Phoenix Feather?
This confirmed Zhang Jian's suspicion. He gazed at the feather, and his keen Divine Thought indeed sensed a distant, sacred aura emanating from it.
Bai Xianyin was somewhat reluctant to put down the exquisite Phoenix Feather, clearly enamored by its splendor, but she still handed it over to Zhang Jian.
"Young Master, this feather contains a trace of pure Phoenix True Flame. Be cautious not to activate it with your magical power; it holds the last vestige of the Feng Ling Ghost King's vitality!"
Zhang Jian delicately stroked the Seven-Colored Feather, feeling a strong Spiritual Pressure within the depths of his eyes.
This Spiritual Pressure seemed to come from the depths of the soul, a dominance inherent in ancient creatures, as if rooted in the heart.
It was like a mouse facing a cat.
Such power of a Divine Beast is unimaginable.
The image of the Phoenix's Five-Colored Divine Light surfaced in Zhang Jian's mind. With some thoughts in his mind, he recalled Bai Xianyin's warning and decided not to act recklessly.
He carefully put away the Phoenix Feather.
Having successfully obtained the Phoenix Feather, Zhang Jian felt a sense of relief.
At that moment, from the depths of Phoenix Nest, a piercing and terrifying phoenix cry suddenly echoed.
The sharp phoenix cry shook the skies abruptly.
Sensing the changes in the Double Phoenix Two Principles pattern within Phoenix Nest Mountain, boundless resentment erupted from the heavens.
Seeing this, Bai Xianyin's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed repeatedly.
"Young Master, the injury that Feng Ling has suffered is more severe than expected. It's all show and no substance. Our opportunity has come!"
"You can tell just by looking?"
Zhang Jian's eyes were surprised.
Bai Xianyin giggled and imparted her experience. "Young Master, you've probably not experienced many Magical Combats. Situations where Divine Beings are injured are entirely different from everyday practice. You can see how urgently it's absorbing the spiritual mechanism between heaven and earth, and even the Divine Office's wave frequency and rhythm differ from usual, most likely because it has not thoroughly mastered the Divine Skill..."
Listening to the young girl's explanation, Zhang Jian's eyes wavered slightly.
This young girl truly was a competent guide and an excellent teacher.
In this area, he was indeed a novice.
Many lessons cannot truly be learned from books; they must be comprehended through practice.
Among Bai Xianyin's detailed explanations, Zhang Jian paid close attention, intending to remember it all.
This was valuable experience, something not every mentor and pupil would have the patience to explain.
In some sense, Zhang Jian felt a sense of goodwill towards his unseen future master, at least believing that the master genuinely cared for his disciples.
If not, why would they have sent Bai Xianyin to guide him?
At that moment, Zhang Jian halted, looking around.
"Young Master, what's wrong?"
Noticing Zhang Jian's movement, the young girl stopped her torrent of advice.
Zhang Jian scanned his surroundings with his eyes, yet saw nothing unusual. However, his keen Divine Thought faintly sensed a presence of surveillance.
"Someone is watching us, but I can't locate where they are,"
Zhang Jian quietly communicated to Bai Xianyin.
Bai Xianyin was momentarily stunned, surprised by Zhang Jian's words. She too had a naturally strong soul, yet hadn't sensed anything unusual, but she laughed.
"Young Master, that's simple. Leave it to Yin'Er!"
She handed Zhang Jian a talisman.
"Young Master, activate this Purifying Heart Talisman first, and I'll handle the watcher!"
As she spoke, she extended her wrist, revealing a delicate Wind Bell tied around her wrist. Gently shaking it, a clear sound spread through the mountain.
This sound entered Zhang Jian's ears, transforming his expression. Initially crisp, the sound soon resembled a ferocious Demonic Sound rhythm, brimming with a strange force that agitated the blood and nerves.
Fortunately, Zhang Jian activated the Purifying Heart Talisman just in time to resist the auditory assault.
"Such powerful bells!"
Zhang Jian's heart trembled at the sensation. Seeing his reaction, Bai Xianyin giggled.
"Young Master, isn't my Annoying Bell on my left hand amusing? Its sound could make anyone's blood boil, disrupting their focus.
The master also has a Soul-Catching Bell, but compared to that, my bell is just a toy!"
Amidst the mountains, as the bell's searching rings echoed, a faint cry came from the treetops a dozen yards away.
"Stop ringing! Baiyang, stop listening, stop listening..."
On the treetop, a white bird slowly revealed its true form.
It appeared rather panicked.
With its true form exposed, it flapped its wings, attempting to soar, only to be caught by a white jade-like hand.
"So it's you spying, you bad bird. Why are you peeking on your Aunt Xianyin?!"
At that moment, Bai Xianyin caught the round, plump white bird, scrutinizing it like a mother hen, surprise in her eyes.
"A little demon like you is quite peculiar, lacking high Dao Practice yet skilled at hiding your breath?"
She spun the jade-like bird around. As it looked terrified, she inserted a strand of Magical Power into its body and smiled.
"I see, you're a Spirit Monster formed of Jia Wood Essence Qi, naturally adept at concealment. No wonder you couldn't be easily noticed!"
"But peeking into others' privacy is wrong, especially spying on your Aunt and Young Master, that's even more wrong!"
"Lord, spare me! I didn't mean to spy, I was just passing by!"
The Bai Niao'Er had no dignity, pleading for mercy after being caught.
It truly had no means of escaping the little girl's grasp.
Its Dao Practice wasn't high, perhaps only two or three hundred years old.
"Are you the white bird accompanying the Feng Ling Ghost King?"
Zhang Jian glanced, his eyes wavering slightly. He recalled that when the Feng Ling Ghost King attacked in the night, there was a white bird accompanying it.
"I'm not!"
The plump bird's eyes were stubborn as a dead duck's beak, refusing to admit it.
Zhang Jian found the scene amusing. Bai Xianyin laughed, volunteering.
"Young Master, leave it to me. I'll make sure the little guy spills everything it knows!"
Zhang Jian nodded.
After staying in the forest briefly, Zhang Jian saw Bai Xianyin proudly carrying the white bird back. Whatever method she used left the bird looking lifeless.
Bai Xianyin giggled. "Young Master, I've found the Feng Ling Ghost King's location. We were right; it's currently in recovery, this is our chance!"
With these words, Zhang Jian nodded. "Let's speed up!"
...
Meanwhile, in Fengyang County,
Yuhe Daoist, clad in a purple robe, stood with many disciples of Dong Shen Temple at the gate, awaiting. Soon, a green light stream appeared from afar like a long rainbow and arrived before Weiwei Temple in an instant.
As the green light approached, Yuhe Daoist's eyes shone brightly. Leading his disciples, he loudly proclaimed:
"Third Generation Disciple Yuhe of Dong Shen Temple greets Ancestor Dongming, welcoming the grand arrival of the ancestor's Dharma Aspect!"
"Welcome, Ancestor Dongming's Dharma Aspect!"
Emerging from the green light was a tall and imposing young Daoist. His gaze swept over the people, resting on Yuhe Daoist, his eyes flickering as he nodded slightly.
"Rise, all of you!"