Chapter 331 – Divine Descent Borrowed Power, No Match for Rising Sun Golden Crow

“Gathering Divine Focus… I never imagined that in this era where the Incense Path is nearly extinct, someone could cultivate this path to such heights.”

Fang Heng looked at Xing Jiu in the arena, his expression filled with astonishment.

Gathering Divine Focus was an extremely advanced Divine Ability within the Incense Path.

If one were to draw comparisons, this technique’s Rank was approximately equivalent to a cultivator’s Harmony Realm.

The difference was that cultivators harmonized with the great Dao of heaven and earth.

While Incense Path cultivators harmonized with Immortals and Buddhas.

And the Xing Jiu currently executing ‘Gathering Divine Focus’ appeared, at first glance, no different from a descended Immortal.

More crucially, the existence she communicated with was not only willing to lend her power, but they also shared exceptionally high compatibility.

After all, Xing Jiu herself was a rare descendant of the Jiaolong People.

Her body naturally flowed with Flood Dragon blood.

Though Fang Heng couldn’t discern the origins of the Immortal she communicated with.

The Dragon Scales and dragon armor covering Xing Jiu’s body made it clear.

The other party was likely an ancient Immortal related to ‘Dragons’.

While Xing Jiu’s own Incense Path talent was remarkable.

Fang Heng was more concerned about the mysterious Immortal.

After all, in this era where Immortals and Buddhas had vanished.

He greatly wanted to know how Xing Jiu managed to ‘invite the divine to possess her’.

Most importantly, judging by appearances, this was no ‘wild deity’, but a true divinity.

And Fang Heng wasn’t the only one who recognized this.

The other teachers of Lihuo Dao Academy had also fallen into deep contemplation.

Clearly pondering something.

The commotion outside the arena didn’t disturb those inside.

Mu Xiaoye observed the dragon-armored, spear-wielding Xing Jiu in the distance but didn’t rush to attack. Instead, she turned to her other Lihuo Dao Academy teammates and said, “You should withdraw first. This is beyond your ability to intervene now.”

Gu Jingwen and the others exchanged glances, then looked toward Xing Jiu with her dragon horns and divine fire-filled eyes.

Feeling the terrifying Divine Might emanating from Xing Jiu.

Though reluctant to admit it, this was indeed no place for them to casually participate.

Staying would only cause trouble for Mu Xiaoye without serving any other purpose.

Thus, despite being in good condition.

Gu Jingwen and the three others descended from the platform, just like the four severely injured Tianjiu Academy students opposite them.

Leaving the arena to Mu Xiaoye and Xing Jiu alone.

With no outsiders to disturb them, Mu Xiaoye and Xing Jiu no longer suppressed their cultivation.

Soon, the vast Vermillion Bird Arena was covered by two opposing forces.

On one side, dark clouds gathered with flashing thunder, resembling apocalyptic thunderstorms.

On the other, soaring flames cracked the earth, creating a scene like a thousand-mile drought.

Though in terms of cultivation, Mu Xiaoye was merely at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment Stage.

Significantly weaker than the divinely-enhanced Xing Jiu.

Judging by their Auras and Divine Ability power, they were currently evenly matched.

Mu Xiaoye’s ability to achieve this naturally came from her Innate Divine Ability – Phoenix Calamity Fire.

Since arriving at Lihuo Dao Academy, Mu Xiaoye’s cultivation had progressed as if riding an express train.

Lihuo Dao Academy not only provided Mu Xiaoye with massive cultivation resources.

But also granted her all the cultivation insights of previous Phoenix Calamity Cultivators.

With so much accumulated experience from predecessors, though only one semester had passed.However, Mu Xiaoye’s comprehension of the Phoenix Calamity Fire had reached a new level.

That is to say… a second Awakening.

Perhaps it was because Xing Jiu’s Dragon Thunder Domain had exerted considerable pressure on Mu Xiaoye.

This led Mu Xiaoye to hold nothing back, releasing all her spiritual power and causing the flames around her to surge once more.

In an instant, the environment across most of the Vermillion Bird Arena began to undergo a dramatic upheaval.

A massive, lifelike fiery Phoenix materialized behind Mu Xiaoye.

The fiery Phoenix spanned over a hundred meters, so vivid that every feather was distinctly visible.

With the appearance of this fiery Phoenix, the air in the entire arena grew so scorching that it began to distort.

Fortunately, the Vermillion Bird Arena was the largest arena in Lihuo Dao Academy.

It was equipped with highly sophisticated Formation arrangements.

Thus, almost the moment Mu Xiaoye’s Crimson Flame Phoenix appeared, beams of Formation light rose on both sides of the arena, preventing the commotion from affecting anyone outside.

Standing beneath the Crimson Flame Phoenix, Mu Xiaoye gazed with intense Battle Intent at Xing Jiu not far away.

The provocative meaning was unmistakable.

Meanwhile, Xing Jiu, who was Gathering Divine Focus, seemed to have truly become half-immortal and half-divine.

Her expression remained unperturbed, as calm as if she were devoid of all human emotions.

But Mu Xiaoye paid no heed to that.

After issuing her challenge with a glance, she immediately raised her hand.

Seeing Mu Xiaoye’s movement, the Crimson Flame Phoenix descended toward Xing Jiu.

Wherever the Crimson Flame Phoenix passed, it stirred up towering flames, wreaking havoc as if to destroy heaven and earth.

Before the Crimson Flame Phoenix, Xing Jiu appeared incredibly small and insignificant.

So much so that the people from Tianjiu Academy couldn’t help but worry.

After all, although they knew Xing Jiu’s Incense Path was formidable,

it still depended on who her opponent was.

That was a Phoenix Calamity Cultivator ranked among the top three on the Immortal Alliance’s Divine Ability list.

Moreover, the outcome of this match would almost determine whether Tianjiu Academy could successfully overtake Lihuo Dao Academy and become the seeded academy of the southern region.

Under this dual pressure, the hearts of everyone in Tianjiu Academy rose to their throats, not daring to even blink.

They were afraid of missing any detail.

Facing the Crimson Flame Phoenix that was almost indistinguishable from the real thing, Xing Jiu finally moved.

Boom!

With an ear-splitting clap of thunder that tore through the sky, an Incense White Dragon broke through the clouds, revealing half of its body.

The White Dragon was wreathed in lightning, and an enigmatic immortal seal adorned its forehead, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.

A heavy Dragon Aura spread with the White Dragon’s appearance, clashing with the fiery Phoenix Aura of the Crimson Flame Phoenix.

Although it was merely a confrontation of Auras, cracks of varying degrees appeared on the ground around Mu Xiaoye and Xing Jiu.

It was evident that even this clash of Auras was fraught with peril.

After revealing half of its body, the Incense White Dragon, accompanied by dense thunderclouds, charged toward Mu Xiaoye’s Crimson Flame Phoenix.

The battle between this Dragon and Phoenix was terrifying.

Every move and technique carried fearsome power.

For a time, the entire arena was filled with flashing lightning and roaring thunder, as well as towering flames.

The spectators outside the arena watched, dumbfounded.

Unable to believe that this was a battle between two first-year students.

That’s right—not only was Mu Xiaoye a first-year student,

but Xing Jiu had also just joined Xing Jiu Dao Academy this year.

As the battle intensified, the initially evenly matched Incense White Dragon and Crimson Flame Phoenix began to show subtle changes.Although the flames of the Crimson Flame Phoenix surged with overwhelming force, they posed little threat to the Incense Path White Dragon before it.

In contrast, the White Dragon’s thunderbolts were far more menacing to the Crimson Flame Phoenix.

As a result, the Crimson Flame Phoenix appeared to be at a disadvantage.

Unless something unexpected occurred, Mu Xiaoye’s defeat seemed only a matter of time.

Facing a once-in-a-millennium prodigy of the Incense Path while still at the Foundation Establishment stage was simply too demanding.

This was evident to the teachers of both Tianjiu Academy and Lihuo Dao Academy.

The Tianjiu Academy teachers wore expressions of delight, sensing an imminent opportunity to overthrow Lihuo Dao Academy and elevate their own institution’s reputation.

Meanwhile, the Lihuo Dao Academy teachers looked grave and wholly focused, seemingly awestruck by Xing Jiu’s prowess.

Coupled with Xing Jiu’s identity as a non-human, an unconventional thought arose among the Lihuo Dao Academy faculty.

As one of the Four Great Academies, Lihuo Dao Academy had always prided itself on its exclusivity. To maintain its orthodox traditions, the academy had long refused to admit non-human students. It was only this year that an exception was made, allowing a few non-human students to enroll.

Many within the academy had initially disapproved of this bold move, believing that admitting non-human students would only invite criticism from outsiders and contribute little to the academy’s development.

However, Xing Jiu’s emergence prompted a shift in their perspective.

Perhaps non-humans were not as inferior as they had assumed. Among them were prodigies who could rival—or even surpass—those of the Human Race.

If they opened their doors to non-human students, exceptional talents like Xing Jiu might not be snatched up by academies like Tianjiu.

Yet, not everyone watching the Crimson Flame Phoenix being suppressed by the Incense Path White Dragon believed Mu Xiaoye was destined to lose.

Lu Chen observed Mu Xiaoye in the arena, then glanced up at the roof of the Vermillion Bird Army’s hall as if he could see something beyond it.

This subtle gesture was noticed by Fang Heng, a Lihuo Dao Academy teacher beside him.

Curious, Fang Heng asked, “What is it, Lu Chen? Did you notice something?”

Lu Chen smiled in response. “Nothing much. I was just reflecting on the time—it seems almost noon.”

“What does noon have to do with anything?” Fang Heng looked puzzled, unable to grasp Lu Chen’s meaning.

Lu Chen merely smiled again, offering no further explanation.

After all, although Fang Heng was a Golden Core Stage cultivator, he was not a member of the Shanhai Bureau. Even if he knew Mu Xiaoye was both a Lihuo Dao Academy student and an Agent of the Shanhai Bureau, he remained unaware of which Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast she had contracted with, let alone the power it possessed.

Almost as soon as Lu Chen finished speaking, the duel between Mu Xiaoye and Xing Jiu took an unexpected turn.

The Incense Path White Dragon, which had been relentlessly pressuring the Crimson Flame Phoenix, was suddenly forced back by a powerful wingbeat.

Though the strike caused no substantial harm, this sudden shift stirred a flicker of emotion in Xing Jiu, who had remained composed until then.

Strange… Has this Phoenix’s power… grown stronger?

With this thought, Xing Jiu began scrutinizing the Crimson Flame Phoenix with renewed intensity.Soon, she noticed something unusual about the Crimson Phoenix.

She saw that one-third of the Crimson Phoenix’s feathers had imperceptibly turned pale gold—a color starkly different from the blood-red of the Phoenix Calamity Fire.

But the change in feathers wasn’t merely superficial; it reflected a genuine increase in power.

Something was wrong.

Xing Jiu inwardly cursed, no longer holding back as she channeled her full divine descent power.

In the next moment, the previously evenly matched Crimson Phoenix and Incense White Dragon returned to a state where the Crimson Phoenix was suppressed.

The Incense White Dragon’s thunder domain expanded to cover two-thirds of the arena, completely overwhelming the Crimson Phoenix’s fire domain.

Seeing this, the Tianjiu Academy crowd erupted in cheers, certain of victory.

But unlike their excitement, Xing Jiu’s expression grew increasingly grave.

Even the divine flames in her pupils flickered wildly—a clear sign she was exerting her full strength.

“No suspense left,” Lu Chen remarked calmly after observing the arena.

Beside him, Teacher Fang Heng misunderstood, nodding in agreement. “Indeed, no suspense. Though Mu Xiaoye’s innate divine ability is powerful, she’s no match for a prodigy of the Incense Path. After all, she’s essentially fighting one against two—a person and a god.”

Lu Chen chuckled. “Teacher Fang, you’ve misunderstood me. When I said ‘no suspense’… I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Huh?” Fang Heng blinked in confusion, not understanding Lu Chen’s meaning.

But considering Lu Chen’s relationship with Mu Xiaoye, he realized he couldn’t possibly know her as well as Lu Chen did.

Curiosity sparked within him—why was Lu Chen so certain Mu Xiaoye had already won? What was her hidden card?

Soon, Mu Xiaoye provided the answer.

Just as the Crimson Phoenix was being suppressed by the Incense White Dragon, a brilliant morning sun materialized behind it.

This radiant sun wasn’t merely an illusion but a tangible power bestowed upon the Crimson Phoenix.

“A Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast?!” Fang Heng stared at the sun, where the faint silhouette of a Three-Legged Golden Crow flickered within.

Finally, he understood Lu Chen’s confidence—it all stemmed from this perfectly compatible power of a mythical beast.

Under everyone’s astonished gazes, the Crimson Phoenix, empowered by the Three-Legged Golden Crow, saw its feathers transform entirely into brilliant gold.

Combined with the morning sun behind it, the Crimson Phoenix completely reversed the battle.

Overwhelming golden flames swept through the Incense White Dragon’s thunder domain like a tidal wave.

For a moment, the entire arena was bathed in dazzling golden light, as if clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

With her divine ability shattered, Xing Jiu’s divine descent power dissipated instantly.

Stripped of this power, her cultivation swiftly fell back to the original Foundation Establishment Stage’s fourth layer.

Facing the colossal golden phoenix above, Xing Jiu smiled wryly.

She knew at this point, she stood no chance.

Against the combined might of Phoenix Calamity Fire and the Three-Legged Golden Crow’s power, she was truly outmatched.

This defeat, she accepted wholeheartedly.After dispelling Xing Jiu’s divine descent, Mu Xiaoye also extinguished her own Phoenix Calamity Fire.

After all, when comparing only foundational strength,

ten Xing Jius wouldn’t be enough to match her alone.

As Xing Jiu voluntarily stepped down from the arena, every student of Tianjiu Academy wore expressions of dejection.

Though the score appeared to be tied one-to-one, this was only because their opponent hadn’t even revealed their strongest trump card.

In this final one-on-one duel… they were bound to lose.

(End of Chapter)