105: Chapter 105 The Results of Little Phoenix Feather's Rebirth

The mysterious looting of the headquarters of the National Magic Crystal Bank of India was like a giant boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirring up a monstrous wave that swept across the globe.

The upper echelons of India were in complete turmoil. Compared to the astronomical losses in the vault, the previous minor friction of "driving away magical beasts" on the border had become a negligible interlude.

The National Magic Crystal Management Bureau held an emergency meeting immediately after the incident. They finally gritted their teeth and decided to initiate the highest-level emergency plan: transferring the remaining massive amount of magic crystals in the headquarters' vault that hadn't been stolen to several more secretive backup locations with entirely different security measures as quickly as possible.

Faced with that bizarre method that could cause all magical barriers to fail instantly, they couldn't think of any effective countermeasures for the time being. Transferring assets became their only choice.

Following this, panic spread rapidly. After learning of the tragic situation at the headquarters, other national-level and even some large private Magic Crystal Banks in other major Indian cities followed suit, secretly planning or executing the transfer and dispersed storage of assets. Overnight, confidence in the security of the national financial system suffered a heavy blow.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the incident—the Great Xia Republic.

Countless people who knew some of the inside story or had indirect contact with that "mysterious genius" were shocked and incredulous beyond words after learning the details of what happened in Old Delhi City through various channels.

People like Shen Yanshan, Liu Hongyuan, and even the Old Sword Saint Liu Qingtian, who knew the general situation through his granddaughter's report, only needed to connect the dots: the unbelievable clearing speed on the border, the bizarre spatial and silence abilities, and the Chief Court Archmage's panicked departure, combined with the failure of the Old Delhi City bank barriers, the unconscious personnel, and the vault being violently opened without a trace of the perpetrator... the truth was almost self-evident.

This matter was absolutely the work of that mysterious genius from Zhongnan City, whose existence they knew of but whose true identity remained a mystery!

Just what kind of monster was this guy?

Not only did he resolve the epic-grade tide of magical beasts that had given the Xia military a headache with overwhelming force, but that wasn't all—he actually had the audacity to sneak directly into India's capital and loot a national-level vault right under their noses!

This had gone beyond the scope of being bold; it was a complete contempt and trampling of a nation's dignity and defense system! Most importantly, he actually succeeded and left cleanly without leaving behind any evidence that could be used against him.

Kyoto, in a quiet and elegant back garden of a traditional courtyard.

An unfinished game of Go was set on a stone table, and two elderly men sat opposite each other. They were the Old Sword Saint Liu Qingtian and Zhou Wenyuan.

Liu Qingtian picked up a black piece, pondered for a moment, and placed it in a corner of the board. He then stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his voice like a resonant bell. "I'm old, truly useless now! But it's fine. Seeing such a lawless... cough, I mean, such a responsible and capable junior emerge among the youth of our Great Xia, these old bones of mine can finally breathe a sigh of relief. There's someone who can carry the burden in the future!"

"Lawless?" Zhou Wenyuan raised his snow-white eyebrows, a smile he couldn't suppress on his face. He held a white piece and lightly tapped the edge of the board. "That's a wonderful choice of words. Who would have thought she'd actually think of it, and even dare to do it... running off to empty someone's national bank? This courage and... well, creativity, is something even I, an old man, admit I can't match."

"It's more than just courage," Liu Qingtian's smile faded slightly, and his eyes grew deep. "For something like this, even if a few of us old fogies teamed up and threw our dignity away to try it, we'd probably be sensed and surrounded by those old ghosts in India before we even touched the bank's front door. To do it so silently? Difficult, far too difficult."

Zhou Wenyuan stroked his long beard and nodded in agreement, then showed a hint of mischief. "This time, India is probably shaking with rage but helpless. They surely guess it's our people, but where's the evidence? Without evidence, they can only swallow their broken teeth and blood, taking this massive loss in silence! Just thinking about it feels satisfying!"

"Speaking of which," Liu Qingtian looked away from the game and toward the swaying emerald bamboo in the courtyard, his tone carrying a sense of wonder and inquiry. "Just what method did she use to make so many strong magical barriers fail simultaneously? Those barriers are troublesome; sometimes even when I strike them with my sword intent, it's like hitting cotton. Her method has essentially seized the lifeline of the current global security system."

"No need to delve into the specific methods," Zhou Wenyuan waved his hand, his expression becoming more serious. "What we need to do now, which is also the most critical part, is to protect this genius and clear away all obstacles that might hinder her growth. As long as she can grow smoothly, the weight of the moves we can make and the words we can say on the global chessboard in the future will be entirely different."

Is it just a greater right to speak? Liu Qingtian thought silently. He was thinking further ahead. Given the completely illogical growth speed and bizarre abilities this genius had shown so far, once she truly reached her peak... by then, the existing global balance of power and order would likely face an earth-shattering upheaval. That would be an era of rewriting the rules.

The international storm did not cease. The Xia officials insisted they were "unaware and unrelated," an irreproachable stance. Although the Indian side was fuming and active everywhere, trying to rope in other countries to pressure Xia, they were hampered by the lack of concrete evidence. In the end, they could only swallow the bitter fruit, watching Xia remain unscathed while they suffered heavy losses.

Many high-ranking Indian officials beat their chests and stamped their feet in internal meetings, regretting their past actions—they had wanted to scheme against Xia and gain some advantage, but ended up losing more than they gained, instead attracting such a disastrous star and incurring immeasurable losses.

What everyone, including the Xia upper echelons, didn't know was that in this incident, the person who suffered the most and whose soul was most traumatized was perhaps not the Indian treasury, but the Chief Court Archmage—Amiba. The unspeakable and bizarre changes in his body and mind tortured him day and night, leaving him in agony. Yet, he couldn't speak of this matter to anyone; the frustration and fear almost crushed him.

He didn't even have thoughts of "revenge" anymore. That mysterious Xia person had shown all-around suppression during their brief encounter—sealing all his skills, coming and going as they pleased, and finally leaving behind this evil curse that was worse than death. Coupled with the terrifying ability to easily crack national-level barriers and loot the vault... only deep fear remained in Amiba's heart.

"If I can't afford to provoke them, I can afford to hide..." This was the old mage's only thought now. He made up his mind that from now on, whenever something involved the Xia border or that mysterious existence, he would stay as far away as possible. In this lifetime, he never wanted to face that terrifying fellow again.

The panic triggered by the India incident was not limited to the two countries. While shocked, other major countries around the world also felt a strong sense of crisis. The magical barrier protection system had been proven to have fatal loopholes, which shook the security foundations of countless important facilities. Countries held emergency security meetings to assess their own vault risks and increased investment in the research of barrier theory and new protection methods. For a time, the value of Barrier Masters and researchers in related fields skyrocketed, but they also faced immense pressure.

Some large Magic Crystal Banks within Xia also strengthened their guard and underwent security upgrades. After all, on an official level, Xia had not admitted that this matter was related to them. Ordinary citizens and many institutions were unaware of the inside story, so taking precautions was only logical. Who knew where the mysterious master thief's next target would be?

Lin Muyang didn't pay much attention to the stormy waves his actions had caused in the outside world. He briefly browsed the relevant news reports and then ignored them.

"However, using the [Deep Slumber] Aura in the capital of India this time might lead Liu Hongyuan and the Sword Saint to link my identity as a 'solo clearing genius' to the similar methods I used in the secret realm before..." Lin Muyang reclined on the soft sofa in the living room, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest as he thought to himself. "Still, it's not a big problem. Even if they have suspicions, they are merely suspicions and cannot be confirmed in the short term. Besides..."

A trace of indifference flashed in his eyes. With his strength rapidly increasing, especially after the smooth border trip and the 'zero-dollar shopping' at the bank, his confidence was now entirely different. Even when facing a Nation-Guarding Level Expert, he had enough room to maneuver and could even make the opponent suffer a great loss.

More importantly, through this incident, his 'potential' and 'danger' had been laid bare before the high-level officials of Xia Country. As long as those in power remained clear-headed, they should understand that rather than offending, investigating, or controlling an existence that defies common logic and may possess subversive power in the future, it would be better to fully support and protect him, transforming him into a weapon of the nation. This aligned with everyone's interests.

After returning to Zhongnan City, Lin Muyang first contacted Shen Yanshan.

"President Shen, there's something I'd like to trouble you with," Lin Muyang said directly. "I plan to participate in this year's National Summoner Martial Arts Tournament. I need to be affiliated with a guild to qualify. Do you think it would be convenient for the Tianqi Tower?"

His goal was naturally the national championship and that mythical grade skill book, [Summoning Profundity]. However, there was no need to state this ultimate goal clearly to Shen Yanshan.

Hearing this request, Shen Yanshan responded almost instantly, his tone filled with honor: "Convenient! Of course it's convenient! This is an honor for Tianqi Tower! I will handle your membership procedures immediately and submit your registration information! Please rest assured, everything will be properly arranged!"

Being able to establish a further, public connection with this mysterious genius held only benefits and no drawbacks for Tianqi Tower. Shen Yanshan couldn't have asked for more.

However, while agreeing readily, Shen Yanshan also felt a bit of doubt in his heart. This genius wanted to participate in the Summoner Tournament? Although he knew the young man's strength was unfathomable, the waters of the Summoner Tournament were very deep!

The entry requirements were too loose; anyone under 75 years old could register. This meant that a large number of veteran Summoners who had been practicing for decades would appear on the field. Their levels might not be top-tier due to talent limitations, but their summon cultivation, combat experience, and tactical coordination had reached a level of perfection.

The competition in the Zhongnan City division alone was exceptionally fierce. Every year there were several hundred applicants, but in the end, there were only three slots to represent Zhongnan City in the Provincial Tournament. The difficulty of the Provincial Tournament increased geometrically.

The Tianqi Tower Guild itself had a Level 115 s-rank talent Summoner who could summon various powerful orcs for battle. He was one of Tianqi Tower's undisputed trump cards, usually elusive and only appearing for large-scale team secret realms. Yet even for someone like him, while qualifying from Zhongnan City wasn't hard, the hope of going further in the Provincial Tournament or even challenging the National Tournament was extremely slim.

From this, one could see just how heaven-defying the difficulty of winning the national championship was! That mythical grade skill book reward was not so easy to obtain.

"Perhaps this genius just wants to see what it's like and gain some tournament experience?" Shen Yanshan could only guess this way. He truly couldn't imagine a young man who had only changed classes for just over a month being able to reach the end of such a cruel event that gathered three generations of elite Summoners from across the country.

Lin Muyang didn't offer much explanation. Soon, his registration information was submitted through the Tianqi Tower Guild. The preliminary rounds were set for three days later and would be held at a designated arena in Zhongnan City to determine the three qualifying spots for the city.

The National Summoner Martial Arts Tournament was one of the few official events in Xia Country that combined competitiveness, strategy, and spectacle, and it always received high attention. When the latest list of contestants was updated and Lin Muyang's name appeared under the "Tianqi Tower Guild," it was quickly noticed by those paying attention.

The first place to explode was Lin Muyang's class group chat. Someone posted a screenshot of the contestant list.

"Holy crap! Am I seeing this right? Lin Muyang? Is it the Lin Muyang from our class?"

"National Summoner Martial Arts Tournament? He registered? For real?"

"Tianqi Tower Guild... that's right, it's him! How long has it been since he became a Summoner? He actually dares to participate in that kind of competition?"

"That's the national tournament! I heard many veteran Summoners in their forties and fifties who have practiced for decades will participate! What is Muyang thinking..."

"Maybe he's just going to experience the atmosphere? After all, the registration threshold isn't particularly high."

"Experience the atmosphere using a Tianqi Tower Guild slot? Those slots are very precious! But if it's Muyang, maybe Tianqi Tower really was willing to give it to him?"

The group chat was buzzing with discussion, a mix of surprise, confusion, curiosity, and a slight feeling that he was overestimating himself. After all, in the limited knowledge of his classmates, although Lin Muyang had caused a huge stir during his awakening and was suspected of having extremely high talent, the time since his class change was simply too short. Competing on the same stage as seniors who had immersed themselves in the way of summoning for decades sounded like a fairy tale.

Lin Muyang did not show up in the class group to explain. At this moment, his attention was completely drawn by another matter.

In the villa's basement, the golden phoenix egg placed in a special energy-nurturing array was glowing more and more intensely. The temperature rose sharply, and fine cracks began to appear on the shell, spreading like a spiderweb.

The twenty-four-hour Nirvana process had finally reached its end.

Lin Muyang stood not far away with the curious Yama Maiden Gui Wanwan, waiting quietly. Gui Wanwan seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the increasingly blazing light and heat. As a member of the Ghost Race, her nature leaned toward coldness. She subconsciously shrank behind Lin Muyang, only poking out half of her small head. Her gray eyes stared unblinkingly at the giant egg that seemed to be burning, her eyes full of curiosity toward a legendary creature like a "Phoenix."

"It's coming out," Lin Muyang said softly.

As if to confirm his words, the cracks on the eggshell suddenly widened!

*Crack—*

A crisp sound of shattering rang out.

Following that was an even denser sound of shattering. Dazzling golden-red firelight burst from the cracks, instantly filling the entire basement and dyeing everything in glorious colors. A wave of high-temperature air rushed toward them, yet it carried a sacred and pure Aura.

The eggshell shattered completely, turning into countless spots of light burning with golden flames, fluttering down like a magnificent rain of light.

In the center of the light rain, a petite figure slowly stood up.

She looked a bit more grown-up than before her Nirvana, but she still maintained a loli-like physique. Her skin was as white as jade, appearing almost transparent under the firelight. Her long hair had turned into a more brilliant golden-red, moving without wind, with small flames dancing at the tips.

The most striking thing was behind her—a pair of magnificent wings composed entirely of pure flames slowly unfurled. Every feather was clearly visible, burning with an unquenchable fire, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure and heat.

Flames gently wrapped around her slender body, forming a flowing, radiant garment of fire.

[Your summon "Phoenix Heavenly Maiden Feng Ling" has successfully undergone Nirvana!]

[Feng Ling's total attributes have received a massive boost! Strength, Constitution, Agility, and Spirit have all doubled!]

[Feng Ling has comprehended the inheritance skill "Undying Flame" during Nirvana!]

[Feng Ling has awakened the Origin Skill "World Purifying Flame" during Nirvana!]

A series of system prompts rang in Lin Muyang's mind.

He looked intently at the small figure in the center of the light, feeling the Aura on her that was many times stronger than before. A satisfied smile finally appeared on his lips.

Nirvana concluded; the Phoenix was reborn.

And Gui Wanwan, hiding behind him, widened her eyes as she looked at the girl who descended like a deity in the flames. She couldn't help but whisper in awe: "Wow... so this is a Phoenix?" She subconsciously shrank back again. The extremely Yang and robust Aura contained within the flames, which seemed capable of purifying all evil, made her, as a member of the Ghost Race, feel an instinctive sense of awe and a faint discomfort. But this did not stop her from thinking that the scene before her was beautiful and shocking.