The training fields had quieted. Disciples returned to their quarters, their phoenix swords humming faintly with satisfaction from the day's sparring. Only three remained behind with Haotian in the great forging hall: Yinxue, Ziyue, and Shuyue.
The air was still, heavy with the warmth of smelting arrays. Before them, Haotian stood at the heart of the forge, the Flood Dragon Spear leaning against the wall, his golden eyes glowing faintly.
"You've taken your first steps as phoenixes," he said, his tone even but heavy with intent. "But the three of you will need more. You are not only my companions, but the pillars of this sect. For that, you require blades that reflect the true depth of your dao."
His hands moved. Ores, herbs, and crystals floated from his ring, streams of molten essence spiraling upward.
Yinxue's Blades: Twin Frost Phoenix Swords
The molten river split, shimmering pale blue and silver. Runes spread in feathered arcs, forming two slender swords. Each gleamed with crystalline frost, their hilts etched with flowing ice-feathers, their guards curved like phoenix wings folded inward.
When the blades solidified, the hall chilled instantly, mist forming around them. They pulsed with Yinxue's aura, resonating with her sevenfold dao — frost, ice, sword, love, time, space, and piercing.
"Each sword holds half of your dao," Haotian explained as he lowered them into her hands. "Together, they harmonize into the whole. One to defend, one to strike. Twin phoenixes, united in flight."
Yinxue gripped them, her breath catching as frost spiraled from the blades. The swords whispered to her spirit — We are yours, as you are ours. Her eyes softened, mist rising, and she bowed her head. "Haotian… thank you."
Ziyue's Blades: Twin Icewind Phoenix Swords
The next molten stream split into white-blue and silver streaks. Feathers of wind etched into the length of each blade, shimmering faintly like translucent wings. When Haotian guided his runes into them, the air stirred, wind currents spiraling through the hall.
The blades hummed in her hands, vibrating with speed. Frost trailed from one edge, wind cut sharper from the other, and together they whistled like phoenix cries on the wind.
"These are your companions," Haotian said, his gaze steady on her. "One carries frost, the other wind. Alone, they are sharp. Together, they become your dao: the Icewind Sword. Two wings of the same phoenix."
Ziyue's sharp eyes flickered as she gripped them. Her lips curved faintly. "They're perfect." The blades pulsed in answer, their wills proud, eager for speed.
Shuyue's Blades: The Seven Virtue Phoenix Swords
Finally, Haotian turned to Shuyue. Seven molten streams rose around her, each glowing a different hue: crimson, gold, emerald, azure, violet, silver, and pearl. He wove runes into each, binding them one by one, his voice calm but heavy.
"These will not be easy to wield. But you chose your path."
The molten hues solidified, forming seven slender phoenix swords, each etched with feathers of flame and light, but each humming with a different resonance.
One glowed warm red — the Dao of Love.
One shone silver-white — the Dao of Loyalty.
One blazed golden — the Dao of Courage.
One rippled violet — the Dao of Wisdom.
One pulsed emerald — the Dao of Kindness.
One shimmered pearl-blue — the Dao of Patience.
One burned with calm azure — the Dao of Justice.
They floated before her, circling in harmony, their phoenix cries intertwining in a chorus of virtue.
"Each one is bound to a virtue," Haotian explained, his eyes glowing faintly. "You must master them separately, then unite them. When you do, the seven will move as one — the full Dao of Virtues, embodied."
The seven swords pulsed in unison, their wills gentle yet firm, guiding her chi with warmth and resolve.
Shuyue's eyes blurred with tears. She knelt, hands trembling as the blades settled around her like protective wings. "Senior Brother… I… I'll master them. I promise."
Haotian stood before them, golden eyes dimming as the forging light faded. His Flood Dragon Spear gleamed faintly behind him, its rainbow sheen a sovereign's roar.
"You are phoenixes. These are your wings. With them, you will soar higher than you've ever dreamed."
The three sisters bowed as one, their new blades pulsing with life, the forge hall echoing with the cries of phoenixes in unison.
The skies above the Moon Lotus Sect thundered as a colossal flying ship descended, its hull gilded with runes and the sigil of the Origin Alliance glowing at its bow. Wind tore across the mountains, disciples shielding their eyes as the vast shadow loomed overhead.
The envoy's voice carried from the deck."Moon Lotus Sect! By order of the Central Continent's Origin Alliance, you are summoned to the Tournament of Arms. The ship will ferry you to the arena."
Yinxue and Ziyue exchanged sharp glances, both composed but wary. Shuyue's eyes flickered with awe at the sheer size of the vessel. Behind them, the disciples' phoenix armors glimmered faintly, their phoenix blades whispering at their sides.
Then the order was given.
"Board!"
The entire sect — elders, disciples, phoenix maidens — rose together, soaring upward in a storm of feathers and flame. When they landed upon the ship, the deck groaned under the weight of so many cultivators clad in dao-forged gear.
The crew froze, eyes wide.
"So many…"
"Over seven hundred?!"
"They're all dao comprehension realm…"
The murmurs spread like wildfire. Other passengers — envoys from neighboring sects, merchants, wandering cultivators — stared in disbelief. Never had they seen such unity, an army of phoenix maidens moving as one.
One merchant whispered to another, voice shaking."An entire sect at dao comprehension realm… is this real?"
The Moon Lotus Sect stood proudly, armor shimmering like phoenix plumes, swords humming faintly. The crew, stunned to silence, hurried to arrange quarters.
But even with the ship's vast size, space was limited. Rooms had to be shared, four to a chamber.
The disciples accepted this with ease, forming small groups. Laughter and chatter echoed as they sorted themselves into shared quarters. For phoenix maidens, closeness was strength.
For Haotian… it was different.
He entered his assigned chamber with Yinxue, Ziyue, and Shuyue. The three sisters followed without hesitation, their phoenix armors shimmering faintly as they set their blades beside the walls. The room was simple: four mats, a single low table, and the faint hum of protective wards etched into the floor.
The sisters glanced at each other, then at Haotian.
"We'll cultivate," Yinxue said softly, settling gracefully onto a mat. Her voice carried no protest — only calm acceptance.
Ziyue smirked faintly, her eyes sharp. "Shared quarters are of no concern. We'll only use this time to strengthen ourselves."
Shuyue's cheeks pinkened as she sat closest to Haotian, her phoenix circlet glowing faintly as her sword pulsed beside her. "Yes… cultivating together is enough…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Haotian exhaled slowly, lowering himself between them. His Flood Dragon Spear rested against the wall, his dragon armor sealed within his ring. Around him, the three phoenix sisters sat cross-legged, their phoenix armors shimmering like firelight in the dim chamber.
Together, the four of them closed their eyes. The ship hummed, cutting through the skies toward the Central Continent.
Within the chamber, phoenix flames mingled with dragon qi, the aura of four cultivators intertwining into a storm of harmony. The walls shook faintly, runes glowing brighter as if straining to contain the pressure.
Outside in the corridor, passing crew paused, feeling the oppressive weight of cultivation leaking through the wards.
One muttered, face pale."Who in heaven's name are these people?"
The vast flying ship carrying the Moon Lotus Sect dwindled into the horizon. Watching from the shadows of nearby peaks, cloaked figures exhaled with barely concealed glee.
"They've all gone…" one spy whispered."Not a single elder left behind. The sect is empty."
Within hours, the report spread like wildfire across the northern continent. By nightfall, torches and banners flared in hidden valleys as sect masters of rival clans and opportunistic subsidiaries gathered, greed lighting their eyes.
"The Moon Lotus Sect has risen too fast."
"They cannot be allowed to dominate unchecked."
"Take their treasures, their inheritance, before they return!"
By dawn, a coalition of greedy sects approached the mountain gates. Their cultivators marched in black lines, blades gleaming, eyes hungry. At their head, sect masters in flowing robes sneered at the silent peaks.
"Empty," one muttered. "They really left everything unguarded."
The towering gates of the Moon Lotus Sect groaned as they were pushed open. No disciples. No defenses. No resistance.
The invaders moved cautiously, expecting formations or killing traps. Step by step, they entered the courtyards, halls, and gardens. Yet nothing stirred. No attacks, no tricks.
"Too easy," another sect master spat, his smile widening.
The horde pressed deeper, their steps echoing up the grand stairway toward the sect's heart — the Phoenix Courtyard where Haotian had once forged dao weapons under the sky.
That was when it began.
A single, piercing cry split the heavens.
Screeeech!
The sound was so sharp it cracked tiles and split stone. The sect masters froze, faces blanching.
"What was that—?"
The sky itself split open. From within clouds of ice and flame, colossal wings unfurled. One phoenix. Then another. And another.
Twenty-four phoenixes of ice and fire descended from the heavens, their wings blotting the sun. Their eyes burned with immortal light, and each carried an aura no weaker than the peak of the Saint Realm.
The ground quaked as they landed upon the courtyards, their voices rising together in a chorus that chilled bone and soul alike.
"Impossible…" one sect master whispered, legs trembling."Saints. Twenty-four saints…"
"No," another corrected, his face ashen. "Not saints… phoenix guardians. They're bound to the sect!"
Terror surged through the invaders. Weapons clattered to the ground as panic set in.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
They turned to flee, only to slam against a shimmering wall of light. A barrier sealed the sect, glowing with runes shaped like phoenix feathers. No escape.
The invaders' hearts shattered. They were trapped.
Above them, twenty-four phoenixes opened their beaks. Flames and frost converged into searing beams, crashing into the crowd of would-be looters. Screams filled the mountain air as the first wave of intruders was incinerated, their bodies turned to ash and ice in an instant.
One sect master dropped to his knees, despair in his eyes."This… this was a trap. He left them here for this very reason…"
Another bellowed in terror, voice breaking."Haotian! You demon!"
But the cries were drowned out by the shrieking chorus of phoenixes as they spread their wings, unleashing judgment.
The mountain that day became a graveyard, the snow and ash of obliterated sects scattering across the winds.
And so the world learned: the Moon Lotus Sect was never truly unguarded.
It was a nest of phoenixes.
The flying ship soared smoothly through endless skies, its runes glowing as it cut across the winds toward the Central Continent. Inside, most of the Moon Lotus Sect disciples were cultivating in shared rooms, phoenix armors and blades humming faintly as they refined their dao.
But in one chamber, the atmosphere shifted.
Haotian sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, golden irises flickering faintly beneath the lids. Suddenly, a ripple coursed through his consciousness — distant, yet unmistakable. A roar of phoenixes, the shattering of mortal screams, flames and frost swallowing greed.
The killing array of the Moon Lotus Sect had been triggered.
A smirk tugged at his lips. So… they took the bait.
Yinxue, sitting to his right, noticed the faint change in his expression. Her brows furrowed. "Haotian. Did something happen?"
Opening his eyes, Haotian's smile deepened, calm and unhurried. "Nothing worth worrying over. Some mice tried to sneak food when the owner was away. They were foolish enough to think the nest unguarded. Now? They're already dead."
Yinxue tilted her head, frost-blue eyes narrowing. "Mice that bold?"
Haotian chuckled softly, his tone amused. "Boldness means nothing when your neck is under talons. Regardless… there's no need for concern. The phoenixes saw to it."
Before Yinxue could respond further, Ziyue's sharp voice cut through from above. "Can you two stop talking about mice and death and let me focus?"
Haotian glanced up — only to see Ziyue straddling across his lap, her phoenix circlet glinting faintly in the dim light. She leaned forward, her blade spirit humming faintly at her side as she kissed Shuyue, who sat beside him, her cheeks flushed crimson, muffled laughter spilling from her lips.
Haotian smirked, his hand rising instinctively to circle Ziyue's waist as he leaned upward to meet her.
"Focus, hmm? On what?" he teased, his voice low.
Her answer was another kiss, fiercer this time, the air heating despite the ship's reinforced wards.
Yinxue sighed, her composure breaking as she set her blade aside and joined in, her circlet feather glowing faintly as if mocking her restraint.
The soundless formation flared around the chamber, isolating them from the rest of the ship.
And within those walls, the storm erupted — laughter, moans, the clash of breath and whispers of love filling the air like a melody. The phoenixes burned bright that night, while outside the ship glided silently across tranquil skies, none aware of the chaos their sovereign stirred behind sealed doors.
The flying ship descended over the Central Continent, its vast shadow spilling across a city that glittered like jade and gold. The tournament grounds stretched in the distance — towering arenas, pavilions etched with runes, banners of sects fluttering in the wind. The streets were alive with cultivators, merchants, and nobles, all gathered for the spectacle of the Tournament of Arms.
Gasps and whispers rose as the Moon Lotus Sect appeared.
One after another, phoenix-armored disciples soared from the ship, phoenix blades flashing as their inner robes trailed like wings. Hundreds together, they descended in formation, their cries of greeting filling the air like a storm of divine birds.
"Seven hundred and fifty… all dao comprehension realm?!"
"They march like an army…"
"No wonder the Alliance raised their rank!"
Spectators and rival sects stared, faces pale, some trembling. The arrival of the Moon Lotus Sect was no longer just a sect's attendance — it was a declaration of dominance.
The Alliance attendants bowed deeply and quickly led them through the city to a vast complex prepared as their accommodations.
The grounds were enormous, enough to hold the entirety of their numbers. Each chamber was fitted for three, neatly balancing the sect's seven hundred and fifty members. No one complained — phoenix maidens shared strength as they shared space.
Haotian, however, stayed with Yinxue, Ziyue, and Shuyue in a single chamber at the center of the compound. The three sisters settled easily, phoenix blades humming faintly at their sides.
Once everyone was organized, Haotian addressed them. His golden eyes swept across the crowd.
"Explore if you wish. Walk with pride. But cause no trouble — let the world fear us without reason to strike."
The disciples bowed in unison, their voices echoing like a single cry of a phoenix. "Yes, Senior Brother!"
The phoenix maidens dispersed in groups, their presence turning heads as they flowed into the city.
Yinxue, Ziyue, and Shuyue remained behind, glancing at Haotian.
"I will join you later," he said calmly, his tone carrying no room for question. "There is something I must do first."
They exchanged looks but nodded.
"Be safe," Yinxue murmured."We'll hold things together here," Ziyue added.Shuyue only smiled softly, her trust plain in her eyes.
Haotian inclined his head, then vanished in a ripple of space.
He reappeared before the gates of the Moon Lotus Sect. The once-proud halls were silent, but the faint scent of ash and ice still lingered in the air.
With a wave of his hand, the corpses of would-be looters scattered across the courtyards burned to ash, erased without a trace. His steps echoed as he entered hall after hall, his eyes sharp and cold.
The traitorous sects that had dared to move against them would not be spared. Haotian's hand stretched across the void, and in hours he had ransacked their homes. Vaults shattered. Inheritances seized. The fruits of generations of cultivation now lay in his grasp.
When he returned to the Moon Lotus Sect vault, treasures shimmered in mountainous stacks. He added them without hesitation, expanding the sect's wealth to staggering levels.
Finally, he drew from his ring the newest prize — the Heavenly Flame Treasure, its glow burning bright. He set it beside the Frost Heavenly Treasure, the two radiances clashing violently.
The Frost Treasure hissed, its voice sharp."Haotian! How could you place this filthy flame beside me?"
A booming laugh shook the vault. The Flame Treasure's voice roared.
"What of it? Master decreed I stay here. You would challenge his decision?"
The two treasures bickered instantly, sparks and frost colliding.
Haotian's gaze sharpened, and his tone was flat.
"Settle down. Or I will melt you both down into armor."
The vault fell silent.
After a long pause, both treasures murmured, "Yes… Master."
Satisfied, Haotian's lips curved faintly. "Pour your essence into the Source Crystal. When I return with the sect, I expect to see its change."
The treasures answered together, "As you command."
Haotian nodded once and vanished again in a shimmer of space.
The moment the vault fell silent, the two treasures sparked to life once more, like squabbling children after their father's back was turned.
"Hmph! Stay away from me, you flame-addled brute!"
"Hah! Says the frozen feather duster. One day, Master will favor me over you!"
Their bickering echoed endlessly in the vault, filling the Moon Lotus Sect with the voices of treasures acting like children quarreling for their father's attention.
The city was alive with color and sound. Markets bustled with merchants hawking spirit herbs, heavenly ores, and shimmering talismans. Alchemy halls glowed with cauldrons, forges roared with fire, and disciples from sects across the continent displayed their techniques proudly.
But the Moon Lotus Sect walked apart.
Clad in phoenix armor, phoenix swords at their sides, their beauty and grace drew stares from every corner. Yet as they passed the alchemy halls, none of them paused. They glanced at forges, pill shops, and vendors — then turned away without interest.
Because what was a pill, compared to Haotian's primordial refinement?
What was a forge, compared to phoenix armor forged from heaven's essence?
The disciples of the Moon Lotus Sect had already seen miracles. Nothing here could stir their awe.
They walked in quiet elegance, like phoenixes ignoring the cries of lesser birds.
Until someone blocked their path.
A young man, robed in crimson with golden embroidery, smirked as he spread his arms wide. His eyes raked across the maidens, hunger thinly veiled.
"Well, well… such beauties gathered together. What sect could possibly raise such treasures? Why not stop and chat with me? It would be my honor."
The phoenix maidens stopped as one. Their faces remained cold, their blades humming faintly at their sides.
Among them, Shuyue's eyes narrowed. She could feel it — the oily ripple of desire dao radiating from the man. His smile was a mask for greed and lust.
Before she spoke, a voice cut across the street.
"Stop."
An elder in dark robes strode forward, his face grim. He seized the young man by the shoulder and yanked him back.
"Elder, what are you—"
"Silence," the elder snapped, his tone like ice. He turned and bowed deeply to the Moon Lotus Sect. "My apologies. This reckless disciple oversteps. Please, honored guests, continue your walk. No disrespect was intended."
The phoenix maidens said nothing. They simply resumed their steps, the street parting before them as though the city itself bent out of their way.
Only when they were gone did the disciple burst out, fury twisting his face.
"Elder! Why did you stop me? They were just women! I only wanted to talk!"
The elder's face turned dark, his voice laced with cold fury.
"You brat. Do you even know what you nearly did?!"
The disciple froze.
"You are barely at Soul Condensation Realm, yet you dared to provoke them. Did you not sense it? Did you not see? They were all cultivators at the peak of Dao Comprehension Realm!"
The disciple paled, lips trembling.
The elder's voice dropped lower, grave.
"If I had not stopped you, you would already be dead. And your death would not end with you. Over fifty dao comprehension cultivators would have struck at once to erase you. Their retaliation would not stop until our entire sect was ash. Do you understand?!"
"I… I…" The disciple fell to his knees, sweat drenching his back.
The elder sneered. "I have heard the rumors. A sect with **seven hundred and fifty peak dao comprehension cultivators. All women. Phoenix maidens in living armor. Do you realize what you nearly provoked? You almost brought annihilation to us all."
The disciple trembled, face gray.
The elder's killing intent flared, eyes narrowing. "If you dare to bring shame or danger upon us again, I will kill you myself before they have the chance."
The disciple bowed low, his voice hoarse. "Y-yes… Elder."
The elder turned away, but his hand clenched at his side, his thoughts grim.
Seven hundred and fifty dao comprehension cultivators… all from one sect. If the rumors are true, the Moon Lotus Sect is no longer a sect at all. They are a calamity waiting to rise.