lingxi.
Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan, and the other woman guarded Si Lingxi’s sides. While protected by her, they also did everything they could to help her wear down the valley’s demonic qi.
Ninety-nine and eighty-one days?
Si Lingxi did not want to drag it out even for a single day.
She even stimulated the phoenix origin in her dantian. The phoenix bloodline temporarily suppressed the demonic desire divine blood within her. The phoenix divine fire’s power surged greatly, actually stirring up a vast sea of flames that caused the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm to shake and sway violently.
However…
From deep within the earth veins, the Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor finally acted. He temporarily stopped manipulating the demonic desire divine blood. A profound surge of demonic qi rose from underground, strengthening the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm once more.
Si Lingxi’s eyes lit up. A flame as bright as daylight suddenly appeared at her fingertip. It shot swiftly upwards, then she swept up Lu Zheng and the other two with a wave of her hand and streaked through the air.
Just as she was about to burn through the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm, a twisted demonic shadow suddenly appeared before her. “Demonic desire clouds the heart!”
Si Lingxi paused for an instant and reached out, only to find that the demonic shadow gave her no chance at all. It vanished in a flash, disappearing without trace.
Just one step short!
Just one step short. Si Lingxi had been blocked for a moment by the Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor, yet she failed to seize him. The Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm stabilised again. The demon ancestor freed his hands once more, causing the demonic desire divine blood in her body to counter-attack.
Feeling the vast yet unsustainable mana still within her, Si Lingxi’s heart sank.
Her best opportunity had been missed…
Returning to the ground, seeing Liu Qingyan, Shen Ying, and Lu Zheng still shielding her in front, Si Lingxi could not help feeling deeply touched.
“This matter is my fault for implicating you all.” Si Lingxi took a deep breath and spoke in a low tone.
“Palace Master, what are you saying?” Shen Ying smiled. “Are we the kind of people who fear death?”
Liu Qingyan nodded repeatedly, her face full of determination.
Si Lingxi turned to look at Lu Zheng and saw that although his expression was serious, he showed no trace of fear.
“You still believe in me?” Si Lingxi asked curiously.
Lu Zheng looked back at her and even managed a smile. “I remember Palace Master once said that if that old demon dared appear before you, you would burn him to death with one blaze.”
A rare blush appeared on Si Lingxi’s face.
By nature cool and aloof, she usually spoke little, let alone boasted. The one time she had made a bold claim, months later she had been proven wrong.
“I did not expect it either.” Si Lingxi shook her head. “I did not expect him to go to such lengths just to deal with me.”
Normally, the Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor was no match for her at all.
Seeing that the three still believed in her, Si Lingxi’s expression grew resolute. She declared firmly, “Rest assured, I will definitely get you all out of this realm!”
Si Lingxi was confident that if she actively triggered the demonic desire divine blood in her body and fused it with her phoenix bloodline, she could erupt with tremendous power in an instant.
She had already tested it moments ago. She could definitely break the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm and send Lu Zheng and the other two away.
Of course, the price would be…
“Jie jie jie! Si Lingxi!” The triumphant voice of the Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor rang out. “You have consumed your phoenix origin divine blood. Let alone ninety-nine and eighty-one days, I doubt you can last even three days.
How does it feel? Has the demonic desire divine blood already eroded you? Are the six desires entering your heart?”
Si Lingxi remained silent.
Lu Zheng blinked. He had already tried his Earth Travel Technique and Storm Immortal Flight, and neither could escape the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm. If Si Lingxi also could not take the three of them out, then only one method remained.
Though Si Lingxi was far stronger than him, she clearly belonged to the lawful good alignment, was his friend, and had no covetous thoughts towards the Cloud Palace Treasure Mirror.
So…
It should be fine… right?
On this side, Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying had already taken Lu Zheng’s arms, one on each side.
Lu Zheng looked left and right. Both women were smiling at him, though a hint of regret showed in their smiles.
“I cannot grow old together with my beloved Lu.” Liu Qingyan said softly with a smile.
“To have met Lu Lang is already heaven’s greatest fortune for this concubine. Though our time was short, I have no regrets. Only Lu Lang…”
After Shen Ying finished, she and Liu Qingyan turned together to look at Si Lingxi, determination flashing in their eyes.
Si Lingxi understood the two women’s intent. She turned her gaze to Lu Zheng, scenes flashing through her mind.
Playing chess, cooking, telling stories…
A tune of “Phoenix Command”, a painting of “Phoenix Maiden Playing the Qin”…
Unknowingly, she had already developed feelings for him.
What a pity. The only thing she could still do for him was one final act.
With a wave of her hand, Si Lingxi sent out a curtain of phoenix divine fire that blocked all directions like a screen, cutting off outside detection.
“Jie jie jie! Si Lingxi, you are not overcome by the six desires and planning to use this boy as an antidote, are you? With only a thousand-odd years of cultivation, he cannot withstand it!”
Si Lingxi ignored the demon ancestor’s nonsense. She took a deep breath, glanced at Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying, then turned to Lu Zheng. Shame, desire, affection, and finally a trace of resolve flickered in her eyes.
“Palace Master Si?”
Neither Liu Qingyan nor Shen Ying believed Si Lingxi would harm Lu Zheng, so they only felt slight worry, unsure what she intended.
“I have already been eroded by the demonic desire divine blood. I cannot escape being refined. But you three do not need to die with me.”
Si Lingxi spoke gravely. “I am now going to unite with Lu Zheng and pass a trace of phoenix origin to him, lending him strength.
Then I will trigger the demonic blood and actively undergo nirvana, breaking the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm in one burst and sending you away to return to Phoenix Mountain.
With my phoenix origin, Lu Zheng will be able to activate the great array of Phoenix Mountain. From then on, he will be the master of Phoenix Mountain!”
Lu Zheng: ???
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying both drew in a sharp breath. They nodded together, turned to Lu Zheng, and prepared to help him undress.
Lu Zheng: !!!
Seeing the three women decide everything in a few words, Lu Zheng stared in shock. He pushed away the hands undoing his belt. “Have any of you asked for my opinion?”
Si Lingxi’s eyes flickered. “You are unwilling?”
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying thought Lu Zheng was concerned for them and both pulled at his hands. “Lu Lang, do not be wilful.”
“Ahem!” Lu Zheng coughed dryly and hurriedly said, “Actually, none of us need to die!”
Si Lingxi smiled and shook her head. “Impossible. This is the only way.”
“How so?” Si Lingxi blinked, her jade-like face flushing. A trace of charm suddenly appeared on her. “Is it that you look down on me?”
“Of course not!” Lu Zheng smiled bitterly. “I simply do not want to take advantage of someone in danger. Because I have a way to escape. Earlier, seeing you still trying hard, I thought there was still a chance, so I did not mention it. I did not expect you to suddenly use your origin…”
“How could that be possible?” Si Lingxi shook her head. “Whether Earth Travel Technique or Storm Immortal Flight, neither spell can break the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Realm.”
Lu Zheng’s lips curved. He asked Si Lingxi seriously, “If you suddenly left, would that old demon discover how you did it?”
Though unclear why Lu Zheng asked this, Si Lingxi still replied, “This is the phoenix heavenly curtain I set up. It temporarily isolates the outside. While my mana sustains it, he cannot even manipulate the demonic blood in my body. However, this curtain can only last one or two days.”
“That is good!”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Hold my hand.”
Lu Zheng took Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying’s arms, one on each side, then extended his right hand towards Si Lingxi.
Though everything had already been spoken openly, when their hands met, Lu Zheng still felt Si Lingxi’s jade hand burning hot. Because her heart was stirred, it triggered the demonic blood within her. The six desires entered her heart, and she could not help trembling lightly.
“Oh, right. Everyone, withdraw your techniques.” Lu Zheng quickly reminded them.
After Shen Ying withdrew her peach blossom evil, Liu Qingyan withdrew her fox tails, and Si Lingxi withdrew her flames, he also put away his white cloud flag and lightning-struck peachwood sword, dispersed his Taiyi Five Thunder Curse, then silently said a phrase.
“Jade Seal, traverse!”
