116: Chapter 116 First Encounter with Feng Jiuyou: A Noble Queen? No, a Leftover Woman Worried About Marriage

Inside the Nirvana Palace, the atmosphere was as cold as ice yet as scorching as fire.

"Long Aoxue."

Feng Jiuyou lazily shifted her posture, her eyes as brilliant as rubies. With three parts scrutiny and seven parts disdain, she slowly swept her gaze over the three people below.

"It's one thing for you to not stay in Wanlong Nest and be your empress, but to come to my Undying Fire Mountain and act wildly is another."

Her gaze first lingered on Xu Chen for a moment. Although she was stunned by the man's almost flawless appearance, as a proud Divine Phoenix, she quickly withdrew her gaze, as if looking even once more would be a profanation of herself.

Next, her gaze fell upon Nangong Waner, who was beside Xu Chen.

A golden light instantly flickered within her Delusion-Breaking Golden Pupils.

Although Nangong Waner's lower abdomen was still flat and her figure was as slender as a willow, to a top-tier divine beast like Feng Jiuyou, the life fluctuation originating from her belly—though faint, yet containing an astonishing Sword Intent—had nowhere to hide.

"Heh."

Feng Jiuyou sneered, the mockery in her tone growing even stronger.

"It's bad enough you brought a human man, but to barge into my forbidden grounds dragging along a pregnant human woman whose fetal qi is still unstable..."

"Long Aoxue, do you take my Undying Fire Mountain for a refugee camp? Or is it that you're incapable of bearing children yourself, so you can only bring others here to show off?"

"Show off?"

Long Aoxue let go of Xu Chen's arm and stepped forward, hands on her hips. That "delinquent girl" temperament she had developed since childhood instantly erupted.

"Feng Jiuyou, I haven't seen you for a few years, and your mouth has certainly grown more poisonous, just like this broken place of yours that's about to lose its lineage."

"I didn't come here today to argue with you."

Long Aoxue pointed at Xu Chen behind her, a mischievous smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

"Open your bird eyes and look closely. This person is the Young Master Xu of the Ancient Imperial Clan, possessor of the Hongmeng Creation Body, the only walking 'humanoid divine medicine' in this world."

"I saw that your Divine Phoenix Clan is on the verge of extinction, so I specifically brought my husband here to give you a 'great opportunity'."

"How about it? Are you so touched you want to cry?"

"Ancient Imperial Clan? Hongmeng Creation Body?"

Upon hearing those words, Feng Jiuyou's originally nonchalant expression froze slightly.

As a top powerhouse of the Demon Realm, she naturally knew the weight of the Ancient Xu Family. They were a colossus that even the Demon Emperor had to treat with respect.

And... the Hongmeng Creation Body?

Feng Jiuyou's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she turned her gaze toward Xu Chen once more. This time, it wasn't a casual scan; she employed the Divine Phoenix Clan's innate divine ability—the Delusion-Breaking Golden Pupils.

Buzz!

In her vision, Xu Chen seemed to have transformed into a walking miniature sun. The blood qi within him was as vast as an ocean, and even more terrifyingly, that blood qi contained a chaotic aura capable of encompassing all things and evolving life.

For the Divine Phoenix Clan, whose bloodline was on the verge of exhaustion, that aura was simply a fatal temptation!

With just one look, Feng Jiuyou felt the Divine Phoenix bloodline within her, which had been dormant for tens of thousands of years, unexpectedly surge uncontrollably, letting out a cry of longing.

"This..."

Stormy waves surged in Feng Jiuyou's heart.

This feeling was something she had only seen in records of the Primordial Gods and Demons in ancient texts!

If she could obtain the nourishment of such a bloodline, perhaps... the inheritance crisis of the Divine Phoenix Clan could truly be resolved?

"Ahem."

Feeling that scorching gaze that seemed intent on stripping him bare for study, Xu Chen coughed twice at the appropriate moment.

He took a step forward and slightly cupped his hands toward Feng Jiuyou on the throne, his face wearing that signature, harmless smile.

"Xu Chen of the Xu Family, greetings to Phoenix Clan Leader."

"Although Long Aoxue's words were a bit blunt, the logic is sound."

"This Young Master has indeed come with sincerity this time."

At this point, Xu Chen looked up, his gaze lingering unscrupulously on those long, slender legs for a moment before looking directly into Feng Jiuyou's eyes, praising her sincerely:

"I've long heard that the Phoenix Clan Leader is the number one ice-cold beauty of the Demon Realm. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation."

"In fact, you're even more... heart-stirring than the rumors suggest."

"Presumptuous!"

Feng Jiuyou's face darkened, and the pressure belonging to a queen instantly erupted.

"Smooth-tongued!"

"Don't think that just because you're the Young Master Xu, you can act willfully in my Nirvana Palace!"

Despite her verbal reprimand, for some reason, looking into Xu Chen's clear yet aggressive eyes, her Dao heart—which hadn't wavered in thirty thousand years—actually skipped a beat for no reason.

And...

Was he just praising my beauty?

Damn it! What am I thinking!

Feng Jiuyou forcibly suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and regained her high-and-mighty appearance.

"Long Aoxue says you're a 'great opportunity'?"

She sneered, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

"Although my Divine Phoenix Clan is sparsely populated, we don't just take an interest in any random nobody."

"You want me, Feng Jiuyou, to owe you a favor, or even... be moved?"

"Your face alone isn't enough."

"Stubborn as a mule."

To the side, Long Aoxue rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.

"Your eyes are practically glued to my husband, yet you're still acting all aloof. You're already thirty thousand years old; if you don't marry soon, you'll really become an antique."

Although her voice was low, to those present, it was no different from shouting through a megaphone.

Crack!

The armrest in Feng Jiuyou's hand instantly turned to powder.

A crack finally appeared on that exquisite face—the humiliation and anger of having a sore spot poked.

"Long! Ao! Xue!"

"Do you want to die?!"

"Want to fight? Bring it on! Who's afraid of who!"

Long Aoxue didn't back down at all, directly manifesting a pair of dragon horns as dragon might permeated her surroundings.

It looked like these two Demon Realm queens were about to come to blows over a disagreement and tear down the Nirvana Palace.

"Stop!"

Xu Chen shook his head helplessly.

He stepped out and blocked the way between the two women.

"Ladies, please calm down."

"Phoenix Clan Leader, I know what you're worried about."

Xu Chen looked at Feng Jiuyou, his tone suddenly becoming serious.

"The greatest crisis currently facing the Divine Phoenix Clan isn't external enemies, but the degradation of your own bloodline."

"Although you claim to be undying, the success rate of Nirvana is lower with each generation. If I'm not mistaken, even though you reached the peak of the Half-Saint realm long ago, you've hesitated to take that final step—Nirvana into Sainthood."

"Because you know that with your current bloodline purity, once you undergo Nirvana, it will be a near-death experience."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall instantly fell silent.

Feng Jiuyou's pupils constricted as she stared fixedly at Xu Chen.

How did he know?!

This was the Divine Phoenix Clan's greatest secret; aside from a few Supreme Elders, absolutely no one knew!

"What... do you want to say?"

Feng Jiuyou took a deep breath, her voice slightly raspy. The hostility in her eyes faded, replaced by a wariness of having her hand exposed and... expectation.

"What I want to say is..."

Xu Chen smiled slightly, and a pure, vast Hongmeng Purple Qi suddenly emanated from him.

"I have the cure for your problem."

"But in exchange, I also need something from the Divine Phoenix Clan."

"What thing?"

Feng Jiuyou asked subconsciously, her gaze firmly attracted by the purple qi on Xu Chen.

Was that... the source aura of the Great Dao?!

"It's very simple."

Xu Chen pointed to the entrance of the forbidden grounds behind the throne, where raging flames were burning.

"I wish to borrow your family's 'Rebirth Divine Fire'."

"Of course."

Xu Chen paused, his gaze becoming playful once more as he looked Feng Jiuyou's perfect body up and down.

"If the Phoenix Clan Leader feels that's not enough, this Young Master can also make a sacrifice and lend myself to you..."

"For some 'in-depth' communication?"