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Chapter 680: Chapter 680: Enigmatic Fate

As soon as the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail swallowed the three-legged golden crow, it shot back into Zhong Shan's body, disappearing in an instant. Zhong Shan closed his eyes briefly, surrounded by intense lightning, his entire being radiating like a powerful source of electricity, emitting rays like the sun.

The ground below erupted with thick smoke, and in moments, the entire area was shrouded in a dense cloud. A cacophony of crackling followed, and the boundless lightning converged into Zhong Shan's body. Suddenly, the surrounding lightning vanished.

As the dust settled, Zhong Shan's form reappeared. He opened his eyes slowly and exhaled deeply.

Imperial Extreme Realm, Sixth Layer!

Despite the vast energy from devouring the Ninth Grade Soul-Falling Bell, Wu Huan's Ninth Grade gloves, and the powerful three-legged golden crow, the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail absorbed most of it, leaving only a fraction for Zhong Shan. This meager portion allowed him to advance just one layer in cultivation.

"Only one layer?" Zhong Shan sighed internally. "If Ninth Grade treasures are no longer sufficient, the energy required for future advancements will be even greater, making cultivation increasingly difficult. And I haven't even reached the Heavenly Extreme Realm yet—how much harder will it be then?"

Filled with concern, Zhong Shan looked around. Gui Shou and Wang Ku had vanished, while in the sky, the thunderclouds rolled continuously. The fiery red clouds were filled with searing flames—a testament to the formidable power of the heavenly tribulation.

Lu Guatian and Wu Jiutian had disappeared from view, but from the violent churning of the thunderclouds, it was clear that both had entered the storm, undergoing their tribulation amidst the clouds. Such bravery and resolve!

With the Heavenly Thunder Transformation dissipated, the endless curtain of lightning vanished, leaving only the majestic tribulation clouds and the two figures within them.

Zhong Shan retreated, quickly locating Nie Qingqing and Wu Luo, who were hiding nearby.

"Zhong Shan, are you alright?" Nie Qingqing asked immediately.

"And the Supreme?" Wu Luo inquired urgently.

"I'm fine. Wu Jiutian is undergoing her tribulation," Zhong Shan replied, then turned his attention back to the tumultuous clouds above.

Nie Qingqing and Wu Luo remained silent, watching the sky patiently. Shortly, Wang Ku returned.

"How did it go?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Gui Shou escaped," Wang Ku replied tersely.

Zhong Shan frowned slightly, nodding gravely. He resumed watching the sky.

Interfering with a tribulation was a grave mistake; it only increased the power of the heavenly tribulation. Wu Jiutian and Lu Guatian were now within the clouds, facing their tribulations. They had to handle it themselves.

"Waaah!"

The Supreme fell, and a thousand crows cried out in sorrow. Perhaps sensing this, all the crows knew that Wu Huan had perished. Throughout the entire Shenzhou, it seemed as if every crow felt a deep sense of grief, continuously crying out in mourning.

In the Tai Sui Heavenly Dynasty, the crown princes watched their three-legged golden crows. The three-legged golden crows looked up to the sky and wailed, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing.

"What happened?" Crown Prince Chongtian asked the golden crow beside him.

"The Supreme has fallen!" the three-legged golden crow exclaimed.

"Dead? Killed by Nie Fancheng?" Chongtian's brows furrowed.

On Phoenix Island, at the beach, Lu Litian had just arrived.

Crown Prince Litian stood with a giant peacock on his left and a three-legged golden crow on his right.

Suddenly, the three-legged golden crow let out a mournful cry.

"What's the matter?" Crown Prince Litian frowned.

"The Supreme has fallen!" the three-legged golden crow wailed.

"Wu Huan is dead?" Litian's brow knitted.

"Yes!"

"Dead is dead. Why the wailing? With Wu Huan gone, you will be the new Supreme of the crow tribe!" Litian's words brooked no dissent.

"Yes!" The three-legged golden crow immediately responded respectfully.

Ignoring Wu Huan's death, Crown Prince Litian gazed at Phoenix Island. On the island, countless phoenixes spread their wings and soared, creating a holy and beautiful scene. With a wicked smile, Litian stepped forward.

At Mount Zhong, Wu Jiutian and Lu Guitian were undergoing their tribulations, which had lasted an entire day. Suddenly, the vast red clouds in the sky began to burn ominously.

A resounding phoenix cry echoed, penetrating all directions. On the ground, countless plants bizarrely began to grow rapidly at that moment. The phoenix cry seemed to infuse them with boundless vitality. The red clouds in the sky were set ablaze, turning the entire sky red.

The massive flames gradually formed the shape of a giant phoenix, resembling Wu Jiutian's true form. A purple character "Yao" constantly flashed atop the giant phoenix's head. Suddenly, the character shattered into pieces and dispersed like smoke.

Wu Jiutian had broken free from the control of the divine seal.

On Phoenix Island, after a day of reconnaissance, Crown Prince Litian narrowed his eyes and said, "Alright, let's begin!"

"Yes!" The peacock and the three-legged golden crow immediately nodded.

Suddenly, Litian's brow twitched.

"Master, what is it?" the three-legged golden crow asked in surprise.

"Wu Jiutian has ascended and broken through my divine seal!" Litian said coldly, squinting his eyes.

"Then we...?" the three-legged golden crow inquired, frowning.

"Continue!" Litian commanded.

"Yes!"

At Mount Zhong, Wu Jiutian let out a phoenix cry, breaking free from the seal and charging into another tribulation cloud.

"Ahhh!" Lu Guitian screamed in agony, suddenly falling from the sky. As he fell, endless thunder and fire followed, a terrifying river of lightning and flames rushing down, targeting only Lu Guitian.

Booming explosions resounded continuously as Lu Guitian, powerless to resist, was shattered into pieces by Wu Jiutian and the endless tribulation lightning and fire.

As Lu Guitian's broken sword fell to the ground with a resounding clang, his body shattered into pieces. Zhong Shan narrowed his eyes in disbelief. Had Lu Guitian truly been obliterated? Reduced to dust and ashes? He was the Emperor of the Tai Sui Heavenly Dynasty, and now he was dead?

Zhong Shan felt a sense of unreality, but the fact remained that Lu Guitian had indeed perished before his very eyes. He was gone.

A wave of sorrow washed over Zhong Shan's heart, but it was quickly overshadowed by a deeper sense of confusion. Burying his doubts within, Zhong Shan turned his gaze to Wu Jiutian, who had transformed back into her human form.

Wu Jiutian radiated a brilliant array of colors, her ethereal beauty so striking that it seemed as if a celestial maiden had descended to the mortal realm. She exuded an aura that made people hesitant to show any disrespect.

"Zhong Shan, I owe my thanks to you this time," Wu Jiutian said with a smile as she approached.

Seeing Wu Jiutian's smile, Zhong Shan's confusion only deepened. Wu Jiutian? Smiling? Now? Was she not saddened by Nie Fancheng's death? Was she smiling solely because of her own ascension?

"It was nothing," Zhong Shan replied calmly.

"Nothing, you say. Regardless, I've ascended. I'll be leaving this realm soon, and there are some things I need to explain to you," Wu Jiutian said after a moment's thought.

"Go ahead," Zhong Shan replied solemnly.

"This is something Nie Fancheng asked me to give you before he died. It concerns the matters you will face next. Consider it Nie Fancheng's way of repaying an old debt and resolving the karma between you two," Wu Jiutian said, handing over a scroll.

Zhong Shan took the scroll with a frown, not inspecting it immediately but storing it away. His confusion only grew. Nie Fancheng had asked Wu Jiutian to give this to him? What old debt? Was Nie Fancheng not dead? Wu Jiutian had only arrived after Nie Fancheng's self-destruction, so when did Nie Fancheng entrust this to her? Could it have been arranged beforehand?

"Is Nie Fancheng dead?" Zhong Shan asked.

Wu Jiutian's expression turned solemn as she took a deep breath and said, "Yes, he is dead."

Dead? Zhong Shan's confusion intensified. Did Nie Fancheng foresee his own death and make preparations in advance? But that did not make sense. Was Wu Jiutian lying? No, she did not seem to be lying. So what was the truth?

"This is the Phoenix Clan Order. With it, you can command all the phoenixes in the world. I am entrusting it to you now, hoping you remember your old promise," Wu Jiutian said seriously.

"Promise?" Zhong Shan immediately recalled his first visit to the Phoenix Clan, where he had learned that Wu Jiutian had saved Tian Ling'er. At that time, he had solemnly promised to ensure the prosperity of the Phoenix Clan. Wu Jiutian had been dismissive then, but now she brought it up again. With Zhong Shan's character, he would not go back on his word.

"I said it before, as long as I live, I will ensure the Phoenix Clan prospers. Rest assured," Zhong Shan said as he accepted the Phoenix Clan Order.

"Take good care of Zhu Que. She has over eight hundred years of lifespan remaining," Wu Jiutian said, looking at Zhong Shan.

"Of course," Zhong Shan nodded, though his confusion deepened. It felt as if there was a thin veil separating him from the truth. If he could just pierce through it, everything would become clear. But he could not.

"Nie Qingqing, you will come with me to the Great Thousand World," Wu Jiutian suddenly said, looking at Nie Qingqing.

"Huh?" Everyone was slightly taken aback.

"I promised Nie Fancheng I would take good care of you. Even if I leave this realm, I will take you with me," Wu Jiutian said.

"But... but I'm just a mortal!" Nie Qingqing shook her head in disbelief.

Nie Qingqing glanced at Zhong Shan, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

"The Great Thousand World has mortals as well, don't worry. I have a secret method to take you out," Wu Jiutian said firmly.

"But... but..." Nie Qingqing was visibly hesitant.

Suddenly, Nie Qingqing's expression changed dramatically. She looked at Wu Jiutian in astonishment.

Zhong Shan noticed the change in Nie Qingqing's expression and realized that Wu Jiutian had secretly communicated something to her. What could it have been to cause such a reaction?

"Yes, I will go with you," Nie Qingqing immediately nodded.

"Huh?" Zhong Shan looked at the two in surprise.

"Take care. We must go now," Wu Jiutian said, wasting no time.

Nie Qingqing looked at Zhong Shan with a tinge of reluctance, but she bit her lip and said, "We'll meet again in the Great Thousand World!"

"Take care," Zhong Shan nodded.

With a flicker, Wu Jiutian and Nie Qingqing disappeared before the three of them. Watching their departure, Zhong Shan felt increasingly unsettled. Everything seemed shrouded in mystery. Wasn't Nie Fancheng dead? Even Wu Jiutian had confirmed his death. So what was really going on?