<h4>Chapter 681: Reunion with Crown Prince Litian</h4>


    As Wu Jiutian and Nie Qingqing vanished, Zhong Shan took a deep breath, his eyes growing more solemn. Nie Fancheng''s death remained a knot in Zhong Shan''s heart, shrouded in too many oddities. Everyone had seen Nie Fancheng die, and Wu Jiutian had confirmed it. Yet, this death felt eerily strange.


    Was he truly dead? Sending Nie Qingqing to call for him, arriving just after the copse of the Lihuo Sacred Capital,ing to rescue Wu Jiutian—everything seemed too convenient. Wu Jiutian''s expression had conveyed a sense of inevitability, as if Zhong Shan''s rescue of her was part of arger n. The st words'' and ''instructions'' from Nie Fancheng also seemed overly coincidental, as if pre-arranged.


    This felt like a meticulously orchestrated scheme, likely set up by Nie Fancheng, but it also carried an air of mystery. Zhong Shan took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. To understand everything, he needed to investigate further. Mere spection would lead nowhere.


    "Your Majesty, should we head to Phoenix Ind?" Wang Ku asked.


    "Yes, of course. Crown Prince Litian has already gone there. Something significant must have happened on Phoenix Ind. I promised Wu Jiutian and hold the Phoenix n Order. I am obligated to protect the Phoenix n," Zhong Shan said solemnly.


    "Thank you!" Wu Luo bowed.


    Zhong Shan nodded. Wang Ku, however, secretly admired Zhong Shan''s shrewdness. Clearly aiming for the Phoenix n, yet he spoke so righteously!


    "Wu Luo, transform into a giant phoenix," Zhong Shanmanded.


    "Yes!" Wu Luo immediatelyplied.


    Zhong Shan flew a short distance away to pick up the sword left behind by Lu Guitian. Though mostly shattered, it was still a ninth-grade magical treasure. Zhong Shan had no intention of feeding it to Ba Ji Tianwei. Consuming a ninth-grade magical treasure would be futile now, especially since the sword was leaking substantial energy.


    Gazing at the sword, Zhong Shan pondered briefly and sheathed it. Perhaps it woulde in handy against Crown Prince Litian.


    Zhong Shan remembered Litian vividly. Although unaware of Litian''s exact power, Zhong Shan instinctively sensed his terrifying strength. Litian was an extremely cunning individual, deeply hidden. From what Mr. Shi had shared about the Demon Army and the "Yao" divine seal, it was evident that Litian, like Mr. Shi, hailed from the Great Thousand World. To Zhong Shan, Litian was as dangerous as the Raven Dao Lord.


    This journey was solely for the Phoenix n. Zhong Shan knew he could not handle Litian unless he reached the Tianji realm.


    "Go!" Zhong Shan shouted as he mounted the giant phoenix, heading swiftly toward Phoenix Ind.


    In a city near the Lihuo Sacred Capital, Zhong Shan made a brief stop, visiting a branch of the Great Glory Commerce. He emerged after a short while and continued northward.


    At the center of Phoenix Ind, a colossal Phoenix Pce was surrounded by a massive formation, isting it from the outside.


    Inside, ten enormous phoenixesy limp on the ground, including fire phoenixes, ice phoenixes, and azure luans. They appeared utterly drained, weakly sprawled out, their eyes filled with hatred.


    At the entrance of the Phoenix Pce, Crown Prince Litian sat in a grand chair, sipping tea with a calm expression. Beside him was a shrunken three-legged golden crow and arge peacock. The peacock''s eyes gleamed, staring intently at the ten giant phoenixes, who returned his gaze with intense hatred.


    "Kong Shang, you despicable scoundrel! We trusted you, and you betrayed us!" an ice phoenix cried out in anger.


    "I told you, I had no choice. If you agree to serve the master, we can still be the best of friends," Kong Shang, therge peacock, said.


    "Pei! You wretched soul! You even abandoned your phoenix form! If we agree to your terms, we''ll end up just like you, fallen into the demonic path!" the fire phoenix spat in anger.


    "Phoenix form? Hahaha, phoenix form? Do you truly believe that the phoenix is the ancestor of all birds?" Kong Shang sneered.


    "The phoenix is indeed the ancestor of all birds! It is an honor for any bird to transform into a phoenix! Only ten types of birds have this privilege. You, a traitor to the phoenix n, have even forsaken your phoenix form!" the fire phoenix retorted coldly.


    "Wrong, wrong. Not all birds see transforming into a phoenix as an honor. And the phoenix is not the ancestor of all birds!" Kong Shang shook his head.


    "Hahaha, if not the phoenix, then who? The peacock?" the fire phoenix mocked.


    "Exactly. The peacock came before the phoenix. The peacock is the true ancestor of all birds! We peacocks possess the five-colored divine feathers. What do you phoenixes have? If not for the master helping me, I might have abandoned my own advantages!" Kong Shang sneered.


    "Hahahaha, five-colored divine feathers? Never heard of them. Kong Shang, you''re mad, insane!" the fire phoenixughed hysterically.


    "Mad? What is madness? When the master captures Wu Jiutian, you''ll see who is truly mad!" Kong Shang sneered.


    "How dare you disrespect the Supreme?" the ice phoenix said coldly.


    "Respect? Hahaha, when the master enves Wu Jiutian, you''ll understand what respect is!" Kong Shang said disdainfully.


    "Enve? The Supreme has ascended. All phoenixes in the world can sense it. The Supreme has already ascended. Do you think you can capture her? Hmph! The Supreme will surelye here, and then it will be your end!" the ice phoenix said coldly.


    "Is that so?" Crown Prince Litian, who had been quietly sipping tea, suddenly smiled faintly.


    All the phoenixes turned to look at Crown Prince Litian, their eyes filled with hatred, though a hint of fear was hidden within.


    "If she''sing back, then we''ll wait," Crown Prince Litian said calmly.


    "Master, should I ce the divine seal on them?" Kong Shang asked.


    "No need. Once we capture Wu Jiutian, we will ce the highest divine seal on her and let her control them. I don''t have time to deal with them," Crown Prince Litian shook his head.


    "Understood!" Kong Shang nodded.


    Over the North Sea, a giant phoenix carried Zhong Shan and Wang Ku, speeding towards Phoenix Ind like a streak of light.


    The phoenix''s speed was indeed unmatched. Among beings of the same level, only a few exceptional individuals of different races could match the speed of a phoenix.


    Wu Luo''s cultivation was only at the imperial extreme realm, yet her speed was nearing that of the celestial extreme realm, far outpacing Zhong Shan''s own flight speed. Zhong Shan could match Wu Luo''s speed if he exerted all his strength, but not for as long. It was likeparing a short-distance sprint champion to a long-distance running champion.


    With one human, one phoenix, and one skeleton, they charged towards Phoenix Ind at breakneck speed.


    "Emperor Zhong, we are approaching Phoenix Ind!" Wu Luo reminded.


    "Mm," Zhong Shan nodded.


    Soon, Zhong Shan saw the vast Phoenix Ind. Tens of thousands of phoenixes cried out in unison, flying frantically, trying to reach the central Phoenix Pce. However, arge formation seemed to surround the pce, preventing the phoenixes from entering. They could only hover outside, crying out in fury.


    "Yin—Yin—Yin—Yin—Yin—Yin—Yin—Yin—"


    Zhong Shan once again witnessed the cries of countless phoenixes, but this time, they were cries of anger.


    "Yin—" Wu Luo let out a long cry, causing the tens of thousands of phoenixes to stop in their tracks and swiftly fly toward her.


    "Wu Luo King, the kings are imprisoned. Please, Wu Luo King, act quickly!" a phoenix cried out urgently.


    "This is Emperor Zhong Shan, whom you should all be familiar with. During the Supreme''s tribtion, we were all present. The Supreme entrusted the Phoenix n to him before her ascension and bestowed upon him the Phoenix n Order," Wu Luo introduced Zhong Shan.


    Zhong Shan cooperatively disyed the Phoenix n Order.


    Seeing the Phoenix n Order, the phoenixes were initially stunned, then reluctantly acknowledged it, "We acknowledge the Phoenix n Order!"


    Clearly, the phoenixes were resistant to the idea of a human wielding the Phoenix n Order.


    "Let''s set aside our differences for now and focus on rescuing the other phoenix kings!" Zhong Shan said.


    This pragmatic statement resonated more than any formalities. The phoenixes'' expressions softened immediately.


    Zhong Shan, along with the phoenixes, flew to the exterior of the Phoenix Pce, gazing at the massive, mist-shrouded formation. Zhong Shan''s brow furrowed.


    "Wang Ku, break the formation!" Zhong Shan ordered.


    "Yes!" Wang Ku responded promptly.


    Inside the formation, Crown Prince Litian, sitting on his chair, raised an eyebrow and slowly stood up, directing his sharp gaze toward Zhong Shan outside. His eyes glowed with a cold light, and the thin seam on his forehead trembled, as if ready to open at any moment.


    Wang Ku, leading the charge, extended a hand—or rather, a ck, cracked skeletal w—toward the formation.


    A giant handprint suddenly materialized on the formation, emitting an aura of extreme yin and malevolence.


    "Boom!" The formation shattered with a thunderous crash.


    But as it broke, a beam of light suddenly shot out from within, consisting of three colors: red, yellow, and blue. The tricolored beam tore through the space, a terrifying attack aimed directly at Wang Ku, who had broken the formation.


    "Boom!" With a loud explosion, the space trembled, and a ten-zhang ck hole appeared in mid-air. At the edge of the ck hole was Wang Ku''s bronze throne, which had intercepted the tricolored beam.


    Zhong Shan saw clearly that the tricolored beam had shot from the thin seam on Crown Prince Litian''s forehead the moment the formation broke.


    It was Crown Prince Litian. He was indeed formidable.


    "Tricolored Divine Light? Are you from the ''Hongru Sage'' lineage of the Great Thousand World?" Wang Ku asked in a deep voice.