After the introduction ended, Yuan spoke, "I know your ti is very precious, so I will get straight to the point."
“You've allied yourselves with the Celestial Emperor because he promised to help you improve your bloodline by three percent. However, the Celestial Emperor and I are... let's just say we're not very friendly with each other, and I want you to serve instead of the Celestial Emperor."
The phoenixes in the chamber stared at Yuan with wide eyes, as though unable to believe what they had just heard.
After a mont of silence, they burst out laughing.
“You want us to serve you instead of the Celestial Emperor?! Hahaha! That's the funniest joke I've heard all decade long!"
Once the laughter cald down a little, the leader of the Crimson Rebirth Phoenix spoke in an offended tone, "First of all, we don't “serve’ the Celestial Emperor. In fact, we don't serve anyone. We are working with him. That's completely different from serving him." The leader of the Imperial Vermilion Phoenix Clan then spoke, "I don't know how you managed to coax the Primordial Phoenix into becoming your servant, but it won't work on the rest of us. Regardless of your offer, we won't serve you."
“Why don't you hold onto that thought until after you hear my offer? I did ntion that I have an offer even better than the one the Celestial Emperor gave you, hence why so of you even bothered to show up here."
The room fell silent as the phoenixes began talking with each other through voice transmission.
Yuan couldn't care less about what they were talking about and patiently waited for them to be done.
Several minutes later, the leader of the Imperial Vermilion Phoenix Clan finally spoke. “Very well—we'll entertain you for now. Let's hear your offer."
Yuan's voice was steady and deliberate as he spoke loudly, "Not only will I raise your bloodline purity by more than three percent, but I will also grant the first three phoenix clans that agree to serve the chance to evolve their bloodline."
“What?! Evolve our bloodline?!" Several clan leaders shot to their feet in shock.
However, a few imdiately dismissed his claim, sneering with disdain and anger. "You expect Us to believe such nonsense? Is that the sa trick you used to deceive the Primordial Phoenix?"
“What good would co from deceiving the Ten Royal Phoenix Clans? I'm not that foolish," Yuan said with a shake of his head. "While I cannot promise success in evolving your bloodline, I can guarantee that I will raise its purity to its utmost potential. There are also other benefits for serving , but I will save those for later."
“Even if you are telling the truth, are you really expecting us to just take your word for it? Just like how we confird the Primordial Phoenix's bloodline, we'll need evidence for your claims.”
"Of course, I'l prove it."
Yuan scanned the room with a sharp gaze before stopping at a certain individual.
"Feng Haoyu, co over here."
"?" Feng Haoyu, who had shown up to the gathering with his mother and the Grand Elder, wore a dumbfounded look on his face after being called out.
Yuan silently nodded.
Feng Haoyu stood up and approached the center of the room.
Then, Yuan asked him, "Before we begin, I would like to apologize for fooling you while pretending to be a Primordial Phoenix. I also won't bla you if you no longer wish to serve ."
"That's..." Feng Haoyu began, but finding himself at a loss for words, he quickly closed his mouth.
"Regardless of your decision, I will permanently improve your bloodline as an apology." Yuan turned to look at the phoenix who tested Feng Yuxiang's bloodline and said, "You should test his bloodline before I begin so you can see the results."
The phoenix, who was from the Graceful Phoenix Clan, nodded and approached Feng Haoyu with the Celestial Phoenix Needle in hand to collect his blood.
A few monts after collecting Feng Haoyu's blood, the Celestial Phoenix Needle revealed his bloodline's purity.
"86.4 percent.”
“Not bad." Feng Lingyang, his mother, nodded with a satisfied expression on her face. Due to her weakened bloodline, Feng Haoyu's bloodline had also suffered, dropping from its original 87 percent.
"86.4 percent, correct? Keep that number in mind."
As Yuan spoke, he retrieved the Baneful Abyss and, before everyone's eyes, pricked the tip of his finger with it, drawing several drops of his blood. Though he still had so preprepared blood in his possession, he needed to show the phoenixes evidence that it belonged to him.
The instant Yuan's fresh blood touched the air, a unique aroma spread throughout the chamber. The mont the phoenixes sensed it, they began to salivate unconsciously. After collecting his own blood, Yuan held it before Feng Haoyu and commanded, "Drink it
"Excuse ?" Feng Haoyu's eyes widened at his command.
“If you want to improve your bloodline, drink it. If you don't want to, I'l give it to soone else," said Yuan.
Feng Haoyu fell into deep thought over Yuan's offer. For a divine beast, drinking the blood of a human was deed disgraceful—an act befitting only wild magical beasts who reveled in such savagery.
Yet, despite his distaste for the notion of drinking a human's blood, Feng Haoyu couldn't shake the feeling that refusing would lead to imnse regret, especially when he noticed Feng Yuxiang staring at the blood with a ravenous gleam in her eyes.
“Okay, I'll drink it."
With resolute determination, Feng Haoyu accepted the blood and downed it in a single quip.
“Delicious!” he exclaid involuntarily, the taste unlike anything he had ever known— refined and divine, as though crafted by the heavens themselves.
Then, a familiar sensation swept through his body, one strikingly similar to the feeling he had experienced when Yuan bestowed his blessing over a year ago.
Just to be safe, Yuan gave Feng Haoyu the Immortal Monarch's Blessing.
"Alright, you may test his bloodline again,” Yuan said as he turned to the phoenix holding the Celestial Phoenix Needle.
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