2: Deceiving Yuanfeng into working

"Li!"

The little Phoenix was whipped on her backside, sending her flying. She let out a sharp screech, seemingly expressing her dissatisfaction toward Qing Wu.

"Wutong Tree, what are you doing? I was just a step away from completing my Transformation!"

Speaking of the Transformation, Qing Wu's anger flared up again.

"You really have no sense of honor. I've been doing my best to provide life energy for your Transformation."

"Yet you're being lazy and slippery, thinking only of yourself instead of giving back to achieve mutual benefit."

"You deserve a beating!"

*Crack!*

Qing Wu summoned that leaf again and swung it toward Yuan Feng.

However, the latter dodged it with a nimble movement.

The little Phoenix's smug laughter rang out. "Wutong, oh Wutong, you've never been able to beat me, and now is no exception..."

Before she could finish, another branch whipped toward her.

It hit the bullseye, sending her flying once more to crash heavily onto the ground.

"You ungrateful creature! I've sacrificed so much for you, and you don't think of repaying me at all!"

"Today, I'll show you exactly what this tree is capable of."

"Fine, I'd like to see what skills you have."

Although Yuan Feng had been knocked to the ground due to a momentary lapse, hearing Qing Wu's "oppressed serf rising up" attitude made her sharpen her focus.

*Crack! Crack! Crack!*

Three more crisp sounds rang out, and Yuan Feng was undoubtedly whipped three more times.

Attacks from a Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root were very effective.

"Impossible! How can I, the great Yuan Feng, be suppressed by you..."

A few of Yuan Feng's feathers were knocked loose, and three long marks appeared on her body.

These were the marks left by Qing Wu.

After being beaten repeatedly like this, Yuan Feng slightly lowered her proud head.

But she still stared at the Wutong Tree in front of her, fuming with anger.

She didn't know why this Wutong Tree had suddenly gained sentience and was using its geographical advantage to suppress her completely.

Yuan Feng had also tried to fight back, repeatedly breathing fire to show Qing Wu her power.

But a Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root possessed extremely strong defensive capabilities.

Furthermore, Qing Wu was born with a natural affinity for the flames spat by a Phoenix.

Yuan Feng's current strength was not enough to cause him even the slightest bit of harm.

Instead, it made Qing Wu feel quite refreshed.

"Not bad, give me a bit more."

Conversely, every lash Qing Wu landed on Yuan Feng struck deep, causing her to cry out in pain.

"If you know what's good for you, listen to me and dutifully give back."

Seeing Yuan Feng's aura weaken, Qing Wu struck while the iron was hot, suddenly acting quite haughty.

"You wouldn't want to be unable to transform, would you?"

These words struck a chord with Yuan Feng.

The reason she had stayed to fight Qing Wu despite being beaten for so long...

...was precisely because she was currently just one crucial step away from her Transformation.

She only needed to use Qing Wu's life force to further refine her Bloodline and improve her Foundation to complete the Transformation.

Afterward, she would use great magic power to suppress Qing Wu, making him her permanent "worker tree."

But unfortunately, at this critical moment, Qing Wu had gained sentience.

It seemed he had no intention of working for her or condensing Wutong fruit.

This put Yuan Feng in a difficult position.

The memories in her Bloodline told her that she and the Wutong Tree must complement each other and progress together to reach their maximum potential.

If she were to leave now, the day of her Transformation would be indefinitely delayed.

This was something she could not accept.

Seeing several more attacks about to fall, Yuan Feng finally chose to compromise.

"I'll just listen to you then..."

Yuan Feng hesitated for a long time before squeezing out those words.

That single sentence triggered a connection between the two.

An invisible aura descended, making their bond even tighter.

Now they were truly bound together.

Yuan Feng flapped her wings, letting out a cry every now and then to express her dissatisfaction.

But Qing Wu acted as if he hadn't heard a thing and commanded her, "In that case, you must listen to me from now on."

"Since we are an inseparable collective, we must both contribute to each other."

"You've already received many benefits. Now, it's your turn to work. Hurry up and help me complete my Transformation!"

Yuan Feng drooped her head, looking completely reluctant.

At that moment, Qing Wu's body shook, and another branch lowered.

Yuan Feng thought Qing Wu was going to whip her again and flapped her wings to dodge.

Looking closer, she discovered a nearly ripe Wutong fruit hanging from that branch.

"Help me transform, and this Wutong fruit will be yours once it ripens."

Qing Wu hit the mark, striking right where it mattered.

Seeing the Wutong fruit, Yuan Feng felt a surge of intense desire.

As long as she could get the Wutong fruit, she would surely be able to break the final shackles of her Bloodline and complete her Transformation.

On second thought, they would both end up transforming together anyway, so she wouldn't be losing out.

Thus, Yuan Feng immediately flew onto a branch and began to give back to Qing Wu.

Qing Wu's mind also gradually settled as he began his first cultivation session.

...

As everything stabilized, Qing Wu felt himself becoming more acclimated to the Honghuang World, and his perception of time unconsciously began to blur.

In the Honghuang World, the least valuable thing is time.

During this process, Qing Wu organized his Legacy and began to circulate his magic power, slowly deducing his own Cultivation Technique.

As a consciousness born from a Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root, he naturally possessed extraordinary Comprehension Ability.

Coupled with the Wutong Tree's years of steady accumulation, he had a profound Foundation.

With sister Yuan Feng assisting him, Qing Wu's cultivation proceeded smoothly.

During this first session, he discovered that he had already accumulated enough magic power to reach the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm.

He was only a few conditions away from his Transformation.

Similarly, Yuan Feng had also accumulated magic power at the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm.

She was also just one final step away from her Transformation.

Thinking about it, if he hadn't slapped her awake...

...Yuan Feng might have already successfully completed her Transformation by now.

However, he had promised her the Wutong fruit for one final Bloodline refinement to improve her Foundation before transforming.

This was also of great benefit to Yuan Feng.

Once she consumed the Wutong fruit and truly completed her Transformation, her Foundation and Aptitude would reach an even higher level.

When she transformed then, her strength would also be enhanced.

So, in a way, the interruption of Yuan Feng's Transformation could be considered a good thing.

However, Qing Wu began to think about his future plans.

This sister of his was no simple figure.

As the first Phoenix in heaven and earth, her status was noble; she was born the ruler of all avian creatures.

"A hundred birds paying homage to the Phoenix"—what a magnificent sight that would be.

The Phoenix Clan she established would once become a top-tier power in the Honghuang World.

During the subsequent Vicious Beast Great Tribulation, the Phoenix Clan, as one of the three Innate clans, would be very active.

Through this tribulation, they would not only gain a vast amount of Karma but also gather immense Luck.

And Yuan Feng would use this skyrocketing Luck to push her cultivation to its peak.

But Luck is a double-edged sword.

With the Phoenix Clan at its zenith, the Great Tribulation naturally found its way to them.

The following Dragon-Han Great Tribulation would drag the massive Phoenix Clan down from its pedestal.

This Yuan Feng's end was also quite tragic.

Not only was she schemed against, leading to the conflict between the three clans that turned the world upside down...

...but she herself was also heavily injured and shrouded in massive Karmic Obstruction.

In the end, she had no choice but to suppress the Immortal Volcano, sacrificing her remaining strength for her clan.

But since he had come to the Honghuang World and was deeply bound to Yuan Feng...

...Qing Wu would naturally try to defy heaven to change her destiny...