Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng were worried about Sweet Dumpling’s safety, which is why they brought her back from the Imperial Mausoleum. For the same reason, they absolutely refused to take her into the Phoenixfield Secret Realm.
Simon Sun and Logan Ling are the only people who have ever come out of the Phoenixfield Secret Realm alive. But even Simon can’t clearly describe what’s inside—the three years he spent there, he never truly entered the heart of the realm, only survived on its outer edge.
“Mother, really can’t take me with you?” Sweet Dumpling pouted, looking reluctant to part.
She had just returned to her father and mother’s side, and now they were separating again—it was really annoying.
“Be good, stay in the Capital and keep your brother company. He’s bored all by himself.” No matter how Sweet Dumpling begged, Serena wouldn’t agree, and once she made up her mind, Ninth Royal Uncle never objected. Sweet Dumpling could only obediently stay behind.
“Father, Mother, you must be careful in Northlyn. My sister and I will be waiting for you here.” Little Dumpling hugged Serena, and under Ninth Royal Uncle’s cold gaze, he lingered for a moment before letting go.
So stingy—she’s my mother, why shouldn’t I be allowed to hug her? I want to hug her, I want to hug her…
Little Dumpling clung to Serena for a while, but in the end he didn’t dare challenge Ninth Royal Uncle’s authority—knowing when to stop…
Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t spare Little Dumpling a single glance, just stood quietly to the side. Once Sweet Dumpling and Serena finished their goodbyes, he took Serena’s hand and led her away.
It’s not like we’re not coming back—why make it look like a final farewell?
Ninth Royal Uncle had no idea that this time, it truly was a final parting—this would be the last time they ever saw their beloved daughter. If he’d known how things would turn out, he would rather have taken Sweet Dumpling with them into the Phoenixfield Secret Realm. But in this world, there are no what-ifs…
Everything is fate. You might escape once, but never twice.
At the Phoenixfield Secret Realm, Simon Sun and Logan Ling had already received word and were waiting outside. As soon as Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng appeared, the two rushed forward.
“Your Majesty, Master.” Seeing them again, Simon Sun was overwhelmed with emotion. Three years ago, when he fell into the Phoenixfield Secret Realm, he truly believed he’d be trapped there forever.
Fortunately, he made it out—there was still a chance to meet again in this life.
“Simon, I’m just glad you’re safe.” For three years, Serena Feng had worried constantly, afraid something would happen to Simon Sun.
Simon Sun lowered his head in embarrassment. “Master, I made you worry.”
“It’s enough that you’re back. With Logan Ling by your side, I feel at ease.” Serena Feng smiled and looked gratefully at Logan Ling.
If not for Logan Ling, forget three years—even three months would have had Serena worried sick.
After all these years, Simon Sun had grown only in medical skill—nothing else had changed, his mind was still easy to read. And as for these three years…
After three years apart, neither Simon Sun nor Logan Ling had changed at all—it was as if time didn’t pass in the Phoenixfield Secret Realm.
Once they’d finished catching up, Simon Sun got down to business with Serena Feng. Though he’d never reached the core of the Phoenixfield Secret Realm in his three years there, he’d still learned a few things—the most important being the truth behind the Phoenixfield Heiress Mark.
Now, Simon Sun not only understood what the Phoenixfield Heiress Mark was—he also knew the secret hidden beneath it…
The Phoenixfield Heiress Mark doesn’t just allow the heiress to be saved once—it’s the very reason the Lan royal house never dared to destroy the Phoenixfield Clan. But almost no one knows these things.
Even the King of Phoenixfield and the former emperor probably know very little…
The Phoenixfield Heiress Mark can save the heiress at the brink of death—but it isn’t true salvation. It’s borrowing a life, and the one whose life is borrowed is another member of the Lan royal house who also bears the mark.
The Phoenixfield Clan and the Lan royal house can trace their history back to ancient times—a truly long and storied past…
Long ago, Phoenixfield and Lan were two great shaman tribes. The Lan clan always produced exceptionally gifted male shamans, while the Phoenixfield Clan was known for its extraordinary female shamans.
Both sides carried the strongest shamanic bloodlines, and their powers complemented each other perfectly—so the two clans considered marriage alliances. But…
After the Lan and Phoenixfield clans intermarried, their children showed no talent at all—worse than ordinary people. When the two strongest members of each clan united, they even produced a legendary golden-eyed demonic fetus.
Neither clan truly understood what the demonic fetus was—they only knew the ancient texts said its appearance would bring disaster to the shaman tribes, and that it must be destroyed.
But the day before the execution, the demonic fetus and the Phoenixfield Clan’s strongest witch both vanished. The Lan clan’s most gifted shaman was killed by his own people trying to protect them.
Twenty years later, the demonic fetus returned. The Phoenixfield Clan and Lan clan joined forces to try to destroy him, but by then he had grown into an unrivaled grand shaman—his power was beyond imagination. Even all the great shamans of both clans together were no match for him.
The demonic fetus killed all the gifted male and female shamans of the Phoenixfield Clan and Lan clan. The remaining survivors were forced to flee their homeland and came to the Nine Provinces Realm…
Upon arriving in the Nine Provinces Realm, the two clans became natural allies. At first, neither clan intended to establish a dynasty, but…
Their uniqueness was noticed by the reigning emperor of the time, who began to fear their abilities and ordered them hunted down.
During this disaster, both clans lost even more of their talented shamans. On the brink of extinction, the Phoenixfield Clan and Lan clan finally fought back…
The Lan clan excelled at strategy; the Phoenixfield Clan at war. After decades of struggle, the two clans not only built their own power, but also overthrew the old dynasty.
Over the years, cooperation deepened and their relationship grew ever closer. When the dynasty was established, the Phoenixfield Clan voluntarily withdrew and ceded the throne to the Lan clan.
It’s important to know that every territory had been conquered by the Phoenixfield Clan—the military power was entirely in their hands. They truly gave up the throne to the Lan clan.
Of course, the Phoenixfield Clan was no fool. They let the Lan clan take the throne, but insisted on keeping military power for themselves. With an army in hand, what did they have to fear?
After decades in the Nine Provinces Realm, the shamanic bloodlines of both clans grew weaker—they became little different from ordinary people. Yet everyone knew just how important the throne and military power were to both sides.
The Phoenixfield Clan gave up the throne to the Lan clan, and of course the Lan clan was grateful. But gratitude aside, they never let down their guard.
To make sure the Phoenixfield Clan would truly hand over power and never rebel, the Lan clan offered up a secret technique—a way to link the two clans’ fates…
The secret technique was a shamanic ritual: a special method to brand the heirs of each clan with a mark, passed down generation after generation. It bound their destinies together—so long as one side survived, the other would too. They would share both prosperity and ruin…
If the Lan clan flourished, so did the Phoenixfield Clan. If the Lan clan destroyed the Phoenixfield Clan, they themselves would perish. Likewise, if the Phoenixfield Clan raised arms against the Lan clan, they too would be doomed.
This shamanic ritual forced each side to guard the other—and to remain wary. Neither could make a move to destroy the other…