Chapter Seventy-Two: Empress of the World
“Chirp!”
A clear and melodious cry of the phoenix.
The immortal phoenix, reborn for the ninth time, the spiritual creature embodying the fate of Great Xia, surged with power at this very moment! Its flaming body burned fiercely, and the ground below melted into magma. The surrounding air boiled, flames erupting ceaselessly, like a golden sun illuminating the night!
In that instant, Lin Fan’s eyes revealed a trace of despair. Such power was far beyond anything he possessed, even rivaling the gods themselves.
While feeling the ever-growing, endlessly erupting force of the phoenix, the Phoenix Society’s president burst into laughter: “Hahaha, people of Great Xia, thank you for bestowing upon me—”
But in the next moment, confusion appeared in the phoenix’s eyes, its gaze vacant: “Who… am I…”
Its expression revealed a human-like pain!
Before Lin Fan could react to what was happening, the phoenix’s body trembled again, and the Phoenix Society president’s voice was no longer arrogant, but filled with terror: “You, who are you!”
He could sense it. When the phoenix’s power awakened in this body, another consciousness appeared within it. A consciousness awakening alongside the phoenix’s power!
Though just awakened, that consciousness was formidable!
“I am…” The voice from the phoenix’s mouth carried an ancient sorrow: “I remember now. I am… the Guardian Divine Beast of Great Xia… I am… the Ancestor Phoenix of Great Tang…”
“I am the totem of Great Xia!”
“Phoenix!”
“I remember! I remember!”
“That day, bandits invaded the gates of Great Xia, stole the national artifact, and abducted me!”
The phoenix’s voice, in the end, roared like an enraged woman!
In that moment, Lin Fan suddenly understood.
The consciousness of the Mother of Ten Thousand Phoenixes had awakened!
“Who are you!” The phoenix noticed those before it, turning to Lin Fan and the others.
Dao Wanqian staggered to his feet and respectfully bowed to the phoenix: “Daoist Sect, Dao Wanqian, pays respects to the Ancestor Phoenix!”
Mo Bu Zhi also cupped his hands: “Scholar of the Confucian Sect, Mo Bu Zhi, pays respects to the Ancestor Phoenix.”
“Mo Yin Xingluo Sect, Xing Ye, pays respects to the Ancestor Phoenix.”
“Buddhist Sect, Bei Min, pays respects to the Ancestor Phoenix!”
“Mo Sect, Gongshu Ming, pays respects to the Ancestor Phoenix!”
“Daoist Sect, Buddhist Sect, Confucian Sect, Mo Yin Sect, Mo Sect… all are people of Great Xia…”
“And you…” The phoenix suddenly turned to Lin Fan.
“Great Xia, Lin Fan, pays respects to the Ancestor Phoenix!” Lin Fan struggled to his feet and bowed with utmost respect.
“Why are your clothes so strange? What era is this now? Who sits upon the throne of Great Tang?” The phoenix, cloaked in roaring flames, lowered its head and asked.
Lin Fan was silent for a moment.
“Ancestor Phoenix, Great Tang perished a thousand years ago.”
“What!” The Ancestor Phoenix’s expression changed dramatically.
“But,” Lin Fan suddenly raised his head, “China still endures! The people of Great Xia remain!”
“The glory of Great Tang still shines bright!”
The phoenix was silent for a long time, then laughed like a woman gazing at the heavens: “What does it matter if Great Tang is gone? China still exists!”
“As long as China lives, Great Tang lives!”
That laughter seemed to transcend a thousand years.
“Your Majesty, do you hear?” The woman, now the Ancestor Phoenix of Great Xia, murmured softly. “The Li family’s empire still shines!”
Lin Fan remained silent.
He had already guessed the identity of this Ancestor Phoenix.
The Ancestor Phoenix of Great Tang!
Among countless emperors across the ages, only one stood as female! The mother of the nation, soaring like a phoenix across the nine heavens—Wu Zetian!
Only this could explain why the murderous intent from Great Xia had suddenly dissipated—because it recognized the Ancestor Phoenix of Great Xia.
At that moment, the phoenix’s eyes flashed with boundless cold: “You petty thieves dare to steal my power and harm my people of Great Xia!?”
“Ah!!”
From within the phoenix’s body, a voice of agony rang out.
The previously arrogant Phoenix Society president, who had wielded the phoenix’s power with pride, now felt his soul scorched by infernal flames! He was utterly suppressed by the awakened consciousness of the phoenix, unable to resist in the slightest.
His soul could not contend with the soul of an empress who had traversed the ages for possession of the phoenix’s body, not even a shred of resistance remained!
“You barbaric thieves dare to steal the national artifact of Great Xia!”
“If Great Tang were still here…”
“If His Majesty had known of your hiding place overseas,” the phoenix’s voice thundered with boundless anger, “you barbarians would all belong to China!”
Great Tang, renowned for its martial prowess!
The iron cavalry of Great Tang was unmatched!
Where its armies marched, all yielded to Tang.
It was a legendary dynasty; Emperor Li Shimin himself was a mighty warrior, and after ascending the throne, his ranks were filled with heroes!
They conquered the Eastern Göktürks, the Western Göktürks, and the Later Göktürks.
Vanquished the Tiele, subdued Tibet, campaigned against Goguryeo, and attacked Baekje.
To use modern slang: trampling the South Mountain retirement home, kicking the North Sea kindergarten. Perhaps that man once sighed in the darkness: there was not a single worthy adversary.
Yet now.
The national artifact of Great Xia had been stolen?
“You barbarians!”
The phoenix’s flames blazed fiercely, the empress’s fury roaring across the ages!
“Come forth and meet your doom!”
“Boom!”
Flames erupted, and a figure tumbled out of the phoenix’s body, flesh burned beyond recognition!
The once proud president of the Phoenix Society, now, had only terror in his eyes!
He had never imagined that this power from Great Xia, enduring a thousand years, still belonged to Great Xia!
At the moment the figure appeared.
Lin Fan acted without hesitation, drawing his blade!
Thunder rolled across the sky, pouring into the blade!
On its edge, the immense murderous intent of Great Xia condensed!
“No—!” The Phoenix Society president screamed in terror.
“Die!!”
Lin Fan roared through clenched teeth.
“Slash!”
The blade’s glow flashed.
Within it, vengeful spirits howled, valiant warriors shouted!
This was the murderous intent of Great Xia!
A blade from Great Xia!
The blade’s flash was like thunder.
The Phoenix Society president’s voice was abruptly silenced, his fearful expression frozen on his face.
“Thud!”
His head rolled to the ground.
Lin Fan sheathed his blade and stomped that head into pieces.
Witnessing this bloody scene, the Ancestor Phoenix was not repulsed in the least, but instead exhaled a satisfied breath of phoenix fire.
“Excellent.”
“My people of Great Xia reciprocate in kind.”
“But some hatreds must be repaid in blood!”
Lin Fan looked toward the Ancestor Phoenix and bowed again: “Congratulations to the Ancestor Phoenix of Great Xia on returning to her rightful place. A blessing for Great Xia!”
The First Squad of the God-Slaying Army was also filled with excitement: “Congratulations to the Ancestor Phoenix of Great Xia on returning to her rightful place. A blessing for Great Xia!”
The Ancestor Phoenix let out a gentle cry.
In the next moment.
The phoenix’s body changed within the blaze.
The dazzling, scorching flames rolled back, and from within stepped a woman.
Adorned in phoenix robes and a radiant crown, embodying the mother of the nation!
Her delicate features carried an air of inviolable majesty, an awe-inspiring beauty interwoven with supreme imperial authority.