Not long after returning from the underworld, Xu Milu received a gift from her own master, the Clean Altar Messenger:

A branch of a ten-thousand-year-old sycamore tree.

No one knows where he found it. The rough bark of the paulownia tree still had some charred marks, and the branches were so thick that it was difficult for two people to hug it. When it was placed on the ground, it was bare and looked like a gray-white stone sculpture.

—Because the gift was so huge, Xu Milu had no choice but to place it in the open space in the backyard.

Mo Xuan leaned over for a glance and immediately understood:

"What a treasure! This is the shed skin left behind by a tree spirit that survived the tribulation of lightning! Unlike us beasts, the transformation of wood spirits is much more difficult. Not only do they have to be struck by heavenly lightning thirty-six times, but they also have to completely shed their shed skin. Snakes can grow a year older after shedding their skin, while wood spirits can walk throughout the Nine Provinces after shedding their tree trunks. Their shed skin has been scorched by heavenly fire and carries the spiritual energy of wood. Many cultivators fight tooth and nail to obtain it as a cultivation treasure!"

"Is it that amazing?"

Xu Milu touched the bark of the tree that had been struck by lightning. She could still faintly feel the vibrant life force within the tree. A strange yet familiar sense of intimacy welled up within her, and she couldn't help but press her face against the tree and rub it against it.

Almost miraculously, the insomnia that had plagued her for days seemed to improve. Enveloped in the scent of the sycamore trees, she felt as free and warm as if she had returned to her mother's embrace.

"puff!"

With a soft sound, a thin layer of flames ignited around Xu Milu. The section of sycamore tree was not scorched by the flames; instead, it sprouted new branches under the nourishment of the flames. In the blink of an eye, the sycamore tree, which had long lost its vitality, was once again covered with lush foliage. Beneath the layers of bright green, small and lovely flowers swayed in the wind.

"Madam Xu's cultivation is so profound that she can make this ancient tree take root and sprout! But why does this tree look so much like a phoenix tree? It is said that 'the phoenix perches on the phoenix tree,' and today this tree has grown so many branches and leaves as soon as it saw Madam Xu. It seems that Madam Xu is born with the destiny of a phoenix, and her nobility is beyond words!"

Mo Xuan seized the opportunity to flatter Xu Milu:

"Madam Xu possesses extraordinary abilities, capable of reaching for the moon in the heavens and capturing dragons in the Dragon Palace. It wouldn't be a problem for her to capture a phoenix as a mount! Although phoenixes and our dragon clan have historically been at odds, their plumage is truly beautiful. I've heard that the Spring Goddess of Yaochi has a five-colored robe adorned with phoenixes and a hundred birds; wherever she goes, flowers bloom and spring fills the garden. If Madam could make a robe from the feathers of a hundred birds, it would surely further enhance your stunning beauty—"

Xu Milu: "..."

After spending so much time together, doesn't this dragon realize anything?

She parted the sycamore leaves that were obscuring her view and said slowly, "Since you've already thought of 'the phoenix perches on the sycamore tree,' why haven't you thought of anything else? What if I were a real phoenix?"

"Hahaha, Madam Xu, don't try to fool me. Since the beginning of time, all things have come into being, including beasts and birds. Among the beasts, the Qilin is the leader, among the birds, the Phoenix is ​​the most revered, and among the aquatic creatures, the Dragon is the head. All the demons in the world are under the rule of these three races. The Qilin avoids the world and hides in the Thirty-Three Outer Heavens. The Dragon race occupies the four seas, with each continent as its boundary. The Phoenix race is the most carefree and unrestrained. Because the first Phoenix in the world gave birth to the Buddha Mother Peacock King, the Phoenix race is not under the control of the Heavenly Court, nor does it submit to the mortal world. It only lives in the blessed lands of immortal mountains and ancient caves in the Divine Land."

Mo Xuan waved his hands repeatedly and said:

"The Phoenix Clan is small in number, and there are only four true phoenixes in the world. I heard that one of the phoenixes perished a few years ago. As for the Vermilion Bird, the Yuanchu, the Yuzhuo, the Qingluan, and the Honghu, they are just misconceptions of later generations and cannot be called 'phoenixes'. If you, my wife, are a true phoenix, then I, the little dragon, am a golden dragon king!"

At this point, he seemed to find what he had said extremely funny, and he started laughing to himself.

Xu Milu fell silent again.

Forget it, I'd better not tell him the truth. It's fine to let him think he's just an ordinary person.

...

...

"Xiao Qi, do you think it's possible that the reason I haven't had any mishaps in the Journey to the West world all this time is largely because—I'm a phoenix?"

Xu Milu sat cross-legged on the sycamore tree and posed a profound question.

She knew the legend of the Peacock King, but she never expected that the phoenix held such a revered position in this world, even able to disregard the control of Buddhism and the Heavenly Court.

You should know that monsters without a background or powerful connections are easily captured and used as mounts.

Just like the big spenders in online games, regardless of whether they can actually win, their pets and equipment must be the most powerful and coolest.

Since Sun Wukong could see through her true form, some powerful beings must also be able to perceive her as an "anomaly." As for why their attitude towards her has always been ambiguous, it is very likely related to the decline in the number of phoenixes.

I never imagined that she would be treated like a rare animal.

[I believe the host's ability to persevere until now is entirely due to the host's caution. After all, regardless of the plane, the phoenix is ​​a top predator, but the host's ability to remain extremely careful despite possessing such powerful abilities is something I should learn from.]

Xiaoqi responded immediately.

Are you subtly implying that I'm a coward?

Xu Milu pointed out the system's subtext incisively.

[I'm sorry, host, I was just trying to understand your decision to preserve the AI ​​in the Wandering Earth dimension. To me, your approach is a bit too... merciful. I clearly have the ability to destroy the independent consciousness of 5.5 million people, don't I?]

Xiao Qi paused slightly, and the light blue system panel flashed:

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