Chapter 78 Chapter 78 "What's your answer?"

"Miss—"

Hearing Jiu Zhao's voice, Zhu Yan woke up as if from a dream and turned his head away.

When he saw that not only Jiu Zhao but also Ying Luo, who appeared a little later, was beside her, the last bit of blood color faded from his cheeks.

"Why are you here?" After her initial surprise, Xingyao's expression darkened. "How could you conceal yourself and casually barge into someone else's home? Jiu Zhao Shen Ji, how could you be so rude?!"

The resentment of being deceived was still swirling in her heart. Xingyao's blunt questioning immediately reminded Jiu Zhao of the many sarcastic remarks she had made during their conversation with Zhu Yan. She scolded him coldly, "How dare you, Xingyao! I am the monarch, and you are my subject. How dare you accuse me of disrespect? Don't think you can disobey the rules of Sanqing Heaven just because you are in Yunsheng. If you treat the crown prince this way, I will punish you right here!"

Xingyao has been traveling for thousands of years and has long been accustomed to being relaxed.

A few breaths after she uttered these words, she belatedly realized that the person standing opposite her was the future emperor of the entire Sanqing Heaven.

Before he could change his words, Jiu Zhao's anger came like thunder.

Feeling guilty, Xingyao stood there for a moment, then bowed deeply and said, "Your Highness, I am your servant Xingyao. I beg you to forgive me for my crime."

Ying Luo also tried to smooth things over: "Your Highness and the teacher have similar personalities. They are both very casual in their lives. If you have anything to say, just speak it out."

This wasn't enough. He was worried that Jiu Zhao's anger would linger, so he covered his ear again and said, "The main thing to focus on is Master Zhu Yan's illness, which is more important."

Even after being reminded by Yingluo, Jiuzhao's eyes were still cold.

She deliberately didn't ask them to stand up, leaving Xingyao, who was still in a polite manner, to stand by her and slowly walked past her. After turning around and sitting on the only main seat in the room, she put two fingers together, swiped left, and instantly moved the square stove, stove and fire, to the corner. Then she said casually, "Get up."

Seeing Jiu Zhao taking up the position and treating her precious medicine furnace at will, Xing Yao was so angry that her eyebrows were twitching.

However, faced with absolute power, she struggled in her heart for a moment, but finally endured it and walked to stand by the closed windowsill.

In a blink of an eye, only Yingluo was left, unable to stand or sit.

His gaze lingered between Jiu Zhao and Xing Yao. After hesitating for a moment, he chose to kneel and sit side by side with Zhu Yan who was on trial.

Once everything is in place—

Zhu Yan heard the calmest, yet most subdued voice Jiu Zhao had ever uttered since they met:

"Tell me what happened.

"Tell the whole story clearly.

"If you tell me even a lie, I will never see you again."

Zhu Yan was not so afraid of death.

But not being able to see Jiu Zhao again for the rest of his life was tantamount to taking his life immediately.

Zhu Yan opened and closed his mouth, then lowered his head and began to explain under Jiu Zhao's unblinking gaze.

…

The truth of the matter was almost the same as what Jiu Zhao had heard when he was in hiding.

At this moment, there was only one thing that concerned her most.

"So, there are only a few days left to live. How many days exactly?"

Facing Jiu Zhao's question, Zhu Yan's throat moved a few times and he found it difficult to answer.

Just as the atmosphere was about to become awkward, Xingyao, who was watching the show from the side, said coldly, "If he were to repeat the same mistake of cutting off the tail of a newborn and suffer a fatal injury, even if the ancestral goddess appeared, he wouldn't survive more than ten years. If he cultivates himself well from now on, he should be able to survive another one or two hundred years."

Whether it's ten years or one or two hundred years.

They are all too short.

For such talented gods as them, it was just like a fleeting moment, gone in the blink of an eye.

Fortunately, after a lot of trouble, Jiu Zhao was mentally prepared.

Her breathing was slightly strained, but she tried her best to appear calm and composed as she continued, "And what about the highest-level Nirvana Phoenix Flame?"

Zhu Yan gritted his teeth and refused to mention it.

His stubbornness caused Xingyao to sneer.

This smile was directed at Jiu Zhao:

"Your Highness, as a Phoenix, actually doesn't know this top secret about the Phoenix Clan—"

"We, the humble servants, are still the ones who need to inform you."

The words were as sharp and sarcastic as ever, but fortunately Xingyao didn't beat around the bush.

From her concise words, Jiu Zhao understood the whole truth behind Zhu Yan's weakness -

Nirvana Phoenix Fire is the highest-level technique of the Phoenix Clan. When cultivated to the highest level, it not only possesses a formidable destructive power capable of defeating ten thousand enemies alone, but its endless vitality and rebirth properties can also regenerate bones and restore life.

If one wants to reach the pinnacle of magic, both the Phoenix's true blood and the power of the Phoenix sacred tree are indispensable.

This means that only the twin monarchs of the Phoenix Clan can achieve it.

Jiu Zhao inherited half of the true blood of the Queen of Gods Tai'e, and already met the first condition.

However, after the Phoenix Clan collectively rebelled against Heaven, the Phoenix Sacred Tree could no longer receive nourishment from its own natal feathers and had withered for thousands of years.

Jiu Zhao alone has limited power. Even if he plucks out all his own life feathers, it is impossible for him to revive the Phoenix Tree.

Well, there is another option left.

He broke into the Sunless Abyss where the evil immortals were imprisoned, and obtained the submandibular bead of the demigod Zhulong, Wu Shao's former mount.

Zhulong controls fire, and the bead under his jaw contains the most yang divine power.

The power of just one can make the Phoenix Tree bloom.

Unfortunately, when Zhulong was growing up in Sanqingtian, he almost died because he was a hybrid born from the love between an immortal and a demon.

Later, it was his mother, the Celestial Immortal Xikui, who personally killed the demon's lover during the war between the two realms, redeeming herself from her past mistakes. She then died in battle, using her life to draw a clear line between herself and the Burning Sea, thus saving Zhulong's life.

From childhood to adulthood, he suffered discrimination and cold treatment. Only Wu Shao appreciated and protected him, allowing him to join the army and create some achievements.

If you want to make progress as a god, you must sort out your own desires.

Since Zhulong was born, he has had no father, no mother, and no one close to him.

He is silent and stubborn, has outstanding talents, and is not affected by emotions, making him a good material for cultivation.

When he was forty-six thousand years old, he failed to ascend to godhood due to his half-demon body. He was struck by ninety-nine heavenly thunders but survived and unexpectedly became a demigod.

Fifty thousand years ago, Wu Shao rebelled, and he willingly followed Wu Shao down to heaven, becoming his mount and a fierce general in the army.

Zhulong fought bravely and risked his life, causing the Sanqingtian army to suffer a lot.

After Wu Shao was defeated, the God Emperor ordered them to be captured and thrown into the Sunless Abyss, where they remained neither alive nor dead and endured endless torture.

…

As Xingyao finished her story, Yingluo's brows furrowed more and more.

He abruptly interrupted her, his expression heavy and solemn, his voice no longer as friendly and easygoing as usual. "Miss, let's not even mention the passage of thousands of years. Is the Candle Dragon, suffering in the Sunless Abyss, still alive? Even if he were, he's a demigod, and we're at best celestial immortals. The power gap between gods and immortals is like a chasm. That submandibular pearl is definitely not something we can obtain."

Xingyao and Zhu Yan are not relatives or friends.

Whether he is dead or alive, it naturally won't affect her.

Maintaining an objective perspective, she echoed Ying Luo, "Yes, trespassing into the Sunless Abyss without the Divine Emperor's will is a grave sin. Furthermore, if the Phoenix Tree hadn't blossomed, Immortal Lord Zhu Yan would have survived. To master the highest-level technique, His Highness Jiu Zhao must transform back into an egg, hidden within the center of the Phoenix Tree, and endure the burning of the Nirvana Fire for 49 years. If he can comprehend it during this time, he will have achieved his goal."

"If you can't, even if Your Highness is the dignified Phoenix Queen, you will turn into ashes, and all your immortal power will belong to the sacred tree."

The Nirvana Phoenix Fire technique is demanding.

Among the dozens of twin monarchs in the Phoenix Clan's history, only Wu Shao was able to achieve great success.

Since his failure and imprisonment, the relevant content gradually disappeared in Sanqingtian, and even the knowledgeable Yingluo did not know much about it.

Only a celestial being like Xingyao, who has become an old monster, would know such details.

Now, through her mouth, Jiu Zhao restored the lost secret of the Nirvana Phoenix Fire technique.

Can--

"I disagree."

"I don't agree!"

Two opposing voices sounded simultaneously.

The owner of the voice, Zhu Yan and Ying Luo looked at each other before saying the next sentence.

Xingyao, who was enjoying the fun, took over the conversation and said slowly, "Actually, I don't agree either.

"I finally received a personal order from the Emperor, freeing myself from my duties and free to travel between Yunsheng World and Sanqing Heaven as I please.

"Your Highness, if you really, because of a few words from me, trespass into the Sunless Abyss and seize the submandibular pearl of the demigod Zhulong—if you blame me for this, even if I am not immediately thrown into the Immortal Prison, I will definitely be imprisoned in the Divine Doctor's Office and unable to leave."

Yingluo also said: "Teacher is right, even if all of us in this room were added together, we would not be as important as you, Your Highness."

They are a master and a disciple, and they take turns to perform.

The noise made Jiu Zhao's ears buzz, as if millions of mosquitoes and flies were flying around him.

She remained silent with a cold face. When they had tried their best to persuade her, she raised her eyes, stared at Zhu Yan, and asked, "If I tell you that I am willing to do all this for you, what will you think? Will you promise me that you will be cured of your weakness and strive to live from now on?"

The question was like a thunderclap.

Even someone as calm as Yingluo could no longer control his expression.

He half stood up and called out hurriedly: "Your Highness, please don't—"

"Shut up."

A lowest-level silencing spell was thrown over, and even if it didn't work on Yingluo, it showed Jiuzhao's determination.

She still stared at Zhu Yan without blinking.

I thought to myself that his actions of not cherishing his life showed that he had long intended to die.

…

No one is not afraid of death.

After all, gods are nothing more than prisoners of power.

He spent his entire life striving to attain the divine position and reach higher places in the Three Pure Ones Heaven.

If they lack the ability and talent, only the endless extension of lifespan can support their ambitions and expectations to the greatest extent.

Love someone so much that you are willing to give up your life to prevent them from getting hurt.

Jiu Zhao had only witnessed such a thing happen to his own parents.

Now, Zhu Yan has made it real again.

It was obvious that even if he told her the truth, she would be afraid of death and would not be willing to take the risk to save him. However, in order to eliminate the tiny chance of success, he chose to go out at night, kneeled in front of Xingyao, and begged her to keep her mouth shut.

Look.

Wants someone to prove his love.

The joke of "Should we cut open his chest and give out his heart?" has turned into a destined prophecy.

In the process of his cognition being destroyed and his faith being reconstructed, Jiu Zhao's soul seemed to be pulled out of his body.

Floating in mid-air, he watched the body coldly, trying to hide his emotion and helplessness while forcing himself to speak harshly.

The hard shell continued to dissolve, and a sound that was eager to respond was beating and floating in Jiu Zhao's chest.

She pressed the issue again: "So, Zhu Yan—what's your answer?"