Myriad Daos of the Heaven

When they met Jiang Jichen’s gaze, the two Nascent Soul Realm elders felt a shudder deep in their hearts.

In that instant, they felt death drawing near and recalled a legend!

One of the Ten Ancient Fiends was the Demon Phoenix, not the Phoenix.

The Demon Phoenix, it was said, was the true ultimate form of the Phoenix.

Reborn from flames, undying and indestructible, only after nine cycles of rebirth does it take its demonic form.

And right now, Jiang Jichen was exuding the aura of the Demon Phoenix Flame.

’This... How is this possible?’

But now, as they looked at Jiang Jichen—driven mad with killing intent, as frenzied as a demon—they suddenly understood.

The Ten Ancient Fiends had not earned their title by chance.

The very word "fiend" implied something terrifying, bloodthirsty, and possessed of a demonic madness...

No ordinary, peaceful beast could ever be called one of the Ten Fiends!

And the Phoenix—the auspicious Divine Bird of legend—was aloof and noble, without a trace of fiendish aura. How could it possibly be one of the Ten Fiends?

Only a being that had endured the baptism of fire nine times without dying, manifesting its ultimate form... the Demon Phoenix, could be worthy of being called one of the Ten Ancient Fiends!

In other words, this wasn’t a Phoenix’s nest, but... a Demon Phoenix’s lair!

But what good did understanding any of this do?

With the Demon Phoenix Flame having entered his body, Jiang Jichen was completely different from his usual self.

Now, the desires in his heart were magnified many times over and fully unleashed, causing him to act on every whim, without a shred of hesitation.

For instance, he wanted to kill the two Nascent Soul Early Stage Realm elders, and so he attacked, heedless of the consequences.

That was one thing, but what was truly terrifying was that upon entering this state of Demonic Thought, all of his abilities were elevated to a horrifying level.

Otherwise, even having consumed a Tenfold Spirit Pill, it would be utterly impossible for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to battle a Nascent Soul Realm expert.

In fact, when Jiang Jichen had first rushed into the Phoenix Bathing Fire Land, he had only intended to use the intense heat to make the two men aware of the danger and retreat.

He had never thought of trying to intercept and kill them.

But in the instant he entered, he had collided with a wisp of black flame.

Afterward, the black flame entered his body, nearly burning him to cinders.

But thankfully, he cultivated the Undying Scripture, and coupled with his incredibly tough physique and his Seven-Colored Perfect Spirit Body, he ultimately managed to suppress the collapse of his Dao Body. Instead, that wisp of black flame began to show signs of fusing with him.

’Demon Phoenix Origin Flame!’

Jiang Jichen knew his luck was heaven-defying; he had actually encountered a wisp of the Flame of Origin from the Demon Phoenix, one of the Ten Ancient Fiends.

The Demon Phoenix’s Flame of Origin contained its legacy. If he could completely refine and fuse with it, it would be like obtaining a part of the Demon Phoenix’s inheritance.

The inheritance of one of the Ten Ancient Fiends—this was absolutely... unimaginable.

Of course, Jiang Jichen was also incredibly unlucky. Even though it was just a trace of the Demon Phoenix Origin Flame, the Demonic Thought it contained was boundlessly powerful and utterly terrifying.

Even someone like him, who possessed a Supreme, transcendent will, was immediately affected.

The shackles on his heart’s desires were broken and truly unleashed.

That was why he had gone from his earlier retreat to his current assault.

As the two Nascent Soul Realm elders came to this realization, their eyes filled with fear, but also jealousy.

"To think he actually obtained the Demon Phoenix’s inheritance!"

"If we kill him, we can still seize the Demon Phoenix’s inheritance!"

Although the two men were afraid, a greedy desire now sprouted within them.

They failed to realize, however, that their defenses were already crumbling under the influence of this place, the Demon Phoenix’s bathing ground.

The longer they stayed here, the greater the influence of the Demonic Thought would become.

Their desires were no longer suppressed, but amplified and unleashed.

That was why the two Nascent Soul Realm elders had previously wanted to retreat.

Now, however, they wanted to seize everything Jiang Jichen had.

Jiang Jichen gave a demonic smile, then strode forward to attack once more.

His physical body was severely wounded, but perhaps due to the trace of Demon Phoenix Origin Flame within him, coupled with the ceaseless circulation of the Undying Scripture, his wounds were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The Phoenix was renowned throughout the ages for its immortality and restorative power. As for the Demon Phoenix, its evolved, ultimate state—that was even more unimaginable.

"You dare try to steal my things? Then you all deserve to die!"

Jiang Jichen was direct, revealing his demonic side.

"Your things? What right does a piece of trash like you have to possess them?"

"They should be ours!"

At this, the two Nascent Soul Early Stage Realm elders also began to descend into madness. Driven by desire, they charged head-on at Jiang Jichen.

The defenses around them slowly collapsed, and their bodies began to suffer damage, scorched by the terrifying heat.

But they didn’t care. Their demonic nature had been aroused, and they wanted only to kill Jiang Jichen and seize everything.

Jiang Jichen gave a cruel, sinister smile.

They clashed once more!

Both sides had descended into madness, becoming bloodthirsty and desperate to kill the other, regardless of the cost.

They used every technique at their disposal, holding nothing back.

Soon, chunks of flesh were being torn from Jiang Jichen’s body, ripped away to reveal sinister white bone beneath.

The two Nascent Soul Early Stage Realm elders were also in a wretched state. Their bodies were scorched, giving off the stench of burnt flesh, and Jiang Jichen had carved horrifying wounds into them.

All of them were covered in blood, not a single spot on their bodies left unscathed.

But ultimately, Jiang Jichen was at a disadvantage, his combat strength all but exhausted.

The two Nascent Soul Early Stage Realm cultivators had already activated a Secret Technique unique to the Nascent Soul Realm. They no longer cared that it would cause massive damage to their Spirit Infants.

The Life Energy and latent power they unleashed was far greater than usual.

They now had only one goal: kill Jiang Jichen and seize the Demon Phoenix’s inheritance.

"Jiang Jichen, you’re finished! It’s time to send you on your way!"

The two charged forward with ferocious grins, intending to deliver the final, fatal blow.

However, Jiang Jichen showed not a trace of fear. Instead, he gave a grim, insidious smile.

Then, the Venerable’s Broken Soul Refining Banner appeared in his hand.

"I’m the one sending you on your way!"

Jiang Jichen pushed his Seven-Colored Divine Soul to its absolute limit and shook the Soul Refining Banner.

In an instant, ghostly gales swept across the land, as if one hundred thousand Yin Soldiers had descended upon the world.

The two men, already grievously wounded and in the middle of a charge, had no way to evade. They were struck directly by the endless, ghostly wind.

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

The two figures were simultaneously annihilated, only their Spirit Infants managing to escape.

In that moment, the Demonic Thought possessing them vanished, and they abruptly came to their senses.

"Ah, no!"

The two Spirit Infants screamed in terror.

They were filled with regret and despair.

But it was all too late!

Jiang Jichen’s Holy Sword unleashed countless rays of Sword Light, shredding their Spirit Infants to pieces.

Then, with a sweep of the Soul Refining Banner, he drew their souls into it.

The stronger and more numerous the souls collected within the Soul Refining Banner, the more terrifying the power it could unleash.

The Soul Refining Banner could even evolve continuously, provided it was fed enough souls.

After the battle, Jiang Jichen was grievously injured, his body a mangled wreck.

Normally, he would have immediately started healing his wounds.

But now, he did not.

Instead, he charged straight down, heading for the very bottom of the Demon Phoenix’s bathing grounds.

The deeper he went, the higher the temperature soared, but Jiang Jichen was now completely fearless.

Soon, he landed in the space by the Phoenix Tree Root.

There, he saw two women. One sat upon a blood-red Jade Platform, the other upon a cyan Jade Platform. Below them flowed a ceaseless river of fiery magma.

Between the blood-red and cyan platforms was another Jade Platform, this one as black as ink and emitting an eerie, faint glow.