The ancestral rites concluded, signifying that Yao Xian's coming-of-age ceremony was mostly complete. The most crucial part now was unveiling her face to reveal her true appearance.
Yao Xian stood at the center of the altar, a gentle breeze causing her pink dress to flutter, resembling a blooming peach blossom radiating dazzling brilliance.
At that moment, the sunlight shone directly upon her, adding a touch of mystery.
Everyone craned their necks, even the Yao family members, eagerly anticipating seeing their little princess's true face.
“Chiang Chiang!” “Chiang Chiang!” “Chiang Chiang!”……
Just then, a supremely loud cry echoed from the heavens, and in the next moment, the world was filled with golden light.
A golden divine bird descended from the sky, its wings like burning flames, emitting scorching heat. Its feathers displayed a colorful array, like a magnificent painting. Its eyes revealed a mysterious and ancient power, as if it were a divine creature that had flown from ancient times.
The golden divine bird circled in the air, its wings flapping, the powerful force tearing apart the clouds. In an instant, the high sky was clear, with only the golden divine bird, seemingly searching for something, its sharp eyes looking down from above. Its cry was like celestial music, crisp and melodious, intoxicating all who heard it.
“A phoenix, it’s a phoenix.”
Soon, everyone came to their senses. Upon seeing the divine bird in the sky, everyone except those whose cultivation had reached the Immortal Realm couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
“My heavens, it’s rumored that when Yao family’s little princess was born, a phoenix soared through the nine heavens, and all the birds in the Tianxuan Continent sang together to celebrate her birth. I thought it was just a legend, but with the phoenix descending today, it seems the legend is true.”
“This is a newly born phoenix. As expected of a legendary immortal beast on par with the True Dragon, it possesses the strength of the Supreme Realm at birth. Its starting point is the end point that ordinary people cannot reach even after countless years.”
The phoenix in the sky continued to circle, seemingly sensing that many people below could suppress it, so it hesitated to descend.
“Father, is it here for me?” Yao Xian, also attracted by the phoenix in the sky, couldn't help but ask Yao Tianchen beside her.
Phoenixes are even rarer than True Dragons in the world. Dragons have the saying 'carp leaping over the dragon gate,' meaning snakes, flood dragons, and even fish can transform into True Dragons through cultivation, but phoenixes cannot.
Phoenixes rely on their own reproduction to continue their race, and the rest are born from heaven and earth.
Phoenixes born from heaven and earth have much higher bloodlines and talents than those that reproduce, and the phoenix in the sky is clearly an original.
If the Taixu Realm had never given birth to a phoenix before, then it would be the first phoenix in this world.
Hearing Yao Xian's words, Yao Tianchen smiled and said, “Who else could attract it besides my Xian'er?”
Learning that the phoenix was there for her, a trace of excitement flashed across her face. She said, “But why doesn’t it come down? It seems to be afraid.”
“It’s probably sensing that there are too many strong people here, so it doesn’t dare to come down!” Yao Tianchen said with a wry smile. Basically, all the True Immortal experts from the Jade Pool Immortal Domain were gathered at the banquet. At this moment, the Yao family could be said to have gathered all the power of the entire Jade Pool Immortal Domain, with experts as numerous as clouds. This phoenix was an original born from heaven and earth, and even if they suppressed their aura to the extreme, it could still feel the threat posed by the experts.
This threat wouldn't really harm it, but it was an instinct.
“Then what should we do?” Yao Xian frowned. She had fallen in love with the phoenix at first sight, and now that she knew the phoenix was there for her, she liked it even more. She didn't want the phoenix to be scared away.
Yao Tianchen was also helpless. He had no solution. Could he drive away the guests? That was obviously impossible.
“Tianchen, how about…”
Madam Yao gave Yao Tianchen a look, clearly meaning to ask Gu Changsheng to take action.
“This…” Yao Tianchen was a little embarrassed. Gu Changsheng had specifically instructed him not to tell Yao Xian about himself. He understood Gu Changsheng's meaning, and he agreed with it. Although he knew that Yao Xian was the reincarnation of Gu Changsheng's Dao companion, Yao Xian was still his daughter, and he hoped that his daughter's future happiness would not be controlled by a 'memory'.
But if he asked Gu Changsheng to take action now, wouldn't there be a high risk of exposure? So he hesitated.
“Father, Mother, look, it’s flying down.” At that moment, Yao Xian said in surprise.
Hearing this, the two looked up at the sky.
They saw the phoenix, which had been soaring in the sky, flying straight towards Yao Xian as if it were not affected by any aura.
At the same time, Yao Tianchen and Madam Yao were also secretly on guard. Although they knew that the phoenix would not harm Yao Xian, it was better to be careful just in case.
On the high platform, Gu Changsheng looked up at the divine bird and said with a faint smile, “Phoenixes fly together, their voices harmonious. You said back then that you wanted to raise a phoenix, but unfortunately, I was experiencing mortality and had to start all over again, so I couldn’t raise a phoenix for you. Now, I can!”
This phoenix was the gift he was giving to Yao Xian. He had not told anyone about it, because his kindness to Yao Xian did not need to be known by anyone.
Even if Yao Xian didn't know it now, she would know it in the future.
However, although he hadn't told anyone, someone had guessed it.
Li Beifei, sitting in the corner of the plaza, curled his lips and muttered as he looked at the phoenix in the sky, “The old guy is quite romantic, huh? Hmm, I can learn this. I haven't seen Qingyi for over a thousand years. I can't be too casual when I go back to meet her. I have to bring some gifts back with me.”
But what should he bring?
“That’s right, the first prize in the upcoming competition is an Immortal Scripture!”
Li Beifei's eyes lit up, and a blazing fighting spirit ignited in his heart, causing others to glance at him.
The phoenix quickly landed in front of Yao Xian, its size also transforming to over ten feet tall. It restrained its aura, quelled the phoenix true fire on its body, slowly came to Yao Xian, and then it prostrated on the ground, slowly lowering its noble head.
“This is…” Yao Xian didn't quite understand.
“Xian'er, it’s submitting to you,” Yao Tianchen said.
“Is that so?” A hint of surprise flashed across Yao Xian's face. She carefully stretched out her fair jade hand and placed it on the phoenix's head, feeling the warm aura. Yao Xian said, “Are you saying that you want to acknowledge me as your master?”
The phoenix nodded. It had just been born and couldn't speak yet, so it could only communicate with Yao Xian through divine sense.
“I agree!”
After saying that, Yao Xian personally removed the veil from her face, revealing her peerless beauty.
At that moment, her face was filled with a bright smile.
Removing the veil meant that her coming-of-age ceremony was complete.
She was now an adult!
……
