351: Chapter 351 The Serpent Clan's Challenge

The sea of parasol tree leaves surged in the wind, like a golden ocean.

But at this moment, above the surface of the sea, the sounds were no longer peaceful.

A sharp, clearly provocative voice came from the edge of the Phoenix territory, like a high-pitched string plucked with force, piercing through layers of branches and leaves, reaching all the way to the vicinity of the main parasol tree trunk.

"Phoenix Clan, hiding in your shells like cowards?"

"Those two fugitives from the Human Race and the Fox Clan that you, the Phoenix Clan, have been harboring for so long—it's time to hand them over!"

Immediately following were several echoing laughs, mixed with a certain hissing undertone.

Chu Sheng stood on a branch, looking outward, and could vaguely see several figures hovering in mid-air in the distance.

The leader had a slender build, wore dark cyan scale armor, had slightly protruding eye sockets, and a narrow, pointed jaw.

People of the Snake King.

The one challenging the loudest looked like a younger clan brother of the Snake King; his cultivation was not low, at the Dao Completion Early Stage, but clearly, he was not here for a one-on-one fight.

Behind him followed several Snake Clan guards; on the surface, they were guards, but their loose formation made it seem more like they were there to bolster his presence.

Inside the tree hole of the main parasol tree trunk, the Phoenix King put down the Jade Slip in his hand, as if he had long anticipated this would happen.

He did not rush to stand up, just sat there, silent for a moment, as if listening to the rhythm of those challenging cries.

Then he stood up and walked outside.

As he passed through the passages between several branches, the Phoenix Clan members along the way yielded, no one asked anything, yet there was a tacit silence.

The Phoenix King walked to an open platform at the edge of the parasol tree and stopped.

He did not release any pressure, just stood there, looking down at the Snake Clan figures hovering not far away.

His gaze rested on the leading Snake Clan member for a moment, his tone as flat as if he were greeting an acquaintance.

"You are acting wildly here; have you considered the consequences?"

"Do you believe this old man will bury you at the bottom of the lava, just right to serve as fertilizer for the Mother Tree?"

This sentence carried no emotion, yet it made all the Snake Clan guards present feel a chill run down their backs.

The speech the Snake Clan younger brother had prepared was now completely stuck in his throat, and he was even terrified out of his wits.

He subconsciously shrank his neck, but quickly straightened his back again, as if trying to bolster his own courage.

"I... I am not here to cause trouble. I have come by the decree of the Demon Venerable!"

As he spoke, he took a scroll from his sleeve, held it up with both hands, and displayed it to the Phoenix King with exaggerated movements.

The scroll was dark gold all over, with faint scale patterns on the surface; one look and it was clear it was an object of the Dragon Clan.

The Phoenix King's gaze fell on the scroll, stopping for a moment, without immediately responding.

His expression remained calm, yet he did not immediately refute, as if confirming the authenticity of the scroll.

The Snake Clan younger brother, seeing that he did not immediately respond, seemed to grow a bit bolder, and his voice raised slightly.

"The Demon Venerable's decree is here, ordering the Phoenix Clan to immediately hand over the harbored Human Race fugitive Chu Sheng and his accomplices! There must be no delay!"

He paused, then added: "This is the official decree of the Demon Venerable; if the Phoenix Clan resists the order, it is to be an enemy of the Demon Venerable!"

After he finished these words, the wind above the parasol tree seemed to die down a bit, as if even the wind was waiting for the Phoenix King's answer.

The Phoenix King was silent for a moment.

He did not look at the Snake Clan younger brother, nor did he look at the decree, but turned his head to glance at the quiet sea of golden leaves in the distance.

"The younger generation of the Snake Clan is certainly becoming more eloquent."

His voice was not loud, but clear enough for everyone present to hear, "But wasn't that sentence you just said backward?"

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the Snake Clan younger brother; his tone remained calm, but with a hint of imperceptible coldness.

"You come before this seat, holding a Dragon Clan decree, and demand that this seat hand over the Phoenix Clan's guests?"

"Do you know when the last time the Phoenix Clan was threatened to its face like this was?"

The Snake Clan younger brother opened his mouth, as if wanting to refute, but found that although the Phoenix King's tone was flat, it carried a steadiness that made his back run cold.

He subconsciously took half a step back, glancing at the few guards beside him, as if trying to find some confidence from them.

But his guards were also silent at this moment, no one taking the initiative to speak.

The Phoenix King did not continue to press him, just said indifferently.

"Go back and tell the Demon Venerable that the Phoenix Clan's affairs will be handled by the Phoenix Clan itself. Outsiders should not interfere too deeply."

After he finished speaking, he paid no more attention to the Snake Clan younger brother and turned to walk back toward the main parasol tree trunk.

The Snake Clan younger brother stood in place, his expression changing several times, and finally, as if remembering something, he shouted at the Phoenix King's back: "You... are you sure you want to defy the Demon Venerable's decree?"

The Phoenix King did not stop, just said without looking back: "If you are not at ease, you can come in and take the person yourself."

The Snake Clan younger brother's face flushed red, but in the end, he did not say a second sentence.

He put away the decree, and with those guards, slunk away, disappearing at the edge of the sea of parasol tree leaves.

When the Phoenix King returned to the tree hole, Chu Sheng was already there.

He stood by the window sill, clearly having heard that conversation just now.

The Phoenix King glanced at him, without explaining anything, just said: "You heard it."

Chu Sheng nodded: "I heard it."

He paused, then added: "If the Demon Venerable continues to apply pressure, the Phoenix Clan does not need to bear too much for us."