The Divine Phoenix Sect was the largest sect within the Profound Sky Continent. Even though its average strength was slightly inferior to the Sacred Grounds, based on its scale, no sect in the entire Profound Sky Continent could match its size. It was also the only sect in the Profound Sky Continent qualified to challenge the Four Sacred Grounds.
At the same time, the Divine Phoenix Sect possessed the only specialty within the continent: it was a sectarian force, and also an imperial force! The Divine Phoenix Sect had two main bases, one was Phoenix City, and the other was the Divine Phoenix Imperial Palace! And all the external branches of the sect extended throughout the entire Divine Phoenix Nation; without exception, it was the ruler of that region.
The Divine Phoenix Sect unquestionably possessed the most powerful strength among the Seven Nations of the Profound Sky, as well as the highest political power. Thus, these two aspects were both dominant. The other six nations gave secret offerings to the Divine Phoenix Empire, all without exception… especially the weakest Blue Wind Nation.
The Emperor of the Divine Phoenix Empire was named Feng Hengkong and was a name known to all that resonated completely throughout the Profound Sky Continent with prestige above the world. Because he was the current Master of the Divine Phoenix Sect and also the Emperor of the Divine Phoenix Empire. He possessed unbeatable profound strength, the power he held in his palms covered the entire Profound Sky, he was like a character from legends in the hearts of the people of the Profound Sky. For the other six nations, an emperor was already an unattainable existence, and the Emperor Feng Hengkong of the Divine Phoenix far surpassed their own nations' emperors, he was like an emperor of the divine imperial court. Since they merely thought of his name, they would feel a kind of deep oppression.
In the other six nations, the main hall of the monarch was surrounded by a massive guard and countless apex experts would be guarding it in secret. It was the place with the highest security in the entire imperial palace. But the Divine Phoenix Main Hall, where Feng Hengkong was located, was actually a field of silence. Fundamentally, there were no guards around, so much so that the patrolling imperial bodyguards would be careful to avoid this place…. In the imperial palace of the other six nations, this was an absolutely unimaginable scenario. But in the Divine Phoenix Imperial Palace, this could not be more normal. What a joke, Feng Hengkong was not merely an emperor, he was the number one Sect Master of the Profound Sky; Divine Phoenix Sect!! What kind of strength was that?! With his strength, why would he need to be protected by others? In the entire Profound Sky Continent, how many people were even qualified to protect him?
In the entire Profound Sky Continent, how many would have the courage or even be capable of attacking the Divine Phoenix Imperial Palace?
Even the Blue Wind Empire with which they were at war would not dare to do this, they were barely managing to defend against the Divine Phoenix Empire's army, let alone invade the territory and march to the Imperial Palace....
Divine Phoenix Main Hall.
With his hands behind his back, Feng Hengkong focused his gaze on the phoenix emblem on the wall. His gaze was absentmindedly concentrated, as if he were pondering something. Emperor's clothes were normally a golden yellow color, embroidered with a five-clawed dragon, and yet, Feng Hengkong's imperial robe was fire-red in color, embroidered with a burning divine phoenix.
He was around one hundred and fifty years old this year, but his entire person was not necessarily white, without the slightest wrinkles. He had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, with his majestic heroic air, he looked as if he were at most forty years old… With his cultivation level, if it weren't for him wanting to appear to have the demeanor of a prominent monarch and wanting to manifest a difference in seniority between his children, he could easily maintain an appearance of around twenty years old if he wanted. In total, he had sixteen children, fifteen were sons and one of them was a daughter. His eldest son Feng Ximing was already a full hundred years old, while his youngest sister had just turned sixteen this year.
It took a while for a change to appear in Feng Hengkong's eyes. He did not turn around, and suddenly said indifferently: "Ming'er, what is it?"
It was unknown when, but a middle-aged man in a red robe appeared behind him. When he approached, he made not the slightest noise. He had been behind Feng Hengkong for some time now, but he still did not make the slightest sound, for fear that he would disturb him. Now that he finally heard Feng Hengkong speak, the middle-aged man immediately bowed and said: "This son greets the Noble Father…. This son came here to report a matter of extreme importance to the Noble Father".
Feng Hengkong turned around. As valiant as a mountain, his calm and dignified face showed no emotion as he said two extremely indifferent words: "Proceed".
"Yes, father" As Feng Hengkong's eldest son, Feng Ximing was also the Young Master of the Divine Phoenix Sect, and the crown prince of the Divine Phoenix Empire. It was clear that he still held extreme reverence for Feng Hengkong. No matter his posture or words, all of them followed the standard regulations. Not daring to seem imprudent, he lowered his head slightly: "The… the Sun Moon Divine Hall… and the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region… were destroyed."
Finishing speaking, he no longer hid his deeply shaken gaze and tense body upon learning this news. Originally, he was trying to contact the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region to tell about the fifty kilograms of Purple Veined Divine Crystals that the Divine Phoenix Empire was eyeing by starting a war against the Blue Wind Empire, planning to betray his family in exchange for just keeping his youngest sister....
His words hung in the air.
For an instant, the Divine Phoenix Main Hall seemed to lose all sound.
Feng Hengkong's gaze, which had always been deep and imperturbable like an ancient sea, froze. The invisible pressure emanating from him changed subtly, but clearly enough to make the space itself seem denser.
"…What?"
It was the first time in decades that Feng Ximing heard his father ask something in that way.
Feng Hengkong took a step forward, on his initial face that was full of dignity and power, a moment of spasmodic activity appeared.
"Repeat."
His voice was no longer indifferent. It was low, heavy, laden with something that rarely manifested in him: shock.
Feng Ximing swallowed hard.
"It is exactly what father heard." He clenched his fists. "The two Sacred Grounds… ceased to exist."
Silence.
"Explain."
A single word with a trembling voice was heard.
"Yes." Feng Ximing lowered his head even further. "At first, there were only rumors… sound transmissions spread by profound practitioners from various regions, all saying the same thing: the Sun Moon Divine Hall had been annihilated, followed shortly after by the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region."
He took a deep breath again.
"We thought it was exaggeration. Provocations. Collective panic." His voice wavered. "But… the number of testimonies increased rapidly. Independent practitioners, minor sects… even disciples from our own Divine Phoenix Sect who were passing through nearby regions confirmed it."
Feng Hengkong's eyes narrowed.
"…Confirmed?"
"Yes." Feng Ximing nodded. "Neither of the two regions exists anymore...."
The silence deepened.
Then Feng Ximing continued, now with an even lower voice:
"One of our disciples… by coincidence, found a survivor."
"Survivor?"
"A disciple from the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region." Feng Ximing said: "He had lost an arm… and was on the verge of death. He could barely speak."
He closed his eyes for an instant, as if reliving the account.
"All he managed to say… was that an immortal had decided to judge the mortal world."
The pressure in the hall changed....
"The disciple said…" Feng Ximing continued, "…that he saw with his own eyes a man with black hair and black eyes, whom he called the 'Demon Emperor'."
Feng Hengkong's eyes fixed on him.
"This man…" Feng Ximing swallowed hard. "Was holding the Sword Master, Xuanyuan Wentian… by the neck."
The impact of the phrase was visible.
Who didn't know Xuanyuan Wentian? The Heavenly Sovereign of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, someone at the peak of the Profound Sky Continent....
"…Continue." Feng Hengkong ordered, completely shocked by this news.
"The survivor said that man mocked the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region… as if he were looking at ants." Feng Ximing's voice trembled more and more. "He remembered that gaze… completely indifferent, empty of emotion… a gaze that seemed to see through the soul."
He took a deep breath, almost with difficulty.
"Soon after… invisible cuts appeared. Infinite. Everywhere. The sky, the earth, the air… everything was sliced. The entire Region was shattered."
The Main Hall remained in absolute silence.
"He only survived by luck." Feng Ximing continued. "He hid behind the body of a dead Elder… and before everything was engulfed by golden flames, he lost consciousness."
"When he woke up… he was hundreds of kilometers away. He walked for hours, until he collapsed again. He was found by our disciples, who tried to save him."
He paused.
"…But he died shortly after."
Feng Ximing raised his head slightly, just enough to complete the report.
"Before dying, he repeated only one thing: the Demon Emperor will judge all of us! Not even the Sacred Grounds are immune to their sins...."
The silence that followed was too heavy.
Feng Hengkong said nothing.
For long moments, he just stood there, staring at the phoenix emblem, as if trying to reorganize his own understanding of the world.
How strong would someone need to be to destroy Sacred Grounds with such ease? A profound practitioner in the Divine Profound Realm…?
He remained motionless for a long time, trapped in that thought. Gradually, an uncomfortable uncertainty began to arise in his heart… and with it, came fear.
What if that "Demon Emperor" decided to attack the Divine Phoenix Empire?
The mere idea made his blood run cold. No Sacred Ground had resisted him, and Sacred Grounds were existences far more powerful than any empire. If even they hadn't withstood… what would become of the Divine Phoenix Empire?
Still, he tried to calm himself.
What were the chances of that happening?
After all… what had they done to provoke a figure of that level?
Even so, why did he seem so worried about it? A horrible premonition began to permeate his heart....
"Did you manage to get information about him?"
Feng Ximing clenched his teeth, a shadow of frustration passed over his face, as if this were the most humiliating aspect of it all.
"…This son tried." His voice came out heavy. "As soon as I heard the word 'Demon Emperor', I immediately sent people to investigate. Secret informants, information networks, transmitters, news merchants… I contacted spies infiltrated in other nations, including those monitoring the remaining Sacred Grounds..."
He took a deep breath.
"But… I found almost nothing."
Feng Hengkong's eyes darkened.
"Nothing?"
"Almost nothing." Feng Ximing corrected quickly. "Most of the information… is useless. Many say he 'descended from the sky'. Others claim he is a 'true immortal'. Some swear he is a demon king from the Illusory Demon Realm, mainly because of the title that one of the disciples from the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region gave him before dying, 'Demon Emperor', and because of the evident grudge he seems to harbor against the Sacred Grounds, since he destroyed precisely those responsible for all the confusion years ago… but none of this is verifiable."
Feng Hengkong frowned deeply, his sword-like eyebrows joining in a severe line. His lips parted to speak, to demand more details, to order the investigation to be intensified, but the words never came out.
A profound aura, vast and unfathomable, suddenly appeared above the Divine Phoenix Imperial Palace..
It was as if the weight of countless sacred mountains had been compressed into a single point and then released over the entire Phoenix City! It was simply a profound aura beyond anything anyone had ever felt in their life, even experts in the Sovereign Profound Realm were like a small boat sailing through a stormy ocean near it! The difference was enormous!
The air became thick, viscous, hard to breathe. The flames of the palace lanterns flickered and went out, as if even the fire were afraid.
Feng Ximing, who was still standing with his head bowed in reverence, felt his legs give way instantly. His knees hit the black jade floor with a dry sound. He tried to rise, tried to resist, but his entire body trembled uncontrollably. An invisible force pressed on his spine, forcing him to bow until his forehead touched the cold floor. Blood trickled from his lips, he had bitten his tongue trying to fight against the dread that took over his body!
"Father…!" The voice came out hoarse, almost inaudible.
Feng Hengkong, the man who dominated the Profound Sky Continent with an iron hand, the Master of the Divine Phoenix Sect, the invincible Emperor… barely managed to stay on his feet. His muscles contracted to the limit. Veins bulged on his neck and forearms as he resisted the pressure with all the strength of his Tyrant Profound Realm cultivation. The fire-red robe trembled violently, the embroidered flames seeming to want to extinguish. His starry eyes widened for the first time in over a century, not in anger, not in pride, but in pure and absolute dread....
What kind of power was this!? Who was attacking!?
And then, from the sky, came the calm and indifferent voice. Without anger, without haste, without any emotion.
As if the owner of that voice were talking about the weather.
"Feng Hengkong."
Just those two words.
But they resonated directly in the soul of everyone present in the city.
Millions of inhabitants of Phoenix City, disciples, guards, civilians, elders, children, fell to their knees at the same time. Some screamed in terror, others simply fainted....
Feng Hengkong raised his face slowly, sweat dripping down his forehead, through his spiritual senses, he managed to perceive a figure above him, floating thousands of meters high, along with his general....? A terrible premonition formed in his heart.
"Come talk."
The voice echoed again.
Feng Hengkong clenched his teeth until blood trickled from his gums. His body trembled, not from fear, but from the internal struggle not to fall to his knees like everyone else.
He raised his right hand slowly, his index finger pointing to the sky.
"Who… dares…?"
His voice came out hoarse, laden with fury, but also with something he would never admit: despair.
The figure in the sky did not respond immediately.
An invisible wave of power descended.
The pressure on Feng Hengkong increased in an instant. His knees buckled slightly. He grunted, forcing his body to stay upright with all the vital strength he possessed. The black jade floor under his feet cracked in a spider web.
"I was kind enough not to place even a tenth of my profound aura on you, so that you could still maintain a minimum of dignity and not be forced to kneel. And yet… you dare to be arrogant? Put yourself in your place. If I am ordering you to come out here to talk, then you obey. I won't repeat."
His voice remained calm.
"Come. Or everyone here… will die."
There was no threat in the tone. Just fact.
Feng Ximing, still glued to the floor, raised his head with difficulty. His eyes were full of tears of humiliation and terror.
"Father… no…!"
Feng Hengkong took a deep breath. Once, twice.
Then, with an effort that seemed to tear his own soul, he straightened up completely.
And, for the first time in his long life, the Emperor of the Divine Phoenix spoke with a voice that trembled slightly.
"…I'm coming."
__________________
(A/N: Did you enjoy the chapter? Then you should know that over on my Patreon you can read up to 15 chapters ahead for just 5USD! And yes—for that price, you also get full access to all of my content. That's right: cheaper than a snack… and with way more drama, action, and guaranteed emotional damage.
The link is right below. See you there!
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)