Chapter 518: Confrontation

　　Lying in the middle of the hall was half of an enormous skeleton. Every inch of its bones was glistening and clear like jade and could be easily confused with the other treasures when placed together. This was why Chu Liuyue failed to recognize it immediately. Nevertheless, it was still distinguishable upon closer look because it emitted a faint aura.

　　Her heart thumped hard at the sight.

　　All of a sudden, the legendary three-eyed eagle let out a shriek before folding its wings and bowing its head slightly.

　　One look at it, and Chu Liuyue could clearly feel its deep-seated awe and submission. It was clear then that the corpse belonged to the great phoenix dragon.

　　“How are you feeling?” asked Chu Liuyue somewhat worriedly.

　　The eagle shook its head. “The great phoenix dragon is an ancient legendary fiend with absolute bloodline suppression. If it had been alive, I’d definitely have to submit to it. We’re fortunate that only half of its remains are left. I can still bear with it.”

　　She couldn’t help but secretly marvel in her heart. The legendary three-eyed eagle is already quite an impressive legendary fiend, yet it still seems so small in front of the great phoenix dragon. Only half of its body remains, yet its lingering aura is so terrifying. I can only imagine what sort of existence a real great phoenix dragon is.

　　“Given your current strength, you’ll surely be destroyed with just one look from the great phoenix dragon,” stated the legendary three-eyed eagle calmly.

　　At that, Chu Liuyue thought to herself, I don’t even know if I’ll ever meet one. Besides, even if I truly have the chance to meet a real great phoenix dragon in the future, I’ll surely be at a higher cultivation level than I am now.

　　“Why is there only half a skeleton though?” she asked with a frown.

　　The legendary three-eyed eagle shook its head to express its confusion as well. “The great phoenix dragon clan values their skeletons a lot. Even if one were to die outside, the rest of the clan would travel far just to recover it. They won’t leave it outside just like that. Perhaps they didn’t discover it because it’s an incomplete skeleton.”

　　Deep in rumination, Chu Liuyue thought that the eagle made some sense. “But if this is an incomplete skeleton, how are you… going to regain your body?”

　　The eagle pondered for a moment before answering, “As an ancient legendary fiend, the great phoenix dragon’s bloodline is naturally more powerful than the rest of the legendary fiends. If I can borrow its power, I can still reconstruct my body even with an incomplete skeleton.”

　　Chu Liuyue sighed in relief. “That’s good! In that case, let’s take it with us then. Once we find everything else we need, I’ll help you—What’s wrong?”

　　She let out a cough when she saw that the eagle was looking at her strangely.

　　“You want to take it away with you?” asked the eagle.

　　She nodded hesitantly. “…Is that… inappropriate?”

　　The way the legendary three-eyed eagle looked at her became even weirder. “Do you think that a Cosmic Ring is enough to withstand the corpse’s power?”

　　How did I forget this?! When she finally understood what it meant, she slapped herself on the forehead. “What do you think we should do then? Leave it here? It wasn’t easy for us to get in here…”

　　It’s because of the legendary three-eyed eagle that I rushed in here in spite of the dangers. If it’s going to tell me that I can’t take it with me…

　　“The Heavenly Square Cauldron,” said the legendary three-eyed eagle. “Put the body in there. On the one hand, you’ll be able to take it with you. On the other hand, you’ll be able to cultivate the power of the great phoenix dragon’s bloodline.”

　　She nodded.

　　With a thought, the Heavenly Square Cauldron appeared in her palm. Transparent karmic fire quietly burned within it.

　　When she moved her wrist slightly, the Heavenly Square Cauldron flew into midair and expanded rapidly.

　　A transparent flame then shot out toward the body on the ground. Just when it touched the skeleton, a bright light appeared all of a sudden, which made Chu Liuyue cover her eyes instinctively. But she realized something at that moment, so she opened them and looked over.

　　She saw a huge Xuan formation flickering above the skeleton and blocking the transparent fire. Her eyes twitched when she got a clear look at the Xuan formation. It’s a stage-nine Xuan formation. After I became a stage-eight Xuan master in my previous life, I had never been able to break through from that stage. If this were a lower-stage Xuan formation, I could still attempt to crack it. But this one… It’s as good as a dead-end to me.

　　“There’s a seal on the skeleton. It looks like we have to break it first.”

　　The legendary three-eyed eagle’s words sent Chu Liuyue into greater despair. As she looked at the spinning Xuan formation in front with a hand on her hurting head, she asked weakly, “You think I’m capable of doing so?”

　　Weren’t you the one who said that I’d be killed with a look from a great phoenix dragon?

　　The legendary three-eyed eagle shot her a side-glimpse. “Not with your current cultivation, of course. The Heavenly Dao can though!”

　　Stunned, she asked, “What do you mean?”

　　The eagle suddenly fell silent.

　　Just when Chu Liuyue thought it wouldn’t answer her, it finally broke the silence. “The only difference between a stage-eight Xuan formation and a stage-nine Xuan formation is that there’s a wisp of Heavenly Dao in the latter. As long as you can dissolve it, the formation can be easily solved.”

　　She opened her mouth in shock. “H-how did you know this?”

　　The legendary three-eyed eagle clenched its teeth. “How can I possibly not know when I was trapped by a stage-nine Xuan formation?!”

　　Chu Liuyue understood at once. “Does that mean it was a Xuan master who trapped you back then? And… a stage-nine one at that?!”

　　When she noticed the cold hatred flashing across its eyes, she wisely changed the topic. “Even so, I’m only a stage-three Xuan master now. How can I possibly dissolve the Heavenly Dao?”

　　It’s an impossible task!

　　The legendary three-eyed eagle stared at her fixedly. “That may be so for other people but not you. That’s because you have the Heavenly Dao in your body!”

　　Its words sent a jolt through Chu Liuyue, who seemingly understood what it meant. She pursed her lips. “I’ll give it a try then!”

　　With that, she sat cross-legged and started to meditate.

　　When the water droplet in her dantian started spinning slowly, she tried summoning the Heavenly Dao’s power in her body. One belonged to the Ultimate Jingshen, while the other came from the contract she had with the legendary three-eyed eagle.

　　After some time, a faint glow appeared within the water droplet, much to Chu Liuyue’s delight. That must be the Heavenly Dao’s aura!

　　She then opened her eyes and stared at the complicated and massive stage-nine Xuan formation. With a flick of her fingers, the miniscule drop of water flew forward, the glow within it clearly visible.

　　A black spatial crack silently appeared when the water droplet passed by. As it gradually got closer, a powerful force suddenly erupted from the Xuan formation, and countless streams of light intertwined in a dazzling display.

　　Chu Liuyue’s heart squeezed.

　　The aura of the Xuan formation’s Heavenly Dao had been hidden in the countless streams of light, making it hard to find.