"What will it take for you to recover?" Yang Han asked.
"Me? It would take tens of thousands of years—impossible for now. I know my daughter senses I'm here, and she comes to look for me every day. I haven't spoken to her, but she can feel my presence. Many times I've wanted to say something, but I'm afraid it would affect her future cultivation." The voice sighed.
Yang Han understood and replied, "If that's how it is, then alright. I'll go and try to comfort her."
"Please, don't tell her I'm here." The voice pleaded.
Yang Han nodded. "I understand."
"Thank you." The voice spoke again.
Yang Han nodded, then exited the dark space and returned to the surface, wondering how he would explain things to Ember Yang.
While he was thinking, he walked back to the shore. Ember Yang and Lynn Lin were already there waiting. Ember stared at Yang Han and asked, "Did you notice it?"
Yang Han shook his head. "No."
"You're lying. You have her aura on you," Ember Yang said.
"I have her aura on me?" Yang Han asked suspiciously.
"That's right. Phoenix aura—not just mine, but hers too," Ember Yang said.
Yang Han didn't understand. Could just saying a few words really leave an aura? He frowned and said, "You must be mistaken."
Lynn Lin also thought Ember was imagining things from seeing her dad every day, so she said, "Girl, how could your dad ever lie to you?"
"It's true! He has her aura. If you don't believe me, have him show me his flame," Ember Yang insisted.
Yang Han was puzzled—what was wrong with this girl? But when he checked his own flame, he realized with shock that it had turned purple.
Seeing Yang Han freeze, Ember Yang said, "You don't dare, do you? Liar! Even you are lying to me."
Frustrated and heartbroken, Ember Yang flashed away in a burst of speed, fuming with anger. Yang Han was startled. "Don't run off!"
"What just happened?" Lynn Lin asked.
"I'll explain later. Let's find her first." Yang Han realized that in this place, Ember Yang could vanish into thin air, which gave him a headache—it wouldn't be easy to track her down.
Ember Yang stormed out of the barrier, wandering alone in the forest, completely forgetting the dangers outside.
"Why would he lie to me?" Ember Yang thought sadly.
The nearby birds sensed Ember Yang's distress and flocked around her, but she ignored them, just walking forward with a crowd of birds trailing behind.
This behavior naturally attracted the attention of those with malicious intent.
Several birds hiding among the flock schemed about how to snatch the Fire Phoenix from so many birds.
"I think we should call the king. We can't handle her ourselves," one bird said.
"Yeah, that's the only way. I'll go inform the king now."
So one bird went to notify the bird in the cave, while another kept following Ember Yang.
Eventually, Ember Yang stopped by a pond, muttering, "What is going on? Why would he lie to me?"
Still searching inside the barrier, Yang Han spent quite a while but couldn't find Ember Yang. He frowned, "Did she leave already?"
"Maybe. Let's go look outside," Lynn Lin said worriedly.
"But without her, I can't get out," Yang Han frowned.
"Just try. Maybe she left some aura on you, and you can come and go freely," Lynn Lin suggested.
Yang Han thought about it and decided to try, so he took Lynn Lin toward the barrier's edge.
Meanwhile, Ember Yang was still upset when a strange-looking bird appeared before her. Its whole body was pitch-black and its beak was sharp.
"What kind of bird are you?" Ember Yang asked, seeing the odd bird that was half as tall as a person and had tiny magnetic rods.
"I'm an Ugly Bird. Nobody likes me," the bird replied.
"Oh," Ember Yang muttered, then continued to stare blankly.
"Did something sad happen to you? Want me to help?" the bird asked.
"My problem is one you can't solve," Ember Yang sighed.
"Not necessarily. In this place, there's no problem that I, Ugly Bird, can't solve," the bird said.
"Really? How long have you lived here? Do you know this place well?" Ember Yang asked.
The bird nodded. "Of course I do. Just tell me, let's see how I can help."
"I want to know about the statue under the lake. Do you know what it is?" Ember Yang asked.
"Lake? Which lake? You mean that one?" Ugly Bird asked.
"Yeah," Ember Yang replied.
Ugly Bird thought for a moment and said, "Of course I know. There used to be a powerful Fire Phoenix living there."
Ember Yang looked surprised. "Are you serious? Did you ever meet her?"
"Of course. I even know where she is now," Ugly Bird said.
"That's great! Can you take me to her?" Ember Yang asked.
"Of course. Come on, I'll take you," Ugly Bird said. Ember Yang cheered up and followed, though a few birds behind warned her not to go, saying Ugly Bird wasn't trustworthy.
But Ember Yang was determined to learn about the statue and even more eager to find the Fire Phoenix, so she followed anyway.
Seeing Ember Yang was just a child and so easily fooled, Ugly Bird secretly laughed to itself.
Soon, Ugly Bird led Ember Yang through a forest and finally to a barren mountain. Ember Yang wondered why the mountain was so bare.
"Wait here. I'll open the path," Ugly Bird said.
"Is there another space?" Ember Yang asked curiously. But thinking about her own lake, which was its own space, she felt at ease.
"Of course. Just wait," Ugly Bird said. It went to the barren mountain, found a few stones, and infused them with a bit of power.
Suddenly, a barrier appeared, instantly surrounding Ember Yang.
Violent jets of water erupted all around. Ember Yang cried out in shock, "What's happening?"
"Nothing much, Fire Phoenix. You're exactly who I've been waiting for! Ha ha!" Ugly Bird suddenly grew huge, laughing as it stared at the Fire Phoenix.
"You!" Ember Yang stared in shock at the strange bird, sensing the overwhelming, unpleasant aura on it and feeling repulsed by the water surrounding her.
"It's useless. Once you become the Weak Water Phoenix, I'll extract all your power," the strange bird cackled.
"Don't you dare!" Ember Yang shouted in anger.
"Why wouldn't I dare? You're just a little bird now. Do you still have the strength to fight back? This water isn't ordinary," the strange bird sneered.
"You—" Ember Yang gasped, realizing she couldn't use her fire here.
"Ha! Don't even try. This water restrains your flame. How does it feel? Comfortable? Soon you'll be completely submerged." The strange bird laughed.
Ember Yang paled in fright, looking around and seeing that the barrier was like a dome, trapping her inside.
The water kept rising. At this rate, Ember Yang would be drowned in less than a quarter of an hour.
At that moment, Ember Yang thought of Yang Han and the statue, feeling heartbroken. "Dad, if only you were here," she thought sadly.
"No matter how much you shout, you won't escape from me today!" the strange bird laughed loudly.
"You villain!" Ember Yang cried.
"Shout all you want. Once the water covers you, you won't feel so bad anymore. All your sadness will be gone," the strange bird laughed.
"So everything you said was a lie?" Ember Yang sobbed.
"That's right. What do you think? The Phoenix existed, but she's gone. Now there's you, the little Phoenix. You may not have the big Phoenix's power, but your strength is enough. Looks like the previous Phoenix treated you well, leaving you plenty of power," the strange bird said calmly.
"You... I'll kill you!" Ember Yang cried and struggled, but she couldn't use her flames, as if the water was controlling her.
The strange bird grinned, knowing it would soon have the Fire Phoenix's body.
With the Fire Phoenix's body, it could merge its own power and reach the Divine Beast realm—at least, that's what it estimated.
Thinking of this, the strange bird could hardly wait.
Ember Yang finally gave up struggling, gazing at the sky and shouting, "Dad, where are you?"
Not far away, Yang Han and Lynn Lin were searching for Ember Yang.
Sensing Ember Yang's aura, Yang Han frowned and released his spiritual sense, locating her exact position. When he saw her situation, he was shocked.
"What's wrong?" Lynn Lin asked curiously.
"She's in trouble." Yang Han grabbed Lynn Lin, flashed over, and without hesitation, used his Infinite Spear to forcibly break the barrier.
Instantly, the water vanished. Ember Yang, soaked, clung to Yang Han. "Dad!"
"Go stand with Sister Yue for now," Yang Han said, knowing a powerful enemy was still watching.
After this ordeal, Ember Yang behaved herself and quickly stood beside Lynn Lin.
"Who are you, monster? Why did you attack my people?" Yang Han asked.
"You're human, she's the Fire Phoenix—you're not a match. Why do you insist on being family? It's chaos," the strange bird said.
"That's none of your business. Today I'll destroy your soul, so you learn what happens to those who do such things," Yang Han said.
"Destroy my soul? Pathetic human, do you really think you're strong? Watch—I'm just a phantom. Soon you'll see the consequences of ruining my plans," the strange bird sneered, then let out a shrill cry.
Then the strange bird vanished, and Yang Han frowned as an even larger barrier suddenly disappeared around them.
At the same time, a voice echoed, "Ha ha, did you really think this barrier was meant for her? My real target is you, boy. I want you to see what happens when you oppose me."
"I didn't expect to fall into a trap," Yang Han muttered, suspicious.
Lynn Lin exclaimed, "Can we get out?"
"No, the space around us is locked. That treasure isn't simple. You two, go into my space for now," Yang Han said, then put them away, leaving himself to face the surging water.
As for water, Yang Han's usual method was to counter it with Sacred Fire.