Dance Of The Phoenix
51. Gifts Meeting

Today, the Wine Pavilion underwent a strange change.

The wind blew, spreading a lot of dry leaves in the yard accompanied by dust that damaged the view. Not a storm, nor an attack or exercise, but rather a reddish-black decomposing girl who controls the qi to get rid of all the dust and dry leaves.

He collected it in one place, then used fire to burn all the trash with a snap of a finger. All the trash was scorched instantly.

The ash that came from the burning flew into the air like a fire. If anyone saw him, they would probably panic thinking there had been a fire at one point of the academy.

While burning the trash, the girl got rid of all the useless items. Including empty bottles and wine jars scattered in the pavilion. Just gather everything together and throw it into the flames.

After feeling that all the trash had been cleaned up, Gu Yuena in front of the blaze patted her hands from the dust. The job is finished very quickly. If only he did not have magic, this would be exhausting work.

"Done ...." Gu Yuena glanced at Xiao Hei beside her. "Bring me some new cloth for the woman."

Xiao Hei tilted his head, wanting to know what Gu Yuena meant to him. But he did not ask, but instead ran out of the pavilion to complete the task.

"Ah, I just want to sleep ...." Gu Yuena muttered in a lazy tone.

"Xiao Yuena~"

Gu Yuena was aghast. He hurriedly extinguished the fire and buried all the burnt marks into the ground using spiritual power. But when he unleashed his spiritual power, the charcoal spread as if it had exploded towards him.

"Huff ...."

No matter how the ashes dirtyed him, Gu Yuena completed the cleanup as quickly as possible.

After the burning was covered, Gu Yuena turned around to see Yan Shuiyin coming.

The woman's flat gaze turned to surprise when she saw the ashes of the burn marks littering Gu Yuena. The snow-white skin of the girl had been covered with charcoal and looked disheveled. Even some of his face had patches of ash.

"Pffs." Yan Shuiyin held back a laugh. He hurriedly neutralized the expression to show his authority and said, "If it's done, you can clean yourself up. Remember to provide for all the needs of the Elders of the Hidden Land."

"Teacher, when are you going to teach me?" Gu Yuena wanted to know. Learning activities are not done directly because students need adaptation, but each mentor has its own method.

"Soon, as soon as I'm sure." Yan Shuiyin turned around just like that. Want to learn from him? A certain girl must show eligibility first to convince him.

Gu Yuena sighed resignedly. A certain party is a great magician, of course he should not let go. He'll work hard.

The red-sliced girl went into the Hidden Land to cleanse herself. Since there were no servants, he had to prepare a bath and take a tear from the spring.

The springs in Hidden Land are in the north, in the form of waterfalls that lead down the cliff. More precisely, it will be right above the waterfall.

While carrying a wooden bucket, he stepped up and focused on cleaning himself. He did not want to think of anything else that was uncertain, at least for now.

Arriving at the river, washing his dusty face and fetching water, he did not directly return to the pavilion but rather saw what was down there.

Although this river was quite large, Gu Yuena's position was at the end of the water flow that fell down. Gu Yuena's red iris only saw the darkness covered in water mist below.

Actually, where is the Hidden Land?

I don't know, wherever he is, this place isn't bad either. It's even very good. He better return to the pavilion as soon as possible.

Gu Yuena lifted the wooden bucket on the rocks, then turned around. Just at that moment, he saw a man in his black robe standing by the river looking at him.

A handsome man with a cold and gloomy appearance. He was Yang Xinyuan.

"Is something?" Gu Yuena looked around. He was sure there was nothing interesting that made such a cold man come to him.

"Have we met?" Yang Xinyuan asked, with a cold tone that she had. His flat gaze was very hard to guess what he was feeling at the moment.

"So you mean, I'm familiar? I don't know." Actually, Gu Yuena also felt that the man in front of her was quite familiar.

Yang Xinyuan did not say anything more. He lowered his gaze, looking thoughtful. But Gu Yuena could not guess what he was thinking.

Is the man going to say that he was wrong or something?

"There are many unexpected things in this world. I sometimes find people who look familiar, but actually don't." Gu Yuena sighed. That includes her brother. "Your name is Xinyuan, right? I heard from Elder Yan, you are my teacher's guest. Actually, is there a problem with my teacher?"

Gu Yuena's question was indeed a little brazen, indirectly saying that her teacher was troubled. But he could not hide his curiosity.

Yan Shuiyin was a magician, her past had a relationship with Linghun Palace. Guests who come and stay at his place are certainly not ordinary people. Moreover, Gu Yuena could not clearly sense the strength of the man in front of her.

Just as he could not guess Luo Youzhe.

Yang Xinyuan finally replied, "It's no big deal. I only came to see Grand Elder Yan as the envoy of the Palace King Yuansu."

The King of Yuansu Palace? Doesn't that mean Yang Xinyuan didn't know that Yan Shuiyin was a witch? It would be dangerous to let him stay here. What did that woman think?

"I heard a few things about you, including the final exam in the outer courtyard." Yang Xinyuan inexplicably brought it up.

"Yes, most of it is just fabricated rumors." Gu Yuena did not want to admit anything. He did not know which rumors Yang Xinyuan had heard.

"I think you're quite talented. If it can get into Yuansu Palace faster, that's a good thing."

Was the wall-faced man praising? It was a bit strange to see her praising with a flat face and with a cold tone.

"That won my goal of coming here." Gu Yuena smiled awkwardly. "If there's anything, tell me right away. I'll make sure I help as much as I can."

Yang Xinyuan only nodded slightly. Gu Yuena did not say anything more, and went to carry the two wooden buckets in her hands.

But before Gu Yuena actually left, Yang Xinyuan stopped her so as to make Gu Yuena stop.

"Wait a minute!" Yang Xinyuan approached.

Gu Yuena turned her head to look at it. The black iris looked at him with an unchanging cold aura, yet her actions were different from the water on her face.

The man took out something from the spiritual space. A scroll made of leather and looked to be a very long time ago. He gave it to Gu Yuena.

"Are you asking me to send it to someone?" Gu Yuena accepted it while taking a look. He did not dare to open it.

"For you, as a gift of your arrival. Yan Shuiyin is quite lonely here, I hope you don't disappoint her."

Gu Yuena looked at him in silence for a while. Yang Xinyuan looked not much older than him, perhaps 5 years older. But why was he so considerate of Yan Shuiyin who had been for hundreds of years?

Do they have a relationship?

"Don't misunderstand me. Yan Shuiyin and I have known each other for a long time, she is like my own family."

"You seem to have read my mind." Gu Yuena chuckled.

"Very good on your face." Yang Xinyuan looked towards the scroll in Gu Yuena's hand. "That's a magic essence-making step for beginners."

Gu Yuena gawking. "Aren't I only able to use it when it's level 6?"

"It won't be long."

Gu Yuena smiled, then nodded. "Thank you."

"In the future we will meet often," said Yang Xinyuan, before finally leaving to let the cool Gu Yuena herself with the scroll in hand.

"Well, not bad," muttered Gu Yuena. The contents of the scroll were truly a method of magic essence creation! This is what he needs.

Undeniably, Yang Xinyuan had made a good impression for Gu Yuena at the first meeting.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

"Miss, I'm back—miaw!"

An object waded through Xiao Hei's entire body as he was about to enter the pavilion. All the cloth he carried with his teeth fell scattered, while his figure was locked in a sack while rebelling and shouting.

A terrifying roar appeared from within the small sack. The two people holding onto the sack instantly used the power of the seal to lock it away so that the black creature inside did not come out.

"It's no ordinary cat."

"Quick the seal and go before it gets caught!"

The man holding the sack with great difficulty instantly completed the summoner's special seal. While the other man gave a slight blow towards the sack until the movement in the sack stopped.

"Come, Young Master is waiting!"

"Yes." Yeah."

The two of them left at high speed from the territory of the Wine Pavilion, forgetting the trail of abductions left in front of the pavilion gate.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

Inside the room, Gu Yuena sat in a meditative position to increase her cultivation base. The Qi around was absorbed into the body thus giving rise to the surrounding red energy.

The phoenix flames within his body tempered, devouring all the qi within his dantian to serve as a source of strength and forming new power. The magic essence that Gu Yuena used also added to her strength significantly.

Until finally energy fluctuations occurred in his body, causing pressure on the entire room and temperature changes like hellfire. Gu Yuena had risen to the 5-star 3-star level quickly.

The general ability of a 5-star 3 level is the addition of group control capabilities. He can make an attack both passive and active to reduce the effectiveness of the opponent on a battlefield within a certain radius.

It was a common ability that was difficult to apply, so not a few ignored it until it completely disappeared replaced by another ability. However, with the magic essence Gu Yuena used, the magic essence of the 8— level from Luo Youzhe— had the ability of adding active mass control. It would not be difficult for him to control that ability.

Gu Yuena opened her eyes. His red iris shone for a moment before it finally returned to how it was.

He smiles. "Not bad."

This feeling is pretty good. In addition to the addition of the mass control ability, he was able to feel his entire body becoming better than before. The body feels light and breath fresh without any obstacles. Even his bones felt stronger.

After this, he still had to pick up some top-tier techniques to support his magic.

By the way, Xiao Hei hasn't come back yet. It had been dark since he had asked Xiao Hei to pick up the cloth earlier this afternoon.

Did something happen outside?

Although the cat sometimes liked to disappear, Xiao Hei always told him not to look for it before it disappeared. Gu Yuena became anxious herself.

Just then, Gu Yuena again looked at Yan Shuiyin in the appearance of a rude man who was engrossed in drinking wine. Gu Yuena could only sigh.

"Xiao Yuena, you're there. Don't you want to have some wine with me?" Yan Shuiyin scowled towards Gu Yuena while showing the wine bottle in her hand.

Although Gu Yuena liked wine, she was not interested in drinking. It will only distract her focus. It is better to drink when frustrated.

"Teacher, have you seen Xiao Hei?" ask Gu Yuena.

"That black cat you've always been with?" Yan Shuiyin thought for a moment. "So, he's not back yet. It might be taking a walk or absorbing the essence of heaven and earth."

The way to cultivate monsters in general was to absorb the essence of heaven and earth in the wild. It was done to perfect its cultivation process after hunting and absorbing the energy of other monsters. Just like humans absorbing qi.

"I'll be out for a minute."

Yan Shuiyin continued her own pleasure without seeing Gu Yuena coming out of the Wine Pavilion night-night.

Standing in front of the pavilion door while looking at the dark sky. The dark sky was filled with stars and full moonlight that gave the lighting.

That dark sky, like the color of one's eyes.

The memory of the day after the match just flashed. A conversation he remembers well. He himself does not know how he will interpret the conversation if it is related to his own feelings.

Everything feels more strange.

There's no way Gu Yuena likes someone? Especially that guy.

Of the many 'lovers' with him, he never felt this balanced when he wanted to leave someone. Professionalism seems to disappear.

"Huh, sucks." Gu Yuena pitched her head upwards, then closed her eyes, feeling the coolness of the air blowing onto her beautiful face.

His eyes opened wide suddenly, displaying an iris as red as blood that was quite sharp.

He felt someone's presence.

Who comes in these nights? The Wine Pavilion.

Gu Yuena circulated the gaze in all directions. Both of his eyes stopped at the closed pavilion gate. I can feel someone's breath there.

His feet stepped then slightly opened the gate for him to come out.

There's no one.

The breath also disappeared.

Looks like someone's playing games with him.

Gu Yuena snorted. He turned around to go back inside. But his steps came to a halt as soon as he realized what he was putting under his feet.

Some of the rags were scattered.

Previously Gu Yuena had asked Xiao Hei to get some cloths for Yan Shuiyin, more precisely for the Wine Pavilion supplies. Looking at the few strands of cloth scattered over the ground, he seemed to understand what was happening.

Xiao Hei was kidnapped.

Gu Yuena clenched her fists deeply, restraining the turbulent emotions. How dare someone challenge him through Xiao Hei. If anything happens to his little cat, he will make the person concerned pay him worse.

He crouched down, taking all the scattered cloths with an expressionless face. When lifting some of the piled up cloth, a piece of paper fell from the layer of cloth making Gu Yuena's attention distracted.

Take the paper, then read the contents.

"Your little cat is south of the academy. If you come to bring people, be prepared to lose."

Gu Yuena chuckled slightly after reading it. At first he thought of tracing through this scattered cloth. But apparently, the man had given an invitation.

Although it was not threatened like this, it would definitely come alone. Tonight as well.

***

The southern region of the academy was an alienated place containing hunted monsters. The accumulated hunting monsters were within the seal of a summoner and could not harm the disciples.

However, there were some cases of high-level monsters within the seal performing attacks indirectly, causing some disciples to suffer internal injuries and craze. That's why, that place is so crowded.

Only summoners with special positions and elders and deans were allowed to approach the 'breeding. While other disciples, would experience headaches and could not withstand the pressure of those dangerous monsters.

The southern part of the academy was a forest, inside which were tamed monsters. Although benign, they are actually not completely benign. If there was a 'soft' disciple who was not accompanied by someone with high strength, those monsters would definitely devour him as nutrition.

Several academy disciples in white gold-patterned uniforms were now gathered at one point of the captive forest. They looked vigilantly at a sizable iron cage, surrounding it while looking at the pair of flaming eyes belonging to the black creature aimed at all of them.

The power of the black creature in front of them was clearly not to be underestimated. They were able to catch him while being off guard was already a fortune.

The black creature growled while looking at the humans sharply. His sharp and furious gaze was so visibly wanting to tear them into pieces.

"Women are really going to come here?" One of the men said with doubt. After all, it's been very night.

"The woman always carried this big cat with her at all times. He must have been watching her a lot. Maybe the girl is on her way."

"Hmph, I want to see how the trick is to get this monster back."

"I heard she was the prettiest woman that even her beauty defeated Lin Xi and Lin Susu. After making her kneel down, don't waste such beauty."

"Huh, your head is always like that. It's really embarrassing."

"The woman belongs to the Young Master. We leave it to him, just make a decision according to the situation."

While they were talking about the ambush plan, the black creature locked in a cage saw them furiously for having planned to harm his nona.

"I need to get out of here and help Miss." Xiao Hei growled once more, then smashed his body into the iron bars surrounding him.

The collision of Xiao Hei made all eyes switch on him. The reason, the collision was so strong that it made the iron bars vibrate as if they were going to be destroyed.

Unfortunately, the bars were too strong. Xiao Hei had already used all his might to crush him and released the handcuffs on his neck that held back his spiritual power. He has to get out of here and help his lady!

"Hey, he seems angry we're talking about his nona."

"Truly a loyal stint."

"Whatever he tried, even a level 7 monster would not be able to break these bars without spiritual power."

They laughed at how frustrated Xiao Hei was who wanted to smash the bars. The bar stands firm.

The more annoyed he saw those people laughing at him and demeaning his nona, Xiao Hei grew angrier. He roared loudly causing the disciples to have to cover their ears and withstand the pressure that barged out forcefully.

Too powerful.

Actually, how many levels of monsters were that?

"I have to hurry!" Xiao Hei convinced himself. His eyes became as red as blood right then and there.

He continued to hit his body into the bars on various sides in quick succession. The clash grew stronger and stronger, causing defects in some parts of the bars. This made Xiao Hei happy.

One of the students realized it sooner.

"This test will be ruined!"

In just that one sentence, it managed to make everyone alert. Xiao Hei again banged his body even stronger until it made a great tremor that shook the ground.

Just then, one of the bars was smashed into pieces and passed Xiao Hei.

Xiao Hei roared ferociously. This makes the disciples of the club will escape a terrible monster that managed to break through the bars are very strong.

The precious broken bars alone had already made them extremely frightened, especially when Xiao Hei came out and looked at them as if the life-revoking angel was already in sight.

"Uwaa, how is this? How could he destroy it!"

"What should we do?"

The six of them shook violently. Xiao Hei unceremoniously jumped towards them, making the six disperse right then and there.

The tremors on the ground were very pronounced and made them fall when Xiao Hei landed his body. Xiao Hei looked at them with a powerful killing aura. Although his neck was still handcuffed, he could still crush these children with his physical strength.

The six people screamed so much that the sleeping monsters woke up. But for some reason, the monsters did not dare to approach and instead hid their existence.

The six disciples were extremely frightened and were running around like lost sheep around the forest. Xiao Hei did not spare them just like that. Although they ran apart, he did not care and chased the most affordable.

The blood red iris of the black makhkuk looked at the male disciple in front of him who was mired. The man crawled backwards, crying and frightened to the point of not being able to ask for help. He's too helpless.

Where is the arrogance he showed just now? Moreover, that man was the disciple who had previously intended to get dirty on Gu Yuena. Xiao Hei would certainly not forgive him.

"Please! Helpme! I don't want to die!" The man shouted hysterically while kicking the air full of fear. His gaze looked at the huge makhkuk in front of him with horror.

Dying in the captivity of monsters was a commonplace thing that the academy could not control. If there were disciples who died here, they would not bother to take issue with it, as it was reckless that the disciple was careless and made themselves into a monster meal.

Therefore, it would not matter if it killed him.

"Please .. anyone help me ...." Men feel helpless without the intention to stop asking for help. He can't even escape anymore.

The black creature approached him with a terrifying furious growl. He lowered his body towards the back, preparing to pounce on the man in front of him.

When his body jumped up with a ferocious roar, the man yelled out in his own right without caring that his vocal cords would be broken.

But suddenly something strange happened. A flash of red flashed swiftly struck the huge body of the black creature. The black creature crashed far enough away, its skin was hit by a sword scratch, while its body was hit hard enough that the ground was shaken.

Someone landed in front of the poor man with his pointy and large sword, looking at the black creature with an expressionless coldness before finally narrowing his eyes.

"What is that thing?"