Chapter 604: Opening the Ancient Ruins

The Fire Phoenix King was the current Clan Leader of the Phoenix Race. When Lin Xuan first heard the name, he had assumed its owner was a man. After all, ‘feng’ referred to the male phoenix and ‘huang’ the female, so a name like that almost certainly belonged to a man.

But seeing her now, she was clearly a woman—and a stunningly beautiful one at that, on par with Bingxin. She had fiery red hair cascading down her back and a pair of beautiful, upturned phoenix eyes. The strange thing was, she was dressed in men’s clothing, giving her a rather gallant air.

She was now looking at them coldly, her voice just as frigid. Even the Elders following behind her were glaring at them angrily. The main source of their resentment was that Bingxin had scattered the keys indiscriminately, plunging the area into chaos.

The vast Phoenix Ruins were now surrounded by other clans of the Demon Race, which had blocked off the area completely. Because the Phoenix Ruins had not been formally activated, everyone could only wait outside; even having a key was useless for entry.

“Desecration of the Phoenix Ruins?” Bingxin sneered. “Fire Phoenix King, stop with the sanctimonious act. You’ve colluded with the Black Dragon Race, and I doubt it’s as simple as a mere alliance, is it? To think you’d even work with the Black Dragon Race… you truly have no dignity at all!”

“Colluding with the Black Dragon Race?” The surrounding members of the Phoenix Race were stunned. They knew nothing about this.

The Fire Phoenix King’s expression didn’t change as she said, “Colluding with the Black Dragon Race? I never thought you’d stoop to such slander. Do you really think the Elders will believe you? Be a good girl, surrender without a fight, and hand over the key to the Phoenix Ruins. We won’t harm you, but you must remain with the Phoenix Race. You will not be allowed to escape again!”

“Escape? What a joke!” Bingxin laughed, covering her mouth, but her beautiful eyes were filled with killing intent. “You imprisoned me on the Human Continent, yet you have the gall to tell the Phoenix Race Elders that I escaped. What a clever scheme! Elders, don’t be so quick to believe her slander! She just wants to seize the position of Clan Leader, completely devour the Phoenix Race, and then hand it all over to the Black Dragon Race! She and the Black Dragon Race are on the same side!”

“Elders, I admit that my blood is not purely of the Phoenix Bloodline, but I am still a member of the Phoenix Race! Even in death, I will be a member of the Phoenix Race! My mother was the previous Clan Leader of the Phoenix Race. How could I ever choose to betray our clan? This is all just a rumor she deliberately spread. She wants to become the Clan Leader and will stop at nothing to achieve it!”

Bingxin stared at the Fire Phoenix King, her eyes practically shooting flames.

“Imprison you on the Human Continent? What a joke. I’ve never even been to the Chenyuan Continent, so how could I have imprisoned you? Don’t you dare make such vile accusations. You’re the one who ran away with the key, wanting to open the Phoenix Ruins by yourself and claim the Heart of the Fire Phoenix! Now you’ve scattered the keys wantonly, stirring up all this trouble. It’s a true desecration of the Phoenix Ruins!” the Fire Phoenix King retorted, refusing to back down.

“If I hadn’t done this to distract you with protecting this place, you would have captured my people long ago!” Bingxin said coldly.

The Elders of the Phoenix Race looked at one another, completely unsure who was telling the truth and who was lying. However, the fact that Bingxin had created this chaos was undeniable.

“We don’t know the full story, but it is clear you have thrown this place into chaos. For now, just hand over the key and return with us. We will conduct a strict investigation to uncover the truth. If things are as you say, we will certainly not judge you unfairly!” the Elders declared in solemn tones, their faces all grim and serious.

“Is that so? But if I actually went back with you, I’d probably vanish from this world soon after…” Bingxin sneered. “There’s no need for more useless talk. Once I obtain the Heart of the Fire Phoenix, everything will be settled!”

‘If we didn’t have several powerful experts backing us up,’ Lin Xuan and his group watched from the side, and only Lin Xuan knew the real story. ‘The Fire Phoenix King would never have wasted so much time talking. She would have just captured us without a second thought.’ It was certain she was lying.

“Very well. Then let’s see who will ultimately obtain the Heart of the Fire Phoenix!” A cold glint flashed in the Fire Phoenix King’s eyes, and a wave of confidence surged from her gaze.

The Elders didn’t know what to say. Most of them were very displeased with Bingxin’s actions. It was just as the Fire Phoenix King had said—a desecration of the Phoenix Ruins. But what could they say now? With so many experts from the Golden Dragon Race on the other side, they didn’t dare make a move.

The rumor spread by the Fire Phoenix King was that Bingxin, just like her mother, had fallen for a human man and run off with the key. This was tantamount to handing the Phoenix Ruins over to humanity. The relationship between the Phoenix Race and humans was already poor; to consort with a human was a grave insult to the Phoenix Race—a desecration!

What right did such a person have to become the next Clan Leader?

Regardless of the details, they didn’t dare act rashly. There were countless experts on the other side. All they could do now was protect the Heart of the Fire Phoenix and ensure the Fire Phoenix King obtained it! They supported the Fire Phoenix King, not Bingxin.

Then, Bingxin retrieved the true key to the Phoenix Ruins from her Storage Ring. This was what one might call the activation key. Only in its presence would the other, scattered keys actually work.

This way, even if this key were to be stolen, Bingxin would still have a chance to get inside. That’s because the other keys could also lead to the location of the Heart of the Fire Phoenix!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Bingxin placed the Stone Slab she was holding into a depression. The moment it settled into the groove, the entire giant Phoenix began to emit a RUMBLE. The massive Phoenix, which had been coiled on the ground, slowly started to move, unfurling its wings in a grand, spreading posture.

At that moment, it truly looked as if it were about to soar into the nine heavens. It seemed as if in the very next instant, it would fly up into the sky.

Then, as the Phoenix spread its wings as if to take flight, Lin Xuan saw the entire form of the ruins change. Many gates appeared on its body, each with a groove that could fit a Stone Slab.

Without Bingxin’s main activation Stone Slab, all the other Stone Slabs that had been scattered would have been completely meaningless.

“Go! Hurry and open those Stone Gates and seize the treasures inside!”

“The Phoenix Ruins are finally open! We can finally enter the Phoenix Ruins!”

“Hurry up and charge! If you’re too slow, all the treasures will be taken!”

…

The members of the Demon Race shouted, scrambling over one another as they rushed toward the gates corresponding to the keys they had obtained. Each gate had its own significance and held a different trial.

The Phoenix Race’s original intention for this system was simple. The Stone Slabs were meant to be drawn like lots, so that members would pass through different locations and face different trials.

Now, everything was a chaotic mess, but in the end, only those carrying a Stone Slab could enter a gate. All others would be unable to pass. The Stone Slab was equivalent to a Token; without this Token, one would be kicked out.

‘So, it’s finally starting…’ Lin Xuan was already clutching a Stone Slab in his hand. This was another Stone Slab that Bingxin had given him so that he could also enter and participate!