Chapter 216: Li Feihuang’s Overconfidence!

Ye Chen casually swatted away a couple of pesky intruders trying to sneak in.

It didn’t take long before Li Feihuang floated back gracefully, her expression serene. She glanced at Ye Chen with a faint smile, then found a spot to sit cross-legged, settling in to wait for the Phoenix Blood to fully coalesce.

Defeating An Yuyi? Li Feihuang didn’t have much to say about it. After all, An Yuyi couldn’t even beat Ye Chen. She wasn’t even worth considering as a rival.

Not long after, An Yuyi stormed into the hall, her eyes flashing with defiance as she shot a glance at Li Feihuang. If she hadn’t been held back by the lack of a Blood Sea Golden Lotus, her spiritual root would’ve been perfectly balanced. She could’ve fused her Thunder Arts with her Star Arts seamlessly. Lose? Her? Impossible.

“Just wait,” she thought. “Once I find a treasure to enhance my spiritual root, you’re done for, Li Feihuang.”

But even if she lost in combat, when it came to claiming the Phoenix Blood, she hadn’t been defeated. Not yet.

With newfound confidence, An Yuyi strode up to Ye Chen and spoke earnestly. “Ye Chen, there’s been a lot of misunderstanding between us. Some things… well, I admit I was wrong. I acted childish, and I messed up. After my aunt scolded me, I realized my mistakes.”

She paused, her tone softening. “I’m saying this because, honestly, I kind of like you. You gave me that cultivation technique, protected me from the Earthheart Python, and even handed me a spot in the Divine Will Pool. All of that touched me deeply. And when you fought at the Divine Will Assembly, crushing all those opponents, especially how easily you took down Li Feng—it left me in awe.”

“Those moments made me start to feel something for you. And I know you like me too!” Her voice grew bolder. “So, after we leave this secret realm and both break through to the Golden Core stage, how about we become cultivation partners?”

In that moment, An Yuyi laid her heart bare. Part of it was because things had dragged on with Ye Chen for too long, and she wanted to lock things down. The other part? A deliberate jab at Li Feihuang. Sure, I might not beat you in a fight, she thought, but Ye Chen? He’s mine.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen had been quietly musing that An Yuyi needed to practice more if she was that weak. But her sudden confession hit him like a bolt from the blue.

“Uh… what?”

Ye Chen was dumbfounded. Who gave you this kind of confidence? An apology and a casual “I like you,” and now they were supposed to be cultivation partners?

Even setting aside the fact that Ye Chen had no intention of pairing up with anyone right now, if he did choose a partner, his master would be the first in line. Then maybe Yao Xi. Even the little demoness Su Yuxuan, Li Feihuang, or An Miaoli would rank higher than An Yuyi.

Her? She didn’t even make the list.

Talk about ordinary yet overflowing with confidence!

Ye Chen’s heart churned with exasperation, but his face betrayed only a flicker of hesitation. He stayed silent, unsure how to respond to An Yuyi’s audacious proposal.

An Yuyi, catching his expression, curved her lips into a smug smile. He must be thrilled, she thought, convinced her sudden offer to become cultivation partners had left him stunned with joy. She’d give him a moment to process. After all, she was certain Ye Chen would agree in the end.

Triumphantly, she glanced at Li Feihuang. So what if you won? she thought. I’m destined to be Ye Chen’s partner. With that bond secured, the Phoenix Blood would surely be hers. A fleeting victory in combat meant nothing—true success was about who’d have the last laugh. Once she claimed the Phoenix Blood and formed a ninth-grade Golden Core, fixing her spiritual root issue would be a breeze. Then, facing Li Feihuang again? She’d crush her with ease.

Her smile widened at the thought. Finding a spot near Ye Chen, An Yuyi sat cross-legged, settling into meditation to regulate her energy.

…

Meanwhile, Li Feihuang overheard An Yuyi’s bold declaration. Her gaze shifted from the smug An Yuyi to Ye Chen, whose brow was furrowed in hesitant contemplation. A faint frown creased her own forehead.

Li Feihuang held no romantic feelings for Ye Chen—her loyalty to him was that of a vassal to a lord, nothing more. If he chose a cultivation partner, she wouldn’t interfere. But if An Yuyi thought she could compete for the Phoenix Blood, that was another matter entirely.

After a brief moment of consideration, Li Feihuang held her tongue. On one hand, she had faith in Ye Chen. He’d already gifted her a spot in the Divine Will Sect and the Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, proving his willingness to support her rise. The Phoenix Blood? She was confident he’d hand it over willingly, paving the way for her to don the imperial mantle.

On the other hand, if Ye Chen made the wrong choice, it wouldn’t derail her plans. It would merely disappoint her. The Phoenix Blood was critical, tied to her Golden Core formation and the evolution of her physique. It was an opportunity she couldn’t afford to miss.

If Ye Chen continued to back her as he always had, his loyalty would be rewarded. When she ascended as empress, his contributions would propel him to the heavens. But if he faltered and chose poorly? She’d take the Phoenix Blood by force.

Li Feihuang was supremely confident in her strength. With her Earth Spiritual Root and Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, she was nearly invincible among her peers. Suppressing An Yuyi earlier had taken only a sliver of her Southern Radiant Fire. If she unleashed the full might of her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, An Yuyi wouldn’t last a single move.

And Ye Chen? He stood no chance against her either. She’d overpower him effortlessly.

Li Feihuang didn’t want it to come to that. She saw great potential in Ye Chen—his talent was only slightly beneath her own. He could become her most trusted confidant in the future, a vital ally. So, she sincerely hoped he wouldn’t make a mistake.

If Ye Chen chose wrongly, she wouldn’t hold it against him entirely. Even after ascending as empress, she’d repay his past help a hundredfold out of sentiment. But the bond of loyalty between lord and vassal? That would be gone forever.

With a meaningful glance, Li Feihuang looked deeply at Ye Chen, her eyes carrying an unspoken warning. Then she closed them, focusing inward to adjust her state. The Phoenix Blood was nearly within her grasp. It was time to prepare for her Golden Core formation.

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…

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

Outside the grand hall, half the disciples had already dispersed. The Divine Will Cave Heaven was hard to access, brimming with rare herbs and spirit beasts—opportunities too precious to miss. But the remaining disciples were far more curious about what was happening inside the hall.

Who was the direct disciple inside? Why could Li Feng and An Yuyi enter, even fight and return, while others were barred? Most perplexing of all, why hadn’t anyone come out yet? Was something wrong with the Phoenix Blood? Or was there another issue?

The questions gnawed at them.

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, in particular, sat stubbornly by the entrance. They no longer cared about other opportunities. They just wanted to know who the bastard was that had outmaneuvered them. The two most celebrated prodigies of their sects, unable to even step inside, had become a laughingstock.

They were convinced the person inside was some low-profile schemer, a wolf in sheep’s clothing who resented their brilliance and was deliberately targeting them.

…

Inside the hall, the dormant formation suddenly flared to life, emitting a dark red glow tinged with ominous black mist. A spectral phoenix, pitch-black from head to tail, materialized in the air.

An Yuyi and Li Feihuang’s eyes lit up instantly. The Phoenix Blood was finally emerging.

Ye Chen, however, frowned slightly, tempted to scoff. Does the Boundless Demon Sect have to be so grim? he thought. This creepy formation—can the Phoenix Blood it produces even be used?

But then he shrugged it off. Doesn’t matter. It’s not for me anyway. His furrowed brow relaxed.