Chapter 775: Secret of the Phoenix
The white hair alchemist spoke: "Fairy Yuan is respected by all the lineages in our world, so I trust your reputation!"
Yuan Caihe looked at Li Qiye and was met with a nod as well. After gaining the consent of both parties, Yuan Caihe said: "In that case, I will prepare two batches of ingredients with the same age. However, I need some time, at least three days."
The alchemist decisively asked: "Good, we will settle our wager at Stonecauldron Peak in five days, do you agree?"
Li Qiye chuckled at the alchemist's great confidence and said: "Five days it is. No problems here." Having said that, he left with his group.
The alchemist also went inside and didn't show his face again. He didn't meet any guests as he was changing his mindset, preparing to defeat Li Qiye!
Li Qiye went back to his mountain with the group. However, Yuan Caihe had to go back to the Serene Garden to prepare two batches of ingredients, so she borrowed the Alchemy Kingdom's portal to expedite the trip.
Alchemy City became quite lively after hearing of the longevity medicine competition between Li Qiye and the White Hair Alchemy God. The alchemy conference had yet to start, but there had already been many storms. The first was the death of Cao Guoyao, and now the white hair alchemist wanted to compete against Li Qiye. How could the crowd not be excited?
The alchemists all wanted to see the two's supreme dao of alchemy. Back when Li Qiye fought against Cao Guoyao, all the alchemists understood that Li Qiye had the ability to challenge the four prodigies.
Needless to say, the white hair alchemist was considered the number one expert regarding longevity medicines in this world, at least among the younger generation.
Both of them were worth watching, and either could broaden any alchemist's horizons! As for the other cultivators, they were quite thrilled as well. The younger generation took it well since they did not need longevity medicines. However, this was not the case for the older generation, especially characters of the ancestor level. They wanted nothing more than for this showdown to start already.
In normal circumstances, it would be prohibitively difficult to ask an alchemist to refine one batch of supreme longevity medicine. In fact, alchemists capable of such a task could be counted on one's hand in the entire Stone Medicine World.
But now, two batches were about to be refined. For the ancestors, this meant that they would have a chance to buy these longevity medicines, so how could they contain their excitement?
After returning to his garden, Li Qiye showed that he simply didn't care for the bet. Madam Zi Yan also had confidence in her Young Master. She would be worried in the past, but after watching her Young Master's methods and his dao of alchemy, she was certain of his victory before they even began!
Tie Yi was injured, so he went to rest first. Li Qiye took out the pentagate to seal the room before solemnly taking out the Phoenix.
The Phoenix, at this time, was very different from the Phoenix that had been controlled by the Death Chapter. It only had an incomplete skeletal structure along with the Phoenix's heart.
It didn't have the immortal presence of supreme laws. However, the heart was still jumping up and down with blazing sparks. After devouring a huge amount of deathfire, it was able to produce a phoenix's flame again.
Despite its heart beating powerfully, this bird was still dead without any flesh or blood, only bones that resembled divine metals. Needless to say, it didn't have a soul or life either.
The madam couldn't help but ask while gazing at the bird: "Young Master, can this Phoenix be revived?" After seeing its supreme presence, anyone would want to see what a real living Phoenix looked like.
Li Qiye slightly shook his head: "Very difficult. Few people in this world could truly reverse life and death. This Phoenix tried to, but it met a terrible tribulation and was annihilated completely. Strictly speaking, it is dead without any hope."
The madam couldn't help but ask: "Is there really no way? Not even with your supreme dao of alchemy?" In her mind, her Young Master's dao of alchemy was without peer in this world.
"Zi Yan, this is not related to the dao of alchemy." Li Qiye slightly shook his head: "Normally, this dao could save a dead cultivator — this would be the reversing life and death that people usually talk about. However, this does not apply to a phoenix, at least, not just with the dao of alchemy alone."
"If Young Master puts it this way, then there is still a chance." The madam was delighted to hear this. This was a phoenix! If it could be revived, then she would be the first to rejoice in her Young Master's stead.
"An opportunity is there." Li Qiye earnestly said: "Strictly speaking, this wouldn't be called reversing life and death, it's simply rebirth."
"Rebirth?" The madam was startled after hearing this. This topic was too grave and shocking. In fact, for tens of millions of years, many invincible people vied for true rebirth, hoping to live on for another generation, but this was simply impossible!
Even the most legendary and mighty existences would not be able to live for another generation, let alone others.
Li Qiye rubbed his chin and said: "If it is a human, then no matter how strong they might be, wanting to live once more or obtaining rebirth is simply a dream. However, a phoenix has such a chance! A Phoenix's ability to rebirth via fire is not just a legend, it can actually do so."
"Rebirth via fire…" The madam murmured to herself.
People had heard this phrase many times before, but when it came from Li Qiye, it seemed to not just be a description but rather reality, a tangible legend!
The madam curiously asked: "Young Master, is there really a phoenix in our world? What about the other divine beasts?"
Li Qiye smiled at this question and answered: "Zi Yan, your question is of two different concepts, of our world and divine beasts. This depends on how you define our world and divine beasts."
"I am listening closely, Young Master." The madam smiled. She was always gentle like flowing water with a trace of playfulness that didn't take away any of her charm.
Li Qiye smiled: "The world in your view and the world in mine are not necessarily the same. If you are talking about the nine worlds and pure blood divine beasts, then I can only say that our world does not have divine beasts."
"But what about this Phoenix? Are you saying that this one is not a pure-blood?" The madam slightly jumped and looked at the skeletal phoenix before her.
Li Qiye shook his head: "No, on the contrary, this is a pure-blood Phoenix. Moreover, it used to be an adult Phoenix — unbelievably powerful!"
The madam reacted very quickly after her initial spurt of surprise: "This is a pure-blood Phoenix?" She looked at the Young Master and movingly said: "Young Master is saying that this Phoenix, it came from somewhere else?"
Such a notion was hard to believe. Every cultivator knew that although this world was vast, there were only nine realms! But now, her Young Master revealed a truth different from common knowledge to the madam.
"Young Master, are you saying that there really is a tenth world?" The madam had to ask. She knew about the legend, a legend that no one would believe. Some even openly refuted its existence.
"I don't know either." Li Qiye rubbed his chin and smiled.
After following him for some time, the madam understood that whenever he showed this expression, it meant that he knew more than he was letting out. He simply didn't want to say it, that was all.
The madam kept on pressing: "Young Master, please continue. If our world does not have divine beasts, then why did this Phoenix appear in Alchemy City?"
The gentle madam was acting quite coquettishly, giving her an even softer and cuter demeanor.
Li Qiye smiled after seeing her appearance. He looked towards the Phoenix, and his eyes suddenly became profound, as if he had lost himself in memories.
"The truth is that I don't know how this Phoenix appeared in Alchemy City. However, a few things can certainly be speculated. During that era ancient beyond tracing, some events had happened beyond the imagination of man. If I am not wrong, then during those events, the Phoenix luckily managed to flee to the Stone Medicine World and Alchemy City." Li Qiye couldn't help but gently sigh.
"Although we can't verify those matters that happened in the distant past, clues still remain in many places, a few matters…" Li Qiye became silent here as he recalled unforgettable memories.
The madam no longer wanted to ask after seeing his melancholy. She knew that it had sparked some of his old thoughts.
"Does Young Master plan to revive this Phoenix?" She asked softly. She didn't want him to be saddened by old memories, so her tone was very gentle, as if it was the most tender and caring touch.
Li Qiye's mind returned after hearing her sincere concern. He looked at the skeletal phoenix and said: "I am powerless as well with regards to truly reviving it. However, I can give it a chance. If it wants to be reborn, then it'll require the most refined essence in this heaven and earth. For example, the Alchemy Kingdom's ancestral vein."
"I'm afraid the kingdom will not agree to this." The madam wryly smiled and gently shook her head: "The ancestral ground is built on the entrance of the Alchemy Vein because they do not want to share the mysticisms of the location with others! Wanting their ancestral vein is the same as wanting their life source. They would rather die protecting this ancestral vein."
775 TeaserThe white hair alchemist spoke: "Fairy Yuan is respected by all the lineages in our world, so I trust your reputation!"
Yuan Caihe looked at Li Qiye and was met with a nod as well. After gaining the consent of both parties, Yuan Caihe said: "In that case, I will prepare two batches of ingredients with the same age. However, I need some time, at least three days."
The alchemist decisively asked: "Good, we will settle our wager at Stonecauldron Peak in five days, do you agree?"
Li Qiye chuckled at the alchemist's great confidence and said: "Five days it is. No problems here." Having said that, he left with his group.
[collapse]Chapter 776: The Phoenix Rebirth
"This is true." Li Qiye chuckled and slowly said: "That does not mean that there is no chance, though."
The madam couldn't help but stare at him after hearing this. She understood the hidden implication in his words.
"What does one have to do exactly to let this Phoenix rebirth?" The madam had to change the subject.
Li Qiye answered: "The most crucial thing is dependent on the Phoenix. I can only play a minor role."
"This depends on itself? The bird is completely dead, so can it actually do anything?" The madam was a bit perplexed.
"This is why phoenixes are so amazing." Li Qiye smiled: "Of course, we still need to thank Immortal Emperor Yao Zu of the kingdom. Without him, even if the Phoenix was more incredible, it still wouldn't have an opportunity for rebirth."
"Can Young Master elaborate?" The madam was also very curious about the heart of the Phoenix obtained by the kingdom.
Li Qiye replied: "During the tribulation of that year, the Phoenix could be said to have been completely annihilated. However, it still left behind a very small piece of its heart. The emperor obtained this tiny piece and used a supreme immortal medicine to extract a drop of phoenix blood. This blood drop made it possible for the tiny heart to eventually gestate into a phoenix heart."
The madam felt amazed after hearing about such a magical event. She thought that the heart had been complete from the start and didn't know that it actually grew from a little drop of blood.
"For me, having this phoenix heart will save a lot of effort. This is no different from water following the current of a river. However, it is not the same for the kingdom. In their possession, the phoenix heart will always remain a phoenix heart. Nevertheless, it still has its uses, but they would never be able to revive a phoenix." Li Qiye said.
"Even the kingdom can't accomplish this?" The madam asked in surprise. In the Stone Medicine World, it seemed that impossible was not a word that could be used to describe the kingdom.
Li Qiye shook his head and smiled: "The kingdom is indeed very powerful, but there are some things outside of their reach."
For example, the Death Scripture. Of course, Li Qiye didn't reveal this. Just like he said, despite having the heart, the kingdom couldn't revive a phoenix.
Li Qiye was different than before as well. With the Death Chapter, he would be able to reignite the deathfire and once again rebuild the divinity of the phoenix to give it a chance for rebirth. In terms of a lamp, the heart of the phoenix would be the core of the lamp while the divinity was the oil.
Li Qiye gently patted the skeletal phoenix and felt the pumping heart: "I can refine it and eventually put its body together then use the heart so that it can rebuild its flesh and blood."
He paused for a moment and narrowed his eyes: "However, in order to rebuild its flesh and blood and fill it with divinity… this step requires the essence under the Alchemy Vein."
The madam didn't comment on this matter. She understood that her Young Master wanted to use the essence of the kingdom's ancestral vein. However, he didn't take action because of Ming Yexue, or perhaps someone else. It was definitely not due to the kingdom's power.
The madam asked: "After reinforcing its flesh and blood, would the phoenix be reborn?"
Li Qiye shook his head: "No, in this process, its flesh and blood is not the most important thing. The most important aspect is the soul, or the true fate in the mouths of cultivators!"
"The soul is the source of all." Li Qiye pointed at his head and said: "For cultivators that reach a particular level, the body can be rebuilt and the physique can be trained again. Even when the fate palaces are destroyed, a sufficiently powerful being can reform them all. However, without the soul, without the true fate, there is nothing. Everything will be gone, nihility is the result…"
"The true fate is everything." The madam could understand this rationale as a Heavenly King. This was something understood by all cultivators. A cultivator could survive the destruction of their body, but the destruction of their true fate symbolized true death.
"When you are strong enough, you can use one drop of blood to gestate a new body. However, you cannot create a new true fate out of thin air! Unless a residual soul fragment remains which allows for repair. However, soul creation is out of the question."
Li Qiye paused here before continuing: "Creating existences with life out of nowhere is something left to the villainous heavens. Only he would be able to do such a thing! For others, including even Immortal Emperors, this remains a pipe dream!"
The madam had learned about the topic of life creation before, but she was far from being as involved as her Young Master.
Li Qiye went on: "I can use other items and techniques to steal from the heavens in order to gather some spirituality for the Phoenix. However, this ultimately would not be its soul or true fate. It has to rely on itself for this!"
The madam inquisitively asked: "What does it have to do to obtain a soul and true fate that belongs to itself?"
Li Qiye pointed at the sky and said: "This secret… is known only to the Phoenix! A phoenix's rebirth involves a grand secret of the heavens! For millions of years, many invincible existences have researched rebirth, but in its truest form, no one has ever been able to do so. Although there have been those praised for successful resurrection, they were only gimmicks. If the person actually died completely, then they absolutely would not be able to obtain rebirth…"
"… Only a phoenix is capable of doing so after true death. This is why rebirth via fire is considered the truest form of rebirth! Thus, the rebirth of a phoenix was widely researched by many masters. However, they merely touched the surface of its profundities. Only phoenixes remain privy to the true mysteries of rebirth." Li Qiye explained.
After listening to his explanation, the madam pondered for a long time before calming down. She greatly benefited from this and even felt as if a new door had opened for her.
She had never tried to research rebirth before due to a few reasons. She was still very young, far from being affected by this issue. She was also not powerful enough to be able to explore this field. It was only now that she realized just how difficult this topic was for the many invincible beings that had yearned for it across time.
After a while, the madam composed herself from the topic of rebirth and gently asked: "Young Master, I have something on my mind, but I don't know if I should say it or not."
Li Qiye smiled and gently stroked her hair: "Zi Yan, I am not very tolerant towards other people, but you have no need to be so reserved."
The madam couldn't help but smile tenderly after being so valued by her Young Master. She said in a serious manner: "Young Master, although Fairy Ming can temporarily stop the ancestors of the kingdom, I do not believe they will give up. Fairy Ming is not in power and is definitely not powerful enough to deter the ancestors. The worst scenario will be the ancestors rearing their ugly heads again. This might just be a matter of time." The madam ruled her own country and understood this matter very well. She reminded her Young Master so that he could prepare, lest his overconfidence become his demise.
"Zi Yan, the kingdom is not a problem for me." Li Qiye gently smiled: "I do not have to select the Alchemy Vein in order to rebuild the Phoenix's body. There are three grand ancestral veins in the Stone Medicine World, right? Of course, I personally want them to attempt to cause trouble so that I can justly tear apart their ancestral vein."
"There are a few in the Alchemy Kingdom that have become impatient, in contrast to the Jianlong Clan. Some of its ancestors are quite restless!" Li Qiye smiled dismissively: "I can't blame them though since they have always wanted to return to the world. However, they have forgotten who had forgiven them and allowed them to exist in the distant past, allowing their land to not become ruins!"
A terrifying murderous glare emanated from Li Qiye's eyes after saying this!
The madam was slightly shaken. These words revealed some information unknown to the world. Until now, the strongest existences in the Stone Medicine World had been very low-key. The Alchemy Kingdom, the Jianlong Clan, and the Beastmaster Citadel — all of these behemoths had been very reclusive. Only the Heavenhoof Ravine was an exception.
In fact, many cultivators believed that the kingdom already stood at the peak with nothing else to strive for. Because of this, they hid from the world and chose not to compete.
Of course, there were also a few older existences who thought that there was a reason for their reclusion, but no one knew the exact reason.
After hearing her Young Master, Madam Zi Yan could faintly pick up some ancient information, an earth shattering secret behind why these behemoths chose to act this way!
"Zi Yan, you don't have to worry about me." Li Qiye smiled: "This time was only a warning to the kingdom. It is not difficult for me to actually destroy them! If they don't know life from death, then it could only be said that they asked for it."
The madam gently sighed. Although she didn't know what her Young Master had up his sleeves, she understood that if the Alchemy Kingdom wanted to try again, then it would be a suicidal and self-inflicted end. Her Young Master was ready!