One-fifth, two-fifths, three-fifths...

The decree, summoned by the Golden Crow Taoist, threatened to destroy the Phoenix's body. Within moments, the Phoenix's physical form was nearly eighty percent obliterated. Just a few more strands of golden light, and the Phoenix would indeed perish.

The Golden Crow Taoist felt a shiver in his heart. He knew the True Immortal decree was powerful, but its strength, which far exceeded his expectations, startled him.

The Phoenix, slightly stronger than him moments ago, was unable to withstand the devastating power of the decree. Below a True Immortal, all were mere ants—this wasn't just an expression.

The Phoenix, supposedly immortal and able to be reborn from ashes, was now suppressed from regenerating by Taihao's decree. With each decrement in its physical form, the Phoenix edged closer to its demise.

"Could it be that I am truly going to die?" the Phoenix pondered in a daze. It had endured countless hardships to escape a True Monarch-level world, only to face potential obliteration now. In hindsight, it wondered if escaping had been a mistake. With Taihao in power, the fate of the Phoenix seemed sealed. Such was the might of a True Immortal!

As the Phoenix neared complete annihilation by the decree, something unexpected happened. Ripples appeared in the void, and then, to the astonishment of all, the fabric of space was pierced.

A hand emerged forcefully from within the spatial pathway. This hand, indescribable in its presence, swelled in the wind and quickly transformed into a gigantic hand that eclipsed the sun.

The hand then moved decisively towards Taihao's decree. The Golden Crow Taoist was shocked. Who would dare to intervene against a True Immortal decree?

Once a decree was enacted, even he dared not come close, for any interference would redirect the decree's deadly power against the interloper. Anyone not a True Immortal would undoubtedly perish.

Yet, this gigantic hand showed no fear and grasped directly at Taihao's decree. A thunderous "boom" echoed as the decree emitted a blinding light as if sensing a significant threat. Despite its dazzling brightness, it was nothing before the colossal hand, which effortlessly seized the decree.

With a "pfft," the decree shattered, disintegrating into nothingness, and the void returned to normal as if nothing had happened. The Phoenix reverted to human form and swiftly began to regenerate its body. The massive hand slowly retracted and disappeared back into the void.

A figure then stepped out from the spatial pathway, fixing its gaze upon the Golden Crow Taoist. In an instant, the Taoist felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him. The pressure was so immense it almost suffocated him.

"This sensation, could it be more than a True Monarch?" he wondered. "Could a True Monarch possess such overwhelming power to even dispel His Majesty's decree? Could this person be the legendary Lin Fei?"

The Golden Crow Taoist, though he had never met Lin Fei, was profoundly aware of his reputation. Tales of Lin Fei were still celebrated throughout the Divine Realm. Even a recluse like the Golden Crow Taoist knew that Lin Fei was no ordinary True Monarch.

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Initially, the Taoist had harbored some arrogance, thinking that even if Lin Fei was powerful, he could not be that formidable. But now, seeing Lin Fei simply standing in the void, silent, his gaze fixed, the Golden Crow Taoist realized his grave mistake. He and Lin Fei were not on the same level at all, not even close.

Facing someone who could annihilate a True Immortal decree in an instant, the Golden Crow Taoist felt humbled. Yet, he did not let fear paralyze him. Instead, he sneered, "So this must be True Monarch Lin, I presume? True Monarch Lin, regardless of your relationship with the Phoenix, it is the Phoenix that His Majesty Taihao personally ordered to be slain. You shield the Phoenix now, but can you truly protect it?

Moreover, you've destroyed His Majesty's decree. Should His Majesty's wrath be incited and he descends personally, even a legendary True Monarch from the Divine Realm would face grim odds against him. If you surrender the Phoenix, allowing me to return it to Taihao Palace, perhaps His Majesty might forgive the recent transgressions."

Despite lacking the decree and his inability to kill the Phoenix directly, the Golden Crow Taoist saw an opportunity to redeem himself by capturing the Phoenix and returning it to Taihao Palace.

"The Phoenix is now an elder of my Eternal Life Alliance," Lin Fei responded calmly, hands clasped behind his back. "No one is permitted to harm him. To do so is to make an enemy of me. As for Taihao True Immortal, I will discuss this matter with him directly."

His tone was even, his words placing him on equal footing with Taihao True Immortal, a stance so bold it widened the eyes of the Golden Crow Taoist and left him internally shaken.

Could the legendary Lin Fei True Monarch from the Divine Realm really be so brazen and ignorant of the fearsome power of a True Immortal? Or did Lin Fei believe he could match a True Immortal with his own True Monarch powers? Such naivety!

"You should not delude yourself, True Monarch Lin," the Golden Crow Taoist warned coldly. "Disrespect towards Supreme Celestial could not even be salvaged by the Great Dream Ancestor."

At this point, the Golden Crow Taoist still had not grasped the full extent of Lin Fei's power. Lin Fei was no longer the same as he had been.

After a moment of thought, Lin Fei turned to the Phoenix and said, "Phoenix, since Taihao True Immortal already knows of your escape, there's no point in delaying this matter. Rather than choosing a date, why not strike today? Let us return to the Divine Realm now to meet Taihao True Immortal and resolve this grudge once and for all."

Lin Fei then looked to the Phoenix for his decision.

The Phoenix's heart trembled slightly, its gaze complicated. Given a choice, it would rather not meet Taihao. However, it understood that avoidance was not a solution, and at this moment, it had no other options.

With Lin Fei willing to assist in resolving the matter, the Phoenix had to face Taihao.

"Everything as the Leader decides," the Phoenix conceded.

"Very well, to Taihao Palace we go!" Lin Fei and the Phoenix, in just a few words, set their plan.

The Golden Crow Taoist, however, widened his eyes in shock, unable to believe what he was witnessing.

They were willingly going to meet Taihao True Immortal? Wasn't that akin to seeking death?

The wrath of a True Immortal was not to be taken lightly. Even though Lin Fei had the backing of the Great Dream Ancestor, if Taihao True Immortal chose to disregard that influence and insisted on slaying Lin Fei, then Lin Fei would have no escape.

"You..." the Golden Crow Taoist started to speak, but Lin Fei gave him no chance to continue.

With a wave of his hand, the Saber World descended instantly, suppressing the Golden Crow Taoist who found himself unable to speak or move.

"Feng Ling, you remain in charge of the Eternal Life Alliance," Lin Fei instructed. "I will take the Phoenix to Taihao Palace and resolve the grievances between him and Taihao True Immortal once and for all."

"Don't worry, there will be no issues," he assured.

Feng Ling nodded in agreement, "Then be careful."

Without further hesitation, Lin Fei dismissed the Saber World. He and the Phoenix then traversed the void, arriving at the gateway between the mortal world and the Divine Realm located at Mount Ascension. Gazing at the mountain and the portal, the Phoenix knew that stepping through would mean entering the Divine Realm.

With a swift motion, Lin Fei and the Phoenix stepped into the gateway. In an instant, their figures vanished without a trace, having entered the Divine Realm.