I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 89

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

89.

At this, the immortals exchanged glances with each other. They seemed to know what a phoenix was as well.

“We received a task as the third trial of the competition to bloom something here on Flower Cloud Island. We will return after completing that task.”

At those words, a middle-aged woman who somehow reminded one of a shaman sharply retorted.

“Blooming? That sounds like nothing more than turning Flower Cloud Island into a wasteland!”

Then the General Immortal also chimed in.

“I agree! We must immediately drive out these people and protect Flower Cloud Island! We have guarded Flower Cloud Island for 3,000 years. We cannot allow the yin power of Flower Cloud Island to be contaminated by filthy outsiders now!”

A slender young man standing beside the excited man who was snorting spoke up.

“However, these are people who have passed through the Gate of Flower Cloud Island. Flower Cloud Island has verified their qualifications. Isn’t this truly remarkable?”

What supported his words came from a plump, bald immortal who looked like a very benevolent Buddha.

“Je-seon’s words make sense. Moreover, they’re holding a Phoenix Competition, aren’t they? A phoenix is one who helps the pitiful below and subdues demons. Since they’re selecting someone to take over our mission, we should help them.”

“If Flower Cloud Island gets contaminated, will Gye-seon take responsibility?”

“Who dares contaminate Flower Cloud Island! I, Jang-seon, will not permit it!”

“Judging by their entry into Flower Cloud Island, their yin power must be considerable too. Whether they contaminate it or not, we just need to monitor them well.”

“No, really. Why should we have to do that?”

The immortals each voiced their opinions and quarreled noisily.

Among them, Seon-o noticed a young woman who said nothing and looked down at the floor with a sunken expression. The woman with ordinary features had a face that looked ready to cry. That depressed atmosphere didn’t match the bright and clear Flower Cloud Island.

Then Bu So-yoon, who had been watching the immortals’ quarrel with irritation, raised her voice.

“Quiet! Is there anyone who knows about blooming? If you tell us information, we’ll pay any price.”

At this, the immortals’ quarrel stopped abruptly. They stared at the rude Bu So-yoon, then all burst into laughter in unison. Their faces looked like they were hearing something this funny for the first time in three thousand years.

“Giggle, what could someone like you possibly pay with? Do we look like we lack anything? Does this Flower Cloud Island look like it lacks anything?”

The Shaman Immortal humiliated Bu So-yoon as if she found it hilarious. Bu So-yoon’s face flushed red at treatment she had never received in her life.

“What?”

“Stay quiet, you brat. Who do you think you’re acting tough in front of? Things that haven’t lived even half a century, let alone a hundred years.”

When Chae-gyo laughed “Puhaha” at being called a brat, Bu So-yoon’s face turned red and blue. However, since the immortals’ words weren’t wrong, Bu So-yoon swallowed her anger.

As they said, Flower Cloud Island was perfect. It was a paradise with nothing more to wish for.

“Once I finish blooming, I’ll just… these old folks…”

Hearing Bu So-yoon muttering angrily, Seon-o glanced at Wi I-ryeong, who hadn’t said a single word until now.

What had Wi I-ryeong sacrificed to enter this place?

The methods of Bu So-yoon, Gwak Gi-rim, and Chae-gyo were all described in the original work, but Wi I-ryeong’s method wasn’t mentioned. Wi I-ryeong was a quiet but strong candidate. Strong enough to pass through all these trials alone and silently.

At that moment, when Wi Gong-un’s face strangely overlapped with Wi I-ryeong’s, Seon-o was startled and frowned.

He had never once thought the two people resembled each other before, but strangely, he felt that Wi I-ryeong’s eyes resembled Wi Gong-un’s eyes that he had seen before entering Flower Cloud Island.

Come to think of it, their eye shapes seemed somewhat similar. In any case, both were rare beauties.

But…

Seon-o knew that Wi I-ryeong and Wi Gong-un had different personalities. The biggest difference was that Wi Gong-un was cunning but strangely transparent, while Wi I-ryeong appeared gentle but revealed nothing of her inner thoughts.

Would Wi I-ryeong also try to become a phoenix without considering consequences like Wi Gong-un? For the sake of her family clan?

Then, the depressed female immortal mumbled and spoke up.

“Um… blooming might be… eternal life…”

At those words, the gazes of both immortals and candidates turned toward her.

“What do you mean, Bi-seon?”

The woman called Bi-seon answered in a gentle voice.

“If the task can only be accomplished on Flower Cloud Island… and if it requires our help… wouldn’t it be eternal life…? We have all… achieved immortality… and thus, metaphorically speaking, we have bloomed eternal life…”

At those words, everyone fell silent and watched each other’s reactions. It was a plausible opinion. Blooming that must be achieved on Flower Cloud Island.

Thinking about it again, it really might be eternal life. If a phoenix achieved eternal life, a golden age would undoubtedly be realized.

Eternal life.

Since it was something truly desirable even without being a trial, several candidates’ eyes sparkled with interest. Though they had thought eternal life was unattainable with the disappearance of Flower Cloud Island and the immortals, the candidates were now facing beings who were the basis and embodiment of eternal life itself.

These people had lived on Flower Cloud Island. For over 3,000 years.

It was truly eternal life.

“How do you obtain eternal life?”

When Chae-gyo asked bluntly, anger rose again on several immortals’ faces.

The General Immortal, who was most enraged among them, shouted thunderously.

“You bastard! Do you think we’d easily tell you something so precious!”

“No, but why has this person been so angry since earlier…?”

“You bastaaaard!”

His heated face was about to burst. Annoyed, So-yoon interjected again.

“Will you tell us how to obtain it or not? We don’t have time, so answer quickly.”

If they said they wouldn’t tell, she seemed ready to use force to subdue them. The young male immortal answered solemnly.

“Obtaining eternal life is not easy.”

“I didn’t ask if it was easy, did I? I asked how to do it.”

So-yoon’s rudeness made the General Immortal’s face heat up again.

“That, that, that insolent…!”

At this rate, even spending another hundred days on Flower Cloud Island wouldn’t make any progress. Seon-o intervened to restrain So-yoon.

“Please ignore her. She seems out of her mind from the hardship of getting here.”

“What?”

“Shut up, Bu So-yoon. Don’t you want to become a Phoenix?”

At Seon-o’s gritted words, So-yoon also gritted her teeth in frustration. However, seeming to think her words were right, she didn’t open her mouth any further. Seeing this, Chae-gyo’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Look at that, Wi I-ryeong. Master Kang turned Bu So-yoon into a docile puppy.”

“How dare that lunatic who even gouged out my eyeball call me…!”

As So-yoon jumped up and tried to ignite flames, the Elder Immortal shouted.

“Enough, enough. Be quiet, all of you!”

When he tapped the floor with a staff that appeared from somewhere, stopping the commotion, So-yoon twisted her lips and sat back down.

“Is that really all, your reason for entering this Flower Cloud Island?”

It was Gi-rim who answered the old man’s question this time as well. Gi-rim stood up and crossed her palms, clasping them together to show. It was a sign of respect and oath.

“I promise you. We will find out what Blooming is, achieve it, and then quietly return. Flower Cloud Island will not be contaminated in the slightest.”

Hmm, the old man swallowed a sigh and continued speaking while gently stroking his beard.

“There must be a reason Flower Cloud Island accepted you lot. However, obtaining eternal life requires a long time. You wouldn’t have been granted that much time.”

“Yes, elder. We don’t have much time. We earnestly ask for your help.”

The immortals’ expressions seemed to soften slightly at that prudence and politeness.

“It seems already decided who will become the Phoenix.”

When the Shaman Immortal muttered while looking at Gi-rim as if it was obvious, So-yoon’s eyebrows shot up.

“What would someone who’s been stuck in a corner of an island for three thousand years know to act so smart.”

When Seon-o quickly covered So-yoon’s mouth, So-yoon thrashed about. Seon-o absolutely wouldn’t let So-yoon go and signaled to Gi-rim with his eyes. Seeing Seon-o’s signal, Gi-rim spoke again.

“If there’s anything we can help with in exchange for that, we’ll take it on.”

The proposal seemed appealing as the immortals exchanged glances with each other.

The immortals who had gathered among themselves and whispered for a while soon returned to their seats as if they had made a decision.

The Elder Immortal opened his mouth solemnly.

“Good. You are the first to enter Flower Cloud Island in three thousand years. We immortals have decided to tell you the secrets of Flower Cloud Island, judging that you are sufficiently qualified.”

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