Parasol Forest, Southern Region – Phoenix Clan Council Hall.
The air inside the hall was so heavy it could almost be wrung out. On the twelve parasol wood pillars, flames of Nanming Li Fire flickered gently, casting alternating light and shadow on the faces of the Phoenix Clan elders.
Feng Qi, the current Great Elder of the Phoenix Clan, sat on the main throne, holding a yellowed parasol leaf inscribed with the resolution to join the war three hundred years ago.
He looked at the bickering elders, his brows furrowed tightly. "Enough! These are just rumors spread by the demon clan – is this worth all the bickering?"
"Great Elder, these are not ordinary rumors!"
A middle-aged elder in a crimson phoenix robe stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Yesterday, over three hundred young clan members knelt outside the hall, demanding to see Clan Leader Yuanfeng. If they don't get to meet her, they vow to go to the East China Sea to seek justice. If we don't respond soon, it could spark internal chaos in our clan."
Another white-haired elder echoed. "Elder Feng Yan is right. Clan Leader Yuanfeng has been in seclusion for three hundred years, never making a public appearance – this alone fuels suspicion. Now rumors are spreading that she's imprisoned by the dragon clan. If we can't provide evidence to refute them, more people will believe the lies. Why not... ask the clan leader to show herself publicly? Even a single edict would calm the rumors."
Feng Qi's grip on the parasol leaf tightened slightly, and faint spiritual light flickered along its veins. "The clan leader is in seclusion, attempting to break through to a higher realm – how dare we disturb her lightly? Before Elder Feng Wu passed away, he entrusted us: never disturb the clan leader's seclusion unless the clan faces annihilation! To protect our Phoenix Clan, the clan leader exhausted most of her origin. If her breakthrough fails, it could harm her fundamental essence."
"But if this continues, the clan will fall into chaos!"
Elder Feng Yan pressed urgently. "Yesterday, I went to the spiritual garden and caught several juniors secretly refining Water-Breaking Talismans. They said they're going to the East China Sea to rescue the clan leader. If they act impulsively, it will not only escalate conflicts between dragons and phoenixes but also give Luo Hu an opportunity to exploit!"
Silence fell over the hall.
The elders all knew Feng Qi spoke the truth – Yuanfeng's seclusion was indeed to recover her origin. But the impact of the rumors had become impossible to ignore.
At that moment, soft footsteps echoed outside the hall. Feng Xi lifted her robe and entered. She bowed to the elders, her voice gentle. "Great Elder, respected elders, I have something to report."
Feng Qi looked at her, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "Xi'er, you're here. Is this about the young clan members?"
Feng Xi shook her head, walking to the center of the hall. She pulled a pale blue water spirit rune from her sleeve.
The rune was carved with dragon clan-specific water patterns, and the edge still retained a faint trace of Nanming Li Fire. "I found this yesterday in Elder Feng Wu's former residence. On the back of the rune are the words 'East China Sea Sea Eye'."
All eyes in the hall instantly focused on the rune.
Feng Qi hurried to take it, his fingertips glowing with Nanming Li Fire. As the flames brushed the rune's surface, a line of tiny characters appeared: "Water Spirit Lock imprisons Yuanfeng."
"T-This is true?" The white-haired elder exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. "Could the rumors be true? Did the dragon clan really use a Water Spirit Lock to imprison the clan leader?"
Elder Feng Yan's face turned livid. "What a deceitful dragon clan! Using such despicable means to force our Phoenix Clan into war! If the clan leader is truly imprisoned in the East China Sea's sea eye, we must send troops immediately to rescue her!"
"No!"
Feng Qi shouted sharply, the rune trembling in his hand.
"This rune may not be genuine! Three hundred years ago, I was present when Elder Feng Wu negotiated with the dragon clan – I never saw these characters! This is most likely Luo Hu's scheme, a forged rune designed to incite war between us and the dragons!"
Feng Xi looked at the arguing elders, speaking softly. "Great Elder, I met Ao Yu, the Tenth Prince of the South China Sea Dragon King, at the Luo River. He said he would investigate and insisted the dragon clan never imprisoned my mother. Perhaps... we could send an envoy to the East China Sea to ask the dragon clan directly. If the rumors are false, let them provide evidence. If they're true, we can discuss countermeasures then."
Feng Qi fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Elder Feng Yan, you shall be our envoy. Travel to the East China Sea Dragon Palace to meet His Majesty Ao Xuan, the Dragon King of the East China Sea. Demand the truth about what happened three hundred years ago and the whereabouts of Clan Leader Yuanfeng. Remember – do not act impulsively. If the dragon clan shows hostility, return at once. Do not escalate conflicts."
"We obey the Great Elder's order!" Elder Feng Yan bowed, his eyes still blazing with anger. Though he doubted the dragon clan would compromise easily, it was at least a chance to uncover the truth.
As Feng Xi watched Elder Feng Yan depart, her heart felt no lighter. She knew this trip to the East China Sea would not be smooth. If the dragon clan failed to provide evidence, the rumors would only grow stronger. If the rumors were true, the alliance between dragons and phoenixes would collapse completely.
Three days later, East China Sea Dragon Palace.
Elder Feng Yan, clad in a crimson phoenix robe, stood in the main hall, his gaze cold as he stared at Ao Xuan on the throne.
From the moment he entered the East China Sea's territory, he had noticed the aquatic creatures' disdain for the Phoenix Clan – his anger had long been simmering.
Behind him stood Phoenix Princess Feng Xi, who had accompanied him to the East China Sea.
"Your Majesty Ao Xuan, we have come today regarding the rumors spreading across the Primordial World." Elder Feng Yan got straight to the point, his voice containing suppressed anger.
"The rumors claim that three hundred years ago, the dragon clan used a Water Spirit Lock to imprison Clan Leader Yuanfeng, forcing our Phoenix Clan to join the war. What explanation do you have for this?"
Ao Xuan sat calmly on his dragon throne, looking at him. "Elder Feng Yan, Princess Feng Xi. My palace has thoroughly investigated these rumors and confirmed they were spread by the demon clan to provoke conflict between our two clans. The dragon and Phoenix Clans are two of the three great clans of the Primordial World. Our alliance to annihilate the qilin three hundred years ago was to stabilize Primordial order. Why would we resort to such despicable means as imprisoning a clan leader?"
"Despicable means?"
Elder Feng Yan sneered, pulling the water spirit rune from his sleeve and throwing it onto the hall floor. "Your Majesty, look! This is a rune left by Elder Feng Wu three hundred years ago. On the back are the words 'Water Spirit Lock imprisons Yuanfeng' – could this also be a demon clan forgery?"
The rune landed on the floor, glowing with pale blue spiritual light, the characters on its back clearly visible.
The faces of the dragon clan elders in the hall changed instantly. They had never seen this rune before, let alone the characters inscribed on it.
Ao Xuan waved his right hand, and the rune flew into his palm. He channeled water fortune spiritual light from his fingertips, touching the rune's surface.
As soon as the spiritual light made contact, faint black patterns emerged – identical to the traces of demonic energy they had seen before. He understood immediately: the rune had indeed been tampered with.
"Elder Feng Yan, look closely at this rune."
Ao Xuan brushed his hand over the rune, using water fortune spiritual light to force out the black patterns. "These characters were altered with demonic energy. This so-called water spirit rune is a complete fake."
Elder Feng Yan stared at the black patterns, his anger fading slightly, though doubts remained. "Even if the rune is forged, why has Clan Leader Yuanfeng remained in seclusion for three hundred years? Why hasn't she appeared even to her own clan members? If she is truly safe, why not show herself publicly to quell the rumors?"
"I cannot answer that."
Ao Xuan spoke honestly. "The whereabouts of Clan Leader Yuanfeng are an internal matter of the Phoenix Clan – the dragon clan has no right to interfere. But I can assure you: the East China Sea Dragon Clan has never imprisoned Clan Leader Yuanfeng, nor forced your clan to join the war. If the Phoenix Clan agrees, I can send men to accompany you to the sea eye to investigate and prove our innocence."
Elder Feng Yan fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Very well! I hope we can proceed to the East China Sea's sea eye as soon as possible!"
Ao Xuan nodded, summoning Qinghe. "You shall accompany Elder Feng Yan to the sea eye, assist him in his investigation, and ensure his safety. Additionally, issue my order: East China Sea's Black Armored Guards are to strengthen border patrols with the Southern Region. Any creature provoking conflict between dragons and phoenixes under the pretense of rumors shall be severely punished."
"We obey your Majesty's order!" Qinghe bowed.
As Feng Xi turned to leave, she glanced up at Ao Xuan, who nodded slightly in acknowledgment. She lowered her gaze and followed Elder Feng Yan out of the hall.
Inside the hall, Jiao Xuan approached Ao Xuan, speaking softly. "Your Majesty, even if Elder Feng Yan confirms Yuanfeng is not at the sea eye, the rumors will likely persist. Since Luo Hu dared to spread these lies, he will surely have follow-up plans. We must find Luo Hu's whereabouts soon and resolve this issue at its source."
Ao Xuan nodded, his gaze fixed on the Southern Region in the water mirror. "I know. Order the Twelve Sea Generals to strengthen defenses across the Four Seas – especially the borders with the Western Wasteland and Northern Region. Luo Hu's demon soldiers will likely arrive soon."
Ao Yu held a brocade box, waiting under the willow tree early in the morning.
Inside the box was the "Scarlet Flame Dew Concentrating Hairpin," which he had refined using a three-hundred-year-old fire spirit pearl. The hairpin's head was a Dew Condensing Grass crafted from red gold spiritual iron, inlaid with tiny fire spirit pearls between its leaves – perfect for Feng Xi's Nanming Li Fire origin.
In the past few days, he had searched the archives of the South China Sea Dragon Palace and questioned his father, Ao Lie.
Though Ao Lie was reluctant to discuss the matter, he clearly stated, "The dragon clan never imprisoned Yuanfeng," and even showed him the alliance talisman signed between dragons and phoenixes back then.
A weight lifted from Ao Yu's heart. He couldn't wait to share the news with Feng Xi – and give her the hairpin.
Ao Yu opened the brocade box from time to time, glanced inside, then closed it again.
He chuckled to himself, opened it once more, glanced, and closed it.
Feng Xi would surely like this hairpin... right?