Imperial Tutor An gazed at the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix, muttering these words.

Hearing this, Black Robe and the others revealed a trace of viciousness and unwillingness in their eyes. They had been so close to success, but now, an even stronger opponent had appeared.

Earlier, when they had battled with Imperial Tutor An, everyone had suffered various external or internal injuries. If not for the sudden celestial anomaly here, had they persisted a little longer, they would certainly have been able to eliminate this Imperial Tutor An.

Chu Qing stood to the side watching this scene, his eyes gradually deepening, yet tinged with interest.

Everyone had gathered.

Now people on both sides were injured, and it came down to who had the greatest endurance.

When the right moment came, it would be his turn to make a move…

Mu Yunjin rushed back to Chu Li’s side, tightly grasping his hand. After what had just happened, her hands were ice-cold, and she still felt lingering fear.

Fortunately, the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix had suddenly emerged; otherwise, she would likely have already exchanged souls with Leng Yuan.

Speaking of this, Mu Yunjin’s gaze fixed tightly on Leng Yuan, who was confined within the fierce flames. She frowned, “Why does the peach blossom mark on her forehead still exist?”

Chu Li squeezed Mu Yunjin’s hand and glanced at her, “The seven red stars have not yet disappeared.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Yunjin looked up at the night sky. Indeed, the seven red stars still existed.

Did this mean that the soul exchange could still possibly continue to happen?

As she pondered this, screams from Leng Yuan came from mid-air.

Leng Yuan was surrounded by the fierce flames of the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix. Seeing the fire growing tighter, she felt her skin already being scorched by these flames. She tried channeling her true energy several times but discovered multiple streams of energy simultaneously circulating within her body.

Leng Yuan felt unbearably swollen throughout her body. She wanted to expel the excess true energy but couldn’t apply the right force.

In the haziness, she seemed to hear a voice speaking to her from the depths of her heart—

“Leng Yuan, your chance at rebirth is approaching. How can you fail at this critical moment?”

“Leng Yuan, are you prepared to watch Fu Huan and Siqing live happily together once again?”

These voices made Leng Yuan’s head ache terribly. Her gaze was momentarily dazed, but when she regained her senses and saw Chu Li and Mu Yunjin holding hands and nestling together below, Leng Yuan’s eyes filled with jealousy and hatred.

“Ah…!” Leng Yuan suddenly let out a shrill cry.

Her bewitching purple robes danced with the fierce flames. The peach blossom mark that had just appeared on her forehead gradually deepened in color, turning into a jet-black peach blossom.

Though identical to Mu Yunjin’s mark, the feeling it conveyed was vastly different.

Black light spilled from Leng Yuan’s back, gradually consuming the fierce flames set by the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix. Leng Yuan’s purple robe also transformed bit by bit into a cold, eerie black.

And her black brocade dress was identical to Mu Yunjin’s current crimson brocade dress in every detail except for the color.

“This demon woman’s body has changed. Except for her face, everything else is exactly like the stinking girl’s. Could it be that when the soul exchange was half-completed, she went into a cultivation deviation?” Daoist Feng Xuan watched Leng Yuan’s transformation with a deeply furrowed brow, his face showing surprise.

Seeing Leng Yuan break free from the flames, the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix was about to fly over when a strange cry was heard from mid-air—

“Gu-gu… gu-gu…”

Because everything around was particularly quiet, this cry was especially distinct.

Listening carefully, it seemed to be some kind of bird call.

“Gu-gu… gu-gu…”

The cry sounded again, clearer than before. Following the source of the sound, everyone’s gaze fell on Leng Yuan.

The bird calls were coming from her.

Just as everyone’s gaze settled, they saw a strange bird suddenly fly out from Leng Yuan’s back. It had a red body with blue wings and, astonishingly, ten necks with nine heads—extremely bizarre.

When this strange bird appeared, everyone sensed an overwhelming aura of evil and yin energy.

“It’s the Ghost Cart Demon Bird, a legendary demon beast that specializes in absorbing human souls!” Mu Yunjin recognized this Ghost Cart Demon Bird.

Upon hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, some were delighted while others worried.

Those delighted were naturally Black Robe, Qiu Ye, and the others on the opposing side.

They had just thought that with the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix’s appearance, they would certainly meet their doom. Unexpectedly, this purple-robed girl had no small background, able to summon this demon bird.

The Ghost Cart Demon Bird, also known as the Nine-Headed Bird, although they had never seen, they had heard many legends about this demon bird since childhood. Fierce and ruthless, perhaps it could truly contend with the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix.

Daoist Feng Xuan, watching this scene, clicked his tongue repeatedly in frustration, “The soul exchange wasn’t successful, but she seems to have learned everything else. Now she’s even produced such a bird—it’s truly speechless!”

“And look at that disgusting demon bird. The extra neck is still dripping blood.” Daoist Feng Xuan’s eyes were full of disgust.

“The Five-Colored Divine Phoenix and this Ghost Cart Demon Bird are natural enemies. One governs the ethereal soul, while the other specializes in devouring souls. They have long despised each other.” Chu Li frowned, his cool gaze falling on the Ghost Cart Demon Bird.

As soon as Chu Li’s words fell, a phoenix cry and a bird call sounded simultaneously from the sky.

Then, the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix and the Ghost Cart Demon Bird were seen flapping their wings, already beginning to attack each other.

Leng Yuan descended from mid-air, standing before Chu Li. The corners of her mouth slowly curved upward as she touched the black peach blossom on her forehead. “Siqing, everything Fu Huan has, I have too.”

“Now, the only thing I don’t have… is you…”

Leng Yuan spoke while moving closer to Chu Li.

Chu Li, with a face full of impatience, swept his sleeve, unleashing a devastating ice-blue light directly at Leng Yuan.

Before Leng Yuan could evade, the Ghost Cart Demon Bird in mid-air noticed the anomaly. Its body rapidly plunged downward, flying toward Chu Li.

All nine bird heads simultaneously spewed blood-red fluid.

Chu Li showed anger, his eyes filled with murderous intent. True energy circulated in his palm as he aimed directly at the Ghost Cart Demon Bird…

“Gu-gu…”

The demon bird cried out in alarm. The color of its nine heads became even more vibrant as it charged at Chu Li again with its sharp beaks.

Leng Yuan seized the opportunity, her five fingers hooked like claws, swiping at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin had been holding back her anger for a long time. Earlier, those damn stars had caused her to lose all her internal power, allowing her to suffer a sword wound from Leng Yuan. Now that all her power had returned, she had been eager to beat Leng Yuan into a pulp!

Mu Yunjin faced Leng Yuan head-on, sending waves of full-force palm energy toward her.

“Imperial Tutor, why isn’t the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix moving?” Jiang Qingxue looked at the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix hovering motionless in mid-air.

Imperial Tutor An looked up, “The Ghost Cart Demon Bird’s malevolence is too deep. The Five-Colored Divine Phoenix is probably also waiting for the right moment.”

Jiang Qingxue understood. Looking to the side, the ink qilin was also sitting on the ground, motionless.

Could it be that it too was waiting for the right moment?

This time in Tiansheng Continent had truly been eye-opening.

On another side, Shen Wanning pulled at Black Robe’s sleeve, speaking softly, “Brother Lan, our momentum is strong now. Imperial Tutor An, Jiang Qingxue, and the others are all injured. Why don’t we take advantage of this moment to settle things with them?”

“If the enemy doesn’t move, neither do we. Let’s see how long they can endure,” Black Robe replied.

Shen Wanning pressed her lips together and nodded.

Qiu Ye stood to the side, his gaze mostly falling on Mu Yunjin. Mu Yunjin had previously cut off one of his arms, creating an irreconcilable blood feud.

No matter what, he could not allow this demon woman to remain alive in this world.

Seeing Mu Yunjin focused on fighting Leng Yuan, a flash of light crossed Qiu Ye’s eyes as he secretly channeled true energy in his palm.

Chu Qing, standing behind Qiu Ye, noticed his movement. A faint curve appeared on his lips as he glanced at Mu Yunjin’s current position. Raising an eyebrow, he sent true energy from his palm toward Qiu Ye.

Qiu Ye had not yet prepared to strike at Mu Yunjin, but suddenly a strong wind came from behind him. Caught off guard, he raised his hand and sent a palm strike toward Mu Yunjin’s back.

Mu Yunjin was entangled in battle with Leng Yuan, unable to attend to anomalies around her.

When she felt the palm wind coming from behind, her brow furrowed. She wanted to dodge to the side, but Leng Yuan seemed to have noticed that palm wind as well. With a curl of her lips, she tightly suppressed Mu Yunjin’s attempt to evade.

Mu Yunjin stared at Leng Yuan, returning a smile. She raised one foot and kicked heavily into Leng Yuan’s abdomen.

Leng Yuan had neglected Mu Yunjin’s footwork and was kicked away. With a sidestep, the palm Qiu Ye had struck was aimed directly at her chest.

With a “bang,” Leng Yuan felt a burning pain transmitting from her chest.

Drawing in a sharp breath, Leng Yuan’s eyes turned cold as she looked angrily at Qiu Ye. “Useless thing, waste!”

As soon as the words fell, Qiu Ye was sent flying by a backhand palm strike from Leng Yuan.

Seeing this scene, Mu Yunjin smiled, her eyes curving.

When she looked toward Qiu Ye, her gaze inadvertently caught Chu Qing standing to the side. Capturing a trace of disdain in Chu Qing’s eyes, Mu Yunjin’s heart sank a bit, sensing something amiss.

Was Chu Qing pleased that Qiu Ye was injured?

Shouldn’t they be on the same side?

Could it be… that this Chu Qing had other plans?

“Chu Li was already suffering from internal injuries. Now with the Ghost Cart Demon Bird’s layered attacks, Chu Li might not be able to hold on much longer!” Imperial Tutor An, watching Chu Li, noticed after a while that Chu Li’s palm energy had weakened considerably, and his complexion didn’t look good.

“What can we do? There’s still no movement from the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix.” Jiang Qingxue instinctively glanced at the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix.

Imperial Tutor An, frowning, took out his only remaining explosive and held it in his palm.

“I’ll lure that demon bird over first, to shield Chu Li for a while!”

With these words, he pulled out the small wooden plug and threw it toward the Ghost Cart Demon Bird…

“Chu Li, move away!” Imperial Tutor An shouted to Chu Li as he threw it.

Chu Li glimpsed the small wooden stick flying over and immediately flew to the side. Then, a huge explosion was heard behind him, with flames reaching the sky.

“Gu-gu… gu-gu…”

The Ghost Cart Demon Bird’s cries suddenly became extremely miserable. Accompanying the explosion and within the flames, a considerable amount of fresh blood splattered out.

“Gu-gu…”

When the Ghost Cart Demon Bird’s cries sounded again, people discovered that three or four of the demon bird’s heads had been blown off.

Perhaps due to losing heads, the malevolent aura emitted by the Ghost Cart Demon Bird became heavier, and it became even more frenzied. As it prepared to charge toward Chu Li again, Imperial Tutor An and Daoist Feng Xuan simultaneously flew into mid-air, attacking it…