At Phoenix Cry Mountain, in the Fire Phoenix Palace, Mo Fan stood by a railing, gazing uneasily at a massive golden statue in the distance.
“My lord, what’s wrong?” Hei Yi asked, noticing Mo Fan’s sudden pause. He followed Mo Fan’s gaze to the statue but saw nothing unusual.
“Nothing. Let’s go,” Mo Fan said, retracting his gaze, though his mind was filled with suspicion.
Just moments ago, he had felt someone watching him from the statue’s direction. But when he looked, there was nothing.
“Could it be that old fool Lei Yu Zidian, still scheming?” Mo Fan frowned but quickly shook his head.
After emerging from the Fire Phoenix Cave Heaven, he had understood the Saint King’s intent. She was protecting him by allowing him to enter the Cave Heaven, signaling to all covetous demons that this toad had a powerful backer. If even Mo Fan could see this, Lei Yu Zidian, a Demon Ancestor, surely could too. It was unlikely he’d dare act against Mo Fan now.
But if not Lei Yu Zidian, then who?
Mo Fan pondered briefly but found no answers, so he decided to let it go. Having come this far, overthinking was pointless.
He turned to the female demon leading the way. “Where are we going?”
Since leaving the Cave Heaven, Sparrow Granny had instructed him to follow this female demon. At first, Mo Fan thought she was escorting them out of Phoenix Cry Mountain. But something felt off—she wasn’t leading them upward but deeper into the Fire Phoenix Palace, toward a grand hall.
“What are you up to?” Hei Yi, also sensing something amiss, stepped in front of the female demon, glaring warily.
“No need to be so tense, honored guests. You were brought by Granny, and the Saint King values you highly. I wouldn’t dare harm you,” the female demon said, chuckling at their caution. “Granny instructed me to take you to the Nirvana Hall.”
Nirvana Hall?
Mo Fan and Hei Yi exchanged glances. “What’s the Nirvana Hall, and why is Sparrow Granny sending us there?” Mo Fan asked.
“The Nirvana Hall is a sacred place in Phoenix Cry Mountain. It houses the Nirvana Pool, said to grant any living being who enters it a chance at nirvana! Not only do countless external demon cultivators covet it, but even our own Phoenix Cry Mountain demons yearn for it. You’re lucky—Granny specifically named you to cultivate there for a day!” the female demon said, her tone tinged with envy.
Such a good deal?
Mo Fan was stunned, but after a moment’s thought, he understood the underlying reason. He glanced toward the Fire Phoenix Hall and saw several figures watching him from outside.
“So, the Fire Phoenix Saint King knows these demons’ intentions and is sending me to the Nirvana Pool to make a point… But why is she helping me?” Mo Fan wondered.
He didn’t believe it was because of his own talent. The most likely reason was one figure: the White Tiger Saint King.
“Senior White Tiger Saint King, it seems I owe you more and more. Is this your plan? Giving me a reason to honor your promise?” Mo Fan thought with a bitter smile. The more he owed, the less likely he’d abandon his commitments at a critical moment.
“Fine… the path you couldn’t walk, I’ll take up for you. Whether I succeed or fail, I’ll give you an answer!”
With that, Mo Fan and Hei Yi followed the female demon to the Nirvana Hall.
“Yunque, under Granny’s orders, brings the toad demon Laibao to the Nirvana Pool. Please grant us entry!” the female demon, Yunque, said respectfully at the door.
Creak—
The tightly shut doors of the Nirvana Hall swung open.
As they did, the Great Five Elements Immortal Body’s spiritual energy within Mo Fan stirred again, and the golden coin in his mind trembled.
“What’s this…?” Mo Fan’s heart skipped a beat, then surged with excitement.
“You may enter, friend,” Yunque said, her eyes full of envy.
“Thank you!” Mo Fan nodded, suppressing his excitement, and turned to Hei Yi. “Wait here.”
“Alright,” Hei Yi replied.
Mo Fan stepped into the Nirvana Hall.
To his confusion, the hall was empty except for a massive fire beast lying on the ground.
Where was the Nirvana Pool?
Frowning, Mo Fan heard the doors close behind him, shifting his attention to the fire beast.
It resembled a lion but had a human-like face, with fangs protruding from its lips. Its body was crimson, wreathed in flames, like a sprite born of fire—a fire spirit.
“Toad demon?” the fire spirit spoke first, its tone tinged with surprise.
“Indeed, Senior, my true form is a toad,” Mo Fan confirmed, nodding.
Though he felt no pressure from the fire spirit, its presence in this sacred hall suggested it was no ordinary being. The Nirvana Hall, like the Fire Phoenix Cave Heaven, was a forbidden area of Phoenix Cry Mountain, and its guardian was unlikely to be weak.
“Hm,” the fire spirit nodded, resting its head on its forepaws and falling silent.
“Senior?” Mo Fan probed. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Don’t bother me!” the fire spirit growled, clearly annoyed.
Mo Fan was speechless. Where was the promised Nirvana Pool cultivation? Was he supposed to waste a day here and then be sent away?
Unwilling to accept this, he pressed, “Senior, I was sent by the Fire Phoenix Saint King herself. If you don’t let me enter the Nirvana Pool, isn’t that a bit unjustifiable?”
“Don’t use the Saint King to pressure me! Think you can get in without offering something? Dream on!” the fire spirit snorted.
Realization dawned on Mo Fan. So that’s how it was—this creature was fishing for a bribe!
He couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, exasperated. “No matter where you go, there’s always someone looking for a handout!”
“Senior’s right. My oversight!” Mo Fan said with a smile, spitting out a storage pouch and tossing it to the fire spirit.
He had plenty of these pouches, looted from the demon generals he’d killed. He didn’t care much for them, having already checked their contents with his divine sense and moved anything valuable. What remained were just gold, silver, jewels, and spirit stones.
He’d learned that most demons loved such mundane treasures.
Sure enough, when the fire spirit opened the pouch and peered inside, its face lit up with a grin.
