On a towering pavilion overlooking most of Divine Flame City.
Two or three Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators stood on the top floor, gazing into the distance with thoughtful expressions.
“Where could that thing possibly escape to?”
One of them, a cultivator in green robes, murmured softly before turning to a purple-robed man sipping tea at the table. “City Lord Jiang, may we conduct a thorough search in Divine Flame City?”
The purple-robed man set down his tea set and said calmly, “You three, while I’m also quite interested in that rare crimson-gold phoenix, that doesn’t mean… I’ll tolerate others acting recklessly in the city I govern.”
“If you three say one thing to my face and do another behind my back, causing trouble in my city, don’t expect any mercy from me.”
“Rest assured, City Lord Jiang, we won’t put you in a difficult position.”
Approaching nightfall.
Shen Mu and Lin Yuhe, with the little girl in tow, found an inn to stay at temporarily.
In a spacious top-tier room, Lin Yuhe had specifically asked the innkeeper to prepare a large tub of steaming hot water for the girl, intending to clean the filth and stench from her body.
Lin Yuhe took out a bottle of bath elixir, dripping two or three drops into the tub. Sniffing the floral fragrance that began to waft, she nodded in satisfaction.
“Come wash up. You’re covered in grime and stench—it’s uncomfortable just looking at you,” she said, beckoning the blonde girl sitting on a chair.
But the girl remained reserved, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap, head lowered, showing no intention of washing.
Seeing this, Lin Yuhe frowned, her tone slightly impatient. “Hurry up, didn’t you hear me?”
“If you don’t clean up, I won’t let you eat at the table or sleep in a bed later.”
“…”
The girl pressed her legs together, pursing her lips. “Where’s that big brother…?”
“He went to the cultivators’ guild to buy something. He’ll be back soon.”
“What? Don’t tell me you want him to bathe you when he returns?”
“Mm…” The girl gave a soft hum.
Damn… does he have some kind of charm aura?
Lin Yuhe was speechless. She hadn’t expected the girl to want a grown man to bathe her.
Quite the surprise.
But since the girl was unwilling, it gave Lin Yuhe a legitimate excuse to take a break.
“Fine, we’ll wait for him then.”
An hour later.
“Yawn~~”
Lin Yuhe, slumped over the table, let out a yawn, her eyes bleary as she took out a communication jade, activating its array. “Hey… haven’t you finished shopping yet? Why aren’t you back?”
“…”
There was no response from Shen Mu on the other end.
Just as she was about to ask again, Shen Mu pushed the door open, as if he’d been waiting outside.
“What’s up?”
“Ugh~ Why does it take you so long to buy something…?”
Lin Yuhe stretched, yawning, not dwelling on it. “She insists on you helping her bathe… I’m out of ideas.”
Hearing this, Shen Mu looked at the quiet blonde girl for a moment, then silently closed the door.
He took out a soundproofing talisman and a fifth-grade array talisman to block spiritual aura, setting them up in the room to prevent divine sense detection.
“What are you doing?” Lin Yuhe asked, puzzled by his odd actions.
Shen Mu gave a mysterious smile, sitting beside her and fixing a serious, scrutinizing gaze on the ragged girl.
“Now you can tell us the truth… and show your real form, right?” Shen Mu asked earnestly.
“…”
“Thank you…”
The girl slowly raised her head, softly thanking Shen Mu.
Then, a faint crimson-gold light began to glow around her. Her matted, messy blonde hair gradually became smooth and lustrous, revealing a pair of crimson-gold phoenix eyes imbued with True Phoenix charm.
At the same time, the foul grime on her body peeled away, condensing into a ball of black, muddy liquid in front of her. Her skin became crystal-clear, delicate, and flawless.
But… the gruesome wounds on her fair skin remained.
“This…”
Lin Yuhe stared at the girl’s delicate, doll-like face, sensing a True Phoenix aura similar to her own, momentarily at a loss for words.
Seeing this, Shen Mu gained clarity, resolving some of his confusion and sorting his thoughts.
“She was likely being hunted by cultivators, so she smeared herself with foul mud to mask her aura, disguising herself as a destitute beggar to avoid detection.”
“As for why she sought us out… it’s probably because of you.”
He explained calmly, glancing at Lin Yuhe, whose expression was complex.
“To be chosen by Lord Weapon Ancestor, you’ve got some skill,” the girl said, her voice clear and bright, no longer weak.
“Weapon Ancestor? The senior who sealed the ominous sword?”
“Mm.” The girl nodded slightly.
Weapon Ancestor…
Shen Mu’s eyes darkened as he recalled the title, his expression turning subtly complex.
If he remembered correctly, this “Weapon Ancestor” was quite formidable in the game’s original lore, having crafted numerous peerless divine weapons.
Many of the famous heavenly and immortal weapons on the Divine Weapon Ranking were his creations.
In ancient history, he was the only immortal cultivator to ascend through “artifact refining.”
The name “Chi You” of Chi You Continent came from his true name.
That alone showed his immense reputation.
“Wait!”
“If you know about the sealing site, doesn’t that mean you’re the one who broke free from the abyss below…?”
Shen Mu suddenly realized, grasping the girl’s true identity.
The girl raised her hand to stop him, openly admitting, “Correct. I am indeed the True Phoenix fledgling sealed beneath that inversion array.”
“But, as you can see, I’m heavily injured and being pursued by a group of Spirit Transformation cultivators… I need to constantly avoid their divine sense detection.”
So a True Phoenix has really landed by my side…
Shen Mu sighed inwardly.
At this moment, Lin Yuhe, who had been silent, finally spoke. “If you’re trying to avoid their detection, why approach me in such a conspicuous way?”
Drawing attention by meeting them like that on the street would only make her more noticeable, wouldn’t it?
“My injuries were reaching their limit… I couldn’t afford to care about that.”
“But even if you found me, I can’t help. My cultivation isn’t high, and I’m no healer… I can’t treat your wounds.”
Lin Yuhe knew she had no skill in healing arts.
Wasn’t finding her just a waste of time?
“The key to healing these ‘wounds’ in my body isn’t about medical skills.”
“It’s about… a shared origin of intent.”
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