...

At the same time.

A sacred Buddhist mountain.

Inside a relatively remote Buddhist temple, yet brimming with astonishing Buddhist power.

Kong Xuan, who was once converted to Buddhism by the Daoist Zhunti and then transformed into the Peacock King of Buddhism through the joint efforts of Jieyin and Zhunti, is now cultivating with his eyes closed amidst the continuous sounds of Buddhist chants.

Even the grand spectacle of a sage's arrival failed to attract much interest from Kong Xuan.

The reason is very simple.

Although Kong Xuan had been abducted by the Daoist Zhunti and taken to the Buddhist sect for a full kalpa.

Back then, he was also converted by the brothers Jieyin and Zhunti, and his self-awareness was suppressed deep in his heart.

However, after the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, the Grandmaster Hongjun forbade the saints to stay in the mortal realm.

After the Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti converted Kong Xuan, they could not stay in the mortal world for long. They could only set up an array to gradually convert Kong Xuan.

Due to the influence of the formation, Kong Xuan's consciousness would be suppressed until he was completely converted, making him lose interest in everything and focus solely on cultivating in the palace, or rather, on receiving the conversion.

...

However, when Jin Ning appeared, he displayed a noble and powerful aura, revealing the awakened bloodline of the Chaotic Ancient Phoenix.

As Jin Ning's brother, he is the direct descendant of the Phoenix, carrying the bloodline of the Yuan Phoenix.

When Jin Ning's bloodline aura, which was far more noble than Yuan Feng's, surged forth.

Even under the influence of the Jieyin and Zhunti conversion formations, Kong Xuan still couldn't help but bow down in worship towards Jin Ning, just like other birds such as the Golden-Winged Roc.

And that's not all!

Influenced by such a powerful bloodline, even the suppression of Kong Xuan by the Connecting Guidance and Zhunti Transformation Array became much weaker.

Kong Xuan, whose self-awareness had been greatly suppressed, suddenly regained it at this moment!

...

While bowing in worship.

After a great eon, Kong Xuan, whose self-awareness had been rekindled, felt the bloodline aura that filled him with reverence and was incredibly familiar. Looking at the sea of ​​flames burning across the sky, his entire body trembled with excitement.

"This feeling...this bloodline aura..."

"It's Mother! It must be Mother!"

“My mother didn’t really die; she’s become stronger than ever and she’s back!”

"Excellent! With Mother back, our bird clan will surely rise again!"

"I, too, will eventually break free from the shackles of these long years and regain my freedom!"

"Once I'm free, I'll definitely settle this score with the Buddhist community!"