[Merging Complete!]
Yun Che after merging the remnant soul of the Phoenix, felt his cultivation once again start to surge up. His <Heavenly True God Profound Veins> convulsed with power and his cultivation started rising. It then slowly came to halt after some time.
The Phoenix Soul transformed itself into a small-sized bird and landed on Yun Che's shoulder. Its feathers were of a deep shade of yellow as if resembling the scorching flames.
[Congrats Host for leveling up to the 1st Stage of Sky Profound Realm!]
[Profound Handle Unlocked!]
A sword-shaped golden mark extended on Yun Che's left hand to about 15 cm long. It had the appearance of a sword but golden in color.
[Profound Handle (Forms)-
<Physical Manifestation> - Solid and possesses Host's strength, can take almost any form and moves according to Host's will.
<Spiritual Manifestation> - Can be used to assault the spirit and cut off their link to the body]
[Host as of now can only use these two forms]
Yun Che tried using <Physical Manifestation> and started imagining all kinds of shapes and the sword turned into each one of them. He then threw it away with force and it came back to him on its own. He was satisfied with the sword. It reminded him of a flying sword.
He can't use <Spiritual Manifestation> yet as he didn't have any target to use it on. He thought to try it later.
The Phoenix Bird looking at the golden sword mark was deep in thoughts.
According to its memories, the gold profound handle could display one hundred percent of one's total power, and it is said that it possesses some special abilities that other profound handles do not have, but this profound handle was something that only the legendary "Primordial True God" possessed.
It could only belong to the 'True God', and it could never awaken within the people of the Heavenly Handle Yun Clan residing in the Northern Divine Region.
Therefore, that's only just an extremely remote dream, a legend that could never be realized. But witnessing this incident, it was convinced that Yun Che is no ordinary person and is really a True God!
Yun Che then headed back to the Phoenix Clan. He had nothing to do here anyway.
Feng Baichuan and co left the <Phoenix trial grounds> earlier as they had already explored every nook and corner of the place except inside.
Seeing Yun Che safely heading back, none of them questioned and were glad that nothing bad happened. Cang Yue, not yet returning meant that she probably is taking the trials, they thought and all of them started praying to their <Phoenix God>.
They didn't know that their supposed <Phoenix God> was currently resting on Yun Che's arm.
'Hey, why don't you lift the curse you planted on them because of the mistake their ancestor has done?' asked Yun Che to the Phoenix with his soul connection.
'Master, it's not that I don't want to, It's because I can't. My divine powers now are not what they used to be. I am sorry, master...." Phoenix hung it's head low feeling extremely guilty of its past actions.
It was enraged that its inheritor killed many innocent lives but here because of its decision, many of its own inheritors are stuck at Elementary Profound Realm all their lives. It's too cruel from what the ancestor had done. But no matter what it can't correct its past wrongdoings.
[Ding!...]
[Host has yet to be awarded for completing the Phoenix Quest]
[Rewards Decided]
[Curse Breaker Spell - Can relieve anyone from the curse even if placed by the True God themselves]
System guessed that its Host is in need of something and immediately arranged for it in the form of Rewards. What a thoughtful system!
Yun Che cast the spell and a formation started to form and spread on the top of the entire Phoenix Clan. Everyone from the Phoenix Clan raised their heads to look at the sky and were marveled at the scene.
Then a silhouette of a Phoenix formed and it gave an ear-piercing sound.
*Screech*
Just like water drops, particles fell from the sky to the ground. The Dark Red Phoenix Marks on the foreheads of all the people turned to Scarlet Phoenix Mark.
All of them sank to the ground with tears of happiness dripping from their faces, thanking their God. It was like a dream come true. All the hardships they faced will now come to an end. They won't have to hide from the rest of the world. Their dispirited hearts were once again burning with fire, the Phoenix Fire!
They went on to their knees heavily thanking their <Phoenix God> for forgiving all the sins they committed even though they did none.
Watching all of its inheritors praying itself, the Phoenix felt remorseful for what it had done all these years.
'Thank you, master...' Its voice was bleak no more that of an imposing tone that resembles a Divine Beast but a weak bird.
'Well, you can try to make it up to them' said Yun Che.
'Huh? How can I? master?' Losing its previous downhearted expression pretty quickly, the Phoenix asked.
Yun Che had a smile on his face, but this time a dark one.
-----------
'Master!! Save me...! Mas...' cries of the Phoenix kept on ringing in Yun Che's mind. But he simply shrugged it off.
What he did was simple.
Yun Che used his <Physical Manifestation> of the Profound Handle and made the Phoenix not able to use its wings to fly off. Then, he called the children and told them, only when they catch the bird would he teach them any other new game!
All the children's eyes immediately sparkled.
And the rest is history.
It has been a week since then. But Cang Yue hasn't returned.
'It's time....' Yun Che thought and headed to the place where Cang Yue is.
----------
(In the Phoenix Trail Grounds)
Cang Yue obtained a drop of Phoenix Blood from the Divine Beast and started consuming it in the trail grounds for about 1 week. It's not that her absorbing rate was low but instead even the tiny drop held massive profound energy within it.
Only when her cultivation stabilized at the peak of Spirit Profound Realm did the drop of Phoenix Blood was fully absorbed. Cang Yue heaving a smile on her face collapsed on the ground.
Yun Che walked to Cang Yue and slowly caressed her hair.
Being surrounding by Phoenix Flames for a week without food and water, her skin was charred and pale like a white paper, and her fatigue was probably building up all these days, but never did she show any signs of stopping.
Yun Che's lips arched upwards revealing a smile. He then put her on his back carried her to the room.
----------
All the people from the Clan heaved a sigh of relief when they heard the news that both Cang Yue and Yun Che returned back safely. All these days, they were praying for Cang Yue's safe return.
As the Phoenix Clan people can now hide their Phoenix Mark, some of them left the village. While the remaining stayed and were busy making strategies to defeat lower leveled profound beasts. They were devising plans to increase their cultivation base step by step.
With their Phoenix Blood, it's only a matter of time till they break free of Elementary Profound Realm and even reach True Profound Realm soon.
Kids as usual were playing but were allowing a part of their time to train properly.
In all, their present lives were pleasant to some extent than before.
----------
(At Night)
Yun Che sat down in the chair beside Cang Yue's bed. The Phoenix was sleeping peacefully at last after all the chasing in Yun Che's lap.
Cang Yue's complexion was a little better than before. Her breathing was stable and with a smile on her face, she looked to be having a very good dream.
Just when Yun Che felt drowsy and was about close his eyes, Cang Yue's eyes trembled and she slowly opened her eyes.
"You might be still a little tired. Take proper rest. Okay?" said Yun Che caringly unlike the dense aura he usually emits.
"Looks like I'm still in my dream...." Cang Yue muttered and closed her eyes.
Opening her eyes after some time seeing the one sitting ahead of her was still Yun Che, her eyes widened.
"Are you real?"
"Do I look like a fake to you?"
Raising an eyebrow, Yun Che asked.
"No. It's just that you being caring is a little new to me." said Cang Yue "It's nice." she muttered.
"You did well.."
Hearing Yun Che's congratulating her, a smile bloomed on her face.
"Then where's my reward?" asked Cang Yue with a smile.
"You need a reward?" asked Yun Che deep in thoughts.
"Mmm... Mmm..." Cang Yue nodded her head cheerfully as if wanting a toy.
"Then...." Yun Che came closer to Cang Yue. While the latter heart was beating fiercely every inch Yun Che moved closer.
"then.." she curiously continued.
Yun Che took the Phoenix and placed it on Cang Yue's lap.
Cang Yue felt down that it's not something she expected. But her mood lightened up seeing the bird Yun Che gave.
"Is it really for me?..." asked Cang Yue a little doubted.
"Yup... You deserve this" answered Yun Che.
"Yay!.... It's really adorable!" shouted Cang Yue with joy and brought it closer to her chest.
The Phoenix opened its eyes feeling some movements near to its head and when it did, it received a huge shock.
'Master!! Why did you abandon me again??!!'
Yun Che had a helpless smile and felt sorry for the legendary Phoenix.
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I myself thank Victor Gonzalez, Oscar Sampedro Lopez, and Benjamin Upson for supporting my story dearly. Thank you...