"Seriously? With a crooked heart like yours, you still think you can become immortal? Dream on!"
Lucy Bai let out a sharp yelp.
She felt Phoenix Bai's fingers dig into her arm—pain so sharp it made her panic.
Black qi streamed from Phoenix Bai, snaking along Lucy Bai's wrist into her body, then looping back.
Phoenix Bai was scheming, trying every trick to steal the energy inside Lucy Bai.
"Just keep an eye on her. No need for you to jump in today."
Lily Zhao shook her head, pulled Lucy Bai behind her, and strode forward like she owned the place.
The insects kept advancing, and behind them, Phoenix Bai wore a cold, smug smile.
She felt Phoenix Bai's fingers digging into her arm, pain so sharp it sent Lucy Bai's nerves into overdrive.
So what if you really could become immortal? Big deal!
"Just these bugs? Seriously?"
Lily Zhao's voice dripped with icy menace. With a flick of her hand, she yanked the weak, black-qi-wrapped Lucy Bai over and zapped her with a burst of spiritual qi. Instantly, Lucy's face looked better, and that black mist trying to suck her dry? It shattered in a blink under Lily's move.
"Mas... Wait here for me, I'll go wreck her."
Evan Lin wanted to call out 'Master,' but thought better of it. Not the right moment for teacher-student drama.
"This Spirit-Shattering Array took me ages to set up. Inside, I've bred Devour-Spirit Grubs—they might look tiny, but they grow crazy fast. Most importantly, they're born to eat spiritual qi and soul bodies."
"I've waited decades for this moment. Those grubs have been starving forever. Time to chow down on you, soul and all!"
Evan Lin grinned, his tone chill: "Her ego's the size of a mountain, but her vision's as short as a hamster's. Total clown vibes."
Outside the veil, Phoenix Bai's voice was bursting with excitement and joy.
Phoenix Bai, who'd just been blasted away, flashed a wicked grin in the shadows.
I was born to be immortal—meant to be the goddess everyone worships!
Those words hit Phoenix Bai, hiding behind her Devour-Spirit Grubs, making her face twitch like she'd eaten a lemon.
In the darkness, Grandmaster Phoenix Bai's voice was chilling.
The moment her words fell, the dense darkness around them suddenly seemed to solidify.
This darkness was originally a concealment array left by Lily Zhao, meant to hide the small door behind her and mask her own presence.
With this ink-like darkness in place, Grandmaster Phoenix Bai had no way to break in at all.
"Nah, not that strong. Just sounds scary, that's all."
Evan Lin spoke to her patiently, sounding totally chill: "Her arrogance? It's just because her vision's tiny and her knowledge is shallow. She's all bark, no bite."
The radiance from every luminous pearl merged and intertwined, linking together until, in the blink of an eye, the entire inside of the bronze coffin lit up one after another.
Evan Lin gave her a crash course, quick and sharp.
Luo Yaoyi nodded, half getting it, half just going with the flow.
Those words reached Phoenix Bai, who was hiding behind her Devour-Spirit Grubs. Her face twitched like she'd just bitten into a lemon.
Evan Lin looked over, his brows furrowing.
Lucy Bai listened, her expression tangled, body barely recovered, and shouted over: "Ancestor! Why are you doing this?"
Those insects devoured the concealment array, constantly gnawing away at its energy.
"Obviously! I'm here to chase the Dao, hunt immortality, and grab the road to eternal life!"
"I've waited decades for this moment. They've been starving for a long time. Now, they're going to devour you completely."
"Once they've eaten you clean, I'll refine them into pills for my own use. Your power will help me comprehend a new Dao!"
"Now, I want that path. I'm going to be immortal!"
I, Phoenix Bai, am the one who actually deserves to become immortal in the Bai clan!
I was born to be immortal—destined to be the goddess everyone bows down to!
"Just these bugs?"
Evan Lin stepped forward, about to act, but Lily Zhao turned and shook her head at him.
Evan Lin stopped in his tracks.
He decided to leave it entirely to Lily Zhao.
Evan had wanted to ask why Lily Zhao was now in a soul body state.
But now wasn't the right time to dig deeper.
Lily Zhao stood there quietly, watching as the array she set was slowly devoured by the Devour-Spirit Grubs.
The insects kept advancing, and behind them, Grandmaster Phoenix Bai wore a cold smile.
"In your soul body state, no matter how powerful you are, you're absolutely no match for the Devour-Spirit Grubs."
"These bugs may look tiny, but their shells are incredibly tough. Ordinary martial artists' force can't easily destroy them."
"As for spells formed from spiritual qi, they'll only become food for these grubs."
Grandmaster Phoenix Bai spoke with obvious pride: "Besides, I'm not afraid to tell you."
"All these years, I've cultivated in seclusion, and with my natural talent, I've now reached the peak of the Life-and-Death Mage Realm."
"Just one more step—just one step and I'll break through the Life-and-Death Mage Realm!"
"Do you even know how magnificent the world is beyond the Life-and-Death Mage Realm?"
"I can hardly wait, ha ha!"
"And don't think those people you brought can do anything to help you!"
"Damien Graves, or that so-called Master Evan from Seacrest—they're nothing in my eyes!"
"You should understand just how powerful the peak of the Life-and-Death Mage Realm truly is!"
Grandmaster Phoenix Bai laughed wildly, as if everything was under her control.
"Life-and-Death Mage Realm, peak..."
Damien Graves' face turned pale. Hearing this, he had planned to fight, but now his whole body trembled with regret.
"Is that really powerful?"
Luo Yaoyi, puzzled, looked at Evan Lin and asked.
She really had no concept of these things.
"Not powerful, nothing special. Just sounds impressive, that's all."
Evan Lin spoke to her patiently, his tone relaxed: "Her arrogance comes from her shallow vision and narrow knowledge."
"I hope you never become like her."
Evan Lin taught her carefully.
Luo Yaoyi nodded, half understanding.
These words reached Grandmaster Phoenix Bai, hidden behind the Devour-Spirit Grubs, making her face twitch.
"Ancestor! Why are you doing this?"
Lucy Bai listened to Grandmaster Phoenix Bai's words, her expression complicated, her body barely recovered, and shouted toward her.
"Why?"
"Obviously, to seek the Dao, to find the path to immortality!"
"Lucy Bai, don't you understand? The woman beside you is just one step away from becoming an immortal!"
"The Bai clan has received her favor and guidance—surely there's a chance to find the path to immortality!"
"Now, I want that path. I want to become immortal!"
"I, Grandmaster Phoenix Bai, am the one who truly deserves to become immortal in the Bai clan!"
"I was born to be immortal, destined to be a goddess admired by all!"