Chapter 217: No, This Is Your Phoenix Blood!

“Unstoppable. Completely unstoppable!”

As the crimson divine light shot from Ye Chen’s eyes, Li Feihuang’s mind was consumed by a single thought.

Neither the shield of Southern Radiant Fire, the innate Divine Ability of her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, nor her protective magical treasure could withstand it. The beam’s pure, overwhelming aura of annihilation obliterated everything in its path.

In an instant, searing pain tore through her as the light pierced her abdomen. It only detonated after slamming into the hall’s edge, sending ripples through the protective array like waves on a pond. The entire hall shuddered from the impact.

Li Feihuang clutched her wound, her face pale. Ye Chen had held back. If that divine light had exploded inside her, she’d be nothing but ashes now.

But her mind wasn’t on that. Her eyes, wide with disbelief and shock, locked onto Ye Chen—specifically, his eyes. Those misty, unfathomable eyes that seemed impossible to meet directly. Her own widened to their limit.

This was undoubtedly a natural Divine Ability. Ye Chen, beyond his staggering talent, possessed a top-tier Divine Ability—one even stronger than her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body. She hadn’t even been able to block a single strike.

Biting her lip, Li Feihuang struggled to accept it. Back on the arena, she’d thought her loss was due to holding back her trump cards, that she could’ve easily crushed Ye Chen otherwise. But now? It was clear he’d been hiding his own ace.

So why, when she’d revealed her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, had he stayed silent? Was he like those Divine Will Sect cultivators, whispering about the Great Chu Dynasty, mocking her behind her back? The Phoenix Blood was within her grasp, yet at this final moment, Ye Chen had delivered a crushing blow.

Her hand trembled over her wound. But a tiger, even defeated, doesn’t lose its pride. As a scion of the Great Chu royal family, she could accept defeat, but never disgrace. Though her heart burned with unwillingness and she still had the strength to fight, Ye Chen’s calm, effortless demeanor told her she stood no chance. She wouldn’t humiliate herself further.

Raising her chin proudly, her red hair flowing like flames, Li Feihuang spoke with dignity. “Since you’ve won, the Phoenix Blood is yours.”

With that, she moved to another spot, sat cross-legged, and popped a healing pill into her mouth, beginning to mend her injuries.

…

On the other side, An Yuyi was practically vibrating with excitement. She’d known Ye Chen was strong, but this? This was beyond her wildest expectations. A natural Divine Ability—a mark of a top-tier prodigy. Even Li Feihuang, with her special physique, couldn’t withstand a single blow. Ye Chen’s talent was staggering.

And the best part? This unparalleled genius was about to become her cultivation partner. The thought sent a flush of exhilaration across her face, her cheeks glowing red.

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Ye Chen, however, showed no trace of pride after defeating Li Feihuang. He’d already slain Golden Core cultivators—beating her was no cause for celebration. Calmly, he turned and walked toward the hall’s depths, where a wooden table stood like an altar. Soon, he held the jade bottle containing the Phoenix Blood in his hand.

Li Feihuang forced herself not to look, but her eyes betrayed her, drawn to the bottle. Longing and despair swirled within her. That blood was the key to her perfect Golden Core, to evolving her physique, to her future as empress, cloaked in imperial glory. Now, it was slipping away.

Her ancestor didn’t care who took the throne. Without a ninth-grade Golden Core and the Moon Phoenix Body, she’d never surpass the Champion King. Her dream of restoring her dynasty’s honor was crumbling. The key to everything was right there, yet out of her reach. She could only watch as Ye Chen prepared to hand the priceless Phoenix Blood to An Yuyi—a wasteful, unworthy recipient.

Her lips paled, and her clenched fists drew blood, her heart roiling with turmoil.