Translator: Lordbluefire Editor: Lordbluefire

  Qin Wentian’s gaze studied the various holy maidens. Out of the nine, only six had managed to gather 81 pieces of parasol leaves or more.

  These six holy maidens were namely, Nanfeng Qingruo, Nanfeng Shengge, Nanfeng Aoxue, Nanfeng Xihua, Nanfeng Ji, and Nanfeng Yunxi.

  These six holy maidens were also the ones with the strongest protectors. They could comprehend the leaves at their leisure without fear of being disturbed. Now, everything depended on their comprehension abilities.

  Qin Wentian could see that out of these six, the ones with the strongest comprehension were Nanfeng Yunxi, Nanfeng Shengge, Nanfeng Qingruo, and Nanfeng Aoxue. Nanfeng Xihua’s and Nanfeng Ji’s abilities were clearly a shade inferior.

  From Qin Wentian’s perspective, the ones with the most hope to become the Holy Successor was one of the earlier four he mentioned. They were the most popular ones out of the thirty-six holy maidens, and not only were their talents outstanding, their protectors were powerful as well. Well, Nanfeng Xihua and Nanfeng Ji were also not weak—they were just slightly weaker compared to the earlier four.

  Nanfeng Yunxi and Nanfeng Shengge both seemed to have completed comprehending 81 parasol leaves at the same instant. A fearsome aura gushed forth from both of them, causing a raging wind to kick up. Resplendent phoenix wings appeared behind their backs and completely fused with their bodies. These fearsome wings circulated a terrifying runic glow that radiated overwhelming sharpness and scorching heat, yet also exuding grace and a sense of beauty.

  "How beautiful. If we didn’t know that they were both humans, we might have thought that their true forms were that of a saint beast phoenix," Jun Mengchen murmured. Nanfeng Yunxi looked so natural with phoenix wings. It added to her charm and beauty, and even had a feeling of holiness to it.

  Nanfeng Yunxi opened her eyes. Her wings moved gently in the wind, and she wore them with a sense of familiarity, as though she should have been born with them. Her wings gently fluttered against Qin Wentian’s back as she smiled gently at him. This pair of phoenix wings were able to boost her strength by several times, as expected of the ancestral lands of the Southern Phoenix Clan.

  Her wings flapped and a number of parasol leaves flew out towards the horizons. The other three holy maidens felt no joy when they saw this. Nanfeng Yunxi and the other five holy maidens had already managed to fuse the leaves into phoenix wings. They no longer had the qualifications to remain here in the ancestral lands—they had no fate with it.

  "Climb atop my wings," said Nanfeng Yunxi, her words causing Qin Wentian to freeze a little. Nanfeng Yunxi continued, "We will need to enter the next dimension here in the ancestral lands. Only those with phoenix wings can gain entry. Later on, each of you just hold on tight to my wings. I will bring you all inside with me."

  As the sound of her voice faded, Nanfeng Yunxi soared up into the air. Qin Wentian nodded, and the three of them immediately went over, holding tightly to her wings.

  The same scene happened to Nanfeng Shengge, Nanfeng Qingruo and the other camps.

  —bzz— Raging winds kicked up. Nanfeng Yunxi sped ahead, like a scorching bolt of red lightning.

  Her eyes were beautiful to the extreme, dancing with embers of fire. Far ahead, she saw an illusory door in the shape of a phoenix diagram. Her phoenix wings flapped rapidly as she dashed towards the door.

  —RUMBLE!— A fearsome energy bore down on them all. Immediately after, they discovered that they’d entered the next dimension. Glancing backwards, they saw Nanfeng Ling and the other two maidens who’d failed to qualify also trying to breach the barrier of this dimension. However, whatever they did was useless. This indicated what Nanfeng Yunxi’s words had been correct. Without the phoenix wings, one couldn’t gain entry into the second dimension.

  Next, another figure appeared. It was Nanfeng Shengge. She glanced at Nanfeng Yunxi, while her protectors coldly regarded Qin Wentian and his comrades. This was especially so for Kong Ye. His eyes shone with sharpness as the pressure of immortal might at the third-level of immortal foundation gushed forth from him.

  "What’s that?" Qin Wentian stared ahead, pointing at a gigantic parasol tree in the distance. The leaves on the parasol tree were all withering up in flames, illuminating its surroundings with a brilliant light.

  "Heading towards death to find life," Nanfeng Yunxi mumbled. At the center of the tree, they saw an immense spiral that led to a road to nirvana, radiating a frightening aura.

  "From there, we can access the next dimension. However, we must enter that road to nirvana, for only by heading towards death can one find life," said Nanfeng Yunxi. She then flew over as Qin Wentian and the others followed from behind.

  At this moment, Nanfeng Qingruo, who was at the back, also entered.

  "Only three holy maidens can enter," Nanfeng Yunxi added. Qin Wentian’s heart trembled a moment when he heard that. It felt like everything was predestined. In the first dimension, three holy maidens had failed to obtain the phoenix wings. And now, only three people could continue to advance, eventually dwindling down to only one who can become the Holy Successor.

  Very swiftly, Qin Wentian and the others stood before the nirvana roads. It radiated a scorching heat, causing even Qin Wentian to feel some fear. But after that, Qin Wentian saw Nanfeng Yunxi and Nanfeng Shengge entering immediately with no hesitation. A blazing fire suddenly sprang up around them with terrifying heat, but they continued down the road resolutely.

  "Kong Ye, help to guard this road from the other maidens," Nanfeng Shengge instructed. Kong Ye nodded his head. And at this moment, Nanfeng Qingruo’s camp had also arrived. She gazed at Qin Wentian and Kong Ye as she said, "Only three can enter the roads to nirvana. With me here, the quota has been nicely filled up."

  Kong Ye exchanged glances with Qin Wentian before stepping aside. Nanfeng Qingruo entered, while her protector Jiang Ziyu also walked over to guard the nirvana roads. They didn’t say a word.

  At this moment, Nanfeng Aoxue had also arrived. When she saw all three nirvana roads were already occupied, her expression turned incredibly ugly to behold.

  She’d used too much time in comprehension back in the first dimension and had missed the opportunity.

  However, she, Nanfeng Aoxue, was the strongest among the current era of holy maidens. How could she not be one of the three who occupied the nirvana roads?

  "Step aside." Nanfeng Aoxue’s protector, the golden condor Zong Zhan stepped out as he domineering commanded.

  Kong Ye’s body shone with a brilliant light as might of the third-level of immortal foundation gushed forth from him. How could he step aside?

  Jiang Ziyu might only be at the second-level of immortal foundation, but he was a descendant of the mysterious Jiang Clan. Everyone could sense how dangerous he was with just a glance at him. In addition, Nanfeng Qingruo’s other protector was also a third-level immortal-foundation expert. Nanfeng Qingruo’s charisma was truly great—both her protectors were exceedingly powerful individuals. The sight of this caused Nanfeng Aoxue to frown, but after a moment of contemplation, she turned her gaze onto Qin Wentian and his comrades.

  "There are three roads to nirvana, and three maidens are already on them," Nanfeng Aoxue mumbled. Others might not be able to see it clearly, but Nanfeng Aoxue could. There were three roads in the spiral that led towards nirvana, three individual paths that didn’t interfere with each other. Right now, the three holy maidens on the roads were all covered in a blazing fire as they headed deeper on the pathway.

  "We want this road. You’d best step aside." Zong Zhan instantly understood Nanfeng Aoxue’s intentions. There were three roads, hence there was no need to offend everyone here. They just had to seize one for themselves.

  The three holy maiden camps acting as protectors for the holy maidens already on the road were all extremely strong. But clearly, the weakest link among them was Nanfeng Yunxi’s group. They were all only at the first-level of immortal foundation. Although Qin Wentian and his comrades had proven their combat prowess earlier, that was merely because they had only faced off against weak opponents. The people here were all extremely strong in combat and compared to them, the cultivation base of Qin Wentian and his comrades were significantly weaker.

  The Golden Heaven Warring Condor Zong Zhan was a descendant of a demon emperor. Nanfeng Aoxue was the strongest holy maiden out of the thirty-six in this generation. Her cultivation base was at the third-level of immortal-foundation—the two of them would be enough to suppress Qin Wentian’s group who were protecting Nanfeng Yunxi.

  "Bullying us?" Jun Mengchen’s eyes flickered with a cold light. He was feeling extremely irritated. Did these people think that they were convenient to bully simply because their cultivation bases were lower by a little?

  There were three nirvana roads. Yet people wanted to target theirs?

  "There’s no more time." Nanfeng Aoxue burst forth with her aura, and the power of a third-level immortal foundation tyrannically swept out, pressing down on everyone. Her body glowed with light as the image of a phoenix-form immortal foundation materialized. Her immortal foundation was of the king-grade, and given her cultivation level, she was truly one of the most powerful individuals here.

  —BOOM BOOM BOOM!— Qin Wentian, Jun Mengchen, and Purgatory’s aura all erupted forth. Not only did they have to battle against Nanfeng Aoxue and Zong Zhan, they also had to contend with Rong Xiao, who Qin Wentian had already defeated, and another second-level immortal foundation expert chasing at their heels. The situation had turned extremely dangerous—under no circumstances must they allow Nanfeng Aoxue to enter the road to nirvana. Earlier, Nanfeng Yunxi said that they had to head towards death to look for life. Who knew what kind of experiences she would have to go through? Most probably, she was incapable of combat in her current form.

  Zong Zhan domineeringly stepped out, transformed into his true form of a golden condor and lashed out with fearsome might.

  "Mengchen, go handle him," ordered Qin Wentian. Jun Mengchen took a step forward and with the weight of the world on his back, he blasted out with a punch, ravaging the sky and earth, destroying everything.

  Nanfeng Aoxue pierced out a finger strike at Qin Wentian. Her attack was like a phoenix-sharp sword, imbued with a powerful penetration effect.

  Qin Wentian’s perfect saint-grade immortal foundation brimmed with might. His entire body glowed resplendently as the faint image of a divine turtle enveloped him. Using his immortal energy to materialize an ancient halberd, he slashed out with overwhelming force, shattering Nanfeng Aoxue’s attack.

  Rong Xiao and the other expert rushed over. Purgatory transformed back into her true body and blocked the entrance. The two of them instantly started to attack her.

  "Screw off." After breaking Nanfeng Aoxue’s attack, the ancient halberd in his hand erupted forth, flying out of his hands and shooting straight for Rong Xiao. That ancient halberd contained a heaven-shaking might. Rong Xiao’s face was stark with fear, and he frenziedly tried to defend and buy himself some time to retreat.

  —puchi!— Rong Xiao managed to retreat far away by using his movement technique, but was left heavily injured. The energy of destruction had ravaged the interior of his body as his countenance was totally ashen, filled with terror and shame. He couldn’t even stand up to a single strike.

  "IMPUDENT!" An extremely terrifying killing intent gushed forth. Frost covered Nanfeng Aoxue’s face when she discovered that Qin Wentian had the time to divert his attention away to injure Rong Xiao while fighting against her.