Nangong Shengzi spoke, his bloodline burning fiercer. The True Phoenix spat fire, opening a vortex of oppressive seals within the ancestral land below.
He walked directly into the vortex, one hand behind his back. With his bloodline unleashed, he instantly shattered the first layer of seals that everyone had painstakingly repaired.
Witnessing this, all were filled with fury and simultaneously attacked, attempting to stop him. However, they were utterly unable to breach the True Phoenix's blockade. Even Bai Yun and Tian Shui Jiu Xian attacking together proved futile.
"Are you insane? If you release that thing, we'll all die!" Nangong Mao Guan exclaimed, his face contorted. As the heart-stopping pressure once again seeped through the seals, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
Decades ago, when five layers of the ancestral land's seals were opened, it had nearly crippled the entire Nangong clan along with the Xi clan, leading to the tragic events that followed. This time, with four layers opened, the Nangong family had exhausted all their resources to repair them, and almost all the Domain Lords were severely injured by the true fire.
If this phoenix were fully released, what would the situation be like?
On the entire continent, who could contend against it?
Perhaps someone could, but their Nangong family certainly couldn't, meaning they would surely perish.
"Will we die? Perhaps," Nangong Changkong continued to break the seals, having reached the second layer.
"Its accumulated resentment is too great; killing you all would be commonplace."
As he spoke, he cast his gaze upon the Nangong clan head, the son of Nangong Yu and the father of both himself and Nangong Huai Tian.
His bloodline, inferior to others, had still cultivated to the peak of the fifth stage, and he knew the secrets of the ancestral land.
However, he had also chosen silence.
"Why? Why are you doing this?"
Nangong Huai Tian stood up, asking with a look of stunned disbelief.
Nangong Changkong responded calmly:
"Because it should be released."
"A phoenix is meant to soar through the nine heavens. Our ancestors made a mistake, causing us to have sinful blood flowing within us."
"Although sinful blood flows within us, it still willingly aids my cultivation and the reforging of my Dao heart."
"So now, I shall repay its kindness."
"Or perhaps, atone."
...
...
As Nangong Changkong spoke, the weariness vanished from his face, replaced by a radiant vitality.
His lips were red and his teeth white, his eyes bright beneath his sharp brows. He spoke to Nangong Huai Tian:
"Sister, join me in breaking the seals. It will be faster."
"Throughout the Nangong clan, only yours and mine bloodlines are closest to the original True Phoenix."
"I have signed a contract with it; it will not kill me, and I will protect you. Then, the three of us will cultivate together. After purifying our sins, we will surely lead the new Nangong family to the pinnacle of the continent."
"What about others? What about Uncle Mao Guan? What about Father?" Nangong Huai Tian asked, looking at Nangong Changkong with confusion. "Must they all die? Then what will remain of our Nangong lineage?"
Nangong Changkong shook his head and calmly replied:
"Sister, you are mistaken."
"Many will die, but some will always live. More importantly, as long as you and I live, the Nangong clan will forever exist. Their blood is irredeemable sin; their death will be a release."
"Huai Tian, stop hesitating. Within this space, only geniuses like you and I, with exceptionally pure bloodlines, can enter."
"Come, help me, let's break these seven seals together, and then, with the True Phoenix, we shall reign supreme!"
Nangong Changkong's voice echoed across the ancestral land. Countless people wore expressions of stunned grief and indignation.
How absurd it was that their once deeply revered Holy Son was now releasing that phoenix, disregarding their lives.
"I support the Holy Son!"
A Supreme Elder coughed and stepped forward, his wrinkled face revealing unwavering resolve.
"We old ones are merely clinging to life in this world. We have no hope of leading the Nangong family to a new height, and might even implicate the family's development due to our severe injuries."
"If people like us can create value through death, earning a qualitative leap for the entire Nangong clan, what's not to like?"
"I think Sixth Brother is right. I am also willing to be killed by this phoenix for the Holy Son." On a distant mountain peak, an old man stood up from the grass, wiping blood from his lips, and said.
"I am willing too."
"I am willing to support the Holy Son."
"The blood in me is inherently sinful. To find redemption in such a manner is also a release."
"I am willing too..."
More and more people within the Nangong family spoke up, supporting Nangong Changkong and willingly offering their lives.
Gazing at this scene, Nangong Mao Guan's face turned deathly pale, and the clan head could only manage a helpless wry smile.
After so many years, the Holy Son's status among the Nangong clansmen was still this high?
Xu Mu was also utterly shocked.
After years of madness, he had suddenly awakened, and with just a few words, he could make so many people willing to die for him.
Just how much charisma did this Holy Son possess to inspire such trust?
"Thank you, elders."
Nangong Changkong looked at those who had stepped forward to support him, his eyes reddening slightly, and bowed with a smile.
"My Dao heart shattered in shame after losing to Ji Chang back then. If not for the True Phoenix, I might never have escaped that shadow in my life, nor would I have cultivated silently to my current realm."
"Your sacrifices today, I, Nangong Changkong, will never forget."
"When we reign supreme in the future, your monuments will be erected at the highest point in the world!"
As Nangong Changkong spoke, he unleashed his domain, a fiery red expanse that covered the bloodline vortex, radiating terrifying fluctuations.
The Jiu Xian's eyebrows twitched fiercely upon seeing this. He was at the peak of the fourth stage, only one step away from breaking through to Domain Lord.
"Such powerful talent..." Xu Mu was also stunned, his mouth slightly agape.
If he recalled correctly, this fellow was from the same era as Ji Chang. He wasn't much older than them and had already reached the verge of becoming a Domain Lord. This was as monstrous as Gray White Eyes! Kuai Shu Ge
Seeing everyone's silence, Nangong Changkong spoke again: "Huai Tian, don't hesitate anymore."
"This is the will of our kin, and the guidance from our bloodline. Please come and break the seals with me."
Nangong Huai Tian remained silent for a moment, then raised her jade leg and stepped into the bloodline vortex below the cliff.
Bai Yun, Jiu Xian, and the others did not intervene, as the True Phoenix still eyed them menacingly. All they could do was watch.
"The situation is out of control. I'll report to my senior brother first." Jiu Xian made a swift decision and took out his communication jade slip to send a message, but was stopped by Tian Shui Dao Ren.
"Don't rush. He should have anticipated this."
Jiu Xian was taken aback: "That's true."
"But what do we do? Do we just watch him open these seals?"
Tian Shui was silent for a moment before saying:
"Let's split up. First, we'll evacuate the surrounding clan members. We'll take as many as we can. We can't let that phoenix kill them all."
"Alright."
Jiu Xian and Tian Shui went their separate ways. Meanwhile, Nangong Huai Tian had successfully descended into the vortex.
She looked at Nangong Changkong, who was smiling and intently breaking the second layer of seals, and suddenly attacked, aiming a palm strike at his chest.
"Dong!"
A crimson barrier materialized behind Nangong Changkong, intercepting the palm strike.
The young man's smile did not diminish as he spoke:
"Sister, you've always liked tricking me since you were little."
"But it's alright, I'm used to it."
"Feel the True Phoenix's bloodline here for a while and think carefully about which side you should stand on."
"Father and the others have already made mistakes. The opportunity to atone and ascend is right before us. What are you still hesitating about?"
"But some people are unwilling," Nangong Huai Tian said, drawing a dao sword. With a blinding radiance, she pierced through the barrier and thrust it into the young man's back.
"Puchi."
He lowered his head, gazing at his chest, and frowned with a hint of bewilderment.
"Amazing, sister. You can break through my bloodline defense. You truly are the closest to me."
Nangong Huai Tian's face was filled with pain, tears welling in her eyes, but she still said firmly:
"Brother, those elders agreed to die, but would the other Nangong clansmen down the mountain, and the countless common people, be willing?"
"I want them to live!"
Nangong Changkong calmly shook his head upon hearing this, casually pulled the sword from his chest, and his injuries rapidly healed.
"Sister, they will die eventually."
"But we are different from them."
The young man's expression turned serious as he pointed to his healing chest and said:
"See, I will not die."
...