I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 0

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Prologue

A heart-burning tension flowed through the massive Great Hall.

Hundreds of spectators filling the venue held their breath as they gazed at the circular platform in the center.

Five people had ascended the large platform.

They were all young, beautiful women radiating a mysterious aura of authority.

Soon, a man climbed onto the platform and approached the giant Sacred Brazier in the center, drawing subtle gasps of admiration from various places.

The elegant man with silver-gleaming hair tied up in a half-knot was Cheong-eum, one of the 7 Prime Gods and the High Priest of Geumhwi Kingdom.

In the breathtaking silence, his lips parted.

“From this moment forward, we shall begin the competition to select the Phoenix who will become the administrator of Yin.”

At those words, groans filled with anticipation and fear burst forth.

Every human living on this land desperately awaited the Phoenix who would set right the increasingly twisted world. A new hero who would balance Yin and Yang, suppress the wicked Yin cults and rampaging demons, and bring peace to this land.

However, becoming a Phoenix was not something one could achieve simply by wanting it, nor could it be selected merely by wishing to choose. Only when Heaven permitted could the position of Phoenix be filled.

And today was the day the Phoenix competition they had waited 500 years for would begin. Soon, Blue Fire rose from the brazier, soaring high, and expectant gazes turned toward those flames.

“It’s Cheong-eum’s Blue Fire. My goodness, how enchanting.”

“How mysterious it is. As much as Cheong-eum’s beauty.”

“Shh, the divine oracle is descending. Be quiet!”

As someone shouted, a rolled Divine Scroll emerged from within the Blue Fire.

Everyone held their breath at this unbelievable sight, but Cheong-eum showed no surprise or confusion, simply reaching his hand indifferently into the fire to grasp the scroll.

Slowly unrolling the scroll, he read aloud what was written within.

“Now, I shall call the names of those who have passed the trials given by the Heavenly Emperor and become candidates for the competition.”

Cheong-eum’s calm voice, quiet as stillness itself, echoed through the vast hall.

“First candidate, So-yoon of the Bu Family.”

All eyes turned to the woman standing upright with her hands clasped together. Bu So-yoon, showing no sign of nervousness, wore a serene smile as if she were handling a perfectly natural affair. Indeed, she displayed the bearing befitting the eldest daughter of the great Bu Family, a prodigy who had already manifested Yin Power at the age of six.

“Second candidate, Ga-jin of the Cheon Family.”

A woman with ethereal, fairy-like beauty trembled slightly at the shoulders. Though she appeared less confident than Bu So-yoon, everyone knew she too was a woman worthy of this position, being the second daughter of the long-renowned Cheon Family.

“Third candidate, I-ryeong of the Wi Family.”

Wi I-ryeong, called the lotus of the Wi Family renowned for medicine, showed no change in expression from beginning until now. She simply stood there with an inscrutable, calm expression, gazing at the Blue Fire with no hint of what she might be thinking.

“Fourth candidate, Chae-gyo of the Yang Family.”

When Yang Chae-gyo was called, delighted laughter burst out from various parts of the audience. This was because she had turned to look at the spectators and cheekily waved her hand upon being named. As Yang Chae-gyo gestured vigorously, pleased by the audience’s response, brilliant light radiated from her entire body. People cheered at her display of Yin Power, but that cheering stopped abruptly with the calling of the next candidate.

“Fifth candidate, Gi-rim of the Gwak Family.”

Upon her naming, several spectators throughout the venue rose and began bowing in succession. Though the priests tried to restrain them, it was useless. Gi-rim, who had already gained the support of countless people, showed no sign of excitement or arrogance, only bowing politely in acknowledgment.

With all five candidates named, the atmosphere in the hall heated up. Since all the expected candidates had been called, it was now time to begin the real competition.

The spectators held their breath again, waiting for Cheong-eum to announce what the first competition would be.

But something strange was happening.

Cheong-eum, who should have spoken next, remained motionless while gripping the scroll. Those who noticed his gaze fixed unmoving on the scroll began to stir restlessly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Is there some shocking competition written there?”

“Oh no! I just hope it’s not dangerous.”

After a moment of commotion, Cheong-eum’s lips slowly began to move. However, what came from his mouth was not the first competition the audience expected.

“…The final, sixth candidate.”

At his words, the air in the hall stopped for an instant.

A final candidate? Had they misheard something?

Even the candidates frowned and grimaced as they looked at Cheong-eum.

“Seon-o of the Kang Family.”

When Cheong-eum finally uttered those bewildering words, the hall began to stir greatly.

“A sixth candidate?”

“What are you saying now…? Weren’t those five all the candidates?”

“There have always been five Phoenix candidates!”

“Wait, Kang Seon-o… isn’t that the second daughter of the Kang family who sells rice wine in the Marketplace?”

“What? That ruined family?”

“I don’t see the sixth candidate! Where is she!”

“If she doesn’t come, she’s disqualified! Disqualify her!”

Words thrown out one or two at a time mixed together, and the hall quickly became pandemonium. Cheong-eum looked around indifferently at the clamoring crowd. Seeing no sign that the commotion would subside, he raised his hand and sent Blue Fire shooting up around the platform. Startled by this, the crowd finally stopped their uproar, and Cheong-eum raised his voice.

“Sixth candidate, please come forward and show yourself.”

However, the sixth candidate was nowhere to be seen. All candidates had to ascend to this platform at the start of the competition. If they failed to comply, they would be eliminated according to the laws of the heavenly competition.

It was precisely the moment when Cheong-eum was about to announce the first elimination.

The sound of the Great Hall’s massive doors moving could be heard. Everyone in the hall forgot to breathe and watched as the doors opened by themselves.

Finally, as the doors opened to reveal the woman standing behind them, not only the candidates but also several Prime Gods hidden in the audience seats narrowed their eyes.

Everyone stared at the woman who appeared to have run here at full speed, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, her entire body covered in dirt and dust as if she had been rolling around somewhere.

A man wearing a black bamboo hat sitting among the audience seemed intrigued by this unexpected situation and slightly lifted his hat to examine the woman closely. Soon, the wandering transcendent Baek-ryu recognized the woman’s face and raised one corner of his mouth, making his soft and dreamlike beauty shine even brighter.

“….”

The gaze of an elegant man sitting on the opposite side of Baek-ryu was also fixed on that woman, unmoving. The ebony-like man who showed no sign of surprise and maintained a leisurely expression, as if he had predicted this situation, was Sa Hwan, one of the 7 Prime Gods and the sect leader of Yawol Sect.

On the other hand, one man seemed displeased with this sudden unexpected situation and narrowed his eyes while scrutinizing the woman with his sharp gaze. The sharp-featured handsome man who occupied the best seat in the front of the audience was Wi Gong-un, the young sect leader of the Wi family.

However, the woman in her disheveled state did not yield to all those gazes. She simply caught her breath calmly only after fully entering through the door, then walked steadily and climbed onto the platform.

Finally, the woman who stood before Cheong-eum opened her mouth.

“I am Kang Seon-o.”

At those words, shock appeared on everyone’s faces. Cheong-eum did not show shock like the others, but looked at Seon-o with unmoving eyes as if assessing her.

Seon-o paid no mind to that reaction and steadfastly met Cheong-eum’s eyes.

Seon-o had to win this competition and become the Phoenix. Only then could she find and take revenge on the one who killed her family in the real world and threatened her and her family even in this place.

In this world inside a book that she still half couldn’t believe was real.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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