74: Phoenix Maiden submits, system rewards her again

The wind at the mountain peak, carrying a hint of blood and scorched scent, blew against Feng Ziyan's fiery red dress.

Her body trembled slightly, both from the shock of brutally killing a Nascent Soul Cultivator in such a way for the first time, and because of the unquestionable overbearing declaration of the man before her.

Submit, or die.

Once again, he had placed this choice before her.

Feng Ziyan looked up, meeting Chu He's eyes, which were as deep as the starry sky.

This time, there was no anger, no resentment, and no fear in her gaze.

Only an indescribable, complex emotion remained.

There was shock, awe, curiosity, and even... a trace of something she hadn't noticed herself, called "admiration."

This man was the most overbearing, arrogant, and unreasonable person she had ever met in her life.

But he was also the strongest, most mysterious, and most unfathomable person she had ever seen.

He treated the Ten-Thousand-Year Herb King as weeds and the Mystery Transformation Canon as trash.

With one punch, he killed a Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator; with one finger, he broke through a fourth-grade array.

With a flip of his hand, he made three arrogant Nascent Soul demon cultivators vanish into thin air.

Like an omnipotent deity, he had barged into her world with a crushing posture, trampling all her pride and perceptions into dust.

By following such a man, could she really, as he said, allow this "mixed-blood little Phoenix" of hers to undergo Nirvana and be reborn?

Feng Ziyan didn't know.

But she knew she had no other choice.

Moreover, deep in her heart, a voice told her that this might be the greatest Opportunity of her life.

If she missed it, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

After a long silence.

Feng Ziyan took a deep breath, and all the complex emotions in her beautiful Phoenix eyes gradually faded, turning into clarity and determination.

Slowly and solemnly, she bent her proud knees—knees she had never bent for any man—before Chu He.

She knelt on one knee.

“Feng Ziyan...”

She looked up at the man before her and spoke every word clearly and resolutely:

“I am willing... to submit to you.”

“From now on, Zi Yan's life belongs to my Lord. I am at your command, even unto death.”

She didn't say “I wish to marry you as your wife,” nor did she say “I wish to be your woman.”

What she said was “submit.”

This was the last bit of pride she could retain as the Phoenix Goddess.

She submitted to his strength, his mystery, and the hope of Nirvana and Rebirth that might exist.

As for feelings between a man and a woman, that was a matter for later.

Chu He looked at Feng Ziyan, who was kneeling on one knee before him with her beautiful face tilted up, and felt quite satisfied.

He knew that for such a favored daughter of heaven, getting her to go this far was already the limit.

It was impossible to expect her to be as devoted to him as Qing'er or Lin Waner right away.

However, there was plenty of time ahead.

He had plenty of time and means to make this proud little Phoenix completely his, from body to soul.

“Very good.”

Chu He reached out and gently tilted her chin up, forcing her to look him in the eye.

“Remember what you said today.”

“From now on, you are no longer the Phoenix Goddess of the Southern Region; you are just my, Chu He's, woman.”

“Your glory will be bestowed by me. Your future will be written by me.”

After speaking, he lowered his head and pressed his own domineering seal onto those slightly parted, luscious red lips.

Feng Ziyan's body stiffened suddenly, and her eyes widened instantly.

An unprecedented sensation, like an electric shock, traveled from her lips and instantly spread throughout her body.

Her head buzzed, and her mind went blank.

She wanted to push him away but found her whole body lacked strength.

She wanted to resist, but under his domineering aura, she couldn't muster even the slightest thought of resistance.

She could only let him take whatever he wanted.

To the side, Uncle Fu, who had been treated as if he were air, was struck as if by lightning.

He opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, it only turned into a long sigh filled with helplessness and bitterness.

Young Miss... in the end... forget it, forget it.

Perhaps this truly is the Young Miss's Opportunity... Just as Chu He successfully “conquered” Feng Ziyan.

In his mind, the long-awaited System notification sounded like heavenly music.

【Ding! Detected that the Host has successfully subdued the SSS-rank Archaic Phoenix Bloodline Destiny Girl—Feng Ziyan!】

【The Destiny Girl's heart has returned, the family fortune value has greatly increased! Reward calculation begins!】

【Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: One hundred years of cultivation empowerment!】

【Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Heaven Rank Top-Grade Divine Ability—"Phoenix Seeks His Mate"!】

【Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: family fortune value +1000 points!】

【Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Special building blueprint—phoenix tree divine tree (Sapling)!】

Boom!

A surge of energy, purer and more majestic than ever before, flooded into Chu He's body without warning.

His cultivation, which had just broken through to the Early Nascent Soul Stage, began to skyrocket under the push of this energy!

Early Nascent Soul Stage Peak!

Middle Stage Nascent Soul!

Middle Stage Nascent Soul Peak!

The surge in cultivation only slowly came to a halt after reaching the Middle Stage Nascent Soul Peak.

In just a few breaths, Chu He had crossed a minor Realm, and his strength had once again undergone an earth-shaking change!

He can feel that the Nascent Soul within him has become more solid, and his magic power is even purer and more domineering.

If before he could kill a Late Nascent Soul Stage with one punch.

Then now, he is confident that even if he faces a top expert at the Late Nascent Soul stage, Great Perfection, he could easily crush them!

“Refreshing!”

Chu He thought to himself.

The rewards for this SSS-rank Destiny Girl are indeed bountiful!

Just a preliminary subdual caused his cultivation to skyrocket by a minor Realm and rewarded so many good things.

If he waited until her heart was completely his and she carried his child... wouldn't the rewards be Heaven-Defying?

Chu He suppressed the excitement in his heart and began to check the other rewards.

Heaven Rank Top-Grade Divine Ability, "Phoenix Seeks His Mate".

The introduction was simple: This Divine Ability was created by the Ancient Dragon God when pursuing the Archaic Phoenix. When used on a Phoenix Bloodline possessor, it can instantly increase the other party's favorability and has a certain chance of making them directly enter an "estrus" state. At the same time, this Divine Ability is also a powerful combined attack technique; when performed together with a Phoenix Bloodline possessor, it can summon the Dragon-Phoenix Dharma Image, doubling its power.

“Good stuff!”

Chu He's eyes lit up.

This is practically a "conquest artifact" tailor-made for Feng Ziyan!

With this thing, was he still afraid this proud little Phoenix wouldn't behave?

He continued looking down.

The family fortune value was directly increased by 1000 points!

He glanced at the System panel; the total family fortune value had reached a staggering 4195 points!

The Destiny Golden Dragon coiled above the Family once again grew in size, becoming more solid, with its dragon majesty billowing.

The final reward was a building blueprint.

【phoenix tree divine tree (Sapling)】

【Rank: Divine-Grade (Growable)】

【Effect: Planted in the Family territory, it can automatically gather the fire and wood attribute Spiritual Qi from heaven and earth, forming a "Phoenix Perch Land." Living in the Phoenix Perch Land for a long time can improve one's Physique and increase affinity for fire and wood attributes. It has a miraculous effect on Phoenix Bloodline possessors, accelerating their Bloodline Awakening and cultivation. Every hundred years, the divine tree can produce a "Nirvana Fruit," which, when consumed, allows one to undergo Nirvana and be reborn, completely transforming them.】

【Planting Conditions: A wisp of Archaic Phoenix True Blood, one hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones, and ten thousand wisps of Innate Yimu Qi.】

“Divine-Grade building!”

Chu He's heart pounded hard.

The awesomeness of this phoenix tree divine tree was even above the "fortune gathering altar"!

Not only could it improve the clansmen's Physique and accelerate Feng Ziyan's growth, but it could also bear divine fruits that allow for Nirvana and Rebirth!

This is practically another Heaven-Defying trump card for the Family's rise!

The only trouble was that the planting conditions were somewhat harsh.

One hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones were nothing to him.

For the Innate Yimu Qi, his wife Lin Waner had a Yimu Body, and his daughter Chu Yuning's companion Divine Beast, the Azure Phoenix, was also of the wood attribute; putting it together shouldn't be a big problem.

The most critical part was that wisp of "Archaic Phoenix True Blood."

Chu He's gaze unconsciously fell upon Feng Ziyan, who was still in a daze.

It seemed that to plant this divine tree, he would have to "work harder" on this little Phoenix to help her purify her Bloodline.

After taking stock of all the rewards, Chu He was satisfied.

This trip to the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda was truly worth it!

What Soul Transformation Opportunity? How could it compare to taking an SSS-rank wife!

He released Feng Ziyan and smiled contentedly as he looked at her face, which was flushed with an alluring red due to lack of oxygen.

“Let's go, my woman.”

“I'll take you to see the true secret of this Heaven-Reaching Pagoda.”

After speaking, he took Feng Ziyan's hand and turned toward the clear pool in the center of the mountain peak.

Being pulled by him, Feng Ziyan's body was still a bit weak, so she could only stumble along.

In her mind, the domineering and heart-stopping kiss from earlier, as well as the phrase “my woman,” still echoed.

Her heart was in turmoil.

They arrived at the edge of the pool.

Chu He glanced at the golden heart emitting mysterious fluctuations—the heart of heaven and earth.

He curled his lips in disdain.

Then, under the horrified gazes of Feng Ziyan and Uncle Fu, he raised his foot and stomped down hard on the supreme treasure that was enough to drive the outside world mad!

“Bang!”

A muffled thud.

The golden heart shattered upon impact.