I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 98

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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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98.

When I-ryeong and Gi-rim looked where Chae-gyo pointed, they could see that starting from the right island of Flower Cloud Island, everything on the island was hardening into solid stone.

“The island is being petrified. What a damn island this is. Trapping people in this state.”

Chae-gyo cursed under her breath as if troubled.

The Peach Tree that was the foundation of this island was being damaged, and the things that had been sustained by its power were dying.

“Urgh…! That, that thing… kill it…!”

When the enraged Bi-seon shouted, the Immortals who were her slaves all rushed toward Seon-o at once. Meanwhile, Seon-o had somehow approached close to the gate.

“Escape!”

Seon-o shouted to Gi-rim and I-ryeong as she collapsed in front of Chae-gyo. Chae-gyo, who rarely showed panic, frowned as she looked at Seon-o.

Due to the foundation of the island being damaged, various parts of Flower Cloud Island were hardening into stone. And yet she had such composure?

“Does Master Kang plan to live here with me?”

It was a deadly joke from someone who had accepted that she couldn’t leave. Without answering, Seon-o firmly grasped the branch that wouldn’t release Chae-gyo’s ankle. Whether it was connected to the main body, Seon-o’s palm began to burn from the branch that was hot enough to make one gasp.

As Seon-o didn’t give up and struggled desperately to tear off the branch, the smile that had been lingering at Chae-gyo’s lips faded.

The petrification phenomenon continued approaching terrifyingly without stopping, and the Immortals who had been rushing toward them also hardened like stone. Seeing this, Gi-rim finally grabbed I-ryeong’s arm.

“We must leave, Wi I-ryeong!”

I-ryeong didn’t move as if she couldn’t leave like this.

“Urgh!”

And at that very moment, Seon-o broke off the branch wrapped around Chae-gyo’s ankle. Finally, the main body had burned so much it couldn’t endure and lost its strength.

Seon-o, who had swallowed a dry breath, immediately helped Chae-gyo up and headed toward the gate. Chae-gyo just watched Seon-o and followed her actions like someone who had temporarily forgotten how to act. Behind them, Immortals who hadn’t yet been petrified were reaching their hands toward them.

And then…

“…!”

In front of the Gate of Flower Cloud Island, a Five-Colored Flower had bloomed, though no one knew when it had appeared.

It was the moment when Seon-o reached out with all her strength to pluck that flower.

“No! Don’t go…! Don’t go! Don’t leave me behind!”

A sharply shot branch pierced through Seon-o’s neck.

“Huk…”

As Seon-o collapsed forward from the pain, Chae-gyo instinctively caught Seon-o’s body.

Simultaneously, what emerged from Seon-o’s heart roared terrifyingly and swept away the sharp branches and Immortals in one stroke.

It was Seon-o’s Divine Water, the Water Dragon.

Only after confirming this did Gi-rim and I-ryeong finally escape Flower Cloud Island.

Chae-gyo, who had bought time thanks to the Water Dragon, also leaped vigorously into the gate carrying Seon-o. The moment the two crossed over the Gate of Flower Cloud Island, the Immortals who had been clamoring to be taken along finally all hardened, and even the Elder Immortal who was still pierced by branches turned to stone.

The bodies of Chae-gyo and Seon-o, who had narrowly avoided petrification, fell downward.

Their loyal Divine Water creatures competed to catch their falling masters. The bodies of Seon-o and Chae-gyo, entangled together, fell down onto the floor where Light Tiger and Water Dragon were spread out.

Thud-!

The Divine Water creatures that had caught them dispersed, and Chae-gyo, who had touched the floor, coughed from the impact and raised her head. Seeing that the stuffiness that had been enveloping her entire body had completely disappeared, this place was definitely outside Flower Cloud Island.

When she heard a pained breathing sound from beneath her, Chae-gyo looked down.

“Master Kang!”

Seon-o, with blood flowing from her neck, was lying weakly and breathing shallowly.

Chae-gyo quickly pressed on Seon-o’s neck to stop the bleeding. In Chae-gyo’s eyes was an absurdity she had never seen before.

“Wow, really. It seems like Master Kang is the crazy one in Geumhwi Kingdom, not me…”

Hearing Chae-gyo’s astounded muttering, Seon-o blinked her trembling eyes.

Her throat hurt so much she couldn’t speak. When she turned her tear-soaked, struggling eyes, the first thing she saw was the Emperor’s shocked face.

“What on earth is this…”

The Emperor…?

‘Does this mean we’re in the Imperial Palace…?’

Seeing the commotion around them, it seemed the Imperial Palace was in the middle of some kind of event.

Seon-o exerted a little more strength to shift her gaze. Through her blurring vision, she saw a strange face looking at her.

Soon Seon-o realized that the bizarre black face was a mask.

And that the clothes worn by the person wearing that mask were an Imperial Dragon Robe.

The one wearing the imperial yellow robe was staring at Seon-o as if to pierce through him.

Soon he opened his dry lips and spoke quietly.

“Your Majesty, the Phoenix Competition Candidate appears to be injured. You must summon the Imperial Physician.”

Hearing Sa-baek’s voice saying the Imperial Physician should be called, Seon-o closed his eyes.

The Old Man had kept his promise. Seon-o had obtained the divine beast.

His throat burned as if on fire. It felt like all his Yin Power was draining out through the pierced hole.

But he had finally passed through the third gateway.

Breath leaked out through his drying lips.

Seon-o lost consciousness just like that.

* * *

The candidates had returned.

No, they had fallen from the sky.

The place where they fell was the middle of the Imperial Palace, right before the Emperor’s nose.

Accompanied by legendary divine beasts.

It so happened that at that time, the Imperial Palace was holding the Bongsinje ceremony to verify the Emperor’s qualifications before the gods, so countless people witnessed it, and that shocking event spread in an instant, swallowing the continent at a terrifying speed.

Among them, the speculation that most provoked people was the dangerous assumption that the gods had given the Emperor a warning—a speculation so dangerous that merely speaking it could lead to clan annihilation.

“No, isn’t that right? Otherwise, why would they have fallen in that exact place? And accompanied by divine beasts with the gods’ Yin Power! This is an ominous sign. Very ominous.”

On the other hand, since all candidates had appeared accompanied by divine beasts, the hopeful speculation that the gods were watching over Geumhwi Kingdom and that the Phoenix born this time would be stronger than any other Phoenix followed closely behind.

“If it’s not a good omen that those precious divine beasts appeared—not just one, not just two, but as many as five—then what would it be? Perhaps the blooming mentioned in the Divine Oracle was the divine beasts. Once again, all candidates have passed through the gateway. This has never happened before! Surely Heaven has not abandoned this land.”

Among the candidates, Bu So-yoon was the first to fall from the sky. As soon as she recovered some strength, she shocked everyone by revealing the ugly truth about Flower Cloud Island.

Bu So-yoon claimed that Flower Cloud Island was cursed land and that the Immortals there had already transformed into demons, so the evaluation of the First Generation Superhumans should be reconsidered. She didn’t forget to mention that they had tried to sacrifice the candidates to gain benefits for themselves.

However, since Bu So-yoon had escaped as soon as the door opened, she didn’t know about what happened afterward.

Everyone therefore wanted to know what had become of Flower Cloud Island, and what the other candidates, especially Chae-gyo and Seon-o who seemed to have escaped last, had witnessed, but none of the candidates except Bu So-yoon spoke about Flower Cloud Island.

Many people believed that even if not the other candidates, at least Chae-gyo would surely come to the pleasure house and tell them all about those adventures, but Chae-gyo didn’t appear at the pleasure house even after several days had passed.

Someone claimed it was because the sixth candidate, Kang Seon-o, was dying. Because Chae-gyo had escaped with her at the end.

Their words were half wrong and half right.

Seon-o, who had fallen with his throat pierced from Flower Cloud Island, couldn’t wake up for seven whole days.

The unconscious Seon-o received emergency treatment from the Imperial Physician and was moved to his family home. A famous doctor brought by Seon-o’s parents treated her. Just when they were about to despair seeing no signs of improvement, the Young Master of the Wi Family appeared.

Wi Gong-un, saying he owed Seon-o a debt and swearing to definitely heal Seon-o in return, secretly treated Seon-o for seven days. The Great Temple and Yawol Sect continuously sent physicians and spirit medicine for Seon-o, but since Wi Gong-un’s will was strong, no one except Wi Gong-un could enter Seon-o’s room.

Finally, after six days, Seon-o’s breathing barely returned to normal.

And on the seventh day, Seon-o opened his eyes.

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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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