“Do you understand what you are demanding? If you enter that place this early, you will be going without cultivation! While the Black Phoenix ancestral heritage is more of a trial ground, the risk of death isn’t low! You will be nearly defenseless!” The Emperor’s voice had some anger in his speech.

“Father, I do understand, I have read through the records. The trial adjusts its difficulty in accordance to the candidate’s skills, experience and cultivation. Only if the candidate attempts to trick the trial will the penalty attack. As a child aged below 13, I have not cultivated to maintain a solid foundation, the trial will not take offense!” At Heifeng Jiansui’s sounding words, the Emperor thought for a moment before speaking.

“That sounds reasonable but even so, you are still risking your life. In any case, let me tell you a secret. You must have thought that the Ancestral Succession Selection Arena is something that is a tradition of our Empire. However, it was formed when an ancestor of ours made a great achievement within the trial and wished for a way for our bloodlines to not wither!”

“You must know that the Black Phoenix bloodline is hard to pass on. Many centuries have passed and I have only been able to sire two children. Along with that the passed blood essence is weakened generation after generation. In that generation, the blood essence had ridiculously thinned out , but there was a sudden case of extreme atavism and a descendent with peerless bloodline was born. He made a great achievement and gained the Ancestral Succession Selection Arena, and due to the succession battles, the bloodline density of the next generations after that recovered…” Saying this, the Emperor sighed.

“If possible, I want you make a great achievement in the trials and gain a better way to preserve the bloodlines, one that doesn’t require the sacrifice of descendents. If you do that, you will pave a path for the future descendents of the clan, where they do not have to fear death right after their birth! The parents who will not have to witness their children killing each other will also thank you!” The Emperor’s words were filled with hope.

The sad fate of having the children you have brought into the world kill each other was something that tore into the Emperor’s heart. With his heart in disarray, he hadn’t been able to advance a single step in his cultivation since Heifeng Jiansui’s birth. However, a miracle occurred and both his children lived.

“I will try my best. Perhaps the trials will be lenient on me due to my lack of cultivation and allow me to make great achievements.” At Heifeng Jiansui’s words, the Emperor replied a single word, “Hopefully.”

“Well then, your 7th birthday will be occurring after three weeks or so. At that time, you will mature your bloodline and become a true man. 1,3,7,9. At these ages, the Black Phoenix bloodline matures as well as the appearance changes. At the age of 1, your body will be similar to a mortal 3 year old. At the age of 3, your physique matures to that of a mortal 7 year old. But at the age of 7, your body will mature to that of a mortal 18 year old!

At this age, you will become a man capable of partaking in the delights of the flesh! I have heard that you have already trained a posse of five beauties, so remember to push them down before entering the ancestral trials!” Saying this, the Emperor patted him thrice on his shoulder. Hearing the perverted words coming from his father, Heifeng Jiansui couldn’t help but blush.

“Father, do you have any connections with the Nineyuan Heavenly Gate? I wish to enter that sect.” Thinking of his master’s wish, Heifeng Jiansui immediately asked the Emperor.

“Are you sure? You are already a Chosen disciple in the Ten Thousand Swords Paradise, if you become a Successor disciple, you will certainly stand a chance of becoming the Patriarch or if not, a Highest Elder. Meanwhile, you will have to start from rock bottom in the Nineyuan Sect. I might be able to get you in as a Outer Sect disciple if I am lucky, if not, you will have to begin from a Recorded or even a Secret disciple!” Hearing the Emperor’s words, Heifeng Jiansui decisively nodded.

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“If you are so sure… I will try my level best to get in touch with a friend. If we get you to enter the sect quickly, you can rise higher as well.” The Emperor assented with his words.

“Well then, I have one last thing to ask… Are there any supreme martial arts that I was not authorized to access earlier as a Prince?” Hearing Heifeng Jiansui’s words and seeing his hungry expression, he realized that his son had true determination to tread the martial path!

“Of course. Let me take you to see them now.” Father led and son followed, entering the Scripture Palace. After summoning the librarian, he unlocked several formations, unsealing the secret crypt that concealed the Black Phoenix Empire’s greatest secrets.

+++

Inside the crypt, Heifeng Jiansui saw numerous manuals and scriptures and jade-slips. There were unorthodox ways to transmitting martial arts like engraved steles and paintings. There were even statues denoting the stances of martial arts.

“Our Empire formed during the beginning of the era and our roots predate even that. In the previous era, our clan was secluded away, but in this one we proudly control part of the Fire Supreme World and this Great World. The little we could scrounge away from the previous era and all our gains in this era, are secured here.” The Emperor’s voice and tone was proud as he bragged about his heritage.

“I can sense that.” And the young prince truly could sense the nostalgic Dao of the previous era, something that should have been wholly replaced, in this room.

“You can look through everything here and learn something if it gets your interest. Of course, it would be best if you can choose in one sitting. Unsealing this crypt is taxing even for me.” Saying this, the Emperor pulled over Heifeng Jiansui to a jade-slip.

“This is the most important heritage of out Black Phoenix lineage: the Black Phoenix Nine Daos. Three Principles, Nine Dao, these are the ancestral Daoscripts buried into the bodies of us Black Phoenix clansmen!

First Principle, Yin-Yang Three Great Dao: Ice-Fire, Wind-Thunder and Dark-Light!

Second Principle, Reincarnation Three Supreme Dao:  Life, Death and Samsara!

Third Principle, Chaotic Three Universal Dao: Creation, Destruction and Void!”

After reading the jade-slip, Heifeng Jiansui realized that it containing the training techniques for only the First Principle of Yin-Yang. Meanwhile, the Emperor continued, “The First Principle’s jade-slip was uncovered from the ancestral heritage a few thousand years back when my Father underwent the trial. I have already trained them to completion. It is a pity the Second Principle can’t be found. If possible, can you try and get the completed jade-slip? It will help my chances of breakthrough.”

Heifeng Jiansui thought for a moment before exclaiming, “Are you sure that only the First Principle is inscribed here? I can read all Three Principles and Nine Daos!” Suddenly nine distinct auras of the Nine Daos began radiating from Heifeng Jiansui!

Before the Emperor could react, he immediately asked him, “Father, immediately give me a blank jade-slip!” The Emperor immediately removed the best blank jade-slip within his spatial ring and gave it to his son. And Heifeng Jiansui immediately poured the entire Black Phoenix Nine Daos that he had received into the jade-slip.

Along with the technique, the Dao comprehensions, memories of the Black Phoenix were also bound to the jade slip. After completing the job, Heifeng Jiansui handed over the work to his father.

Reading the manual, a childish grin came over the normally taciturn Emperor. “Good son, filial son! Hahaha, with this, my chances of breakthrough are assured! Dear son, I have to consolidate my gains by meditating. Can I trouble you to act as my Dao Protector for this duration?”

Heifeng Jiansui’s expression turned serious. The duty of a Dao Protector was a sacred task entrusted to only the closest relations on eve of sudden breakthrough. While his father only wanted him to keep an eye on him and not let him get disturbed, Heifeng Jiansui still took it seriously.  “I won’t fail you, father!”

+++

After immediately informing the librarian of his father’s sudden meditation, Heifeng Jiansui spent the rest of the time with the crypt reading through every single manual and technique within. Despite being only the secret archive of an Empire ruling over a Great World, the manuals within far surpassed all techniques he had made contact with in this life!

It was almost ridiculous. All along, he hadn’t had any decent techniques for Black Phoenixes to train in apart from the Phoenixblood Marrowforge and he had chanced upon this treasure horde! Techniques for a Black Phoenix bloodline, techniques for Black Phoenix battle spirit and even techniques for cultivating Black Phoenix innate qi…

Black Phoenix Imperial Skies, Black Phoenix Icefire Rain, Black Phoenix Vajra Body… Every conceivable technique was within this archive. All the techniques in this crypt were memorized by him and systemized. Using this as a foundation, he could create Black Phoenix bloodline techniques with greater ease!

Adding to this, the other techniques were quite to his liking. He actually made a huge windfall by gaining the ‘Black Phoenix Chaotic Blood’ cultivation technique. It actually had the power of cultivating the power of chaos by refining the power with the bloodline!

The Black Annihilation Chaotic Art which cultivated the power of Destruction, the Longevity Creation Ninephase Art which cultivated the power of Creation and the Black Phoenix Chaotic Blood which completed the cycle with the power of Chaos! Finally, a stable foundation for the creation of a world was built!