Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Qing Luan Entrusts Her Orphan

In the end, Lin Zhao went—wearing the Spirit Evading Cloak, braced like she was walking to her own grave.

She crawled at a turtle’s pace to the place Granny indicated.

This was the territory of the Crimson Spirit Ape.

It had guarded the Crimson Spirit Tree for years, waiting for the Crimson Spirit Fruit that ripened only once every 100 years.

Lin Zhao didn’t fear it only because it was fifth rank. Crimson Spirit Apes were humanoid Spirit Beasts with terrifying intelligence.

Ordinary fifth-rank Spirit Beasts had only rudimentary human wisdom.

But a fifth-rank Crimson Spirit Ape—aside from speaking—was no different from a human.

Lin Zhao felt a headache just looking at the sleeping giant.

Could she really survive under this fiend’s hands and still master Heavenly Phoenix Step?

“If I die, I die,” she muttered. “The bold die full, the timid die hungry.”

She eased closer.

The instant her fingers touched the ripe Crimson Spirit Fruit, killing intent slammed down like a mountain.

“Little thief!” a furious voice roared. “You dare steal right under your lord’s nose?!”

Lin Zhao’s blood went cold.

This ape could speak?

She snatched the fruit and bolted without looking back.

The Crimson Spirit Ape’s roar shook the forest. It beat its chest and stomped, earth cracking. “When I catch you, I’ll make sure you never leave alive!”

Its pressure closed in within breaths.

Lin Zhao spread her Heavenly Phoenix wings wider, drew the Bone Sword, and flung out a Thousand Spirit Slash.

The sword energies struck the ape and dispersed like sparks on stone.

To a Fusion-level Spirit Beast, an Enlightenment-level technique was less than an ant bite.

The ape’s fury doubled. “Human! When I catch you, I’ll peel your skin! Stop!”

Pushed to the limit and sick of hearing the same threat, Lin Zhao couldn’t help snapping back, “You’re going to peel my skin and you think I’m going to stop? Do I look stupid?”

The Crimson Spirit Ape howled and hurled a fist of red light.

Heat rolled over Lin Zhao’s back. For the first time in her life, she felt truly close to being roasted alive.

“Use Heavenly Phoenix Step!” Granny urged. “Now!”

Lin Zhao shut her eyes.

Like a dead horse treated as living, she drew on days of panic, bruises, and understanding. Spiritual energy surged into her feet. Seals formed in her hands.

The Crimson Spirit Ape saw the little thief glide aside like a startled swan, barely avoiding the strike.

The first success unlocked the rest.

Once was possible.

Twice was natural.

Soon, every time the ape was about to catch her, Lin Zhao slipped away by a hair—her movements growing more graceful, more unrestrained, until it no longer looked like fleeing. It looked like dancing on the knife-edge between life and death.

The Crimson Spirit Ape was not a speed-type beast. If it were, it wouldn’t be tied down by an Enlightenment cultivator’s footwork.

It was furious.

And baffled.

Had it been away from the world too long? Since when were Enlightenment cultivators this monstrous?

“You forced me!” it roared, slamming both fists into the ground—

And felt something drop into its palm.

It caught it reflexively.

The Crimson Spirit Fruit.

Along with five fourth-grade Qi Restoring Pills—each one Perfect Grade.

At the same time, the little thief’s voice changed. It turned hoarse, old.

“It was our fault to disturb your excellency’s cultivation,” the voice said, releasing pressure that made the ape’s bloodline tremble. “We return what was taken. These small gifts are a token of respect.”

The Crimson Spirit Ape stared at the fruit and pills, then twisted its ugly face as if trying to force it into something friendly.

“You can refine Perfect Grade pills,” it said slowly. “You’re a pill refiner? Then… can you deliver a baby?”

…

A quarter of an hour later, Lin Zhao stood staring at a giant green bird and felt her mind go blank.

The Crimson Spirit Ape looked at the massive creature with grief in its eyes.

“Senior Qing Luan is the king of this forest,” it said, voice heavy. “She protected us for years. But a few years ago, she fought a Spirit Transformation demonic fiend and was tainted by demonic energy.”

“Normally that wouldn’t matter,” it continued, “but she’s about to lay an egg. That demonic energy has been stirring—trying to make her die with her child.”

Other overlords gathered around Qing Luan. They looked displeased that the Crimson Spirit Ape had brought a human into the core, but none of them drove Lin Zhao away. They feared Granny’s Nascent Soul pressure—and the ape insisted Lin Zhao could deliver babies.

Qing Luan opened her eyes weakly.

When her gaze met Lin Zhao’s, something flickered—recognition, sorrow, relief.

“A girl bearing Phoenix Fortune…” Qing Luan’s voice was thin. “And this is… Senior. So it’s you.”

Granny Hong Hu sighed softly. “I never thought I’d meet a friend’s descendant again. But your lifespan is at its end.”

A tier-six Spirit Beast—a massive Spirit Hawk—finally snapped, unable to hold back. “What nonsense are you saying?! Senior Qing Luan hasn’t reached her end!”

Qing Luan exhaled. “Enough. Big Eagle, call her Ancestor Grandmother.”

The Spirit Hawk jerked, pointing a claw at itself, then at Lin Zhao. “Me? Call this little girl ‘Ancestor Grandmother’?”

Lin Zhao had already removed the Spirit Evading Cloak. She looked no older than seventeen or eighteen. The Spirit Hawk was a proud beast—how could it call her Ancestor Grandmother?

Granny sighed and left Lin Zhao’s body, appearing in human form.

Then she shifted.

A snow-white Hong Hu rose into the air.

“Hong Hu…” The Spirit Hawk shuddered.

Granny returned to human form, gaze sharp. “Why did you end up here?”

Qing Luan closed her eyes, pain threading through her expression. “It’s a long story. Senior, after your generation, Spirit Beasts with Phoenix Clan bloodlines were constantly suppressed. Aside from the direct line of Heavenly Phoenix, which still had some foundation, sub-Phoenix kinds like us were driven into the Five Phoenix Throne Planes.”

“For our Qing Luan clan,” she whispered, “only I was left. If you hadn’t come, the orthodox Qing Luan line might have gone extinct.”

Granny’s gaze softened. “You’ve already made up your mind.”

Qing Luan nodded faintly. “Yes. But I must trouble this young lady to care for my child.”

She looked at Lin Zhao, and something in her eyes steadied. “I don’t fear death. I only can’t rest easy about the child about to be born, and the Spirit Beasts here. But seeing you… my worries ease.”

“And I won’t make you work for nothing,” Qing Luan added. “After I die, Big Eagle will take you to Spirit Sparrow Pond. It can help you sort and purify the mottled Phoenix Fortune you carry. It may help you even more.”

Light spilled from Qing Luan’s body. It poured into the Spirit Hawk like molten gold.

The Spirit Hawk cried out, aura surging. Gray-brown wings began to show a trace of gold. The power climbed in waves—until the hawk howled and transformed into human form.

Spirit Transformation.

At the same time, heaven and earth trembled.

Rosy clouds gathered at the horizon. The sun and moon dipped, as if bowing.

When a Spirit Transformation falls, heaven and earth mourn.

When a Spirit Transformation rises, heaven and earth celebrates.

Qing Luan passed her entire cultivation and Phoenix Clan bloodline to the Spirit Hawk. Not only did he break through—his bloodline evolved.

Now, perhaps, he should be called the Golden Spirit Hawk.

That trace of gold was the sign of returning to the ancestors. Given great fortune again, he might truly become a Primogenitor Imperial Eagle—a sub-Phoenix kind able to rival Qing Luan and Hong Hu.

Qing Luan’s form faded.

In her place remained a single green egg.

The Spirit Beasts fell silent. Then they bowed in the most sacred rite of their clans toward where she disappeared.

Across the forest, as if sensing it, Spirit Beasts turned in one direction and bowed in grief.

The South Sea Academy.

Inside the Academy, sensing the heavenly phenomenon, the higher-ups reacted in different ways.

The white-browed elder sighed. “Qing Luan is gone.”

Mo Ya, the vice dean, lowered her eyes. “Yes. The one who inherited her legacy should be that Spirit Hawk. What a pity. The last orthodox Qing Luan in this world is gone.”

Their attention drifted from the tournament screens.

They failed to notice that since Lin Zhao entered the core area, she had rarely appeared.

And now, they had completely lost her trail.