Mother and Daughter Reunited, Mystery of Rebirth

Evan Yang stared at Patriarch Walter Wood for a long while. After making sure he wasn't lying, he turned to look at the tunnel and soon found the pentagram-shaped switch beside it.

"This should be the switch," Evan muttered.

"She's no longer in this hall," Melody Wood said.

"You can sense her?" Evan asked curiously.

"Just outside the hall, I could sense her presence. Maybe it's because she once entered my body, so now there's a connection between us," Melody Wood explained.

"Oh? When did she leave, then?" Evan asked, still curious.

"After you defeated the first person just now, she seemed to move away. I don't know where she went after that," Melody replied.

"Who knows where this tunnel leads. I'll check it out later when I have time, but for now I'll seal it off," Evan said. He fiddled with the tunnel entrance, set up some tricks, and after finishing, stood up and looked at the trembling Patriarch Walter Wood.

"D-Don't kill me, I really don't know anything," pleaded Patriarch Walter Wood.

"Coward. Useless! But now that your Guardian Beast is gone and your God has left, I think this grand dynasty of yours is about to collapse," Lynn Lin laughed.

Hearing this, Patriarch Walter Wood's expression grew even worse, but it was all true. Even if he managed to stay as patriarch, the dynasty would soon be invaded.

Evan glanced at his expression and smiled, "Well, that's up to your fate." Then he left with Melody Wood, Lynn Lin, and the others.

Watching Evan and the others leave, and realizing they weren't going to kill him, Patriarch Walter Wood let himself slump to the ground, finally calming down. Only when he came to his senses did he realize the Wood Family was finished; he hurried to lead his people out of Wood Imperial City.

"Dad, why didn't you let me just burn them all to ashes?" Ember Yang asked curiously on the way.

"They haven't really offended us, so there's no need to go that far," Evan said with a smile.

Actually, Evan mainly did it for Melody's sake. After all, Melody grew up here. Even if she isn't related to the Wood Family by blood, they did raise her for many years, and that fact can't be changed.

Melody also knew that Evan spared those people because of her, so she was grateful. Still, she felt a bit disappointed this time—they hadn't managed to find the Wood Family God.

Seeing Melody's expression, Evan comforted her, "Don't worry. Since we didn't find her this time, it means her fate isn't exhausted yet. We'll have another chance to teach her a lesson."

"Where do you think that tunnel leads? The Chaos World? Or somewhere else?" Lynn Lin asked curiously.

"I'd like to know too," Ember Yang said. Evan smiled, "It's probably not the Chaos World—it's some unknown place, we just don't know it yet." Actually, Evan had already used Phantom Spirit Birds to scout the area and discovered it led to another world, a very strange one. That's why he didn't rush in, planning to check it out later when he had time.

"I really wonder what kind of person the Wood Family God is. How could she have a place like that, and even the others don't know about it," Lynn Lin muttered.

"She's definitely not a good person. If I run into her again, I'll burn her to death," Ember Yang declared.

"Thank you, everyone," Melody said, seeing how worried they all looked for her. She smiled.

"Sister Yun, what are you saying? I'll be needing your help soon enough," Ember Yang said.

"Help?" Melody asked curiously.

"Yeah! We're about to go to my place, and we'll definitely visit my mother's dark space. I don't know what will happen, but I really want to know why my mom ended up like that. If possible, I need everyone's help to get her out," Ember Yang said, speaking her heart.

Hearing this, Melody smiled. "Don't worry, your problems are my problems too."

"Thanks," Ember Yang said with a smile. Lynn Lin also laughed, "Hey, girl, why aren't you thanking me?"

"Because Sister Yun is stronger than you," Ember Yang teased. Lynn Lin pouted, "Does that even count?"

Then Ember Yang chased after the others flying ahead, while Evan Yang shook his head helplessly and caught up with them.

Soon, everyone returned to the space Ember Yang had brought them to. Inside, they arrived at a familiar sea and then landed on an island.

"Come down with me," Ember Yang said to Evan and the others after thinking for a moment.

Evan, of course, had no objection, so he followed Ember Yang to a familiar underwater place. Finally, they arrived before a statue—the statue of her mother, the previous Fire Phoenix.

"Mom, I'm back," Ember Yang said, looking at the statue, her eyes brimming with tears.

When Ember was little, they didn't want her to know certain things. But now that she's grown, the surroundings turned dark, and at that moment, her mother appeared—a phantom form stood before them, eyes fixed on Ember. "You've grown up," she said.

"Mom!" Ember Yang tried to hug her, but realized it was only a phantom.

Seeing Ember Yang desperately trying to embrace the shadow, the others felt a pang in their hearts, not knowing what to say. Ember, clearly emotional, asked, "What happened?"

"This goes back a long time," her mother said with a bitter smile.

"Mom, Fire Phoenixes can be reborn—even as a soul, you should be able to revive. Why don't you even have a physical body?" Ember Yang asked, wiping her tears.

"My body? I sealed it myself. Back then, I was badly injured and pregnant with you. I had to give birth to you, then seal my body to keep it intact. Even so, my injuries were severe, and with a special curse, I couldn't be reborn," she explained.

"Curse? What curse? Why can't you be reborn?" Ember Yang cried, tears streaming down her face.

"It's the famous Life-Severing Talisman from the Chaos World. Once struck by this talisman curse, rebirth is impossible. It was specially crafted to target us Fire Phoenixes, aiming to capture me and steal my core for eternal life and rebirth," Lady Phoenix said.

Everyone was shocked. Such a thing was against the heavens—who could achieve eternal life and unlimited rebirth? Only the Fire Phoenix. But if the Fire Phoenix lost its core, it would lose this power. If someone else gained it, they'd be terrifying, as if they'd gained an extra life.

(Irrelevant system message skipped.)

"Damn it, who was it? I have to find them and get the antidote!" Ember Yang said angrily.

"You can't beat them, child. Let it go. Having you by my side is enough," Lady Phoenix said with a smile.

"No, Mom, I have Dad—he can help me, he's really strong!" Ember Yang immediately pulled Evan Yang forward.

Lady Phoenix was stunned for a moment, then looked at Evan Yang and smiled. "That person is very strong. Even though the one you mentioned is strong too, he's no match for them."

"Mom, don't underestimate Dad—he's amazing! If you don't believe me, try him." Ember Yang just wanted her mother to reveal who the culprit was, hoping to find them. Right now, the only way to get her to talk was to prove they had the power to fight that person.

"Oh? All right then. Even though I'm severely injured, if you can withstand my attack, I'll let you go," Lady Phoenix said.

Ember Yang nodded, then looked at Evan Yang. "Dad, it's up to you."

"You little rascal. But I promise, no matter what, I'll help you," Evan said with a bitter smile.

Melody Wood, Lynn Lin, and Ember Yang stepped aside, while Lady Phoenix looked at Evan Yang. "Are you ready?"

"Of course. Please, go ahead, senior," Evan Yang replied with a smile.

Suddenly, flames surrounded Evan Yang—Phoenix fire, with a heat far beyond ordinary flames. But against Evan, it met its match.

Evan was covered in another kind of flame—the Polar Sacred Flame—which held its own against the Phoenix fire.

Seeing Evan's flame able to contend with her own, Lady Phoenix was shocked. She increased the heat, but Evan stood calmly, unaffected.

After half an hour, she withdrew the flames and smiled at Evan Yang. "Well done, you've passed the test."

Ember Yang was overjoyed. Evan Yang smiled. "Thank you."

"Mom, now can you tell us?" Ember Yang asked excitedly.

"Yes. He's an alchemy madman, and also a master. I've heard he's transcended humanity and entered the Heavenly Dao. I barely escaped from him back then. If he sees you, he'll try everything to get your core, so you must never let him find you. Only your friends can go," Lady Phoenix said.

"Mom, just tell us. I'll be careful," Ember Yang said.

"Alright, I'll tell you." Lady Phoenix began recounting the past, finally revealing the alchemy madman's location.

Once everything was clear, Ember Yang couldn't wait to head to the Chaos World. She told her mother, "Mom, don't worry, just stay here. We'll definitely bring back the antidote—and deal with that bastard too."

"Be careful," Lady Phoenix said to Ember Yang. Ember nodded, then left with Evan Yang and the others. But Evan received a message from Lady Phoenix.

"Thank you, my human friend, for helping my daughter grow. But she's still immature. This time, above all, make sure she's safe. If you can't get the antidote, don't force it—I just want her to be safe," Lady Phoenix said.

Evan Yang naturally agreed. "Don't worry, she's like my own daughter. No matter what, I won't let anything happen to her."

"Thank you," Lady Phoenix said gratefully.

Then Evan Yang left the space as well. Watching everyone leave, Lady Phoenix sighed deeply. "Daughter, you must stay safe."

Once outside, Ember Yang couldn't wait. "Dad, let's set out right now. We must find that guy and get the antidote!"

Seeing Ember Yang so fired up, Evan Yang worried she might get carried away and do something reckless, so he said, "Before we go, you have to agree to a few conditions. If you don't, I won't go."