Chapter 593: Chapter 345: Expelling the Immortals

“Brother, when you take me out later, I will resolve my matters as soon as possible.”

Feng Qing’an blushed slightly. Even though he felt shy and embarrassed, he knew there was no return date for this journey. Although his brother vouched for him, heaven knows how long the cultivation would take. It was essential for him to take the time to say a heartfelt goodbye to Donghuang.

“Ok.”

Fayuan had glimpsed the grim future and knew what the young man’s farewell entailed. He did not plan to pry too deeply. He was not someone who used Divine Power to uncover others’ secret affairs.

“Thank you, Brother!”

A anticipated response, but Feng Qing’an was still overjoyed. Having his brother’s assurance meant it would be easier to disengage when the time comes.

“You will refine this Cave Sky, and you can move around here. If you still have time, you can meet some of the Taoism cultivators. Their character is decent, and you can befriend them.”

“Them?”

Upon hearing this, Feng Qing’an knew who his brother was referring to. After a brief moment of consideration, he asked Jiuling,

“How long will it take before you can fully refine and digest this place?”

“At least half a year.”

Jiuling shrunk its head and responded in a weak voice. Even though there was no form of compulsory restraint between them, it lacked any confidence when facing Feng Qing’an.

“Still half a year? You initially told me it was half a year, and now after so much time has passed, you’re still telling me it’s half a year?”

Feng Qing’an frowned. For those cultivators who lived for half a Jiazi, half a year was a fleeting moment. However, it was torturous for someone like him whose two lives combined had not yet completed one Jiazi.

“Master, that was just my estimate. This Cave Sky is more expansive than I imagined.”

Jiuling explained. It was now feeling quite exasperated. This was common knowledge, and yet his master, who clearly came from an extraordinary background, was oblivious, requiring Jiuling to explain things at great length.

“Don’t put it through a hard time; there is a set of phoenix bones here. If you want to fully control and refine this place, the time you spend will probably be much longer.”

Fayuan opened his mouth at this moment. Nothing in this world, not even the passing of time, could obstruct his sight.

In his eyes, it reflected a phoenix enveloped in a sea of fire; the bright feathers overflowed with the intense aura of life. The mighty phoenix seemed to be sleeping and would awaken at any moment, but sadly, it would never open its wings again.

“Phoenix’s skeleton?”

Feng Qing’an was stunned for a moment and then understood. The ‘thing’ that his brother referred to was undoubtedly not Youyou, but the Heavenly phoenix who once created the Cave Sky.

“Still in the Cave Sky?”

“Naturally, otherwise, how do you think your little phoenix was born?”

“Was it born out of the influence of the phoenix’s power?”

“Yes and no. The phoenixes you see are fragments of the Heavenly Immortal Phoenix’s soul. They are an extension of it. You can even consider them as reincarnations, though only partial ones.”

Fayuan’s words cleared Feng Qing’an’s doubts about Youyou’s origins. Everything was crystal clear in his eyes now.

In the unfathomable years gone by, a heavily injured Heavenly Immortal phoenix fell into the netherworld. Being on the verge of death, it entered its Cave Sky. Unable to recover, it chose to split its soul and spawned numerous phoenixes carrying its bloodline and legacy. Youyou was one of these phoenixes.

That was why Youyou’s potential was so low. As a being possessing the Phoenix Bloodline, even if it was impure, it should be able to step into the realm of the immortal way. It couldn’t possibly reach only the peak of the mortal realm.

The reason was because Youyou was part of a severely injured Heavenly Immortal phoenix’s split soul. The phoenix it gave birth to was incomplete from the start. If it was incomplete, how could it possibly step into the immortal way?

“So, that’s how it is.”

Feng Qing’an seemed to have gained an insight and nodded. Then he reached out, caught Youyou in his palm, held the little phoenix, and looked at the bald brother before him,

“Brother, do you think this little one of mine has a chance to inherit the legacy left by that phoenix?”

Only a fool would not take advantage of a blessing. The instant he knew about the phoenix’s skeleton, Feng Qing’an wondered if he could benefit from Youyou’s relationship with it and secure some advantage for himself. As a Guardian Beast Master, he could also profit.

“It will be quite difficult. This little one you raised has already deviated from the orthodox path of the Phoenix Clan. Even though it originated from the same source, it is no longer on the same journey.”

Fayuan glanced at Youyou, who appeared as timid as a quail. He saw through this little phoenix’s real condition. Yet, his eyes showed no hint of prejudice. His gentle gaze was enough to embrace all things under the heavens.

“Brother, tell me, is the path this little one is walking down, right or wrong? Is it leading to a dead-end?”

He had already discussed this with Youyou, but now that he had met the ‘real Brother’, questions needed to be asked. If he could know the outcome in advance and change direction earlier, that would be a good choice.

“Does the world truly have dead-ends?”

Upon hearing Feng Qing’an’s question, Fayuan did not respond but instead asked a counter-question. Seeing that Feng Qing’an did not answer, but instead was deep in thought, he continued.