Talia was trembling all over, covering Casy's mouth with her hand. Nearby, Rexy lay motionless, while some distance away, a large bear with crystal horns was sniffing around, holding a honeycomb dripping with honey. Scattered a few feet away were the bodies of head-sized bees. She could hardly believe what she was seeing, but the evidence was undeniable. Casy, unaware of the danger, struggled to see what was happening around them.
"Rexy, what do we do now? Where are we? Why does this place feel familiar?" Talia whispered, her voice shaky.
"You might have been here before," Rexy replied. "That necklace was given to you by your grandfather, but it seems he never wanted us to be here. He warned me, but I had no choice. I couldn't let you be imprisoned. We have to find a way to survive because it looks like we're in a cultivation world, like in those novels."
Rexy rolled his eyes, scanning their surroundings for an escape route. They needed to survive this ordeal before he could figure out what was going on and what was up with the necklace. Upon arriving here, he had received a message telling him to survive for a day before he would be informed about their situation. Fifteen hours had already passed.
They had been on the run for fifteen hours, with Talia supporting her paralyzed husband, guiding their clueless daughter, and protecting her unborn child. She was exhausted, sweaty, and covered in a layer of dust and leaves, her long hair a tangled mess. But she had to keep going, or they would all die. She even ignored Rexy's pleas to stop and rest, knowing they had to survive.
Rexy spotted a small cave on a nearby cliff.
"Dear, let's crawl into that cave. We can't go on like this, or you'll pass out. You need to rest, for your sake and the baby's. Casy is also sleepy and hungry."
"But Rexy, the cave is so small. Can we all fit inside?"
"Don't worry, I can hear the sound of water flowing, so we'll be fine."
"Okay, I'll go first to check it out."
"No, I'll go first. I can move my arm now, and we don't have time to waste—those creatures are closing in on us."
"Baby, follow Daddy. Mommy will be right behind you. Try to keep up," Rexy instructed.
"Talia, will you be able to move?" Rexy asked, concerned.
"It's okay, I can crawl through just fine," Talia replied.
With that, Rexy took the lead, followed by Casy, who thought this was just a fun game with her daddy. As they moved deeper into the cave, it began to enlarge, until Casy could stand at full height. The cave was well-lit with shining crystals of various colors, and it was the size of two football fields. They stood at the entrance, taking in the lush vegetation and fresh air.
With Talia's support, they walked for a while before settling down, exhausted. Rexy leaned against what appeared to be a wall, while Talia rested her head on his shoulder, supporting her body against his chest. Casy sat on her father's lap, her head on his chest, and soon they all drifted off to sleep.
Not long after, the wall they were leaning against seemed to observe them for a moment before ignoring them.
Ding! Host has completed the survival task...
Calculating... ... ...
1% ...10%... 35%... 65%... 99%...
Binding... successful... checking host.
Host is poisoned... analyzing... treatment not needed... host will recover naturally.
SUPREME PRIMORDIAL SYSTEM... activated.
Confirmed: Son of **** CHAOS from SUPREME COSMIC **** and **** Loita CHAOS.
"Phoenix woman, I know you're awake. Stop pretending," a voice called out.
"What are you? I've never seen a big fox before. And why are you calling me 'Phoenix'? Where are we?" Talia asked, startled.
"I'm the last celestial fox, and you're surprising me too. Not many can see an Eternal Ice Phoenix, and it's even more unbelievable that you're pregnant and have a child with him. It makes me wonder, is he really a mortal human? But your daughter only has a quarter of your bloodline, which means his bloodline is stronger than an Eternal Phoenix. But what bloodline could be stronger than the Eternals? Only theirs."
"Hey, woman, since you're here, I have ten years before my life runs out. I passed my bloodline onto these two wild foxes to carry it on, but they can't have too much of it, or they'll go mad. But since you're here with your mate, and he's paralyzed, which will take a year to wear off, I can help. But you have to do me a favor," the fox offered.
"What kind of favor?"
"You have to agree or disagree. I'll take it later."
Talia thought for a moment. She needed her husband now more than ever. She was exhausted and frightened but had to be brave for her family. She was on the verge of losing her mind and desperately needed Rexy's help, so she had no choice but to agree.
"That's great!" the fox exclaimed.
In the next moment, the white wall supporting them began to glow brightly, and a beautiful woman with fluffy fox ears and tail appeared. Near her were two small foxes with orange fur.
Talia sat there, looking at the woman before her, feeling helpless. Her only hope was that the woman would keep her promise and not harm them.
"Young Phoenix, I am Clarys, the last celestial fox in existence and the last princess of the Celestial Divine Empire. You can call me Clarys."
"Why do you say you're the last of your kind?" Talia asked.
"Don't you know? Then how did you get here in the first place?"
"What do you mean? And why do you call me Phoenix?"
"Because you are a Phoenix, and one from the Divine Moon Clan. But their bloodline in you is so thin, it's no wonder you were marked as a sacrifice. But I wonder, if he can make a Phoenix have two children, does that mean I can also have two or more?" Clarys murmured, lost in thought.
"Don't worry, little Phoenix. We'll be sisters from now on," Clarys grinned, forming a seal and taking Rexy with her, leaving Talia dumbfounded, staring at the mirage before her.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Talia murmured.