Immortal of the Ages
Chapter 266: Azure Phoenix Demon Empress

"Azure Phoenix?" Yun Xiao, soaring above the snowy sea of clouds, could barely make out a towering azure spire in the distance. Unsurprisingly, this had to be the Azure Phoenix Tower—a place where disciples of the Sword Ruins honed their skills by absorbing demon bones to enhance their Sword Aura.

The word Azure Phoenix sparked Yun Xiao's curiosity, reminding him of the Azure Kites in the Sea of Swords. "Are they not one and the same?" he wondered aloud.

"Excuse me, Sword Warden, what exactly is an Azure Phoenix?" Yun Xiao asked.

After showing such a lack of knowledge, anyone else might doubt Yun Xiao's reincarnation as a true Immortal. But the Sword Warden, aware of his performance in the Sword Puppet Forest, didn't fuss over it. After all, whether he was a true Immortal or not, that wasn't what mattered. It was his heaven-defying talent that counted.

"An Azure Phoenix is a type of artificial lifeform." the Sword Warden began, "It's a blend of demon marrow, demon souls, spiritual plants, and magic seals. Compared to directly absorbing demon bones, it's more effective and has a longer shelf life."

In layman's terms, it was a refined product from demon bones. After all, demon bones were parts of corpses. Their potency would wane over time despite being laden with demonic power. That was why places like the Three Great Sword Tombs and Sword Ruins opted to transform them into Azure Kites or Azure Phoenixes, maximizing their potential.

The name might have changed, but the concept remained the same. An Azure Phoenix fundamentally wasn't any different from an Azure Kite.

"Whether it's demon bones or an Azure Phoenix, if your Sword Soul isn't formidable enough, it'll be a tough task to forcibly absorb higher ranks of Azure Phoenixes, especially for someone at the Saint Realm like you," the Sword Warden explained.

This was what the Sword Warden meant earlier. Whether Yun Xiao could forge a 10,000 layer Sword Aura depended entirely on his own capability. Normally, a Sword Soul at the Saint Realm, struggling to subdue the powerful demonic essence in the bones, would do well to maintain even 1,000 layers.

Typically, Sword Judges and those at the Dao Heart Realm, like Gu Baiyi, would have about a 1,000 layer Sword Soul. The True Disciples and elites at the Awakened Emperor Realm might reach this level too.

"How many ranks of Azure Phoenixes are there?" Yun Xiao asked, gazing towards the azure tower in the clouds.

"There are four levels in the Azure Phoenix Tower," the Sword Warden replied succinctly. "From bottom to top, they hold Rank 1, 3, 6, and 10 Azure Phoenixes respectively."

"Oh?" Yun Xiao mused.

From this way of categorization, it seemed clear that the Sword Cultivators of the Sword Ruins and the Divine Continent shared a lineage. It hinted that the inhabitants of the Divine Continent shared origins with the Nine Hells, or perhaps even splintered from it.

"Sword Warden, then may I head straight to the fourth level?" Yun Xiao asked directly.

"The fourth level?" The Sword Warden was taken aback. Even he had to regard Yun Xiao with awe, his heart unable to settle for a long while. With a hint of jest, he said, "Ah, the luxury of being an Exiled Sword Immortal. Ordinary disciples of the Sword Ruins serve the sect, earning Sword Merits through missions and rewards, which they exchange for a chance to absorb an Azure Phoenix in the tower. Most never even dream of reaching the second level in their lifetime."

"Everyone has their own path. Why wouldn't I soar straight to the top? Taking it step by step would only slow down the pace!" Yun Xiao laughed, adding with a twinkle in his eye. "Sword Warden, hit me with the strongest you've got. I can handle it."

The Sword Warden smiled, then responded, "Very well, let's see what you've got."

Their conversation ended there. At their level, they could already hear the bustling crowds at the Azure Phoenix Tower.

Gazing at the towering phoenix-shaped spire, the Sword Warden mused, "Do you know why it's called an Azure Phoenix and shaped like a phoenix?"

"I'm all ears," said Yun Xiao.

"We've been at odds with demons, especially the ancient Primeval Demon Hell. The strongest of them has always been the Azure Phoenix lineage. These Azure Phoenixes have caused endless suffering to us Sword Cultivators, including the current Phoenix Empress, a heaven defying demon. We despise them so much that we made specimens out of their kind, repeatedly stabbing them!" The Sword Warden chuckled.

"A bit childish, isn't it?" Yun Xiao couldn't help but smile wryly. He never imagined that the Azure Kite Sea might have something to do with this Azure Phoenix Demon Empress.

"Childish, maybe, but oh so satisfying," The Sword Warden laughed heartily. Indeed, the collective will of Sword Cultivators was simple, direct, rough, and unbound.

"Phoenix Empress?" Yun Xiao mused to himself. After seizing the Demon Continent, he was already planning to take Moon Fairy to the Primeval Demon Hell to grow stronger. Staying as the top Demon Emperor in the Demon Continent would only limit his potential.

"If I may ask, do the Sword Ruins have Desolate Essence?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Of course, we need it for creating formations and Sword Puppets..." The Sword Warden stopped mid-sentence, realizing something. He turned to Yun Xiao in shock, "Hold on, you're not planning on taking the Desolate Essence too, are you?"

The Sword Warden was visibly shaken by the enormity of Yun Xiao's appetite.

"Let's take it one step at a time. I'll focus on what's in front of me," Yun Xiao said, leaving the Sword Warden feeling a mix of heartache and dread.

With the emergence of two Exiled Sword Immortals, the Eternal Sword Prison was abuzz, overshadowing the other eight hells. The entire Nine Hells were in turmoil, with undercurrents shifting the landscape.

The Sword Ruins had been thrust into the limelight!

"To withstand such a tempest, the only way to keep a miraculous talent like an Exiled Sword Immortal alive without crippling our own strength is to quickly convert his talent into combat power. That's the key!"

The Sword Warden felt a connection with Yun Xiao, which was why he was currently doing his best to cooperate with him.

"However, having one Exiled Sword Immortal is manageable for the Sword Ruins, but two, especially with a competitive relationship, complicates things..."

The benefits of two Exiled Sword Immortals was unexpectedly less than one—a development the Sword Warden hadn't anticipated.

When Ling Chen emerged, the Sword Warden was initially overjoyed, but his joy turned to deep concern when the Withered Bone Keeper offered Ling Chen the Sword Relic. It was this turn of events that left the Warden with no choice but to place his bets on Yun Xiao.

Suddenly, two radiant swords descended from the sky, landing in front of Azure Phoenix Tower. The Sword Warden's Sword Soul was something extraordinary, so much so that Yun Xiao couldn't even see it. It was like the Sword Warden was treading on air. Yet, he could sense the presence of the Sword Soul. The difference between the truly strong and the talented was evident here...

"Sword Warden, Exile Yun!" Their arrival instantly caused an even bigger stir at the already noisy Azure Phoenix Tower. It had been at least twenty years since the Sword Warden last appeared here.

"Is the Sword Warden personally escorting Exile Yun to absorb Azure Phoenixes?"

Around the Azure Phoenix Tower, thousands of disciples gathered, exchanging glances and stirring with speculation. The story of Yun Xiao's outburst in the Sword Puppet Forest and his subsequent ruthless killing of the renowned beauty Feng Ruolin had just begun to spread. Fueled by those with ulterior motives, it sparked condemnation among the fervent disciples.

Yun Xiao's reputation in the Sword Ruins was already in tatters, overshadowed by that of Ling Chen. Despite the Sword Warden's personal escort, the glances from the disciples were cold and distant, tinged with disgust and fear. Disgust for his brutality. Fear of his supreme status.

"We're looking at him like this, but what if he decides to kill us all on a whim?"

"I heard Feng Ruolin was beheaded just for not smiling at him."

Such a tyrant, blessed with talent, was someone everyone instinctively bowed their heads to in fear.

Yun Xiao understood that the Sword Warden's decision to withhold the details of the Sword Puppet Forest incident would lead to this outcome.

"In this world, power dictates perception. If you're strong, people praise your decisiveness; if you're weak, they condemn you as brutal and merciless." Yun Xiao had seen through this long ago. He no longer cared for the judgmental gazes of the world. His focus was solely on his sword, the Azure Phoenix Tower before him, and the path to the heavens it represented.

Regardless, the arrival of both the Sword Warden and Yun Xiao compelled nearly all Sword Cultivators to bow in greeting. However, there was one exception.

Sitting in front of the Azure Phoenix Tower was a gaunt, bald, black-robed elder, resembling the Withered Bone Keeper in demeanor, yet slightly younger. As the Sword Warden approached, the elder, named Ku Xuan, remained seated, eyes closed, immovable like a statue.

"Junior Brother Xuan, it must be tough guarding the Azure Phoenix Tower," the Sword Warden said casually upon approaching.

"It's the Sword Warden who truly bears the burden, managing the Eternal Sword Prison and all its affairs. My role here is just a leisurely one, merely a retirement," Ku Xuan replied in a deep voice.

The Warden smiled briefly, choosing not to engage.

Yun Xiao could guess this man's identity. Likely the son of the Withered Bone Keeper and a failed contender for the Sword Warden's position, possibly even the father of Qingzan. Contrasting with Ku Xuan's gaunt, somber appearance, the Sword Warden's robust and imposing presence indeed seemed more fitting for the ruler of the Eternal Sword Prison.

"Sword Warden, Exile Yun…" Just past Ku Xuan and stepping into the Azure Phoenix Tower, Yun Xiao spotted two familiar figures: Bai Wuque and his mother, Bai Qingxue.

"Yun Xiao, you've saved a monster!" Bai Wuque, looking pale and distraught, clearly had endured great trauma. The large sword casket on his back, signifying his status as a sword slave, spoke volumes. Only an Exiled Sword Immortal could have the power to make a Supreme Disciple his slave.

"Silence! How dare you address Exile Yun by name!" A few elders, loyal to the Sword Warden, glared at Bai Wuque.

"Wuque…" Bai Qingxue, terrified, quickly covered her son's mouth.

But Bai Wuque was already broken, pointing at Yun Xiao and crying out in despair, "It's all your fault! Do you realize now how terrifying he is? What's the point of your little outburst in the Sword Puppet Forest…?"

As he finished speaking, Bai Wuque collapsed to the ground, weeping. The surrounding crowd looked on with indifferent eyes. To them, Bai Wuque was nothing more than a pitiful backdrop to the soaring Ling Chen, a mere small-time villain.

The reason for Bai Wuque's breakdown was rumored to involve his mother, Bai Qingxue. But these whispers only seemed to add to Ling Chen's reputation as a man who relished revenge.

Suddenly, under the icy stares of the onlookers, Bai Qingxue, trembling and tearful, fell to her knees. "Sword Warden, Exile Ling has been tormenting my son and me, using the Bai Family as leverage. Can you please help us..." she begged, her head hitting the ground as she kowtowed. Her boldness in voicing this plea indicated her desperation and decision to risk everything.

The Azure Phoenix Tower fell into a stunned silence.

The Sword Warden gave Bai Qingxue a calm glance, then turned to Yun Xiao. "Exile Yun, please proceed upstairs."

The two of them headed directly to the fourth level.

Bai Qingxue also collapsed, despairing.

"What a foolish dream. Offending Exile Ling means no one in this world can save you now!"

"Bai Wuque, being Exile Ling's stepson is an honor for you!"

Rumors had spread that Ling Chen was not discreet about his preferences in public, even starting to select concubines in the Sword Ruins.

"Exile Ling has a fascinating temperament. Offend him, and he'll have a go at your mom—both figuratively and literally!"

"That's called being true to oneself!"

"Bai Qingxue, do you know how many young women in the Eternal Sword Prison envy you? They're green with jealousy!"

The crowd laughed.

"Exile Ling has just ascended to the fourth level, and Exile Yun followed. Let's go see what happens next."

"Some people really have thick skins. After being humiliated once, they come back for more. I wonder who he'll kill on the spot this time in a fit of rage?"

JustLivingJL's Thoughts

"Exile Ling has a fascinating temperament. Offend him, and he'll have a go at your mom—both figuratively and literally!"