Chapter 623: Returning to the Feng Clan

The Phoenix Clan's three Tribulation-Transcendence ancestors sat side by side, looking exceptionally tense.

Ao Li, the envoy of the East Sea Dragon Clan, along with the patriarch of the Demon Domain Dragon Clan and the patriarch of the Phoenix Clan, were also present, though they lacked even the right to be seated.

Alongside them were the elders of both clans—great demons who had once left a profound and glorious mark upon the history of the Demon Domain; with the rise of the younger generation, they had since moved on to a life of retirement.

They held immense status within their respective clans, so much so that even the patriarchs treated them with the utmost courtesy upon meeting.

Yet with the three ancestors presiding here, their titles and stature became utterly trivial, leaving them no choice but to stand.

Sensing the oppressive weight of the atmosphere, the ancestor of the Demon Domain Dragon Clan initiated a conversation simply to break the silence: "I wonder when Senior Phoenix Ancestor will arrive."

The forces of both clans had gathered here for no other reason than to await the return of the Phoenix Ancestor.

Initially, after slaying Ji Youming, Jiang Mingzi had intended to seek out the Phoenix Ancestor in the Demon City, but he had arrived a step too late; by then, the battle of the half-immortals had concluded, and Lu Yang and Jiang Lianyi had already departed.

Reckoning that the ancient ancestor would inevitably return home for a visit, he had rushed back to the Phoenix Clan to wait.

Without even taking the time to refine Ji Youming's corpse, he had been waiting ever since.

The two branches of the Dragon Clan had shared the same line of thought and converged at the Phoenix Clan, which culminated in the scene unfolding now.

At this moment, the outer perimeter of the Phoenix Clan was packed with various grand demon clans, all having arrived to curry favor with them.

If it could be said that the Phoenix Clan had previously relied on its deep heritage to reign as the foremost clan of the Demon Domain—powerful, yet not quite to the point of commanding absolute submission—

Things were different now; with the return of the Phoenix Ancestor, no one would believe it even if the Phoenix Clan claimed they were not powerful.

"How I envy you all; with the Phoenix Ancestor's return, your Phoenix Clan is bound to rise to greatness."

The two Tribulation-Transcendence cultivators of the Dragon Clan looked at Jiang Mingzi with envy; with the Phoenix Ancestor back, every internal strife and external threat facing the Phoenix Clan could be resolved, so why didn't their Dragon Clan possess such good fortune?

"You flatter us, you flatter us," Jiang Mingzi replied, his grin so wide his mouth could hardly close.

Clang—

The Phoenix Clan guard stationed at the entrance pushed the door open, panting heavily as he pointed outside, speaking with wild excitement: "The Ancient Ancestor, the Ancient Ancestor has arrived! She is in the sky!"

"What!"

The three Tribulation-Transcendence great demons hastily rose to their feet and went out to welcome her.

They beheld a sky draped in brilliant, burning clouds, strikingly vivid and reminiscent of Jiang Lianyi's splendid red dress.

Upon those fiery clouds, the congregation of the Heavenly Court Sect had assembled; in addition to Jiang Lianyi and Lu Yang, there were the Third Senior Sister, Meng Jingzhou, and the five elders.

Naturally, they all maintained their guises as members of the Heavenly Court Sect.

The Third Senior Sister had initially been reluctant to pose as part of the Heavenly Court Sect, but she could not resist when everyone else was heading to the Phoenix Clan; staying behind would have made her feel lonely and somewhat pitiful.

"What did you guys come here for!"

Lu Yang transmitted his voice to Meng Jingzhou.

"We have to return to the sect together in a bit anyway, what's wrong with gathering ahead of time!" Meng Jingzhou argued righteously.

"Ancient Ancestor!"

"Phoenix Ancestor!"

"We pay our respects to the Phoenix Ancestor!"

Upon witnessing Jiang Lianyi, the members of the Dragon and Phoenix clans knelt smoothly in obeisance, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Very well, arise." Jiang Lianyi raised her hand; beholding her clansmen after a lapse of three hundred thousand years filled her with a similar sense of profound emotion.

Previously, she had not rushed to meet her descendants primarily because they had romanticized her legends to an absurd degree—such as her rising from the ashes and the like; to speak the truth would make her feel self-conscious, yet to falsely accept it would also make her feel self-conscious.

Escorted by the two clans, Jiang Lianyi stepped into the ancestral hall of the Phoenix Clan.

Lu Yang and the others did not descend from the clouds; Jiang Lianyi was returning home to visit her kin, so there was no need for them to involve themselves.

The ancestral hall enshrined the tablets of successive generations of Phoenix ancestors, with Jiang Lianyi's placed at the very pinnacle, and right beside hers was the newly added tablet of the Qilin Immortal.

Jiang Lianyi: "..."

They certainly moved fast.

"What is your name?" Jiang Lianyi noticed that Jiang Mingzi possessed the highest cultivation among the Phoenix Clan.

"Replying to the Ancient Ancestor, my name is Jiang Mingzi."

"Late stage of Tribulation-Transcendence, very good. The survival of the Phoenix Clan over all these years is inseparable from your protection. You have worked hard."

"It was no hardship!" Tears welled up in Jiang Mingzi's eyes.

"What are the names of you two? I hear the Dragon Clan is now split into two branches, one in the Demon Domain and one in the East Sea?"

"Replying to the Senior, yes, this junior is Ao Changqiu." This was the ancestor of the Demon Domain Dragon Clan.

"This junior is Ao Fan." This was one of the ancestors of the East Sea Dragon Clan.

"Is there any news of Ao Ling?"

Ao Fan cupped his hands, bitterness filling his heart: "Replying to the Senior, there is none."

He had heard that the two ancient ancestors were both rivals and friends, and had hoped to glean news of their own ancient ancestor from the Phoenix Ancestor, but now it seemed those hopes were dashed.

Jiang Lianyi nodded; this was within her expectations.

Presumably out of concern that Ao Ling might be discovered by the mastermind behind the scenes, her husband had hidden Ao Ling very deeply, and the Dragon Clan alone would likely never find a clue.

"You need not worry over Xiao Ling's safety; she has merely utilized a secret method to slumber in a certain location. I will do my utmost to search for her."

"Our deepest thanks to the Senior!" Ao Fan and Ao Changqiu spoke with great excitement; with the assistance of the Phoenix Ancestor, the chances of locating their ancient ancestor were vastly multiplied.

"There is no need to thank me, it is only proper. My relationship with Xiao Ling is closer than you might imagine; we are both wives of the Qilin Immortal."

"Ah?"

Hearing this revelation, the members of both the Dragon and Phoenix clans were utterly stunned.

Yet upon closer reflection, it seemed entirely reasonable; the Qilin Immortal was mighty, so having two wives was nothing out of the ordinary.

"As for the matters of the Demon Kingdom, the Phoenix Clan and the Dragon Clan of the Demon Domain may simply join. The unification of the Demon Domain is beneficial to the development of the demon race."

"As for your concerns regarding Zhu Tian's arrogance and any potential invasion of the human race—with me here, he will not dare."

"The East Sea Dragon Clan has no need to join the Demon Kingdom. I hear the chaos in your East Sea is hardly better than that of the Demon Domain; if Xiao Ling were here, the East Sea would be her domain, so I shall not interfere."

"Understood!"

This reassurance provided by Jiang Lianyi thoroughly dispelled the lingering anxieties of the Phoenix Clan and the Demon Domain Dragon Clan.

"I hear that a rather talented junior has emerged within the clan named Jiang Shishi. Bring her to me so I may take a look."

Jiang Lianyi recalled that Lu Yang had mentioned this junior when recounting the Ancient Realm of Creation, and the Immortal Sister's evaluation of her talent had been 'passable.'

To earn an evaluation of 'passable' from the Immortal Sister was already an exceptionally high praise.

Hearing the Ancient Ancestor proactively mention her daughter, the patriarch Jiang Xi's heart pounded with violent excitement.

Jiang Shishi had never anticipated that the Ancient Ancestor would actively seek her out; when she was brought into the ancestral hall and beheld the Ancient Ancestor, she was entirely dazed.

Had it not been for her mother Jiang Xi transmitting a voice command urging her to kneel and pay respects, she would have forgotten the etiquette entirely.

Jiang Lianyi sized Jiang Shishi up from top to bottom, making everyone present exceedingly nervous.

"A fine prospect, though her thinking is a bit rigid; however, that is no great issue, I shall instruct her personally in the future."

If nothing else, she certainly could not be weaker than Zhu Yunwu, whom Zhu Tian had nurtured.

Furthermore, Jiang Shishi’s talent truly satisfied Jiang Lianyi, proving more than sufficient to inherit her mantle.

Afterward, Jiang Lianyi listened to Jiang Mingzi’s report detailing the Phoenix Clan's three-hundred-thousand-year journey following her deep slumber. It was a history fraught with hardships and perils, yet also one where countless brilliant talents had emerged. As Jiang Mingzi spoke with fervent excitement, she listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a few words and offering a knowing smile.

"Not bad. It seems the Phoenix Clan has developed quite well, which sets my mind at ease."

Jiang Lianyi rose, preparing to depart, which threw Jiang Mingzi into utter panic. The clan leader mistakenly assumed the ancient ancestor saw that the Phoenix Clan could thrive perfectly well without her and intended to abandon them entirely.

"Ancient Ancestor, please do not leave!"

"Ancient Ancestor, please do not leave!"

The members of the Phoenix Clan fell to their knees in unison, imploring Jiang Lianyi to remain with them.

Helpless, Jiang Lianyi turned back. "I have only just awakened and haven't even had the chance to see this new world yet. I am merely going out for a stroll."

"Oh."

Jiang Mingzi stood up in sheer embarrassment.

Jiang Lianyi breathed a sigh of relief, glad to have found a legitimate excuse.

Having studied under the Immortal Fairy and constantly mingling with her, Jiang Lianyi was inherently someone who despised staying in one place. Forcing her to remain cooped up within the Phoenix Clan would be a fate more agonizing than death itself.

Stepping out of the ancestral shrine, she leapt up into the sky to join Lu Yang, who was waiting upon the clouds.

"Senior Brother, are we returning to the Dao Seeking Sect? Sister Immortal told me there is a female devil in the Dao Seeking Sect whose power rivals her own. Once she recovers her full strength, the three of us can team up to deal with that devil!"

Lu Yang: "..."

Was it too late to resign from the Immortal lineage now?