Unsealing Emptiness

Chapter 437: The Phoenix?

Having confirmed that Ember had regained her cultivation and also her subordinates, the City Lord couldn’t stand to bear the taunts thrown at him.

"To think even losing your cultivation wouldn’t humble your arrogant demeanor," he spat before turning around and leaving with his son.

"Get back to your work; our guests are leaving," Rai ordered the Transcendents who were ready to face a full-blown battle between Sages.

As the City Lord and his son disappeared from the premises, Ozul made himself known.

He had arrived just before Ember mentioned the Phoenix and sighed in relief knowing there wasn’t going to be a battle so soon.

’Ember mentioned a Phoenix...’ Ozul thought, glancing in her direction as he moved toward the trio.

In their previous Realm, the continent of Egon only had stories of phoenixes and dragons. And in the case of the latter, there were small wyverns who could be mistaken as such. But there wasn’t anything like a phoenix described in the stories. Or at least they hadn’t come across one in their time there.

Raven recounted everything that had transpired before his arrival as he listened calmly. But his mind still wandered to the crimson beam standing tall in the City Lord’s Hall. The strange patterns of red and orange inside it now coincided with raging flames in his mind.

After the City Lord left, things quickly calmed down. The trio too went back to cultivation, no longer mulling over the matter. It was unrelated to them in the first place.

Ozul found the opportunity to ask Ember, "What was that about Phoenix? Is that the reason it’s called Phoenix City?"

In response, she raised a brow, "Look who’s finally curious."

"I roamed the city, and I noticed a red pillar in the City Lord’s Hall. Is that related to the Phoenix?"

It was the only thing Jinx had ever shown interest in, so it was evident he would have to figure out everything about it.

"Hm?" This time, Ember stopped looking at the documents in her hand and gave him her full attention. "You sure have a keen eye," she said and tiredly handed the documents back to Rai. "Let’s move inside."

Inside the building, everything was decorated as if he had come to the palace of an emperor. It didn’t make any sense that this whole place was built in just a few hours.

"I know it is hard to believe, but you won’t believe what the Alliance is really capable of. If they really want to, they can even build a whole city from scratch in a day, not to mention this."

He had overheard Ember talking about the Alliance before but dismissed it as yet another faction in a power struggle.

"If they’re so powerful, why aren’t they running this city?"

"Because it is tedious," replied Ember in a split second, "Becoming the City Lord of this city brings about many benefits such as the title of Phoenix Lord, but it also comes with its own woes."

"And what use is the title of Phoenix Lord?" Ozul asked as they entered her office.

Once the door had closed, she began speaking, "As you have already guessed, it’s all because of that particular being: the Celestial Phoenix."

"How is that pillar related to this... Celestial Phoenix?" he asked, more interested in that pillar than anything else.

Though curious as to why he was so interested in that beam, Ember answered him first, "It’s a sort of nest for the Phoenix. Though it looks like a huge tower, it houses an entire terrain inside of it.

Why are you so interested in that beam and not the Celestial Phoenix?" She chuckled, subtly eyeing Jinx who hadn’t left Ozul’s shoulder even now.

"That black cat is even more mysterious than you are. At least I can tell how different you are, but that cat... It’s so normal? Her actions are as if she understands everything, but you stare into her eyes and find just a normal cat again?" Ember commented in a contemplative tone as if she was almost entirely talking to herself.

Though Ozul ignored it. He couldn’t explain Jinx to her even if he wanted to since he was entirely clueless himself.

"The patterns etched inside the beam fascinated me. It was too eye-catching standing in the middle of that estate," he replied, somehow dodging her suspicion.

’So, Jinx is interested in that Celestial Phoenix...’ he could at least deduce that much. Since the beam was basically like gates to the Phoenix’s home.

"As I was saying, there are benefits of being the City Lord and that is the title of Phoenix Lord. That title represents your relation with the Celestial Phoenix. Only the person holding that title is allowed to hold any conversations with her."

"And everyone is afraid of her?"

"To give you a clue of her might, even the ancestors of the Immortal Sect would have to bow down in front of her."

"So she’s basically the strongest being in this realm right now?" he asked, finding it increasingly strange that Jinx wanted to give this Phoenix a visit.

"Well... There are a lot of things you don’t know yet. But basically yes... If we’re talking about permanent residents at least."

Ozul raised a bow, realizing she wasn’t going to sit there and explain everything about this Realm to him.

Ember then began to explain to him everything he needed to know about the Celestial Phoenix.

He sat there listening as she explained that the Phoenix’s origins remain unexplainable to this day.

She also told him that the Phoenix had established a rule over her territory that no destruction was allowed. It was the reason that this city had never seen any destruction from its beginning. At least not on a scale big enough to disturb her rest.

Even the City Lord was made on her whims. Once an opportunity came, she would decide among the people who came to her and choose a person to manage what she considers her territory and is called Phoenix City.

There were few people on the continent even stronger than Sages, but the Phoenix had made up her mind to only appoint Sages.

"Unfortunately, the Phoenix isn’t ambitious. Or she could’ve alone let the whole realm fall into chaos," Rai sighed ruefully, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Anyway, that Ryujin bastard cannot directly confront me lest he incurs her wrath," Ember added at last.

If a fight broke out between Transcendents in the city, it was his duty to put an end to it before it caused any major destruction. He couldn’t even let anything happen, much less be the cause of it.

"And what does the City Lord receive in turn? Why become the City Lord?"

Ozul couldn’t help but think it was a useless title for anyone. Since most of the financial system was controlled by the Alliance, and the City Lord couldn’t even use force against another Sage, there didn’t seem much to gain from receiving that position.

"I told you before, the benefit lies in the title of the Phoenix Lord. The City Lord gets to be the only person who can negotiate with the Phoenix at any point.

The Celestial Phoenix doesn’t like to be disturbed and will erase anyone from existence who breaks her peace, but she is equally generous as well. Every decade or so, she allows people to enter her ’nest’ and receive her blessings."

"And the Phoenix Lord decides who gets to enter?"

"Exactly. That authority lies entirely within the title of the Phoenix Lord."

Having cleared his doubts, Ozul was about to turn around and leave but just then, he remembered something, "Aren’t you a dragon yourself? Are dragons weaker than phoenixes?"

Ember chuckled at his innocent question and replied, "What part of ’celestial’ do you not understand? This Phoenix is special. Her flames burn brighter than stars and just by being in her presence, you might gain some enlightenment. There is no comparison between the Celestial Phoenix and the other phoenixes."

’Is Jinx simply curious about the Phoenix or is there some connection between them?’ Ozul contemplated silently, knowing he wouldn’t get an answer unless he saw the Phoenix with his own eyes.

He left the room with his thoughts when Rai turned toward Ember with squinted eyes.

"Before you waste your words, let me tell you: that boy is special. Also, don’t follow him, and don’t send anyone to keep watch over him either. From my time with him, I can at least guess that he has an uncanny ability to sense emotions."

Rai nodded in understanding before he replied, "I have never seen you be so patient with anyone before, my lord."

"Hmm. Losing your cultivation for decades really changes you, huh?"

Rai didn’t say anything, but he could tell that Ember was being particularly kind toward these humans. Her demeanor hadn’t changed much with other people.

Although he was concerned, he just shrugged his shoulders. Since his lord had commanded him to be kind toward them, he would just have to suck it up. There was no other way around it.

...

Meanwhile, back in his room, Ozul contemplated what he wanted to do next.

The carefree attitude of everyone in the city finally made sense to him. Since the Phoenix never allowed any large-scale destruction, the people living here probably never saw war.

’Sleeping is not the choice. I must start training...’

He gave one last look at Jinx, and said, "It will take a while before we can go inside that thing. So you will have to wait."

As if in protest, the black feline turned around and rolled herself, burying her face in her fur.

’Oh well, another nap won’t hurt...’