From within the crimson clouds, countless flames swirled, and a massive phoenix tree appeared, hovering in the sky. Atop the phoenix tree stood an enormous phoenix, its entire body radiating multicolored divine light. Bathed in this radiance, it exuded an aura of supreme nobility—so exalted that nothing in the heavens or earth could compare. It was the embodiment of perfection.
Screech!!
A high-pitched phoenix cry echoed across the sky. The phoenix stood proud atop the phoenix tree.
In the void, countless fierce birds, celestial birds, and spirit birds appeared out of nowhere, gathering from all directions. They surrounded the phoenix, reverently bowing in worship.
The scene was vivid and breathtaking, shaking the soul.
Within the royal palace—and not just there, but throughout all of Xuanhuang City—the people raised their heads and saw the miraculous vision in the sky. All were stunned, their jaws dropping in awe and disbelief.
"A... a phoenix!!"
"Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix—this is the real deal! Is this a hallucination or reality? How could such an omen appear at this moment?"
"Look! Something's changing! What's happening to the phoenix?"
In the sky, the divine phoenix remained proudly perched. The myriad birds surrounding it began to dissipate, vanishing one after another. Then, the phoenix let out another resounding cry, and its body erupted in layers of seven-colored flames, completely engulfing it.
"It's the Phoenix Nirvana!"
Jia Xu's eyes narrowed sharply as he spoke with certainty.
Phoenix Truefire was the innate flame of the phoenix. Under normal circumstances, it would never harm the phoenix itself. There was only one situation where it would: during Phoenix Nirvana. At that moment, Phoenix Truefire would transform into Nirvana Truefire, burning the phoenix down to seek a sliver of life within death. If successful, it would be reborn stronger than before—a complete rebirth. All past injuries and hidden ailments would vanish entirely.
Huang Chengyan took a deep breath, his eyes filled with fervor.
Within the phoenix tree, the phoenix was completely engulfed by the Nirvana Truefire, yet its head remained proudly raised, eyes gazing toward the heavens. Nirvana carried the risk of failure—death—but even in the face of such odds, the phoenix never bowed. That was its pride, embedded deep in its bloodline—indomitable and unyielding.
Amid the flames, its entire body turned to ash.
Then—a brilliant, seven-colored egg emerged from the ashes, etched with countless mysterious runes.
This was the Phoenix Nirvana Egg. Life was hidden within, yet whether it could break through its shell and be reborn depended entirely on destiny. No one knew the outcome.
Whoosh!!
After its formation, the phoenix egg suddenly plummeted from the sky, streaking directly toward the royal palace—toward the Fairy Phoenix Palace.
The speed was astonishing. A flash of red light, and it had already penetrated the palace.
"What's happening?!"
"Someone come! Something's wrong! Notify His Majesty immediately!"
Cries of alarm erupted from within Fairy Phoenix Palace.
Bang!!
Upon hearing the commotion, Yi Tianxing's brow furrowed. Without hesitation, he stepped into the palace.
Once inside, he saw the panic on the faces of the palace maids. All their eyes were fixed in terror on the floor.
There lay a massive, seven-colored egg, identical to the one seen in the vision outside. From within, a faint, rhythmic pulsing sound could be heard—the heartbeat of life.
"What happened?" Yi Tianxing asked, frowning deeply.
"Your Majesty, the Queen—Her Highness gave birth to this giant egg," a midwife replied quickly. The palace maids all nodded. They had just witnessed the egg being delivered from Cai Yan's womb with their own eyes.
Everyone had been shocked.
"Darling... don't hurt her. She's our child." Cai Yan, pale and weak, lay on the bed. Though she had given birth to an egg, she was absolutely certain—this was their child. That unmistakable blood connection could not be wrong.
"Don't worry. With me here, no one will harm her. This is a celestial omen. Clearly, our child is extraordinary from the moment of birth." Yi Tianxing did not view the egg as something monstrous. Instead, he felt intense anticipation for his child.
The heavenly signs—combined with this egg—were signs of an exceptional birth. A symbol of innate greatness.
In legends, Li Jing's son Nezha was born after three years and six months of pregnancy—as a fleshy ball. Li Jing mistook it for a demon and split it with a sword. Inside was the child Nezha, destined to be a peerless prodigy.
Li Jing saw his son as a bad omen, but Yi Tianxing would not.
Such anomalies often signified extraordinary potential. Uniqueness beyond comparison.
Yi Tianxing never considered cutting the egg open. Though the cause was still unknown, the powerful life force radiating from it grew stronger by the moment. Clearly a good sign.
Crack!!
Suddenly, a crisp cracking sound came from the egg. A visible fracture appeared on the shell, spreading rapidly like a spider web across its entire surface.
Waaah!!
As the phoenix egg shattered completely, a sharp infant's cry rang out.
Within the shattered shell, a baby girl was revealed, crying loudly. On her forehead, a seven-colored phoenix birthmark shimmered brilliantly.
The mark didn't mar her beauty—it enhanced it, bestowing a natural aura of nobility.
From the mark, a flame burst forth, consuming the egg fragments, which turned into flowing fire and vanished—absorbed into the mark. When the flames disappeared, not even a trace of the eggshell remained. The phoenix birthmark became more vivid and otherworldly.
"Nirvana Truefire, Innate Life Aperture!!"
Yi Tianxing was shaken to his core.
This was an innate life aperture, awakened at birth—not cultivated later. Such individuals grew stronger naturally with age, with boundless potential. The life aperture perfectly aligned with the body's nature, granting tremendous advantages. Yi Tianxing himself possessed the Innate Yin-Yang Eyes, an Innate Yin-Yang Life Aperture. He knew all too well how powerful such gifts were.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Her Highness has given birth to a princess!"
The midwife stepped forward quickly, wrapping the child in fine cloth and offering her with respectful joy.
After burning the egg fragments, the phoenix mark slowly faded from sight, as if it had never been. The midwife, a woman of discretion, said nothing unnecessary.
All she knew was that the Queen had borne a princess.
"Good! Excellent! A reward for all!"
Yi Tianxing trembled with elation, stepping forward and cradling the infant in his arms.
A daughter.
And not just any newborn—her skin was radiant and flawless, as smooth as jade. Like a tiny celestial being, she was adorable at first glance.
She cried once, then immediately smiled. In Yi Tianxing's arms, her eyes sparkled as she giggled joyfully.
"Today's events must not be spoken of outside these walls," Yi Tianxing instructed the palace maids calmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The maids all let out a breath of relief and bowed deeply.
"Husband, quickly—let me see her," Cai Yan said weakly.
"Of course!"
Yi Tianxing brought the child to the bed and laid her beside Cai Yan. The baby turned toward her mother and smiled brightly—a pure, instinctive joy.
"Zhaoji... thank you. Thank you for giving me such a beautiful daughter. And she's surely a prodigy," Yi Tianxing smiled from the depths of his heart. The moment his daughter was born, he felt a heavy yet fulfilling sense of duty—like his life had gained a new, profound meaning.
A reason to exist.
"Husband... what was that vision when she was born?" Cai Yan asked, concerned. She held her child tightly.
"It's a good omen. And our daughter... she was born with an Innate Life Aperture, containing Phoenix Nirvana Truefire. Her physique is extraordinary—born with a Nirvana Immortal Phoenix Physique. A divine body by nature. I checked with the Heavenless Tome, and there's no doubt."
Yi Tianxing had immediately examined his daughter for any hidden dangers.
To his astonishment, she possessed the Nirvana Immortal Phoenix Physique—one of the most supreme constitutions on the Eternal Continent. Those born with it were nearly unkillable. Even if they fought to their last breath, they could be reborn through Nirvana, fully restored—true Phoenix Immortality.
However, the power of this physique remained dormant for now. It required undergoing nine Nirvanas, each one a step into death. Only after all nine would the body reach perfection, and its battle strength become boundless.