Jin Domain, middle of the Tianwu Continent, the Great Jin Imperial Court:
Among the forbidden lands within Great Jin’s Imperial Court was a place that burned with strong flames year-round. A sea of fire stretched out in every direction here, with the light emanating from the flames flickering between brightness and dimness. However, the temperature of the sporadic heat waves coming from the inferno was enough to send shivers down the spines of those in the imperial court.
The boundless expanse of burning flames formed an unmistakable shape when viewed from above—a phoenix.
It seemed like the final resting place of a phoenix. Despite its demise, the phoenix's flames raged on, never faltering.
This breathtaking spectacle had etched itself into the memory of all fortunate witnesses.
To the south of this sea of flames stood a colossal statue that seemed to pierce the heavens.
This statue appeared to be a phoenix with its wings spread, about to soar into the sky!
The tail alone, resembling rising flames, covered an impressive ten-mile radius.
The gigantic phoenix statue occupied the surrounding hundred miles like a mountain, visible even from hundreds of miles away.
The eyes of this enormous phoenix statue were entirely composed of flames. Every hour, rich flames gathered from the surrounding sea of fire, converging into two luminous streams that entered the phoenix's fiery gaze.
Below this enormous phoenix statue sat dozens of people dressed in scarlet red robes. Both men and women sat there cross-legged, absorbing the surrounding flames’ powers.
The enormous phoenix’s tail had three parts, with an elder sitting on each.
All three had formed seals with their hands, uttering enigmatic incantations.
The phoenix imprint between their brows flickered wildly, making the feathers of the colossal phoenix statue burst into flames, covering the surroundings. The cultivators below absorbed the ensuing blaze.
One of the elders suddenly stood up, looking at the dozens of young men and women below. As the elders prepared to address them, an unexpected change occurred.
The enormous phoenix status had abruptly started shaking, and the dim flames surged with sudden intensity.
The fiery light around the enormous phoenix statue also brightened up tremendously.
The flames on it kept growing, crazily spiraling upward. The expressions of the three elders on the phoenix tail changed drastically.
Without hesitation, they swiftly retreated, and one elder bellowed, “Back off, all of you. Back off!”
The two other elders flung their wide sleeves, conjuring a powerful gust that propelled the dozens of young cultivators into the air.
Startled, these individuals promptly withdrew without thinking about the why or the how.
The group cultivating beneath the towering phoenix statue rapidly dispersed.
The flames on the colossal figure surged even higher, soon dominating the sky.
Those thick flames pushed out in all directions, manifesting as a fiery wave that rippled outward.
“Holy phenomenon! This is a holy phenomenon!” exclaimed a white-haired elder, unable to contain his astonishment at the unfolding spectacle.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Simultaneously, many silhouettes came flying here from all corners of the imperial court, each exuding formidable auras. Everyone stood above the phoenix, their auras pouring out like a waterfall.
Amidst all this, a majestic figure descended, their aura akin to stormy seas, sweeping through every direction and subduing the sea of flames below.
The surrounding onlookers immediately offered respectful salutes.
“My King, this holy phenomenon...” An elder looked toward this magnificent figure.
“No need to panic. Someone in our clan has awakened their bloodline; the holy statue has sensed it,” said the magnificent figure.
“A clansman awakened their bloodline power!” The nearby crowd gasped collectively.
They were well aware of the rarity and difficulty associated with bloodline awakening. In the entirety of the Great Jin Imperial Court, those who had unlocked their bloodline powers could be counted on one's fingers.
How could they not be shocked now that one of their clan members had awakened their bloodline power?
The young men and women clad in scarlet robes couldn't conceal their intense jealousy.
“My King, exactly who is it?”
The majestic figure remained silent, opting to run his palm over the statue instead.
Immediately, two fiery masses erupted from the phoenix statue’s eyes, merging to form a massive fireball. It undulated for a while before an image appeared in the sea of flames.
The image depicted none other than the moment when the phoenix imprint on Qin Yao's brow awakened.
The crowd was stunned.
They couldn’t even recall if they had met Qin Yao before.
“My King, who is this girl? She’s definitely not one of us. Why would she have our clan’s bloodline?” blurted an elder hurriedly.
A light shone in the magnificent figure’s eyes, and he said, “Thirteenth Elder, go to the Spring Autumn Sect in the Hong Domain, eastern continent, and bring her back.”
The elder’s eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded. “Yes!”
The cave under the Scarlet Cliff:
As the flames around Qin Yao merged with the phoenix spirit, it grew increasingly intelligent and divine.
This phoenix spirit was about thirty feet tall, red in color, and burning with raging flames. With its wings unfolded, it spanned around fifty feet wide. Strips of flames curled around its tail, looking extraordinary.
The phoenix spirit let out another cry. Afterward, it turned into a fiery light and entered Qin Yao between her eyebrows as if it had never appeared.
Chen Fan stared fixedly at Qin Yao, refusing to relax a single muscle.
He couldn’t understand what had transpired or whether the outcome would be positive or negative.
About an incense’s worth of time later, Qin Yao’s eyelashes slowly fluttered, and she opened her eyes.
Relief washed over Chen Fan as he saw Qin Yao awakening. She appeared to be fine, but it was better to ask her to be sure.
“How are you feeling now, Senior Sister?”
Qin Yao looked at Chen Fan and said, “I’m fine.”
“Then, do you know what happened to you earlier?”
“What was that, Senior Sister?”
Qin Yao said, “It seems... my bloodline powers have awakened.”
“Bloodline powers?” Chen Fan looked puzzled.
Qin Yao replied, “I don’t know much, either. Let’s not talk about me for now. How are you feeling, Xiaofan? Have you recovered?”
Chen Fan didn’t press further, realizing that Qin Yao also knew little about it.
Though unaware of bloodline powers, he believed they were likely beneficial.
Her possession of such powers hinted at an extraordinary identity, given their rarity among martial artists in the vast Tianwu Continent.
“I’m fine, Senior Sister. I’ve fully recovered already. We both got very lucky and received blessings from a disaster. This used to be a pool of dragon blood. It reforged my physique, healed my injuries, and made me stronger overall.”
Chen Fan recounted what had happened.