Chapter 281 Heavenly Demon Phoenix

Over the next few days, the discussions in the streets of Pill City did not cease.

In tea houses, wine shops, and inside and outside the Pill Tower, everyone was talking about the nine-colored pillar of light that had soared into the sky from the Shen Residence yesterday.

"I felt that pressure from halfway across the city; it was definitely a Dou Zun-level existence!"

"Didn't they say Grandmaster Shen's wife from the Snake-People Clan had a Breakthrough? I heard from the Cao Family that it was a Bloodline evolution, and she became a Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python."

"Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python? Isn't that a thing of legends?"

"Legends are legends, but she really did have a Breakthrough. Grandmaster Shen himself is a Grade 8 Alchemist; it's not strange for his wife to have a special Bloodline, is it?"

Similar conversations were playing out everywhere.

At first, some people didn't believe it, but as the Cao Family and the Pill Tower intentionally or unintentionally released some information, the public opinion gradually settled.

The Snake-People Clan was already skilled at fusing the Souls of snake-type Demonic Beasts to evolve their Bloodlines; many people knew this.

Although the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python was indeed rare, rare did not mean non-existent.

Furthermore, with Shen Wen, a twenty-year-old Grade 8 Alchemist, overseeing things, it seemed perfectly reasonable for his wife to have something special about her.

When the news reached Huang Xuan's ears, he was sitting in his inn room drinking tea.

After listening to the scout's report, he put down his teacup and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python?"

He repeated softly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

As an Elder of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, he naturally knew what this implied.

The Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python was an existence no weaker than the Ancient Heavenly Serpent, the true sovereign of snake-type Demonic Beasts.

And the Ancient Heavenly Serpent and the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python were, coincidentally, mortal enemies.

Among current snake-type Demonic Beasts, the nominal sovereign was the lineage of the Ancient Heavenly Serpent, of which the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python was a Bloodline descendant.

If that old fellow Yao Xiaotian knew that the Bloodline of the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python still existed in this world, he would likely be unable to sit still.

However...

Huang Xuan shook his head, a gloating smile curling the corners of his mouth.

As long as that Queen of the Snake-People Tribe didn't leave Pill City, with those few from the Pill Tower overseeing things, Yao Xiaotian would have to think twice about whatever he wanted to do.

He turned his gaze toward the window, looking in the direction of the Shen Residence.

The matter of the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python was merely an unexpected surprise.

He had come to Pill City for other important business.

Huang Xuan stood up, straightened his robes, and walked out of the inn.

...

In front of the Shen Residence, Huang Xuan paused for a moment, sizing up the manor.

The entrance wasn't particularly grand, unable to compare to those great families with hundreds of years of Legacy.

But the stone steps were clean, the plaque was brand new, and the people entering and leaving moved with a calm pace, exuding the unique vigor of a rising power.

He stepped over the threshold, and a doorman immediately came forward to greet him.

"Senior, may I ask what business brings you to our Shen Residence?"

The doorman's attitude was respectful, but as his gaze swept over Huang Xuan, a flicker of imperceptible vigilance flashed in his eyes.

Huang Xuan didn't mind, putting his hands behind his back and saying, "Huang Xuan of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, here to see Grandmaster Shen."

The doorman was taken aback, then bowed and said, "Please wait a moment, Senior, while I go and announce your arrival."

...

Shen Wen was currently pondering how to conceal the special aura on Shen Yinian's body.

This girl was a natural-born Dou Zong, and her aura was completely different from that of an ordinary infant.

With Old Monster Lin and Xuan Danzi helping to suppress it, and public opinion being guided toward "Cai Lin breaking through to the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python," no one would suspect anything for the time being.

But Shen Yinian couldn't stay inside the residence forever.

When she grew older, she would eventually have to meet people. At that time, if she encountered a true powerhouse, that bit of concealment wouldn't be enough.

He had to find a long-term solution.

Either use a Formation to completely seal the aura on her body, or find a Cultivation Technique that could hide her Bloodline for her to Cultivate from a young age.

As Shen Wen was calculating, a soft knock suddenly came from the door.

"Venerable One," it was the doorman's voice, "there is a Senior at the gate calling himself Huang Xuan of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, requesting an audience with the Venerable One."

Shen Wen's brow furrowed slightly.

Heavenly Demon Phoenix?

Aside from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix corpse he had taken back in Black Emperor City, he had no interaction with this clan.

And given the Heavenly Demon Phoenix's stubbornness regarding Bloodline protection, he didn't want to have any dealings with them.

If the matter of that corpse were uncovered, although he wasn't afraid, it would ultimately be a hassle.

He hadn't expected the Heavenly Demon Phoenix to come to his door personally.

Shen Wen pondered for a moment, a thought flashing in his eyes.

The Heavenly Demon Phoenix and the Void Ancient Dragon were mortal enemies.

That girl Zi Yan carried the royal Bloodline of the Void Ancient Dragon and would surely return to Ancient Dragon Island to take over the clan in the future.

And the Void Ancient Dragon was currently in the midst of internal strife; aside from the East Dragon Island which was loyal to the Dragon Emperor, the other three Dragon Islands were acting independently, all vying for the position of Dragon Emperor.

These were all Zi Yan's future enemies.

Since the Heavenly Demon Phoenix had come to him, he could use their hands to feel out the current situation of the Void Ancient Dragon.

Perhaps, if he could guide them slightly, he could get the Heavenly Demon Phoenix to weaken the strength of those three Dragon Islands...

Shen Wen made his decision.

He stood up, left the room, and went to the main hall.

Zi Yan was lying on the table playing with a crystal she had found somewhere, while Qing Lin sat nearby quietly flipping through a scroll of a Pill Formula.

"Zi Yan, Qing Lin," Shen Wen spoke, "you two go to the back first."

Zi Yan looked up and blinked: "Why?"

Shen Wen didn't explain, only saying: "There is a guest."

Zi Yan pouted but didn't ask further, pulling Qing Lin toward the backyard.

Once their figures disappeared at the end of the corridor, Shen Wen said toward the door: "Let him in."

A moment later, a figure stepped into the main hall.

It was a white-haired middle-aged man dressed in dark gold robes, with a tall stature, a handsome face, and a pair of eyes that held the sharp gaze of a hawk.

His steps were steady, and his aura was suppressed but not released, yet he naturally carried the pressure unique to a high-level Dou Zun.

After Huang Xuan entered, his gaze swept over Shen Wen, and he then slightly cupped his hands:

"Huang Xuan, Elder of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, greets Grandmaster Shen."

His tone was polite, yet it carried a hint of condescending scrutiny.

Shen Wen sat in the main seat and did not rise, only raising his hand: "Elder Huang is too polite. Please, have a seat."

Huang Xuan's brow furrowed imperceptibly.

As a dignified Elder of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and a Four-Star Dou Zun, where on this Central Plains continent would he not be treated with courtesy?

This young man before him, though a Grade 8 Alchemist, was only a Six-Star Dou Zong, yet he dared to remain seated upon seeing him.

But he quickly suppressed that bit of displeasure.

Before coming, the Crown Prince had instructed that this person could refine the zong ji pill and was worth befriending; he should not lose the big picture over small matters.

Huang Xuan took a seat in the lower position. A maid came forward to serve tea and then silently withdrew.

Shen Wen I picked up the teacup and took a sip， Get straight to the point："Elder Huang has come from afar; may I ask what business you have?"

Huang Xuan didn't beat around the bush either, saying directly: "I have heard that Grandmaster Shen can refine a Medicinal Pill called the 'zong ji pill,' which can increase the cultivation of a Dou Zong by one star.

My clan is quite interested in this pill and has specifically ordered this old man to come and purchase a batch."

Shen Wen's eyebrow quirked slightly.

Purchasing the zong ji pill?

He put down his teacup and said in a flat tone: "Elder Huang's information is indeed well-informed.

However, the zong ji pill is not easy to refine, the Materials are hard to find, and the production is limited. I wonder how many your noble clan requires?"