Unrivaled Martial Emperor-Chapter 1044 - Phoenix’s Blessing

The Ji Clan’s prodigies had failed, leaving the phoenix stairs one after another to gather under the Chinese parasol tree. Their eyes remained on the two still climbing: Qin Yao and Ji Kong.

Ji Kong, the top talent of the nine divisions’ younger generation, was the first person to awaken his bloodline. Be it talent or willpower, he stood above the Ji Clan’s juniors, earning Ji Huang’s praise.

Consequently, even the people of the other divisions thought that Ji Kong had the highest chance of receiving the phoenix’s blessing.

As expected, Ji Kong had not disappointed them so far. The others had failed while he was still climbing, making his way to the phoenix’s nest.

To them, his progress felt inevitable.

However, Qin Yao was another story.

Before they had entered the ancestral grounds, many objected to her inclusion, as she was the carrier of “sinful blood.” Many members of her own division objected to it.

If it weren’t for Ji Huang making the unilateral decision, she couldn’t have entered the ancestral grounds.

Even with Ji Huang’s approval, most believed it impossible for her to achieve a second bloodline awakening without a Greater Peak Manifestation realm escort.

However, they had all underestimated Chen Fan.

Under Chen Fan’s guidance, Qin Yao reached the city of flames, absorbed and refined the endless fire spirits, and ultimately achieved her second bloodline awakening, like Ji Hanyou and the others.

Although this had exceeded Ji Mo and the others’ expectations, they could still accept it.

However, when people like Ji Zhonglou and Ji Hanyou failed on the phoenix stairs but Qin Yao advanced, their hearts trembled violently.

Could it be that Qin Yao—the one with “sinful blood”---possessed talent and willpower comparable to Ji Kong?

Ji Hanyou’s failure disappointed Ji Mo a bit. However, seeing Qin Yao still advancing with difficulty, he clenched his fists tightly, his gaze burning.

Qin Yao and Ji Kong were only a dozen or so steps away from the phoenix’s nest.

Ordinarily, they could cross that distance in a single stride; now, each step felt as arduous as ascending to the heavens.

Their bloodline was burning. The phoenix silhouette’s cries carried a hint of agony, as if it, too, struggled to endure the searing flames.

Yet they pressed on, teeth clenched, climbing step by step.

Ten steps.

Nine steps.

Seven steps.

Five steps.

With each step they climbed, Ji Mo and the others roared in their hearts.

The competition was fierce between the nine divisions, yet everyone silently prayed for Qin Yao and Ji Kong to persevere, both would reach the phoenix’s nest and receive its blessing.

Although they weren’t the ones climbing the stairs, their hearts ached more than those of Qin Yao and Ji Kong.

However, Chen Fan’s gaze never left Qin Yao.

Five steps.

Four steps.

Three steps.

Ji Kong was only three steps away from the phoenix’s nest. The crowd’s gazes shrank violently.

Just three final steps—one last push—and Ji Kong would cross the phoenix stairs and receive its blessing.

Qin Yao was two steps behind Ji Kong.

But as Ji Kong reached the final step, the surrounding flames flared chaotically. The phoenix silhouette let out a mournful, agonized cry.

He suddenly spewed out fresh blood and plummeted from the phoenix stairs.

“Ji Kong!”

The expression of the Zhu Division’s Dao Protector, Ji Yang, changed drastically. Like a gust of wind, he caught Ji Kong mid-fall, his terrifying strength surging to suppress the violent backlash of the Dao flame.

Unfortunately, the recoil was terrifying, as Ji Kong had been just one step away from the phoenix’s nest. Ji Yang alone couldn’t suppress it.

Ji Yang’s expression changed again, and he roared, “Give me a hand!”

Immediately, the two Dao Protectors from each of the Zhong Division, Kua Division, and Xi Division rushed over, stepping in to help suppress the flames.

It took time, but at last, the Dao flame's backlash was extinguished.

Ji Yang stared at the unconscious Ji Kong and cried out in anguish, “Just one step, just one step away!”

One step... yet the gap was as vast as heaven and earth.

The others looked on grimly.

Everyone had thought Ji Kong would succeed, but he fell right at the finish line.

“There’s still hope! Qin Yao still hasn’t failed yet!” Ji Mo said out loud.

Ji Kong had failed, causing the hearts of the people of the nine divisions to turn heavy.

However, Qin Yao still hadn’t failed yet. Hope remained.

She was just three steps away from the phoenix’s nest.

The crowd’s gazes all fell on Qin Yao.

She was trembling like a leaf in a storm. Her phoenix’s silhouette was also unleashing mournful cries, seemingly struggling to hold on.

However, her gaze remained unwavering. She gritted her teeth so hard that they nearly shattered.

Refusing to yield, she pushed forward.

As she took another step, the phoenix's cries grew more anguished — its form flickering, ready to break apart.

“Scree!”

“Not good!” Ji Mo and the others’ expressions changed drastically.

Will Qin Yao fail as well?

Chen Fan’s heart had leaped up to his throat.

Just as the crowd thought Qin Yao was about to fail, a dragon’s roar echoed from within Qin Yao. A dragon’s silhouette emerged, coiling around her, shielding her from the crushing force.

“Dragon’s bloodline!”

Ji Mo and the others’ gazes narrowed.

How could this be possible? Qin Yao... has a dragon’s bloodline?

Could it be Qin Changkong’s bloodline?

Chen Fan’s irises shrank violently before he quickly thought of something.

It was the Rain Dragon’s bloodline—the same one he had obtained from the Dragon Mountain Blessed Land.

With the appearance of the Rain Dragon’s silhouette, the collapsing phoenix silhouette let out a piercing cry that shook the air that shook the mind. White-golden flames began flickering over Qin Yao.

Qin Yao’s violent trembles also stopped. She took a deep breath, eyes burning with determination. White-golden flames drifted out from her pores.

One step.

Two steps.

Qin Yao took two steps in a row and arrived in front of the phoenix’s nest. One more step would put her right inside the next, ready to receive the phoenix’s blessing.

Below, Ji Mo and the others trembled all over at the sight.

Earlier, Ji Kong had also come this far, but he failed and had to suffer severe backlash.

But now, Qin Yao stood in front of the phoenix’s nest. They saw hope.

Ji Mo, Ji Yang, and the others roared in their hearts, feeling the urge to help Qin Yao and push her into crossing this final step.

Cross over.

Cross over!

Envy flickered in Ji Hanyou and the others’ eyes.

Chen Fan also clenched his hands tightly.

He did not care about the changes in Qin Yao’s status after exiting the ancestral grounds. What he cared about was what Qin Yao could obtain!

Finally, under the intent gazes of the crowd, Qin Yao slowly raised her feet and stepped forward.

When she stepped into the phoenix’s nest, the entire flaming Chinese parasol tree shook violently.

Boom!

Thousands of rays of divine light surged into the sky as the fire spirits across the ancestral grounds cast their gazes upward, then knelt in unison, as if in worship.

Moreover, in the phoenix’s nest, two phoenixes rose to the sky, one big and one small.

The crowd’s gazes narrowed.

What phoenix’s blessing would Qin Yao receive?