I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 53

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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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53.

 

 

 

 

Despite his interference, if Seon-o appears today having germinated his seed…

 

“….”

 

Wi Gong-un’s eyes darkened.

 

When he achieved his second awakening and became a Super-Deity. At that time, Gong-un had a foolish thought.

 

If the Phoenix Competition were truly held in this generation and I-ryeong participated in the competition to become the Phoenix, he had the ridiculous thought of whether I-ryeong would become his master.

 

Of course, the Phoenix Competition hadn’t been held for hundreds of years, and the probability would likely be low, so he thought there would be no chance of I-ryeong becoming his master, nor of him serving I-ryeong as his master.

 

However, as if mocking that uncomfortable relief, the Phoenix Competition ended up being held after all.

 

So now I-ryeong would become the master of the Seven Super Gods, and he, as a Super-Deity, would also belong to I-ryeong. While accepting this fact as natural, Gong-un was actually a little disappointed.

 

That his master would be merely I-ryeong.

 

I-ryeong was certainly a remarkable woman with no flaws to be found.

 

But she wasn’t interesting in the slightest.

 

The woman he had to submit to was merely a cousin he had watched his entire life since birth.

 

Even so, he had accepted all of that.

 

Gong-un, who had been lost in thought for a moment, soon swallowed all of it and straightened his body.

 

“…Yes, we’ll find out soon enough.”

 

Whether it was an answer to I-ryeong’s earlier words or some kind of soliloquy, Gong-un spoke these unclear words and turned away without lingering. I-ryeong, who had already returned to cultivation before Gong-un turned around, only opened her eyes again after his footsteps had disappeared.

 

Her gaze remained fixed on mid-air for a long while.

 

* * *

 

The Great Hall, which had been empty and quiet for some time, was once again filled with fervor.

 

It was finally the day to confirm which candidates had passed the second trial.

 

All five candidates were standing on the platform.

 

“Where is one of them?”

“One, two, three, four… Miss Cheon is nowhere to be seen.”

“Don’t tell me! Did she fail to germinate her seed?”

 

The spectators began to stir as they realized that Ga-jin had not appeared even though the sand in the giant hourglass at the center of the platform was almost gone.

 

Chae-gyo, who had been standing with her hands behind her back, opened her mouth with a “Hmm.”

 

“Did she not come because she was embarrassed?”

 

At that rude remark, So-yoon let out a snicker.

 

“You really don’t know how to read people.”

 

Then everyone’s gaze turned toward So-yoon.

 

“Miss Cheon didn’t choose not to come—she couldn’t come.”

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying she’s dead?”

 

When Chae-gyo’s eyes lit up with interest, So-yoon suddenly looked at Seon-o. Her gaze swept up and down Seon-o, who unlike last time, was dressed casually as if ready to enter battle at any moment.

 

Soon So-yoon asked Seon-o.

 

“Master Kang, do you happen to know Miss Cheon’s whereabouts?”

 

At the sudden targeting, Seon-o’s gaze, which had been looking at mid-air, calmly turned toward So-yoon. All the candidates were looking at Seon-o. Seon-o looked at So-yoon for a moment.

 

It was a look as if probing for something. However, it didn’t seem to contain certainty.

 

Seon-o soon answered nonchalantly.

 

“How would I know?”

 

At that, So-yoon raised an eyebrow.

 

“Since you both handle the same Yin Power, I thought your destinations might overlap. Ah, I heard Miss Cheon was going to Myo-myo Lake. Did you perhaps not go to Myo-myo Lake, Master?”

“I did go.”

 

At that calm answer, not only So-yoon and Chae-gyo but even I-ryeong, who had been listening quietly, glanced at Seon-o.

 

“When did you go?”

“Are you interrogating me now?”

“Of course not. I’m just worried about Miss Cheon. Didn’t you perhaps see Miss Cheon’s clothing hem floating on the lake or anything like that?”

“If I find anything later, I’ll let you know.”

 

At Seon-o’s simple response, So-yoon’s eyebrows shot up. Chae-gyo burst into laughter beside her, but no one else joined in her laughter.

 

Seon-o didn’t avoid So-yoon’s eyes as she stared at him as if finding him suspicious. The suspicion was mutual.

 

‘So Bu So-yoon knew about Cheon Ga-jin’s true nature.’

 

Moreover, it was highly suspicious that she was speculating about what might have happened at Myo-myo Lake and trying to implicate him in it. Of course, as Chae-gyo said, So-yoon was someone who enjoyed picking on others and making them uncomfortable, so it could simply be behavior stemming from her nasty disposition.

 

It was So-yoon who averted her gaze first.

 

When Seon-o didn’t get entangled, So-yoon lost interest and quickly turned her head away. At the same time, all the sand in the hourglass fell and Cheong-eum appeared.

 

When Seon-o stared intently at Cheong-eum, the eyebrows of a man watching him from afar sharply rose.

 

“….”

 

It was Gong-un, who had been glaring at Seon-o intensely for quite some time.

 

‘What is he staring at so intently?’

 

Soon Seon-o withdrew his gaze from Cheong-eum, but Gong-un’s bewilderment didn’t easily subside. Though Gong-un looked back and forth between the two as if monitoring them, Cheong-eum didn’t cast his gaze on any of the candidates.

 

‘I thought he would come looking for me as soon as he returned to Myeonggyeong.’

 

However, even after several days had passed since Seon-o returned to Myeonggyeong, he didn’t seek out Gong-un. Of course, even if he did come, Gong-un wouldn’t provide the detoxification until his elimination was confirmed.

 

And that would probably be today.

 

Once Seon-o was eliminated from the competition today, Gong-un planned to personally visit Seon-o and provide the detoxification. With that, he would demonstrate how merciful the next head of the Wi Family was and offer his sincere condolences to the eliminated Seon-o.

 

Just as Gong-un raised the corners of his mouth in pleasant anticipation, a divine oracle emerged from the sacred brazier.

 

“I will announce the list of candidates who passed the second gate by germinating their seeds.”

 

Cheong-eum, who recited the more simplified announcement, soon began calling out that glorious list.

 

“Bu So-yoon of the Bu Family. Yang Chae-gyo of the Yang Family. Gwak Gi-rim of the Gwak Family. Kang Seon-o of the Kang Family. Wi I-ryeong of the Wi Family.”

 

When Seon-o’s name was called, Gong-un’s brow furrowed as he watched him.

 

“….”

 

Seon-o had actually passed the second gate.

 

But how on earth…?

 

In that short time, he found and eliminated a demon comparable to that Golden Salamander?

 

Unaware of Gong-un’s confusion, the spectators held their breath and focused on Cheong-eum’s voice. However, Cheong-eum’s roll call didn’t continue further.

 

Instead, another divine oracle emerged from the sacred brazier.

 

Cheong-eum picked it up and unfolded it.

 

Looking down at it calmly, he opened his mouth again.

 

“The eliminated candidate from the second gate.”

 

At the word “eliminated,” everyone’s eyes widened.

 

“Cheon Ga-jin of the Cheon Family.”

 

Several people couldn’t hold back and let out groaning sounds. With this, the first eliminated candidate was born. The candidates all seemed to have expected this, showing no surprise as they sharply observed each other’s expressions.

 

Though the first eliminated candidate had emerged, no one showed joy or sadness, managing their expressions with frightening control.

 

Then Chae-gyo raised her hand high and asked.

 

“Doesn’t it say whether they’re dead or not?”

 

At that absurd question, gasps of shock could be heard from various places. I-so, who was sitting in the audience seats just like last time, was also shocked and covered his mouth.

 

“See, I’m right. I told you she’s really crazy.”

 

However, instead of answering, Gong-un waited for Cheong-eum’s response.

 

Cheong-eum looked at Chae-gyo steadily without any change in expression and answered.

 

“Such things are not written.”

 

When Chae-gyo sighed “Ah” and scratched under her chin as if disappointed, So-yoon looked at her as if bewildered. Amidst the chaos where even the spectators were stirring, only Seon-o, I-ryeong, and Gi-rim maintained their composure.

 

At that moment, various parts of the platform where the candidates stood shook with rumbling sounds.

 

Startled by the sudden roar, everyone held their breath and watched. The candidates also stood frozen, watching the floor right next to where they stood crack open.

 

As mounds of earth rose up through the large cracks, the candidates recalled the previous divine oracle.

 

“Germinate the obtained seed. Then bring it and plant it here.”

 

So planting the seed must be part of the second gate’s task.

 

“Everyone, please plant your respective seeds.”

 

At Cheong-eum’s announcement, Seon-o was certain that this gate was also the same as in the original story.

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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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