Refining the Dao into Godhood: A Tale of the Jie Sect
Chapter 167 - 164: Using Leverage to Pressure and Control the Phoenix Clan (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 167: Chapter 164: Using Leverage to Pressure and Control the Phoenix Clan (Please Subscribe)

"You..."

Ting Yao wanted to retort, but she didn’t know how to start because what Xuanqing said was true. Merely relying on a thread of marriage fate, wanting to become the Earth Emperor’s legitimate wife and share the luck of the Human Race, was undoubtedly a fool’s dream.

Moreover, the thread of marriage fate affected not only the Lie Shan clan but also herself. After marrying, she sometimes found herself involuntarily considering what’s best for the Lie Shan clan.

If she were to become the legitimate wife of the Lie Shan clan, would the Dragon Clan and the Witch Clan sever ties with the Human Race, thereby affecting the position of the Lie Shan clan within the Human Race?

Xuanqing, on the other hand, hadn’t thought that much and directly took out the statue of Nuwa to begin worshiping, saying, "Praise the great merciful and compassionate Holy Mother Wa Emperor, the great sage and virtuous Creation Venerable, disciple of Jie Sect Xuanqing, respectfully invites the Lady to reveal her divinity!"

"What is it?"

Accompanied by a dazzle of creation halo, a gentle voice sounded, and following it, a Dharma Body reflected by the statue of Nuwa Saint appeared.

Upon hearing this, Xuanqing immediately responded respectfully, "A scoundrel of the Phoenix Clan plots against our Human Race’s Earth Emperor. Disciple Xuanqing earnestly requests the Lady to bestow upon me several hundred threads of the marriage fate!"

As he spoke, he glanced over at Ting Yao, who was immediately kneeling and worshiping Nuwa Saint.

"It shall be!"

Lady Nuwa immediately agreed, then looked at Ting Yao, "However, the influx of the Phoenix Clan’s fortune into the Human Race is still somewhat beneficial to the overall luck of the Human Race! You need not be so opposed to it."

The dazzling divine light on the Red Embroidery Ball flashed and vanished. Led by the aura of mortal dust, it instantly evolved hundreds of threads of marriage fate capable of bewitching the mind of a Daluo Golden Immortal.

These "threads of marriage fate," like the "Enigma of the Heart" Xuanqing had once set up, share a marvelous similarity, both easily disrupting the Dao heart of Daluo.

Even more, their power is superior!

"Thank you, Lady!"

Seeing this, Xuanqing first bowed respectfully and then slowly spoke, "It’s not that your disciple wants to break up a loving couple, but the Phoenix Clan really lacks sincerity!"

"Lady, You are aware of what sacrifices the Dragon Clan made to connect with the fortune of the Human Race and that Lady Houtu from the Witch Clan had handed over the reins of the Human Dao to the Human Race. Yet the Phoenix Clan, with just a thread of marriage fate, wants to bind itself to the Earth Emperor and with the Dragon Clan and the Witch Clan’s fortune connected to the Human Race, isn’t that just a pipe dream?"

"If the Phoenix Clan truly wants a marriage alliance with the Human Race, they should show some sincerity, casually offering a few dozen Innate Spiritual Treasures, and I think no one would oppose such a matter!"

The Dragon Clan and Witch Clan both paid a certain price to connect their fortune with the Human Race. If the Phoenix Clan succeeded, it would be unfair to the Dragon and Witch clans.

Of course, Xuanqing knew that the Phoenix Clan’s fortune merging with the Human Race was more beneficial than detrimental... therefore, he did not oppose this matter.

But he requested the Phoenix Clan to provide a dowry, demonstrating value not lesser than that of the Dragon and Witch clans.

"Very well!"

Upon hearing this, Nuwa nodded immediately and then addressed Ting Yao, "You have heard Xuanqing’s words! If the Phoenix Clan truly wishes for a marriage alliance with the Human Race, then show enough sincerity to leave the Dragon and Witch clans without objections!"

"Yes!"

Ting Yao immediately lowered her head.

But she was only a collateral member of the Phoenix Clan, with little influence, unable to make that decision, and could only convey Xuanqing and the Human Race’s demands to Mysterious Bird and Phoenix Sovereigns.

The figure of Nuwa slowly disappeared. If it had not been for the Phoenix Clan’s many Innate Spiritual Treasures she received in the past, she truly did not want to meddle with the matters between the Human Race and the Phoenix Clan.

Now, she had provided the Phoenix Clan with "threads of marriage fate," settling past karma, and with Xuanqing stirring up the Phoenix Clan’s plot against the Earth Emperor, it was as if she had done nothing and turned the matter back over to the Human Race and Phoenix Clan to negotiate and handle...

What could be more appropriate than that!

Helping both sides meant favoring neither – she could still maintain her impartiality!

This was why when Xuanqing asked her for the "threads of marriage fate," she provided them so readily, even condensing hundreds in one go.

Seeing Nuwa’s incarnation disappear, Xuanqing immediately approached Lie Shan and patted him on the shoulder, "Rest assured, old ancestor won’t play the role of breaking up a loving couple. If you truly like that phoenix, just marry her!"

"However, the position of the legitimate wife, the old ancestor will find a more suitable candidate for you."

"Do you favor the Dragon Clan more, or the Witch Clan? Both are connected to the fortune of the Human Race, so it’d be more suitable to choose the legitimate wife from among these two clans!"

He said this right in front of Ting Yao, showing no intention of avoidance. He wanted to tell the Phoenix Clan that with their insignificant tricks, they simply couldn’t scheme against the Human Race.

A "thread of marriage fate" wanting to connect to the fortune of the Human Race is simply delusional... Offering fifty Innate Spiritual Treasures as a dowry would be more reasonable!

"Old ancestor, this..."

Lie Shan hesitated, knowing that what Xuanqing did was for his own good. Since Xuanqing would not separate him from Ting Yao, he had no reason to object!

In this era, although Fu Xi had established the marriage system, there was no rule for monogamy. If one wished, marrying a hundred would go unquestioned.

But for Ting Yao, it was rather difficult. The phoenix lineage upheld a principle of sincere dedication to one’s partner, never seeking another even if the partner perished.

After pondering for a moment, she transformed into a rainbow light and vanished from everyone’s sight, intending to return to the Undying Volcano to relay the current events to the Mysterious Bird and Phoenix Sovereigns.

Seeing that Ting Yao had disappeared, Xuanqing promptly addressed Lie Shan about the matter at hand, "Regarding the transformation of Acquired Spirit Roots into Innate Spirit Roots, I already have an idea, but it requires you to verify it!"

Then he shared the thoughts of binding one’s "Lifebound Spiritual Root," creating an "Original Space," allowing the "Lifebound Spiritual Root" to grow and evolve with one’s own cultivation level, with Lie Shan and Chi Jingzi.

Upon hearing this, Chi Jingzi’s eyes lit up, "This method might actually work. Didn’t that Saint from the Western Sect forge his own body into a treasure of enlightenment, constantly nourished day and night by the essence of his saintly path?"

Naturally, he was talking about Zhunti Daoist, whose original body is one of the ten top-grade Innate Spirit Roots, "Geng Metal Bodhi." After transformation, he directly refined his own body into the "Seven Treasures Marvel Tree" that could cleanse everything!

When Xuanqing mentioned that the "Lifebound Spiritual Root" could be used to Slash Three Corpses, Chi Jingzi became even more excited, "This is undoubtedly a reform to the current cultivation system!"

If Xuanqing’s conception proves successful, the three of them will become the founders of a new path of cultivation.

Regardless of how the cultivation system changes in the future, as long as the Immortal Dao remains the mainstream in the Primordial World, these three individuals are an indispensable presence to all cultivators.

In the end, Lie Shan chose a "Sun Divine Tree" as his Lifebound Spiritual Root and, with the help of Xuanqing and Chi Jingzi, he opened up an "Original Space."

He requested Xuanqing to strike down his cultivation, ready to verify this path anew.

As for Chi Jingzi, he also began his attempt; his true form is the "Innate Red Pine." If this method succeeds, he might be able to directly Slash his True Self Corpse!

The method of Slashing Three Corpses involves cutting away the good thoughts, evil thoughts, and obsessions of Daluo Golden Immortals, and the three corpses that are severed are correspondingly known as the Good Corpse, Evil Corpse, and True Self Corpse.

Good and evil are easy to sever, but obsessions are hard to cut through.

Thus, most cultivators start by severing either the Good Corpse or the Evil Corpse.

At least, Chi Jingzi has not heard of any Quasi-Saint powerhouse who first severed their Self Corpse...

However, if the Path of True Self could be cultivated to the peak of Daluo Golden Immortality, then with the help of their Lifebound Object, what’s likely to be severed is the cultivator’s True Self Corpse!

And Xuanqing is closely scrutinizing Chi Jingzi’s body: "Daoist Chi Jingzi, you wouldn’t also try to emulate that Saint from the Western Sect and refine your Innate Red Pine true form into a treasure for certifying the Dao, would you?"

"No way!"

Chi Jingzi said with a slight smile, then shook his head: "That is not my Dao! I plan to combine the origin power of the Five-needle Pine to first manifest an external incarnation!"

He had let Xuanqing and Lie Shan study him, and it was not in vain, as Xuanqing gifted him with some of the Origin Power of a top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, the "Five-needle Pine," enough for him to manifest a Lifebound Spiritual Root.

At the same time, Ting Yao also returned to the Undying Volcano and reported Xuanqing’s plans and Lady Nuwa’s emergence to Mysterious Bird and Li Huang.

Upon hearing this, Li Huang was infuriated: "Dozens of Innate Spiritual Treasures, why doesn’t he just rob them?"

Mysterious Bird, however, was much calmer and didn’t get angry, only sighed lightly: "One step slow, every step slow! If we want to get a share from the hands of the Dragon Clan and the Witch Clan and link our fate to the Human Race, naturally we have to pay a bigger price!"

"Let’s go!"

"Let’s meet with Lie Shan, as well as Xuanqing and Chi Jingzi, these two disciples of the Saint!"

For the Phoenix Clan, dozens of Innate Spiritual Treasures could be said to be half of their foundation; naturally, she could not readily agree and must negotiate a price with Xuanqing.

Li Huang was quite disgruntled but resigned herself to nod her head upon hearing Mysterious Bird’s words.

Before long, two mighty beings of the Phoenix Clan, along with Ting Yao, arrived at the Jiang Water Tribe and met Xuanqing and Chi Jingzi, who were deriving the Method of Self.

Mysterious Bird spoke first: "Daoist fellows, Mysterious Bird pays her respects! The matter of Ting Yao was actually my planning. However, I wonder, what would it take for you two Daoist fellows to agree and allow Ting Yao to become the rightful wife of the Earth Emperor?"

She did not mention Kong Xuan or Roc, obviously suppressing the cause and effect between the Phoenix Clan and Xuanqing for the future of her clan.

Xuanqing laughed, his attitude unabashedly dominant: "Didn’t I say? Offer a few dozen Innate Spiritual Treasures as a dowry, and then we would no longer object, right?"

Chi Jingzi was silent, leaving the negotiation to Xuanqing, who seemed better suited to such matters.

"You jest, Daoist friend!"

Mysterious Bird’s expression was unreadable: "You open your mouth and demand nearly half the Phoenix Clan’s foundation; isn’t that a bit too greedy?"

"Too greedy?"

Xuanqing laughed in response: "These treasures are not for me! They are for Lie Shan, as well as for the two Daoists from the Dragon Clan and Witch Clan!"

"Wouldn’t you say?"

"Candle Dragon Daoist, and Xuanming Daoist!"

Before his voice faded, two powerful presences emerged behind Mysterious Bird and her party, belonging to Candle Dragon of the Dragon Clan and Xuanming of the Twelve Ancestor Witches.

After the great battle between Witches and Demons, Xuanming was one of the few survivors, albeit severely wounded in his Dao by the conflict. For many years, he has been recuperating in the Netherworld Underworld.

After Xuanqing sent a message to Lady Houtu, she dispatched Xuanming.

And Candle Dragon even revealed a hint of malicious glee: "Daoist Mysterious Bird and Daoist Li Huang, you two did not hold back against our Dragon Clan back then!"

The grudge between the Dragon and Phoenix clans goes way back, which is why the Phoenix Clan would activate their protective formation whenever the Dragon Clan made a move.

Mysterious Bird’s expression was extremely ugly. She had calculated every possibility but never expected Xuanming, the Ancestor Witch, and Candle Dragon, a powerhouse of the Dragon Clan, to appear here.

She glared fiercely at Xuanqing: "You have no sincerity in negotiating with the Phoenix Clan!"

"Who said that!"

Xuanqing smiled lightly: "Didn’t I say to Daoist Ting Yao before that I was looking for a worthy match for Lie Shan’s rightful wife? As the relationship between the Dragon Clan and Witch Clan with the Human Race is good, of course, they are also potential candidates."

"Both Daoist Xuanming and Daoist Candle Dragon are esteemed guests I invited here to discuss the matter of the rightful wife for the Earth Emperor with all of us!"

"Rest assured!"

"As long as Daoist Mysterious Bird agrees to the conditions of the Human Race and satisfies Daoist Xuanming and Daoist Candle Dragon, they will not act against you Daoists."

"However, if you Daoist friends are unwilling to agree, I will not waste my time persuading Daoist Candle Dragon to put aside the million-year-old grievances between our Dragon and Phoenix clans!"

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