"Haha, could it be that my years of planning are about to be ruined by you? No, I will never allow it." The red-robed man grew even more unhinged, as if he had completely lost his mind.
Ye Lanshan exchanged a glance with Ye Yutian, intending to end his life immediately, but in an instant, the red-robed man vanished, replaced by a woman in a black robe. She gently caressed the spot where he had disappeared, a hint of affection in her touch. "After all these years, you're still as mad as ever."
"Are you here to snatch the Phoenix Egg too?" The black-robed woman turned around, her gaze unexpectedly clear, utterly unlike the red-robed man's frenzy.
Her skin was exceptionally pale, and her features were strikingly bright and delicate. Paired with the oppressive black robe, it was a study in extremes.
In the cave, eerily quiet yet punctuated by the rhythmic drip of water, Ye Lanshan finally spoke: "That's right, we do need the Phoenix Egg."
"Then come and take it with your own skills." The black-robed woman's eyes seemed clear, but her actions were even more reckless than the red-robed man's.
"Ten Thousand Miles of Ice." She gathered mystic power in her hand and unleashed a technique, freezing all the lingering flames in the cave. Most notably, she even encased the Phoenix Egg in ice.
"You handle her; I'll melt the ice." Ye Lanshan fixed her gaze on the frozen Phoenix Egg.
"Alright, but be careful." Ye Yutian shot her a worried glance before turning to face the black-robed woman.
"Fireball Technique." A ball of fire appeared in Ye Lanshan's hand. She approached the Phoenix Egg slowly, using the Red Lotus Flame to melt the ice bit by bit.
The black-robed woman glanced over and snorted coldly, flicking her hand to send several ice darts flying.
Ye Lanshan's eyes flared with Red Lotus Flame, melting the ice darts into nothing.
"Heh heh, do you think if I kill you now, he'll still have time to save you?" Just as Ye Lanshan was about to help Ye Yutian, a deranged voice sounded behind her.
"So you're not dead yet?" Ye Lanshan's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible to the red-robed man.
"Hand over the strange fire obediently." His face twisted with madness, his nails digging deep into Ye Lanshan's flesh, greedily absorbing the Red Lotus Flame.
Yet Ye Lanshan didn't struggle at all. She let the red-robed man absorb her flame, her expression calm, betraying no panic.
"How is it? Happy to have absorbed my fire?" As the red-robed man reveled in greed, a dagger quietly appeared in Ye Lanshan's hand.
"Mmm, of course I'm satisfied." The red-robed man continued absorbing the flame, seemingly oblivious to her oddity.
"Then how about this? Still satisfied?" Ye Lanshan raised her arm and plunged the dagger deep into the red-robed man's body, but he seemed numb to the pain, still frantically draining the Red Lotus Flame from her.
At that moment, a flicker of panic finally crossed Ye Lanshan's face. She raised her arm to stab him again, but his other hand caught her wrist.
"Ice Spirit Transformation." Feeling the Red Lotus Flame within her weaken, her eyes turned icy cold.
"Holy Light Bird."
"Cough, cough—are you from the Holy Land?" The red-robed man dodged quickly, curling up in a corner, fear in his eyes.
"I'm not from the Holy Land. I'm the one who takes your life." Ye Lanshan's voice was frigid. The dagger shot out with a cold gleam, embedding itself in the red-robed man's heart. This time, he could no longer struggle to rise.
Meanwhile, the black-robed woman had been beaten to a bloody pulp, barely clinging to life. But suddenly, she burst into wild laughter: "Hahaha, do you think defeating us means you'll get the Phoenix? How naive. The Phoenix will awaken soon. When she sees her most loyal servants tortured like this, she'll kill you to avenge us."
With those words, the black-robed woman breathed her last.
Ye Yutian snorted coldly and immediately came to Ye Lanshan's side. Just as he was about to speak, she cut him off: "Stop. Don't say anything yet. I need you to guard me. Will you?"
Ye Lanshan's voice was so weak it seemed she might expire at any moment. How could Ye Yutian refuse? He nodded hastily, pulling out various healing pills as if they cost nothing.
"No need, I have my own." Ye Lanshan grasped his hand, stopping him from taking out more pills.
Ye Yutian's ears reddened subtly. He didn't resist, hoping she would hold his hand forever.
But Ye Lanshan eventually withdrew her hand and placed it on the red-robed man's wound.
A searing pain instantly engulfed her body, clouding her consciousness. Yet she persisted, merging the strange fire within the man into her Red Lotus Flame.
After an unknown time, the burning pain gradually subsided. In a daze, she seemed to hear phoenix cries.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and realized she hadn't been hallucinating. The Phoenix had awakened and was locked in battle with Ye Yutian.
"Wings of Carnage." This time, Ye Lanshan seemed stronger after awakening. A single move forced the divine beast Phoenix to retreat slightly.
"Red Lotus Flame?" A sweet voice came from the Phoenix.
"So you know the Red Lotus Flame too?" Ye Lanshan hovered in midair, her expression indifferent, showing none of the fear or greed others displayed when seeing the Phoenix.
"Who would have thought such noble blood would appear on a low-level continent." The Phoenix transformed into a human amid flames—a sweet-looking girl.
"If you can appear on this continent, why can't the Red Lotus Flame?" Wu Jiao, still in his python form, appeared beside Ye Lanshan.
"The Wu Jiao clan—so you've fled to this continent too?" A trace of weariness, beyond her years, flickered across the Phoenix's youthful face.
"Fled? I merely came down to find someone who can save our race." Wu Jiao's tone was light, but sorrow lurked in his eyes.
"Do you want me to submit too?" The Phoenix turned to stare directly at Ye Lanshan.
"No, I just need a bit of your blood." Ye Lanshan indicated she had no intention of forcing submission.
But the Phoenix, hearing she didn't want to subdue her, grew intrigued. "I want to see what kind of person can save the Wu Jiao, and what you need my blood for. Let's go."
Ye Lanshan stared in astonishment at the Phoenix grabbing her arm, momentarily stunned.
"Wait, why are you willing to give me your blood?" Ye Lanshan finally snapped back to reality.
A flicker of impatience crossed the Phoenix's face. She was about to speak, but the pressure emanating from Ye Yutian's direction swallowed her words.