Chapter 246: Chapter 202: The Fallen Phoenix

The belief in the immortal Phoenix and the pursuit of becoming an Immortal is almost ingrained in the very bones of the Chu people.

All the Chu people, even children not yet taller than a wheel, have the dream of becoming Immortals. Having grown up listening to myths and legends, they all yearn to shed their mortal shells and become powerful enough to move mountains and overturn seas, considering the Phoenix as the ultimate form of an Immortal. This immortal and indestructible form is their dream come true.

Just like the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix now, even if a leg is torn off, a new one instantly forms, restoring its form to perfect condition once more.

As the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix has always claimed.

"Thoughts cannot be killed!"

The Gray-Black Fire Phoenix even prided itself on this belief at one point.

"Yes, yes, yes! This True Immortal wants exactly that!"

The Bronze Halberd flew over, and its sharp edge once again sliced through the body of the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix, taking a leg off with it.

This made the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix increasingly anxious.

That last strike could have split it open, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix was certain it could never dodge such a ghostly speed—but the Bronze Halberd had no intention of killing it, only severed a leg, even chewing as it deliberately slowed its pace.

It seemed to be giving it a chance, giving it time, allowing it to reform and grow another leg.

This was treating its existence as a True Immortal like food.

"How... can this be?"

Having reached this point, despite its slowness, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix already noticed the problem.

Another leg was torn off, but at this critical moment, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix suddenly recalled the legend that had been passed down in Chu about becoming an Immortal and the immortal Phoenix.

Everyone knows that the belief in the immortal Phoenix and the pursuit of becoming an Immortal is something almost ingrained in the bones of all Chu people.

Yet now, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix suddenly realized another issue.

That is, where did this belief and pursuit, the mythology that almost everyone knows, come from?

It seemed no one ever thought about this question. Everyone just thought that as long as they became an Immortal, they could roam carefree between heaven and earth, and the immortal Phoenix was the ultimate form, the ideal state the Chu people dreamed of—although the Chu themselves felt they couldn’t reach such heights and would often settle for becoming an Immortal, following the Phoenix would suffice. But just like it now, given the chance, who wouldn’t want to become the most perfect form, becoming an immortal Phoenix that could be reborn even after encountering a deadly tribulation?

But now, it had already become an Immortal, became immortal and indestructible, yet it didn’t feel qualified to be called a Phoenix at all.

Facing that strange, ugly, and even slightly comical Bronze Halberd, it only felt like a roasted chicken put on the table.

Even the Bronze Halberd itself seemed to feel this way.

"Can you tone down the flames a bit?"

Chewing a leg it had cut from the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix, the Bronze Halberd made a request.

"It’s too dry from roasting, I prefer to eat it tender."

"..."

The Gray-Black Fire Phoenix was silent for a moment.

Then, it immediately turned to flee.

It didn’t know where it was going to run, at that moment it had lost its ideals and desires.

In its heart, something once unshakable had collapsed.

All the perseverance for becoming an Immortal, the unwavering belief, the efforts it had made, even the resolve to fight with all its life.

All of it now just felt like a joke.

It once thought about the cause of its death, it didn’t know if, as an immortal being, it would die of old age, but perhaps Du Chengfeng would catch up and kill it, or due to some risky attempt it would end up dead—dying in a magnificent battle, or in the pursuit and exploration of knowledge, this would be worthy of its status as a True Immortal, and respect its past efforts.

But it never thought it would be eaten to death by something inexplicable.

No, not even dead, just eaten, this is undoubtedly a more cruel ending than death, it doesn’t want to fall into such a fate no matter what.

So run, it’s good to run anywhere.

As long as it won’t be eaten, as long as it won’t be eaten...

"Escaped!"

Burrowing into the thick soil layers, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes, it should have thought of it earlier, if the Bronze Halberd was truly omnipotent, how could it have been trapped underground for so long?

It, being formless and shapeless, is the strongest! It truly is a True Immortal in this world...

"Buzz—"

Just when the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix thought it had escaped from danger, it suddenly heard a piercing digging sound.

And the source of that sound...

"Run!"

Seeing a phantom hand reaching through the soil, coming toward its leg, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix hurriedly continued its flight.

Fortunately, the bunkers left by the Chu people were sturdy enough, making it take the Bronze Halberd some time to dig through them—and that time gap was enough for it to escape to the surface.

No more, it doesn’t care about anything anymore, whether it’s the divine weapons and artifacts left by the Chu people, or a way to beat Du Chengfeng... It’s fine if it just hides away, the world is vast, why couldn’t it go anywhere? At that point, it could hide for dozens of years, could Du Chengfeng really chase it for dozens of years?

No, definitely not, when it was hidden on the Overlord Halberd, it had glimpsed Du Chengfeng’s modus operandi, that style of having new ideas constantly; it probably wouldn’t even have to wait for so long, just hiding for half a month, and once Du Chengfeng couldn’t find it, he would go back to doing his own thing.

When it comes to hiding, it has always had confidence, after all, as a descendant of the Chu people, it relied on its excellent hiding skills to escape countless hunts.

If it could just hide itself, how could Du Chengfeng...

"Boom—"

Just as the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix was courageously dashing, it suddenly heard a loud noise.

Immediately, the sky brightened.

The warm sunlight fell on its body, giving it an otherworldly feeling.

But soon, the large shadow cast by the strong figure made it panic-stricken.

"You... why are you here!"

Seeing the familiar figure silhouetted against the sunlight, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix’s voice trembled.

"Du Chengfeng! Why are you here!"

"Brother Du said he doesn’t want anything from below!"

From the edge of the pit that Du Chengfeng had blasted open, Li Family’s eldest son, who had been left on the surface by it to buy time, also poked his head out.

"Brother Du said it! He doesn’t need anything from below! But he’s still willing to help us dig it out! Come on up! With Brother Du’s help, we’ll soon be able to dig out the stuff underground!"

"..."

Looking at Li Family’s eldest son it had placed high hopes on, and then at Du Chengfeng by his side, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix could not speak for a long time.

At that moment, it wished to retreat, retreat into that bunker below, although the Bronze Halberd was also very ferocious, at least it wouldn’t kill it.

But as the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix lowered its head, it suddenly discovered that it could no longer go back.

For in the large hole at the bottom of the pit, the Bronze Halberd, which had been blocked underground just moments ago, was already flying all the way up.