Chapter 4326: Invitation into the Formation
Lin Moyu's expression grew a little odd.
"The Purple Gold Divine Phoenix has invited me to come to Fallen Feather Sacred Peak…"
He lifted his eyes toward the distant towering mountain, visibly puzzled.
Truth be told, Lin Moyu had no desire to deal with an existence like the Purple Gold Divine Phoenix at all. But now, being summoned directly by name how could he refuse?
Xiao Peng spoke instinctively,
"I'll go too."
Lin Moyu shook his head.
"He only asked for me. Daoist Pang, I'll trouble you to look after Xiao Peng for now."
Pang Qi immediately assured him,
"Rest easy. Xiao Peng is entirely safe while in this city."
Lin Moyu nodded lightly, then took flight toward the Sacred Peak.
The moment he stepped skyward, a blazing purple golden light lanced out from the mountain itself, rippling into a broad heavenly avenue beneath him, carrying him directly toward Fallen Feather Sacred Peak.
By now, Lin Moyu had become a household name in Fallen Feather World. Everyone knew he had obtained nine Purple Gold Fruits. Eyes followed him with jealousy, resentment, awe.
And when the crowd saw him taken straight into the Sacred Peak where not only King Luoyu resided, but even the Purple Gold Divine Phoenix itself they buzzed with speculation.
"Why is he being called inside?"
"Could it be he has some special identity?"
"Perhaps he has a blood relation to the Divine Phoenix itself otherwise, how else could he be chosen nine times?"
Many who had once plotted to rob him now hesitated. If he was connected to the Phoenix Ancestors themselves, then coveting his fruits was courting death.
Of course, greed could not be fully stilled. At least some of them still whispered, eyes fixed with hunger.
Purple Gold Fruits required more than a thousand years each to fully refine. Lin Moyu had nine. He would need more than nine thousand years to absorb them all.
As long as he left Fallen Feather World during that stretch, opportunities might arise.
Stepping across the avenue, Lin Moyu arrived within a magnificent palace at the Sacred Peak's summit.
The palace had the shape of a colossal bird. Twelve golden tail feathers decorated it a sign that this represented the Ancestor of the Phoenix Clan.
Inside, space expanded endlessly. The interior was no hall but a small world, woven by spatial arrays.
At its head sat the Purple Gold Divine Phoenix, occupying what should have been the throne of King Luoyu himself. Luoyu sat respectfully to the side, status plain by comparison.
Both had taken human form, their eyes fixed on Lin Moyu as he approached.
A formless pressure suffused the chamber, crashing over him in invisible waves. Yet Lin Moyu's expression never shifted. Walking calmly forward, he bowed with a courteous but unbowed human salute.
"Honored seniors have summoned me. May I ask what matter requires my presence?"
He showed no fear, no humility beyond courtesy.
The Purple Gold Divine Phoenix's eyes contained a spark of approval.
"Daoist Lin, this Phoenix egg was truly an accident of yours to obtain?"
Lin Moyu did not hide it.
"Yes. At the time, a great bird strayed into my domain. It laid this egg before departing."
Both Phoenix rulers studied him carefully, their senses easily capable of detecting falsehood.
Satisfied with his truth, they exchanged a glance. The Purple Gold Phoenix asked:
"When precisely did this happen?"
Lin Moyu thought back.
"It was given to me by a venerable senior of my domain. According to him, it happened around seven million years ago."
King Luoyu muttered at once,
"Seven million years…"
And the Purple Gold Phoenix's eyes brightened suddenly.
"Then that fits."
Luoyu blinked in surprise. "You mean…?"
The Purple Gold Phoenix explained coolly:
"Seven million years ago, a group of intruders infiltrated our ancestral land. They stole certain things before fleeing. We hunted them. Most were slain, but one escaped. This egg must have been taken then."
Lin Moyu's heart jolted. So the Phoenix egg was stolen from within their ancestral home. No wonder it felt extraordinary during incubation. How could an egg stored in the clan's innermost sanctuary ever be simple?
The Purple Gold Phoenix inclined his head faintly.
"For helping recover our lost egg, the Phoenix Clan owes you thanks. Tell me, Daoist Lin what reward would you ask?"
Lin Moyu bowed slightly.
"City Lord Pang has already provided me a gift. I am not greedy, and ask for no more."
Satisfaction flickered across the Phoenix's refined gaze. Then his words shifted sharply.
"I have heard Daoist Lin obtained not one or two but nine Purple Gold Fruits."
King Luoyu gasped, eyes round with disbelief.
"Nine fruits?!?"
As an Eight King of the Phoenixes, he knew the underlying rules perfectly well. For Lin Moyu to be chosen nine times carried only one meaning: his latent potential was unparalleled.
Lin Moyu admitted evenly,
"Perhaps it was just decent fortune. Perhaps your will incarnation chose me at random."
But the Purple Gold Divine Phoenix shook his head.
"I never distribute Purple Gold Fruits based on fortune. An array chooses. Daoist Lin, please step into the formation for us."
He cast forth a jade disc which expanded in an instant into a circular formation, glowing with runes.
Lin Moyu's eyes sharpened with hidden delight. The array was not overly complex, but its use of Chaos runes revealed insights he had yet to fully encounter himself.
"This formation… is a measure of potential," he observed silently. The city's dueling arenas had contained crude versions of this but this was leagues above.
Feigning ignorance, he asked aloud,
"May I ask, senior what is this array meant to test?"
The Purple Gold Phoenix let out a light laugh.
"Why feign ignorance, Daoist Lin? I can already sense runic aura upon you. You've worked with symbols and arrays your whole life. This formation is not complicated you know precisely what it seeks."
Indeed. To conceal truth from a Chaos Perfection was nearly impossible.
Lin Moyu shook his head smoothly.
"Perhaps I know a little. It does seem quite similar to the formations beneath the city arenas. But beyond that, I cannot say."
The Purple Gold Phoenix's laughter rang softly, knowingly.
"As expected. Then you understand: the nine fruits you received had nothing to do with chance.
"Based on that alone, your potential is the highest I have ever seen. Even reaching Chaos Perfection one day is no obstacle for you."
"But this test is not about your future realm. I seek only to measure your utmost limit."
His gaze darkened faintly with solemnity.
"To speak plainly our clan faces a not small difficulty. I have long searched for one with overwhelming potential to resolve it. For countless years I have found none… until perhaps now."
Lin Moyu raised a brow.
"Senior believes I am that person?"
"I cannot be certain," said the Phoenix. "Hence this test. Do not worry it will not harm you. Even if you are indeed the one I seek, I will never force you. Know only that the choice is yours, always."
Lin Moyu understood. Refusing to step into the array now was impossible.
He entered.
The formation activated with a heavy hum. Dazzling radiance tore upward. From the eruption of light, a towering phoenix silhouette emerged its tail bearing twelve golden feathers.
Ko-fi.com/translatetoki only donate if u want to
My p@treon is now up go to p@treon.com/Translatetoki
Remove the @ symbol and type a