Chapter Twenty-Four: Reborn from the Ashes?

Moonlight cascaded down, bathing Elder Bi in its brilliant glow. Already possessing a formidable aura, she now appeared even more staggering—an ethereal celestial being beneath the moon, breathtaking in her radiance.

With this technique unleashed, Li Beiye’s expression soured instantly, as if he had swallowed filth. As the City Lord, he was well aware of the Moon-Watching Sect’s true power. The reason they stood on equal footing with the Great Xia Dynasty was not merely the strength of their Sect Master, but the terrifying nature of the techniques they possessed.

The high-level martial art Elder Bi was currently wielding was legendary within the sect. It allowed the user to harness the power of moonlight to amplify their own strength. It was said that those who mastered this technique to its zenith could merge with the moonlight itself—as long as the moon remained in the sky, the user would never die. The Sect Master of the Moon-Watching Sect had once used this very art to slaughter countless masters.

Seeing such a terrifying technique brought into play, how could Li Beiye not feel a sense of despair?

...

Enveloped in moonlight, Elder Bi’s skin shone as white as snow. A bright, miniature moon glimmered between her brows, making her appear like a Moon Goddess—a sight that struck fear into the hearts of all.

"If you have any other tricks, use them now. To die beneath a high-level martial art of our Moon-Watching Sect is an honor for the likes of you," Elder Bi said with a chilling tone. Her eyes remained filled with murderous intent as she looked toward the Purple Lightning Lion, which was still struggling to gather its electrical power.

The sudden emergence of such a formidable technique filled even the Purple Lightning Lion with a sense of extreme danger. Yet, it did not falter. It channeled every ounce of strength within its body, concentrating it into its fur to manifest the power of thunder and lightning.

"Shut your trap, you old hag! If you have the guts, come and kill me! Otherwise, I will tear you to pieces!" the Purple Lightning Lion roared, unleashing the entirety of the lightning energy it had gathered. Like a rushing spring, the energy transformed into the shape of a colossal thunder lion, charging with ferocious speed toward the moonlight-shrouded Elder Bi!

"Obstinate fool! Let me show you the true power of the moonlight."

"Hah!" Elder Bi spread her arms wide, and the moon between her brows erupted with terrifying power. Blinding white light illuminated the entire sky, as vast spiritual energy merged with the moonlight, pulsating with an omnipresent lethal intent.

As the thunder lion surged into the moonlight, it instantly shattered, raining down countless crackling bolts of electricity. Yet, Elder Bi remained unscathed, watching the scene with a cold, expressionless face—the stoicism of absolute power.

"Such a powerful technique! Boss, this old hag is a bit too much. Should we make a run for it?" the Purple Lightning Lion asked, though its voice betrayed its reluctance as it stared at Elder Bi.

Upon hearing this, Su Yang felt his spiritual energy gradually recovering. He stood up once more, his Supreme Blood boiling with renewed vigor as he faced the incredibly powerful Elder Bi.

Just as Su Yang prepared to make another move, an unexpected event occurred.

Wang Yiyi, who had been smashed into a pulp of flesh by Su Yang’s staff just moments before, suddenly began to burn. The flames grew increasingly intense, transforming into a pillar of fire that shot straight into the firmament.

The sudden turn of events left Elder Bi stunned. Her pupils constricted as she stared at the burning remains. "This is... could it be that Wang Yiyi is not dead?"

Griping his staff, Su Yang stared at the pillar of fire, equally shocked. Could Wang Yiyi truly possess some hidden means of survival? He had been certain he had killed her. What was happening before his eyes?

"Such powerful bloodline energy. No, I can't hold on anymore," the Purple Lightning Lion groaned, seemingly in great distress.

Just as its sturdy limbs began to buckle, a fire phoenix soared out from the burning remains of Wang Yiyi, circling the pillar of fire before streaking toward the heavens.

A phoenix cried. Reborn through fire!

A beautiful figure, as if newborn, emerged slowly from the pillar of flames, her entire body wreathed in fire.

"It’s her! Wang Yiyi!" When Su Yang saw that the figure within the flames was indeed his mortal enemy, the fires of his rage flared anew. Yet, he could not comprehend how the dead Wang Yiyi had returned to life.

"Hahaha! Heaven blesses our Moon-Watching Sect! It is the Nirvana of the Fire Phoenix, a rebirth! Wang Yiyi, you have truly astounded me!" Elder Bi was practically ecstatic. As an elder of the Moon-Watching Sect, she possessed knowledge of bloodlines unknown to ordinary people.

Wang Yiyi had revived precisely because the Fire Phoenix bloodline within her granted the power of rebirth; as long as the physical body remained, there was a chance to trigger the "Rebirth through Fire." Although Su Yang had indeed killed her, the pile of flesh had provided the perfect catalyst for her bloodline to activate. The probability was infinitesimal, but it had indeed happened. How could Elder Bi be anything but overjoyed?

"This is bad. The girl has such fortune. It seems your quest for revenge tonight is looking grim, kid," the Great Sage, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

Su Yang clenched his fists, his teeth grinding together as his expression turned grim.

His heart was a chaotic storm of emotions. Why? Why was it so difficult? Why was this happening to him? He only wanted revenge, to reclaim what was rightfully his—why was the heavens so unjust!

"Ah!!!" Su Yang let out a roar toward the sky.

Beside him, the Purple Lightning Lion had never witnessed such a situation. Unsure of what to say, it sighed, "Big brother, don't be angry. Since you could kill her once, you can surely kill her a second time."

That was right. He could kill her once; he could kill her a second time.

Su Yang closed his eyes, repeating those words in his heart. His rage gradually subsided, replaced by a calm, heroic will to fight that erupted from within him.

Su Yang opened his eyes, the fire of battle reigniting in his gaze. He pointed his staff at the figure within the pillar of flames. "Wang Yiyi, even if you can be reborn through Nirvana, I will smash you into a pulp all over again!!!"

"Hah!"

With a burst of momentum, Su Yang vaulted into the air, gripping his staff tightly as he swung it toward the figure in the flames.

Seeing this, Elder Bi sneered, "Boy, don't even think about touching a single hair on her head again."

Like a shadow of moonlight, she appeared instantly before Su Yang, extending a withered palm as moonlight surged forth like a tidal wave of spiritual energy.

Boom!

The two forces collided, triggering a shockwave of staggering intensity.

"Ah!" Su Yang roared again. Golden light surged, pushing his Supreme Blood to its absolute limit. His strength, already like a mountain, increased manifold! He did not fear Elder Bi in the slightest.

"How is this possible! To be evenly matched with me? What kind of monster are you, boy?! If I do not destroy you today, I will never know peace!" Elder Bi could not fathom how a mere Third-Mystic Realm youth could shock her time and time again. For a seasoned elder of the Moon-Watching Sect, it was enough to shatter her entire worldview.