Chu Zheng was held at the waist in the great bird’s mouth, terrified beyond words, loudly begging for mercy, but the great bird had long gone mad and no longer recognized this supposed benefactor. After a while, intense pain surged over him. Cold sweat poured from Chu Zheng’s forehead as he immediately cried loudly for help, looking around desperately and shouting to Chu Li: “Big brother! Big brother save me! Save me!”

Chu Li furrowed his brow tightly, raised his long spear horizontally, and immediately charged forward.

However, just at this moment, a piercing scream was heard. Everyone stared dumbfounded at Chu Zheng being bitten in half at the waist by the yellow bird, stunned and unable to speak. Chu Zheng’s lower half fell to the dusty ground with a heavy thud. After the intense pain, the yellow bird swallowed whole, taking Chu Zheng’s upper body into its mouth, leaving only his head still outside.

“Haha!” In the moment between life and death, Chu Zheng, who had been panicking and desperately pleading, suddenly laughed loudly, his eyes fanatical, red as blood, crying out madly: “Yellow bird gives birth, heaven’s mandate returns! I know! I know! I will command the seven divisions, I will sweep the six directions! I will ascend the throne of the Great Chu Emperor! I will rule the world! Chu Li, you traitor, I will kill you and take back everything that’s mine! Haha!”

The shrill scream was immediately drowned in the yellow bird’s esophagus. Tan Suning’s face was completely bloodless. After a moment of stunned silence, she suddenly rushed to Chu Zheng’s lower corpse and fell to the ground weeping bitterly!

With a sharp “Roar!” the yellow bird, having tasted blood, was still unsatisfied. It struck fiercely toward Qin Zhiyan lying on the ground. Qing Xia was furious, holding her dagger in her teeth, leaped into the air, and drove it hard into the yellow bird’s belly. The yellow bird cried out sharply and retreated hastily. Qing Xia followed closely, climbing onto the yellow bird’s stomach, cutting inward knife by knife. Large chunks of flesh fell to the ground as Qing Xia’s face showed ruthless determination, her blade never stopping, gritting her teeth. Soon she had carved out a huge bloody hole. Her eyes were resolute as she dug frantically inward. In a short time, her figure disappeared from sight.

Shrill screams echoed through heaven and earth. Chu Li and Qin Zhiyan’s eyes were about to split with rage as they stood up and attacked the yellow bird together shoulder to shoulder, with the fire phoenix entangling it endlessly. Soon they had torn off large chunks of the yellow bird’s flesh, with golden feathers scattered wildly everywhere.

The yellow bird was no match and a trace of terror flashed in its eyes. Its simple mind couldn’t imagine why such fragile humans, weak as ants, would have such tremendous power.

Suddenly, the fierce great bird cried out sharply and abruptly took flight, its tremendous force striking the stone walls, causing the entire cave to nearly collapse in an instant.

“It’s trying to escape! Catch it!” Chu Li shouted fiercely, grabbing Qin Zhiyan’s waist. Qin Zhiyan borrowed the force to leap up, his spear piercing through the yellow bird’s wing. The yellow bird cried out miserably, charging upward even more urgently.

With an angry roar, a snow-white little beast small as a broad bean suddenly leaped high, bit onto the yellow bird’s foot, and quickly and nimbly scrambled up.

“Qing Xia!” Chu Li looked up and called out urgently, his eyes bloodshot, crying out loudly.

Qin Zhiyan’s voice suddenly rang out behind him. Chu Li turned to look and saw Qin Zhiyan riding on the fire phoenix’s back, looking at him and extending one hand, calling out gravely: “Get on!”

Looking at Qin Zhiyan’s hand extended toward him—slightly pale but steady—Chu Li was momentarily dazed, but in the next instant, he grasped the hand of this man who had been, was, and would continue to be his mortal enemy for life, and leaped onto the fire phoenix’s back.

“Fire phoenix! Chase them!”

Cold, fierce wind howled past as they soared ninety thousand li into the sky. In the grim and terrifying ten-thousand-zhang deep cave, the kings of this chaotic world placed their still-young hands tightly together for the first time.

Air currents surged, rocks flew through the air, cold wind blew against their faces, and the scenery around changed dramatically. The fire phoenix was extremely fast—the journey that had taken Chu Li three days to descend was covered in just this short time.

In an instant, they felt fresh air rushing toward them. On the vast plain outside Phoenix Cry Palace, blade lights stood in forests, banners and flags waved, and soldiers in green, black, and yellow armor were arrayed in orderly formation—clearly the troops of Qin, Chu, and Qi. They watched each other warily without speaking while simultaneously looking coldly at the vigilantly lined-up disciples of Penglai. Besides those soldiers, there were also various martial artists in different colored robes, Nanjiang barbarians, and seven division emissaries hidden among the common people. They were numerous, all expressionless, yet gave off a powerful and terrifyingly strange aura—the kind of aura only those who had truly experienced war could possess.

But at this moment, they all raised their heads, looking at the vast yellow bird spanning heaven and earth in mid-air. Even the coldest people couldn’t help but widen their eyes in shock, watching that fierce battle in the vast night sky in disbelief.

Compared to the yellow bird, the snow-white little beast as small as a sesame seed fiercely bit the yellow bird’s neck, refusing to loosen its grip no matter how much it shook. Golden blood fell like heavy rain, splashing on everyone’s faces.

Just then, from the ruins of Hongtian Water Prison, a sharp phoenix cry suddenly rang out. Everyone was startled again, turning their heads sharply to see Chu Li and Qin Zhiyan sitting shoulder to shoulder on the phoenix bird, their robes flying, dark hair dancing, like two prosperous war gods emerging from that deep cave back into the light of day.

“Your Majesty!” “Your Highness!”

Mountain-shaking cheers rang out simultaneously as the morale of Qin and Chu forces soared, clapping hands in celebration.

Chu Li and Qin Zhiyan had no time to pay attention to that now. They rode the fire phoenix, flying swiftly up toward the vast night sky, standing shoulder to shoulder on the phoenix’s back, spears held high, eyes sharp and fierce, magnificently riding the wind upward.

Just then, a miserable cry suddenly came from the yellow bird’s mouth. Everyone thought the little beast had bitten through its neck, but looking up, they saw nothing unusual. However, moments later, a spray of blood suddenly shot skyward. Under the shower of bright yellow blood, a huge round hole exploded open in the yellow bird’s belly. Looking up, everyone saw a woman in green robes, face white as snow, eyes sharp and fierce, emerging from the yellow bird’s belly and falling straight down from the sky.

“Qing Xia!” “Yima’er!”

Chu Li and Qin Zhiyan both rushed forward, both extending their arms to catch her in their embrace.

Zhu Yuanqing in the crowd looked at the seven division emissaries around him, raised an eyebrow, and suddenly called out loudly: “Yellow bird gives birth! Heaven’s mandate returns! After a thousand years, the master’s descendant has finally emerged!”

As soon as he finished speaking, all the seven division people froze in place. That cherished legend and orally transmitted prophecy echoed in their minds like a warning bell. Some fanatical elders suddenly laughed loudly, crying out to heaven: “Yellow bird gives birth! Heaven’s mandate returns!”

In an instant, Zhuang Qing Xia’s name echoed across the sky, sweeping across all directions, spreading throughout heaven and earth!

Plants and trees bore sorrow, heaven and earth shook. In the brilliant lights of the vast night, the destined sovereign was reborn through baptism of blood and fire. From this moment, the vast earth would remember a woman whose name was Zhuang Qing Xia.

The vast heaven and earth were desolate, heavy snow falling, endless for ten thousand li.

A man in snow-white fur robes stood on the white ground. Though his complexion was slightly pale, his eyes were like stars, sword-like brows extending to his temples, face like polished jade, nose bridge high and straight. His arctic abyss snow fox long sable made him appear even more like a jade gentleman, his robes fluttering in the wind, full of undisguisable transcendent and elegant charm.

Opposite him stood a tall man wearing black ink sable. The man’s hair was like silk, a pair of narrow phoenix eyes gleaming brilliantly in the air, sword-like brows and starry eyes, straight back, his entire being radiating tremendous kingly aura.

Behind each of them, separated by several hundred steps, were dark masses of thousands of troops and horses. The two armies were arrayed in silent formation, not making a sound.

The cold wind passed between the two men. The white-clothed man’s lips curved in a faint smile, his gaze casual, all thoughts completely hidden without a leak in his eyes, making it impossible to discern his thoughts. Suddenly, a snow migratory bird spread its huge wings, gliding over the towering sky, fluttering toward the distance.

“Green mountains remain unchanged, clear waters flow forever. Your Majesty’s great kindness, but please let the escort end here.” A mellow voice suddenly rang out slowly, like early spring mulberry leaves, hoarse but pleasant to hear.

Chu Li’s eyebrows raised slightly as he looked faintly toward a luxurious carriage guarded at the center of the Yan character camp. His eyes flashed, then he turned his head to look directly into the opposite man’s eyes, saying in a deep voice: “That I let her go with you doesn’t mean I’m giving her to you.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled lightly: “This prince understands completely. How could the Great Chu Emperor be someone who gives up easily? This prince knows what to do.”

Chu Li laughed coldly and said gravely: “Speaking honestly, in six months at the shortest, one year at most, I will definitely go to Xianyang and take her away.”

Qin Zhiyan’s lips curved as he said faintly: “That depends on whether Your Majesty has the ability.”

“What? Does Prince Xuan think I’m not worthy?” Chu Li raised his eyebrows slightly, asking in a low voice.

Qin Zhiyan laughed heartily and said loudly: “If Chu Emperor isn’t worthy, then who would be qualified? Among all the kings and heroes in this world, the person this prince most admires is Your Majesty the Chu Emperor. If this world didn’t have you, life would truly lose much of its pleasure.”

Chu Li laughed heartily and said coldly: “Thank you Prince Xuan for such high praise. It’s just a pity that there can only be one sun in the sky, all things should have only one sovereign, and only one person can possess her. Regardless of national enmity or private grudges, you and I are destined to be lifelong enemies, unable to be friends, like the sun and moon that cannot share the same sky.”

Qin Zhiyan clapped his hands and laughed: “Chu Emperor speaks frankly, truly showing a great man’s character. It’s just that when she was in your hands that day on White Deer Plains, you still couldn’t keep her. After another six months, what leverage do you think you have to take her away from my side?”

Chu Li snorted coldly and said gravely: “My determination is the leverage.”

Qin Zhiyan laughed loudly: “How admirable that Your Majesty the Chu Emperor has such confidence. Since that’s the case, this prince will make a gentleman’s agreement with Your Majesty, with one year as the term. If Your Majesty cannot make Yima’er willingly leave with you, then you must depart in disappointment and never pester her again for the rest of your life.”