A sense of unease immediately welled up in Xia Wanning's heart.
A strong sense of familiarity washed over her.
A feeling of suffocation instantly rose from the bottom of her heart.
After the white light faded, everyone looked around, and Xia Wanning's figure had disappeared.
When everyone looked into the distance.
The white light had completely dispersed.
The phoenix had shrunk to about five meters in size. At this moment, there was a young girl standing on its back.
The young girl was dressed in a plain cyan dress that fluttered in the wind.
Her long hair reached down to her waist.
She just stood there on the phoenix's back.
The dagger in her hand glinted with a cold light.
Incredible. It was actually that dagger she had used to cut through the towering light prison just now.
If one observed carefully, they could notice that there was a piece of broken jade inlaid on the handle of the dagger. That broken jade was a fragment of the jade flute that Yan Ruyu had destroyed years ago, and later Zhao Shuning had snatched it back from Wang Xiling.
No matter what it was, the items of the master always had extremely powerful spiritual energy.
The young girl stood on the phoenix's back. She slowly scanned the area below. In her eyes, there was nothing but coldness and an unapproachable nobility.
It was Zhao Shuning.
She had obtained some good things. Not long after she had refined the pills, she had entrusted someone from Shui Yunsheng to send them back to Linjiang for Zhao Zheng.
Later, when she arrived in Youzhou, she had sensed the aura of the phoenix. After a long pursuit, she had finally found her way to Shengjing.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she arrived, she saw the phoenix trapped in the towering light prison, unable to move.
This situation was exactly the same as when they had besieged and killed Ye Ling many years ago.
The young girl looked extremely cold.
Just by standing on the phoenix's back, she exuded an air of looking down on the world.
"Who is this young girl?"
"The phoenix is the king of all birds and can command all the birds in the beast world. Why would it allow such a young girl to stand on its back?"
"This young girl is so incredibly beautiful. She's like a deadly and luxurious flower. Once you look at her, you can't help but be immersed in her beauty."
"I feel like I've seen this young girl somewhere before."
"How is that possible?"
"Is there such a young spiritual pharmacist in the world today?"
"Or perhaps an alchemist?"
She was extremely beautiful, behaved coldly, and there was not a trace of warmth in her eyebrows. There were at least five such young girls in the Eastern Wilderness who could match her description.
If one added the factor of age, the people of Shengjing really had no idea where this stunning girl in front of them came from.
The phoenix circled above the houses of the Yuan family in Shengjing.
Zhao Shuning stood on its back.
She lowered her head and gently stroked the phoenix's feathers.
Sensing the warm touch on its body, the phoenix couldn't help but stretch out its head and nuzzle against Zhao Shuning's hand.
"Phoenix, it's been a long time. I've missed you so much."
The phoenix shivered all over and carried Zhao Shuning as it circled continuously above the Yuan family's compound. One could imagine how excited it was.
"You've worked hard."
"Master?"
"It's me. I'm back. You've worked hard."
After Zhao Shuning had communicated her thoughts with the phoenix, she opened her eyes and looked at the people below.
Her body slowly descended.
"Phoenix, it's easy to get the short end of the stick if you fight alone in this kind of situation."
Zhao Shuning landed in the compound.
She looked around and couldn't help but sigh when she saw the current state of Shengjing.
Shengjing was in a complete mess. Judging from the situation, it must be Yuan Xin who had used a forbidden technique, which had caused the monsters to run amok and get out of control, resulting in the deaths of innocent people.
If Zhao Shuning's guess was correct, Yuan Xin would surely blame the phoenix for this incident.
Framing others was not the first time they had done it, and it wouldn't be the last.
Yuan Xin stepped forward and bowed, saying, "May I ask, miss, what's your name?"
Zhao Shuning didn't reply. She ignored Yuan Xin.
She just looked at everyone present.
Their faces still showed signs of embarrassment and panic.
Obviously, they didn't know which side Zhao Shuning was on at the moment, so they didn't dare to act rashly.
"Miss, this beast has truly caused harm to the world. If miss has such strength, you can take the phoenix away to restore peace to Shengjing."
Zhao Shuning looked at the terrified expressions on everyone's faces.
A strange sense of pleasure flashed through her heart.
She didn't know when it had started, but people had started to band together for their own interests. Even if what they were doing was wrong, as long as there were enough of them and they were united, they would be the just side.
"Yuan Xin."
"Miss, do you have any instructions?"
Zhao Shuning casually pointed at Miao Xi behind Yuan Xin and said with a smile, "This young girl has a really good-looking face."
Miao Xi quickly lowered her head. Compared with the young girl in front of her, her own appearance was simply worlds apart.
"Thank you, senior, for the compliment."
Someone who could ride a phoenix must not be an ordinary person.
So Miao Xi carefully replied, keeping a respectful attitude.
"She's good-looking and does look innocent. However, the thoughts behind that innocent face are really disgusting."
Miao Xi took a step back.
Zhao Shuning burst out laughing.
"What does senior mean?"
"The fragrance on your hands hasn't faded yet, has it? You're the one who summoned all the monsters in the city, aren't you? I was just thinking that a vessel body couldn't have such great power. It turns out that there are capable people like you behind the scenes to help push things forward."
The people of Shengjing all looked at Miao Xi in unison.
Miao Xi felt extremely uncomfortable.
Maybe it was because of a guilty conscience, but at this moment, she unconsciously hid her hands behind her back.
"Senior, I don't understand what you're talking about."
"The incense in your hand is the Divine Charm Incense, right? Who gave you this Soul-Summoning Incense?"
Miao Xi took a few steps back.
"Senior might be misunderstanding. Why would I use the Divine Charm Incense? What good would it do me?"
Zhao Shuning didn't answer.
She just stared at Miao Xi.
She stared at Miao Xi until she felt terrified.
Zhao Shuning turned around. Miao Xi's body slumped. She looked up at Yuan Xin.
There was complete disappointment and a lot of anger in Yuan Xin's eyes at this moment.
Miao Xi quickly shook her head and said, "Master, master, it's not like this. Please listen to my explanation."
Yuan Xin pulled out Miao Xi's hands and sniffed them gently at the tip of his nose. Sure enough, there was still the lingering smell of the Divine Charm Incense.
His pupils instantly shrank.
"You really disappoint me."
Then, Yuan Xin violently slapped Miao Xi's hands away.
Zhao Shuning looked at Yuan Xin's behavior and couldn't help but find it ironic.
"Yuan Xin, you're no match for me now. Even if you add all the people in Shengjing, you're still no match for me."
Yuan Xin looked up.
Zhao Shuning raised her hand.
The phoenix obediently stood beside her and rubbed its head against her hand continuously.
"What do you want to do?"
"Nothing. I'll give you two choices."
"What choices?"
"One, we fight again. But this time, the outcome won't be the same as before. You'll surely die here in the end, but at least you'll have a noble and just end."
"Two, you destroy your own spiritual roots, and I'll spare the lives of the thousands of people in your Yuan family."
When Zhao Shuning said this, her eyes were unfathomable.
What kind of strength did this young girl in front of them actually have?
Neither the crowd nor Yuan Xin could see through it.
So they could only feel in awe.