Chapter 3952: A Senior Once Told Me

Fiery Shard of the Primordial Sun was one of the most powerful attacks a Phoenix could use. It was one of the most powerful techniques a phoenix could use in general.

It was a power that looked back on the bloodline of the Vermilion Bird, stared at the truth that they were a piece of the Primordial Sun, the Sun Crow, and used that truth in the attack.

And it was a powerful attack.

The single point of sun-like power fell toward Alex, striking him head-on. Despite being an attack done by an Immortal’s use of Divine Qi, the power of the explosion left the people stunned. The heat and light that came off the attack, along with the shockwave, was enough for everyone to understand that Scarlet was indeed a powerful Phoenix.

Alex was obviously unhurt, although people couldn’t tell whether he was unhurt due to his robe or simply his own ability. As he reappeared from the flames, he looked toward Ashmaker, but more specifically at Gingmai.

"Would you call her an impure Vermilion Bird?" he asked.

Scarlet still remained in the sky, waiting for the answer.

Gingmai was about to speak, when Alex put his hands up.

"Just in case that wasn’t enough, allow her to show you the rest as well," Alex said before turning to look at Scarlet.

Scarlet nodded and suddenly opened her wings. Feathers rained down from her, each one turning into phoenix flames as it hit him.

"Vermilion Bird’s Burning Feathers," Alex called out the name, just as Ashmaker had done during his turn.

Scarlet’s body turned to fire as she flew down toward him next.

"Vermilion Bird’s Fire Form," Alex said before lifting his arm up to block the talon attack that left a deafening boom. "Vermilion Bird’s Scorching Talon."

Scarlet jumped and landed on Alex’s shoulders. Suddenly, intense heat radiated off of her body.

"Vermilion Bird’s Burning Domain," Alex answered. "And finally."

The same mental heat attack rolled out of Scarlet’s body.

"Vermilion Bird’s Burning Spirit," he said finally with a smile. "I believe that was all of what senior Gingmai showed, plus two more. There is another technique she can use as well, but I believe we should leave the requiem for when it is needed, shouldn’t we?"

Two people let out sounds of surprise in that very moment.

One was Gingmai, who could not believe that Scarlet had more than what she had just shown.

The other was the Beast God, Soulmother.

Several gods turned toward her. "What is he talking about? What requiem?"

"Requiem of the Phoenix Song," Soulmother said in an astonished voice. "It’s a sacrificial skill of the phoenix that allows them to burn and return to becoming an egg again, allowing them rebirth. Only the most pure of phoenixes are able to use such a technique. If that young Phoenix does indeed have such a technique, then her bloodline is more than just pure. It’s powerful."

Scarlet always had a pure bloodline, quite a great one at that. But it had never been as pure as it was at the moment. The entire reason for the purity was thanks to Alex, who had found a way to help both Pearl and Scarlet improve their bloodlines slowly but surely.

Over time, Scarlet hadn’t only improved her bloodline, but also learned a few of the other Bloodline techniques that she had shown the crowd today.

"As I said," Alex spoke to the Fire God. "Your phoenix is strong, but he isn’t capable of getting stronger. Mine, however, will grow to be stronger than any other phoenix in the world. In fact, I can say with absolute certainty that she will become stronger than the Vermilion Bird progenitor."

Alex’s absurd claim caught many of the audience members off guard, but more than a few welcomed it.

"If he’s gonna become a god, then he has to have the courage to make such claims," Killshot said with a laugh. "The more absurd, the better."

"Well said, sister," the Staff God said and nodded.

The other gods chose to steer clear of these two mad women.

The Fire God gave the audience no time to consider Alex’s actions.

"You may love to dwell upon ’if’ and ’when’, but I tread upon ’is’. I accept that your phoenix may have the potential to be strong, but the fact of the matter is that mine is already stronger," he said. "Your phoenix needs time to defeat mine. Mine needs only a thought. Do you still dare to claim yours is better?"

All eyes fell upon Alex immediately, waiting for his answer.

Alex made the audience wait for it as he carefully considered his response before giving it.

"A senior once told me that a single ember can burn down a forest. He told me that Fire needs nothing but tinder. To choose power instead of talent is to claim that you do not have the desire or strength necessary to reach the peak of Cultivation yourself," he said. "I don’t really know if this works well with the phoenixes, but he did tell me that such a person could never be deserving of the title of the Fire God."

Ashmaker’s face fell the moment he heard it.

At the same time, the Spear God let out a boisterous laugh.

"Fire God, isn’t that what you said back then?" the man asked, laughing much louder than before.

The other gods looked toward the Spear God, quickly understanding his words. They all looked back down at the Fire God, gaining the smallest hint that the man might just have gone back on his own words as to what it meant to be the Fire God.

Ashmaker realized that as well. He needed to act immediately and change their thoughts.

"Return," he said, sending the phoenix back into the flute before placing the flute away. "I imagine you must’ve been waiting for this from the start, huh? Your robe may be made of simply feathers, but this was made from the heart of a Primordial."

The man brought out the crown instantly, and presented it for all to see.

"Behold, the Ninecrest," he said to all. "The Crown of Nine Returns."