Mu Xin's eyes widened as the blood blossoms in midair suddenly shifted direction, all aiming for Yao Ranran's head. His pupils trembled.
"No, you absolutely cannot fuse with those blood blossoms. They are all poisonous. You'll die!"
"It's fine. I can feel that they are behaving inside my body. There should be no danger for now."
Yao Ranran smiled calmly at him. With a graceful flip of her hand, the falling blood blossoms seemed guided, flowing seamlessly into her body.
Mu Xin's eyes widened further. He struggled, reaching out, "No, they are all mine!!!"
Yao Ranran pressed her lips in a faint line, a soft smile spreading across her face. "I know you want to help me, but I am a cultivator. When danger arises, I cannot flee. I must face it head-on."
"No, you don't understand. You're too young to know how extreme the poison is. Even I might not withstand it!"
Mu Xin made one last desperate attempt. He frantically shaped his empty-space palms, trying to absorb each dazzling blood blossom approaching her.
Warmth rose in Yao Ranran's heart.
"If anyone asked me whether I've ever risked my life for another, I would say that a long time ago, an older soul risked everything for me, and I have cherished him forever in my heart."
Mu Xin: ???
"What is she talking about? I just wanted the Divine Phoenix!"
"Come, let this storm of blood blossoms rage even more!" Yao Ranran spread her hands, no longer holding back, embracing the endless blood blossoms.
Mu Xin's face flushed red, veins bulging at his temples. "Step back! Let me—"
His words lingered in the empty foot of the mountain. A shadow exploded outward. Countless sleeping demon bats spread their wings and soared into the sky above Gu Ling Mountain, blackening the heavens.
A single Phoenix feather fell into Tang Xiangyin's palm. She looked up.
The Phoenix was undergoing nirvana, reborn through fire. Black and flame merged, painting the sky in a strange brilliance.
Clang—
In the center of fire and darkness, a hovering Divine Phoenix flapped its wings, a massive fireball scorching the darkened sky.
The bizarre scene at Gu Ling Mountain immediately drew the attention of countless people within a hundred miles.
Xiao Rong hastily withdrew his immortal artifact. The scorching glow tinted his small face gold and red. "Great, the Boss hasn't just captured the moon, he's trying to take the sun too!"
"What? Is Fairy Ranran capturing the scorching sun at Gu Ling Mountain?" Jiang Shengxiang wiped his eyes in shock, impatiently taking flight on a flying boat into midair.
"What? Fairy Ranran has captured both the moon and the sun?!"
When Jiang Shengxiang flew off, the villagers below overheard the conversation. "The strange scene at Gu Ling Mountain… it turns out Fairy Ranran has captured the sun from the sky!"
By the time all the Biliu Sect cultivators arrived, Zhou Shengqian heard the conversation, frozen in shock. "Fairy Ranran didn't just capture the moon, she took the sun too. She intends to break the barrier between the Spiritual Realm and this world, to save the perilous Lower Realm!"
Zhou Lili stared at the breathtaking sight at Gu Ling Mountain, dumbfounded. "The Fairy wants to become the first in the world? She wants to turn the Lower Realm into the Spiritual Realm?"
"What? Our Longyin Village is going to become the Spiritual Realm?" Grandma Zhang stomped her cane, her ears failing her as she shook the ground.
Within moments, the news that Longyin Village would become part of the Spiritual Realm spread across a thousand miles.
At the foot of Gu Ling Mountain, Yao Ranran successfully absorbed all the falling blood blossoms. She turned a gentle smile toward Mu Xin, who had struggled to save her.
"The war between Spiritual Realm cultivators and this world's cultivators is about to begin. Why not join forces with me and face them together?"
Mu Xin looked at the completed rite. The black clouds above were consumed by the Phoenix's flames. He slammed his fists into the ground with fury. "You? Work with me? Spit out all of that stuff now!"
What he could not obtain, no one else should either!
Mu Xin raised his fists, swinging at Yao Ranran's face.
"You are so unpredictable!" Yao Ranran stared in astonishment, muttering, "Taking you as my mount was the right decision."
"Delusional! Ignorant girl!"
Mu Xin roared.
Someone actually dared to suggest taking him as a mount? In all his years, he had never seen such a fearless girl!
His fists were fast and vicious, his killing intent overwhelming as it poured toward Yao Ranran, a victorious smirk tugging at his lips.
Yao Ranran shook her head. "You always force me to act. I thought after saving me, we could speak reasonably, but your temper is still this violent."
"Enough chatter!" Mu Xin bit his teeth and struck at her face.
The powerful punch made the black stone at the mountain's foot tremble and shatter instantly. Mu Xin stared at his fist, ready to crush Yao Ranran's head, already hearing her final scream in his mind.
"Ha ha ha…"
His triumphant laughter rolled from his throat, but Yao Ranran suddenly produced nine Azure Lotus, easily blocking his attack.
"Seems you care a lot about these flowers?"
Their eyes met. Yao Ranran did not miss the flicker of shock in Mu Xin's gaze.
"Y-You… where did these Azure Lotus come from?"
Yao Ranran asked curiously, "You don't remember me, yet you recognized these Azure Lotus immediately. Is there something special about them?"
Mu Xin glanced at her face, about to speak, but swallowed his words.
No, she cannot be connected to the Azure Lotus. She just happened to pick up a Lotus treasure!
"The special thing about them is… they will let you die more painfully!"
He unleashed all his mixed spiritual power. His eyes glowed violet, wind from his fists terrifying, shattering giant stones in every direction, sending debris flying.
The Phoenix let out a long cry.
Yao Ranran looked up at the sky. "By taking you now, Da Huang will also have a companion. Come to think of it, there is only one Phoenix in this world. It must be lonely."
Mu Xin could not understand why she remained so foolish even at the brink of death. But he had seen too many fools. She would just be one more foolish… but stunningly beautiful fool under his hand!
"Too slow."
Yao Ranran could not help but sigh. She had waited so long, yet the fist still had not reached her.
She tapped lightly with her fingers, blocking Mu Xin's murderous fist across the thin distance.
"Mu Xin, in the name of master, I take you as my mount!"
The moment Mu Xin realized she could easily block his attack, Yao Ranran flicked her fingers. He deflated like a punctured balloon, staggering several yards back.
Before Mu Xin could recover, a strange seal entered his body, planting new information in his mind.
"Heavenly Dao, are you blind? Her spell isn't even correct, and yet… she can take me as her mount???
Wasn't this kind of incantation supposed to be recited casually?"
Yao Ranran looked at him, puzzled.
Mu Xin's lips twitched uncontrollably. "How the hell… can this work?"