I am the phoenix, an ancient divine beast.
Although not as highly - regarded as the Bai Ze, I am still the king of all birds.
I met my master.
Through countless reincarnations.
I've endured numerous trials.
My feathers are bright, colorful, and no other bird in the world can rival me. By the way, I've always had a habit of collecting night - pearls.
Actually.
At first, what I liked to collect was not night - pearls but fruits, vegetables, and grains.
At that time, I was just an ordinary bird with gray feathers.
Maybe I was just lucky.
That year, there was a great drought across the Kyushu Continent.
Thanks to my long - standing habit, I saved about 80% of the birds that year.
Back then.
To repay me.
They all plucked out their most beautiful feather and gave it to me.
That's how I got my colorful plumage.
I cherish it dearly and consider it a symbol of my glory. Since then, I've been worshiped by all the birds and become their king.
But I never expected.
That I would meet her—Luo Feiyan.
She was also Ye Ling, my future master, and Zhao Shuning.
Maybe she didn't know.
It was because of her that I was revived.
So.
When the Emperor assigned her as my master, although I seemed disdainful on the surface, I was secretly delighted inside.
This woman.
When she was Ye Ling.
She was arrogant and domineering, and her red clothes were incredibly stunning.
But her brain seemed a bit slow.
She was actually harmed by the people closest to her.
But it was this not - so - smart woman who, on the battle - platform, was willing to risk her soul dissipating and her spiritual power running out just to send me away from the hunting formation activated by the four great families.
To be honest.
I, the phoenix, have lived for so many years and always thought humans were the most heartless. But this woman made me willingly submit to her. I even thought that for this woman, even if I had to sacrifice everything and lose my most - proud colorful battle plumage, I would never back down.
This day.
Finally came.
This great battle.
Gathered most of the well - known and powerful cultivators on the Kyushu Continent.
She staged a good show.
A show that made everyone think of her as an evil star.
She performed so well.
She was nothing like the stupid Ye Ling.
After becoming Zhao Shuning, her mind became much clearer.
There were even times when I couldn't guess what she was up to.
She was very smart.
But I didn't like this smart Zhao Shuning.
She was willing to give up her life for the Emperor and the world.
It was very noble, but for me, it was just sadness and grief.
There were two reasons why I couldn't stop her.
Firstly.
I knew her too well. Although she was a woman, once she made a decision, no one could change her mind. Not even I could, and not even the Emperor could persuade such a stubborn woman.
Secondly.
I was her contracted divine beast. Everyone could oppose her decisions, but I couldn't. Even if I knew it was not good for her, I could only stand by her side and support her unconditionally.
What she needed.
Was my support.
I fulfilled her wish.
She succeeded.
After her aura completely disappeared, I was seriously injured and had no more attachment to this world. Feather - transformation was my choice.
I watched my body turn into ashes.
My spiritual power completely separated from the ashes.
My life as a phoenix.
Was truly over.
I accompanied her.
Through three lifetimes.
I didn't complain or hate. I was just glad that I had met her in these three lifetimes.
When she was Luo Feiyan.
I had just been born.
She left a night - pearl in my cave.
This was the beginning of our fate.
When she was Ye Ling.
I was summoned by the Emperor and became her contracted divine beast.
This was the middle part of our fate.
When she was Zhao Shuning.
I accompanied her in the bloody battles, watched her struggle on the verge of death several times, watched her rise, and watched her fall.
When she died.
Our fate.
Was over.
I originally thought I could quickly catch up with her on the Yellow Spring Road.
In this way.
We could still walk hand in hand on the last part of the journey.
But the Yellow Spring Road was empty.
I couldn't find her.
Instead, I met a bald monk.
The monk.
Wearing a cassock with a clear look in his eyes, he was Ksitigarbha from the underworld.
When he took me into reincarnation, he asked me if I had any wishes.
I smiled faintly.
"She's gone. There's nothing in this world that I'm attached to."
Ksitigarbha said, "As you wish."
I didn't know what he meant.
But when I woke up.
I was lying in a woman's palm.
I was stunned.
This was the appearance of my master from her previous - previous life.
I thought.
I had returned to six hundred years ago.
But.
Behind my master.
There were two little kids.
They? Were my master's children.
My memory wasn't erased, but I became a bird again. Although this bird wasn't good - looking.
However.
It didn't matter anymore.
I watched my master put me back into the bird's nest on the tree.
It was her.
I was 100% sure it was her.
Even though she had lost her cultivation, I wouldn't mistake her.
She didn't recognize me.
Maybe she didn't expect me to look like this.
Well.
If this woman knew I was so ugly now, she would probably laugh at me even more.
Since everything.
Can start over.
Then.
No matter what difficulties I have to face, I will surely be reborn from the fire and return to her side again.