บท 44: Phoenix God

"I didn't think that the Phoenix God would actually interfere in the end."

Chu Xin murmured to herself, opting Fenlong to nod. Even though, they are not still strong enough to know more sensitive information about the powerhouses that rules the whole Sky Profound Continent, they are at least aware of the Phoenix God's existence.

At first, they only perceived it as a rumor, but the recent happenings between their group and Feng Xue'er forced them to believe the existence of the Phoenix God. They are pretty shocked to know that the rumors were true, but they managed to digest that information quickly. The things that they had encountered together with Tatsuya allowed them to possess an open mind.

"Master, I know that it is rude of me but, is this really fine?"

"What do you mean?"

Fenlong had a hard time of spitting the phrases that he wanted to convey. He believed at Tatsuya's absolute strength, but the rumors he heard about the Phoenix God made him hesitate. He still wondered whether accepting the invitation of the Phoenix God was really the right choice for them.

"I heard that… the Phoenix God is at the same level as the other Divine Beasts stated in legends… I think this journey is too dangerous."

"Hm. I see that your hierarchal instincts are influencing your mind right now. You know through your bones, flesh, and soul that the Divine Beasts are the strongest profound beasts in existence when they were still alive. I'm not even wondering why you are concerned."

"T… then!"

Fenlong thought that Tatsuya must have understood what he was talking about. He expectedly looked at Tatsuya for an answer, as Chu Xin watched both of them converse. However, Chu Xin knew that Tatsuya's decision can't be undone, she could sense the absolute confidence within Tatsuya. This is that same confidence that she won't ever doubt.

"But, even if the Phoenix God attacked us with its full strength, we will come out unharmed…"

"Sorry for doubting your strength, Master."

Upon noticing that Tatsuya still possessed the same confidence, Fenlong secretly mocked himself for even trying to influence Tatsuya's decision. He can't help but question whether he's already loyal enough to really serve Tatsuya. He felt angry towards himself for doubting Tatsuya.

"For now, both of you can cultivate to further consolidate your realm…"

Chu Xin and Fenlong nodded. They both knew that only through gaining strength would they attain the rights to stand beside Tatsuya. Even though, Tatsuya already allowed both of them to become his companions, they knew themselves that they will just end up becoming a burden at this right. They had to do their very best to become stronger.

"Don't rush your cultivation… Take it slowly. Strength is not something that could be gained that easily…"

Tatsuya advised Chu Xin and Fenlong, who both already began their cultivation. Tatsuya felt quite guilty when he stated that strength couldn't be gained that easily. He knew more than anyone that he's been steadily increasing his strength at a rapid rate, that no genius in this entire universe could match.

He stared at the sky with a thread of curiosity and thirst of knowledge. He can't wait to personally meet the Phoenix God, one of the strongest Divine Beasts from the Primordial Era. The information that he would receive from Phoenix God might just help him get a hint about the Quintessential Realm.

"But, if he's an enemy…"

Tatsuya's eyes went cold, as he emitted an aura that could make anyone shudder. He involuntarily entered the State of Equilibrium, as his body slowly merged into the Realm of Nothingness. It was his absolute trump card, that allowed him to be confident that no one could ever capture or harm him.

…

"Senior, let's go…"

Feng Xue'er slowly said towards Tatsuya, as she kept her head low. The young man before her is far stronger than anyone she has ever met, enough to alarm even the Phoenix God who she always thought to be the strongest. Furthermore, Tatsuya might be the one that would allow her to be…

"Raise your head, Princess. Anyways, I thought I already said that I don't want any other individual to be present?"

Shudder. Feng Xue'er felt the chills spread throughout her spine. She had already warned her father and brothers to not join her, but they still ignored her warning. She's childish, naïve, and kind. That is the Feng Xue'er that her family recognized, that made their head big enough to ignore the fact that she's still the inheritor of the Phoenix God's powers.

"This is why I don't want to be associated with any empire…"

Tatsuya muttered, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear him; Chu Xin, Fenlong, and Feng Xue'er. He could get the gist of the situation, just from looking at the guilty expression present on the Princess' face. It seems that their presence is not of related to Feng Xue'er and Phoenix God's motive.

Tatsuya nodded towards Chu Xin and Fenlong, opting his companions to stand beside him. He then raised his head and looked at Feng Xue'er. The latter looked back at Tatsuya with guilt. She had one job, but she couldn't even take care of that. She felt disappointed to herself, making her recall that she's indeed still a child.

"But their presence doesn't really matter…"

Feng Xue'er widened her eyes, as she stared at Tatsuya with disbelief. Just a few seconds ago, she felt that the meeting of the Phoenix God and Tatsuya might have gone unfinished because of her fault, but it seems that it is not the case.

"Come here, Princess Feng."

She nervously approached Tatsuya, with hesitation and anxiety in her eyes. She kept her head low, feeling very gloomy and sad over her failures. She recalled that herself being locked away inside the Phoenix Perching Valley might have been a good thing.

"Wha-?!"

Suddenly, Feng Xue'er felt someone pull her. She quickly raised her head, and saw Tatsuya pulling her towards himself, while looking at her without a thread of emotion. Disbelief filled her head, as Tatsuya's sentence entered her ears.

"Don't feel so gloomy. It is not your fault, but theirs. The Phoenix God sent you here, because she believed that you'll be able to complete your task successfully…"

"B-but…"

"Look, Princess Feng. Can you tell me where the Phoenix God asked us to meet her?"

Feng Xue'er stared at Tatsuya for a while. She can't understand why the young man before her tried to cheer her up. Still, Tatsuya's efforts managed to reach her heart, as confidence gradually returned to her face.

"Master is waiting at the Divine Phoenix Sect. She told me that you should know where specifically she's at."

"Thank you, Princess Feng."

"B-but I didn't do anything… I don't deserve your gratitude."

"You, personally inviting us to the Phoenix God is already worthy of gratitude. I can't explain much but, can you just quietly accept it?"

Although, Tatsuya wanted to help Feng Xue'er gain confidence, he wouldn't place all of his efforts just for this. He already went overboard when he tried to use words to guide Feng Xue'er into the right path. If not for Feng Xue'er being vital for Tatsuya's motives, he wouldn't have even bothered to look at her.

"Thank you…"

Feng Xue'er lowly muttered, as she can't help but feel happiness blossom within her heart. It was the first time that someone genuinely thanked her because of her own efforts. It's not like she's saying that the Phoenix God didn't provided her with enough love and warmth, but it still felt different when someone other than her trusted master, offered her a genuine gratitude.

"Hm?"

Tatsuya looked over at Feng Xue'er, who just muttered something. Tatsuya clearly heard it, but he pretended to not. Feng Xue'er lowered her head even more, as she felt confused as to why she can't look at Tatsuya straightly.

"It's nothing!"

"Then, let's go meet the Phoenix God…"

Tatsuya then tapped the floor using his left foot, as a complex formation diagram enveloped them. It possessed a formidable power that shocked Feng Xue'er, as she could feel the dominating power of space shrouding them.

"Space Formation Diagram, Activate."

*Shua!*

In a single instant, they all vanished from the room. Princess Feng's father and brothers wasn't even the least aware that the person they wanted to meet had already vanished alongside Feng Xue'er.

…

*Swoosh!*

Tatsuya and his companions appeared inside an enclosed space filled with flames that could burn anything. Oddly enough, those strong flames couldn't even touch them, as if something is restricting those flames from going wild. Tatsuya knew that it must be Phoenix God's doing.

"Chu Xin, Fenlong, stay near me…"

He warned his companions. After all, they are still inside a foreign territory of a godly being. An existence far stronger than Tatsuya. But Tatsuya is no idiot, he knew that if the Phoenix God actually possesses an ill intent directed at them, they would have burned a long time ago already.

"Senior, please follow me."

Feng Xue'er stepped ahead them, absolutely confident that the Phoenix Flames around them won't be able to harm her in any way. Tatsuya and his companions followed silently, without asking any questions.

They walked for more than an hour, but strangely enough, Chu Xin and Fenlong can't feel fatigue within their bodies. Tatsuya noticed this too, but didn't bothered to explain, because he wanted his companions to come up with a plausible answer about the strange phenomenon. Only with intellect and keen senses would they survive the cultivation world.

"Big Brother Tatsuya, the profound energy within this space is strange."

"I also noticed that Master. Could it be that the profound energy here actually could relieve fatigue? I could even feel my profound veins getting stronger each second."

"What do you guys think?"

Instead of answering their queries, Tatsuya asked back with a question. He wanted to test their observation of the profound energy inside the dwelling of the Phoenix God.

"Big brother, I think that it must be because of the special characteristic of the Phoenix Flames. I heard that the Phoenixes can undergo nirvana."

"Yes Master, I also think that the Phoenix Flames possess a rejuvenating property that could recover your stamina and wasted strength. Furthermore, I could feel the fire aspect of my profound veins getting stronger. It must be because of the purity of the fire elemental energy present within this space!"

"Hm. Not bad, both of you."

Tatsuya nodded towards his companions. He could feel the keen observation behind their statements. It seems that the purity of the Fire Elemental Energy within this space is gradually strengthening their profound veins, while also slowly purifying their profound energy.

Normally, it should also affect Tatsuya, but because of the Fire Elemental Energy that he once absorbed from the Fenlong's lair that was filled with the remnant energy of the Evil God's Fire Seed, his profound veins didn't get affected that much.

"We're near, senior."

Feng Xue'er reminded Tatsuya and his companions of their distance from the Phoenix God. Chu Xin and Fenlong heightened their senses, as they attempted to perceive the Phoenix God's presence. But to no avail, they couldn't sense it at all. They felt that it was natural because the being they are trying to sense is way above their level.

Suddenly, Feng Xue'er stopped walking, as Tatsuya and his companions also stopped. They were at the end of the cliff, filled with nothing but darkness. Chu Xin and Fenlong couldn't sense anything from the cliff, but they instinctively knew that something is out there.

Tatsuya calmly looked forward, without an ounce of anxiety and nervousness. He could feel the gaze of the Phoenix God landing on him, as he instantly exerted enough power that tried to fend off the Phoenix God's sense.

*Bzztt~*

Chu Xin, Fenlong, and Feng Xue'er took a step back, as they sensed a terrifying power emerging out of Tatsuya. It was a blue-colored lightning that jumped around his body. Every movements of that lightning ruptured the space, showing off its godly might.

"You really are no ordinary man…"

A powerful voice echoed all throughout the space. It seemed coming from the cliff, but Tatsuya didn't even bother to look downwards, he just focused at the empty space before him. He could sense the Phoenix God through his Supreme Territory that allowed him to possess the same state as True Gods.

*Boom!*

A pair of mysterious eyes suddenly opened in the pitch-black space in front of them. Golden eyes that were long and narrow stared at Tatsuya, filled with curiosity and surprise. A suffocating pressure descended only at Tatsuya, attempting to test the latter.

"Is this how you're going to play?"

Tatsuya murmured to himself, as he extended his left hand. He then gazed at the Phoenix God, enough to send chills towards the divine beast before him.

Suddenly, a long and sleek dark sword appeared within his left hand. It emitted no power, looking like an ordinary sword. Strangely enough, the blue lightning that could rupture the space, couldn't even damage the sword.

Slash. Tatsuya suddenly exerted force, and slashed the Demon Condemning Sword at a random direction. It was an ordinary slash, without any mastery or profound meaning behind it. But the force that it produced shocked the Phoenix God to the core.

*Bang!*

With a single slash, Tatsuya dispersed the godly pressure that the Phoenix God directed at him. He looked at the Phoenix God with indifference, as the Phoenix God quickly recovered its own composure.

"I assume that I am now worthy to talk to you, Phoenix God. No- One of the two remnant soul of the Phoenix God…"

"Truly interesting… I can't believe an Earth Profound Cultivator could actually produce this much power… Who in the world are you?"

"We didn't accept your invitation for this kind of talks. I know that you wanted to meet me for something else…"

Tatsuya looked at the Phoenix God, waiting for its answer. He knew that the divine beast before him didn't even used his full power, yet it already forced Tatsuya to wield his sword. The Phoenix God is truly a force to be reckoned with, but Tatsuya is now sure that the Phoenix God is neither an ally or an enemy.

"I apologize for my rude behavior just now, human cultivator. I am the Phoenix God's remnant soul. I invited you here for the purpose of asking you a question that will decide whether you're someone of this universe or something else."

"…"

"You… Who in the world taught you the legendary Formation Mastery?"

I knew it. Tatsuya thought to himself, as he quietly stared at the Phoenix God. When he first encountered the knowledge about the Formation Mastery, he always wondered why no one in this planet seemed to know of its existence. Even the store owner who talked about it, was only pretending to know it. He only managed to learn the Formation Mastery because of his knowledge from Earth and his unmatched innate ability, Elemental Sight.

It seems that the disappearance of the Formation Mastery has some sort of history. That is the reason why the Phoenix God tried to peacefully invite Tatsuya, instead of forcefully capturing him. Depending on Tatsuya's answer, will depend on how the Phoenix God will treat Tatsuya in the future.

Even though, the Phoenix God's remnant soul had already managed to break free from the Phoenix God's will, the imminent threat that Tatsuya posed still forced it to take action.

In front of an imminent threat that might result into the Primal Chaos' collapse, the Phoenix God who already decided to not follow the true Phoenix God's will, chose to ignore its own desire to have freedom, just to judge whether Tatsuya is something that won't cause further trouble.

"I can't answer you that…"

"You… are courting death!"

Once Tatsuya said his statement, the Phoenix God immediately poured her full strength towards Tatsuya. She had decided that Tatsuya might be someone not of his universe, which opted her to show killing intent towards the mysterious young man before her.

"I can't answer you that… before I could tell whether you are someone I could trust."

"What do you mean, mortal?"

The Phoenix God sounded angry, as the suffocating aura only continued to increase in density and power. Still, Tatsuya faced it head-on without a thread of anxiety or nervousness present within his eyes.

"Answer me this question, then I'll answer your question…"

"Do you really think you're in the position to negotiate, mortal?"

The Phoenix God ignored Tatsuya's provocation. She did not even hold back a little bit against Tatsuya, as her full strength endlessly pressured Tatsuya. However, a smile floated into Tatsuya's face, and it immediately caused her confusion. But Tatsuya's statement made her froze.

"I am. Am I not right, Shin Yan?"

"I-impossible! How could you know that name?!"

The suffocating aura instantly dispersed into nothingness, as the huge scarlet eyes in the dark space in front of Tatsuya distorted. Tatsuya stared at the space before him, as he noticed a strange power suddenly envelop Chu Xin, Fenlong, and Feng Xue'er that mysteriously caused them to fall asleep.

"I am honored."

Tatsuya muttered to himself, as he saw a red-haired woman appeared out of nowhere. Her eyes resembled that of a Phoenix, as the Phoenix Flames all throughout the cave bowed down before her presence. She possessed a voluptuous body that could charm endless men, and a dominant atmosphere that could force anyone into submission.

"You… I ask you the same question, who in the world are you?"

The red-haired woman teleported before Tatsuya, and stared at him straightly. Tatsuya stared back without a thread of emotion. Contrary to Tatsuya's, the red-haired woman before her seemed thirsty for Tatsuya's answer.

She needed to know, how in the world did the young man before her knew that name!

"I…"