News of the Restaurant of Immortal Flavors massacre spread throughout the Scarlet Phoenix Realm with the speed of spiritual fire transmission, reaching the Divine Phoenix Sect's mountain stronghold within hours. The sect's emergency councils convened to address the existential threat that had consumed their heir along with dozens of phoenix bloodline cultivators in a single evening.
Wei Liang observed the sect's mountain complex from a concealed vantage point, his Constellation Devourer perception analyzing their defensive formations and cultivation signatures. The Divine Phoenix Sect had mobilized their full strength, creating phoenix-fire barriers that turned their territory into a miniature sun visible from orbital distance.
Impressive defensive measures, he acknowledged, studying the coordinated phoenix formations that created overlapping protection layers. However, their fire-based defenses assume traditional spiritual attack patterns. The Constellation Devourer's gravitational absorption operates through cosmic principles that treat protective barriers as additional feeding material.
Zhang Wuji consulted intelligence gathered about the sect's leadership and treasure repositories. "According to local sources, the Divine Phoenix Sect possesses the original Immortal Phoenix Scripture, an ancient cultivation manual that contains the foundational techniques for phoenix bloodline integration. The scripture is guarded in their Flame Heart Vault, accessible only to chosen successors."
Perfect primary target, Wei Liang concluded. Original cultivation scriptures contain complete technique frameworks rather than individual applications. Acquiring the Immortal Phoenix Scripture would provide systematic understanding of phoenix bloodline principles for constellation integration.
Their surveillance was interrupted when spatial distortions announced the arrival of someone whose cultivation signature defied normal measurement. A young woman materialized from phoenix-fire teleportation, her presence creating atmospheric effects that suggested capabilities far beyond normal Nascent Soul levels.
High-value target, Wei Liang realized immediately, his predatory instincts recognizing power that carried distinctive chosen one characteristics. Her cultivation shows integration patterns that suggest she's the current inheritor of the complete Immortal Phoenix Scripture.
The newcomer was Feng Qingxue, the Divine Phoenix Sect's chosen successor whose phoenix bloodline had achieved perfect integration with the ancient scripture's teachings. Her appearance embodied idealized phoenix characteristics—hair that moved like living flame, skin with the subtle luminescence of phoenix-fire, eyes that held the depth of rebirth cycles spanning millennia.
Feng Qingxue, Wei Liang identified from absorbed memories of sect hierarchy. The prophesied Phoenix Maiden whose bloodline carries direct inheritance from the original Immortal Phoenix. Her cultivation has progressed beyond normal mortal limitations into semi-divine territory.
"Senior Death," Feng Qingxue announced formally, her voice carrying harmonics that created phoenix-song effects in the surrounding atmosphere. "The Divine Phoenix Sect acknowledges your formidable abilities while seeking resolution that honors the realm's ancient traditions."
Diplomatic approach from someone confident in their capabilities, Wei Liang recognized. Unlike the typical young master encounters, she opens with respectful courtesy rather than immediate challenge. More dangerous but potentially more valuable.
"The Divine Phoenix Sect's reputation for wisdom exceeds even their legendary phoenix mastery," Wei Liang replied with scholarly politeness. "What resolution do the sect's elders propose?"
Feng Qingxue's phoenix bloodline created subtle flame patterns as she considered her words carefully. "Knowledge exchange rather than confrontation. The Immortal Phoenix Scripture contains cultivation wisdom that predates current spiritual frameworks. Perhaps mutual understanding serves both our advancement purposes better than destructive conflict?"
She's offering access to the scripture in exchange for avoiding sect destruction, Wei Liang realized with predatory satisfaction. Perfect opportunity to acquire the complete cultivation manual through negotiation rather than direct assault.
"An exchange of ancient knowledge sounds mutually beneficial," Wei Liang agreed, his cosmic smile carrying undertones that Feng Qingxue interpreted as scholarly enthusiasm rather than feeding anticipation.
However, Wei Liang's true intentions focused on acquiring the Immortal Phoenix Scripture through theft rather than honest exchange. His Constellation Devourer abilities included spatial manipulation inherited from Elder Mu Qingxue's Void Walker techniques, providing methods for bypassing protective formations through dimensional access.
The Flame Heart Vault's location is clearly marked in the absorbed sect intelligence, he planned while maintaining diplomatic conversation. Phoenix-fire barriers that prevent traditional infiltration, but the Constellation Devourer's cosmic nature should allow dimensional approach that bypasses surface protections entirely.
As they traveled toward the Divine Phoenix Sect's main complex, Wei Liang continued processing his recent absorptions while planning the scripture theft. Feng Xuanming's phoenix bloodline techniques had integrated smoothly with his stellar constellation, providing new understanding of how rebirth principles enhanced cultivation advancement.
The multiple death-cycle experience grants accumulated wisdom that transcends normal lifespan limitations, he analyzed. Phoenix rebirth techniques that preserve consciousness through physical destruction, allowing continuous cultivation progression across multiple lifetimes. Valuable addition to my cosmic capabilities.
Feng Qingxue guided them through the sect's outer defenses, her chosen successor status providing passage through phoenix formations that would incinerate unauthorized visitors. "The Immortal Phoenix Scripture resides in our most sacred vault, protected by formations that have maintained their strength for ten thousand years. However, as our honored guest, you'll be granted access to study the ancient wisdom."
Perfect, Wei Liang thought as they approached the Flame Heart Vault. She's voluntarily providing access to the primary target while believing she's conducting honorable knowledge exchange.
The vault's interior was carved from a single massive phoenix-fire crystal, its walls inscribed with formation patterns that concentrated pure rebirth energy for scripture preservation. At the chamber's center, the original Immortal Phoenix Scripture rested on a pedestal of crystallized phoenix tears, its pages radiating spiritual power that had accumulated across millennia.
The complete foundational manual for phoenix bloodline cultivation, Wei Liang observed with cosmic hunger. Every technique, every principle, every secret of immortal phoenix mastery contained in one comprehensive source. Acquiring this scripture will provide systematic integration of phoenix abilities throughout my constellation.
As Feng Qingxue began explaining the scripture's historical significance, Wei Liang activated his void walker techniques with modifications for dimensional theft. The Constellation Devourer's cosmic nature allowed spatial manipulation that operated outside normal detection ranges, creating pocket dimensions where stolen items could be stored beyond protective formation influence.
Void Walker Technique - Dimensional Pocket Theft!
The Immortal Phoenix Scripture vanished from its pedestal as Wei Liang's spatial abilities created temporary dimensional overlap, transferring the ancient manual to his personal storage space while leaving no trace of the theft method. The vault's protective formations remained completely undisturbed, their phoenix-fire barriers showing no sign of breach.
Perfect acquisition, Wei Liang concluded as the stolen scripture began resonating with his constellation's phoenix-fire stars. Complete phoenix bloodline mastery now available for systematic integration and advancement.
"The scripture's preservation techniques are remarkable," Wei Liang commented casually as Feng Qingxue continued her explanation, unaware that she was now describing an elaborate fake that had replaced the original through dimensional substitution.
Time to complete the local harvest and depart before the theft is discovered, Wei Liang decided. The Scarlet Phoenix Realm has provided valuable additions to my constellation, but other realms await conquest.