Chapter 80
Notes: Hi! Sorry for my absence. Had to deal with a few things at work. But we're now back on track!
The yin energy within his body surged and shifted, leaving sinister black marks on his skin. These marks resembled malevolent black snakes, hissing and flicking their tongues.
However, the phoenix's body was that of a divine beast, not a fragile human shell that could be easily torn apart. Additionally, he had already refined some of the yin energy. So, despite its terrifying appearance, the yin energy within him couldn't harm him for now.
The real danger came from the yin energy that had just torn Meng Qingzhi apart but was still unsatisfied!
Without hesitation, the phoenix summoned his life flame. The bright red flames, almost alive, spread out instantly. When they encountered the yin energy, they burned it clean, leaving only a wisp of blue smoke.
Fire restrains yin and evil. The phoenix's life flame was the most yang and fierce fire in the world. This natural restraint allowed the phoenix to barely suppress the yin energy within him.
If it were any other divine beast, they would likely struggle to survive the initial invasion of the yin energy.
The flames were fierce, but Su Zui knew this wouldn't solve the immediate crisis.
The attacking yin energy seemed endless. As soon as one part was burned away, another took its place. They rolled and shrieked in the air, seemingly in pain from the flames, but continued to surge forward. It was as if they knew that if they could successfully devour this powerful yet desperate divine beast, their losses would be insignificant.
As the saying goes, "Many ants can kill an elephant."
The phoenix was heavily burdened. Although his life flame was powerful, it couldn't be sustained indefinitely. Under the relentless assault of the yin energy, the flames gradually dimmed, and his clothes were slowly tainted with black streaks.
These black streaks twisted and coiled like malevolent spirits from hell, eager to drag their prey into their lair.
It was a horrifying sight.
Su Zui, who had spent countless days and nights with the phoenix, knew all too well that the phoenix's body was indeed at its limit, just as Meng Qingzhi had said. It could no longer withstand any more yin energy.
Instinctively, he wanted to help, but he realized there was nothing he could do.
He had nearly exhausted his points, and the items in the system store were beyond his reach, except for a few small tools.
Besides—
Even if he could afford them, they would likely be of little help in the current situation.
This was a battle between the heavenly way and the phoenix, beyond the realm of human intervention.
Even with the system's assistance, he felt utterly powerless in this pure contest of strength.
Watching the phoenix's figure grow increasingly obscured by the encroaching black energy, Su Zui's heart sank bit by bit.
________________________
Outside the Mountains
The people from various sects and families, who had been thrown out by Su Zui, gradually regained consciousness.
Before they were fully awake, a cacophony of voices filled the air.
"Senior Brother! You're alive!!"
"Disciple—"
"Mother! Why has your cultivation level dropped so much?!"
For a moment, the yin-infested mountains seemed like a grand reunion scene.
It turned out that after Su Zui and the phoenix entered the mountains, the major sects had stationed people in safer areas outside to observe the situation.
They didn't dare send anyone into the perilous mountains, but they still held a glimmer of hope for the two.
After all, the phoenix was the leader of divine beasts, surviving since ancient times!
If even the phoenix couldn't handle the yin energy, then no one in the world could reverse the situation.
Their wait wasn't in vain. Shortly after the two entered, many people suddenly appeared out of nowhere, all unconscious and looking disheveled.
Upon closer inspection, they realized these were the people the Tao sect had previously sent to investigate!
They had thought these people were dead. Some had even set up memorial tablets for them. Seeing them alive was more than just a pleasant surprise!
Although they were dirty and disheveled, looking like beggars, and many had their cultivation levels significantly reduced, they were still breathing. That was a blessing amidst the misfortune.
"By the way, did you discover anything after entering the mountains?"
The survivors looked at each other, their faces a mix of fear and confusion.
To be honest, shortly after entering the mountains, they were captured by Meng Qingzhi. After being tortured, they were knocked unconscious.
They went in confused and came out just as confused.
They knew nothing about the current situation inside.
This left everyone disappointed, and the joy of reunion was greatly diminished.
"Sigh, I wonder how Little Friend Su is doing inside..." (Note: “小友 [xiǎoyǒu] = "little friend," an elder’s way of addressing a younger person whom he admires)
"Little Friend Su? Su Zui? Did Su Zui go in too?"
"Yes, Su Xiaoyou went in just before you were transported out. You owe your lives to him."
"I don't know what method he used to save you, but he himself is still... sigh!"
The group sighed for a while before falling into silence.
As they processed the current situation, those who had been rescued felt a mix of emotions.
Some of them might have had various grievances against Su Zui before, but at this moment, their minds were filled with gratitude.
________________________
[Ding! Side Quest 1: Family Honor - Progress: 100%]
[5000 experience points have been credited!]
[Congratulations! As the last descendant of the Su family, you have restored the family's honor with your noble character and undeniable strength! The ancestors of the Su family must be smiling so widely that their coffins are shaking!]
The notification of the completed quest suddenly echoed in Su Zui's mind.
Strange...
According to his plan, he needed to find a way to pass on the Su family's techniques to complete this task.
Why did it suddenly complete?
However, Su Zui didn't have time to ponder the reason. The important thing was that he now had 5000 points credited to his account.
He quickly browsed the system store, searching for tools that might resolve the current crisis.
But to his disappointment, those tools that could control the elements in the ordinary world seemed so ordinary in this mystical world.
As time passed, the situation became increasingly clear. The phoenix's life flame had completely extinguished.
The surrounding yin energy was decreasing, not because it had been burned away by the previous flames, but because it had found an opening with the disappearance of the protective flames and forced its way into the phoenix's body.
The once holy divine beast was now shrouded in ominous black energy.
Just as Su Zui was at his wit's end, the system, which had been unusually low-key since arriving in this world, suddenly spoke up: [Master, detecting that you have completed side quests in two consecutive worlds, the system generously offers you a lottery draw. If you're lucky, you might get a super discounted item!]
Su Zui: What? Don't bother me!
The system quickly added: [You might get a hidden item!]
Su Zui: ...?
This was too coincidental, like getting a pillow when you're sleepy.
Normally, he might have thought it over, but given the urgent situation, Su Zui immediately opted for the lottery.
The system's lottery wheel spun rapidly, and in less than a second, a golden light flashed.
The system's emotionless voice echoed in Su Zui's mind: [Original price 18,888! Original price 18,888 for a divine item! Now only 6,888! You can easily take it home for 6,888! Not buying it would be unwise for a traveler! Boohoo...]
Finally, there were two eerie sobbing sounds, as if the system was both promoting the item and lamenting Su Zui's inability to save points.
Ignoring the system's noise, Su Zui focused on the so-called divine item that seemed to be delivered right to his doorstep.
It was a jade pendant shaped like a yin-yang fish, pure and flawless, emitting a faint golden glow.
Skipping the less important details, Su Zui directly looked at the item's function.
[Yin-Yang Rotation: This yin-yang fish pendant's function is transformation. What is life to one will be death to another. Whatever your need, it can transform you into the safest intermediary. However, there is always a price to pay. The cost of using it is the exchange of your most precious possession.]
The price was 6,888 points, just enough to empty his account.
If he exchanged for this item, his points would be reduced to single digits.
Without hesitation, Su Zui chose to purchase it.
With a "ding," the golden yin-yang fish pendant landed in his palm.
At the same time, the last wisp of yin energy entered the phoenix's body.
The world returned to clarity, as if everything had ended.
The man stood still for a moment, then lifted his gaze towards Su Zui. His dark eyes were dull, reflecting no light, filled with deep, cold malice. His gaze towards Su Zui was devoid of any warmth, as if looking at a mere ant.
If the phoenix had previously been the embodiment of divine judgment, now he was the incarnation of evil. A single glance could make one's legs tremble and spirit shatter.
Su Zui frowned as he looked at his boyfriend, who suddenly seemed like a confused and forgetful child. After a moment, he understood why.
The phoenix was immortal because it bore the fate of the entire phoenix clan. Its soul was incredibly strong, so even if controlled by yin energy, it wouldn't die immediately.
However, once the yin energy eroded its soul completely, it would dissipate into the heavens and earth.
The signs of a damaged soul included confusion and even drastic personality changes.
Under such a massive invasion of yin energy, how long could even a divine beast survive?
At this moment, Su Zui finally realized that from the appearance of the yin energy, they had stepped into a perfect trap.
And this trap wasn't aimed at him, but at the phoenix.
It was only now that he understood that the heavenly way seemed more concerned with the phoenix, which should have perished long ago, than with him, the variable introduced by the system.
________________________
Without wasting any more time, Su Zui used the yin-yang fish pendant.
Once activated, the pendant precisely targeted the most precious thing on his body: the spirit bone that had altered the plot.
Without blinking, Su Zui tore open his chest and painfully extracted a piece of jade-like bone from his heart.
As soon as the spirit bone was revealed, the two small fish on the yin-yang pendant came to life, as if they had seen a delicacy. They transformed from a pendant into two living fish, one black and one white.
They opened their mouths and devoured the spirit bone, then swam to Su Zui's heart, taking the place of the original bone.
The phoenix, not far away, watched everything with a momentary flicker of confusion in his otherwise cold expression.
After confirming that the system tool had transformed his body into a vessel capable of converting yin energy, Su Zui adjusted his blood-stained clothes. Ignoring the phoenix's slightly odd look, he stepped forward, roughly grabbed the man's hair, and forced him to lower his head, bringing their lips together.
At the point of contact, a strand of violent yin energy was reluctantly pulled from the phoenix's body. It circulated within Su Zui before returning to the phoenix, now completely tamed.
Even in the mystical world, transformation must follow basic principles. Here, the fundamental law is dual cultivation.
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