"Senior Brother, I'm here!"
"Big Brother! I've arrived!"
"Chirp chirp!"
Three voices rang out as three figures appeared beside Chiyou. Each radiated potent Cursed Power, embodying the essence of Heretic Gods—entities who had transcended their mythical origins.
One of them, standing to Chiyou's side, possessed an extraordinary appearance: a deer-like body adorned with leopard-like spots, a peacock's head crowned with strangely twisted antlers, and a serpentine tail.
This was Feng Bo, also known as Feng Shi or Ji Bo, whose name was Feilian. He was a divine being from ancient Chinese mythology and Chiyou's brother.
During the great battle between Chiyou and the Huang Emperor, Chiyou summoned his brothers, Feng Bo and Yu Shi, to aid him, causing the Huang Emperor considerable trouble.
The other figure resembled a wild man, with a bizarre appearance and frenzied speech. He wore a grass collar, a leather skirt, unkempt hair, and bare feet, his fingernails sharpened into claw-like talons. Yellow fur covered his entire body, and he carried a willow branch coiled with a crimson dragon. This... this was Yu Shi, also known as Shang Yang!
Shang Yang was a mythical one-legged bird capable of shrinking or expanding its body at will. When it inhaled, it could drain the vast oceans dry; when it exhaled, it could unleash torrential rains.
This was the original depiction of the Wind Master and Rain Master. However, with the rise of Taoism, they were later incorporated into Taoist mythology.
Over time, their representations gradually transformed into something else entirely.
If the Phoenix, as the Wind Master and Rain Master, was still somewhat recognizable, then... what was that massive creature, several meters tall, standing before Chiyou?
Although its size had increased significantly and its appearance had become far more terrifying, wasn't that... China's national treasure, the giant panda?
Was the panda actually a Heretic God?
Could Chiyou's mount truly have been a panda? Or perhaps an Iron-Eating Beast?
The [ Classic of Strange Things ] describes such a creature: "In the south dwells a beast called the Iron-Eating Beast, resembling a bear with a small head, lame feet, and a mottled black-and-white coat. It licks and devours copper, iron, and even bamboo bones."
This panda, now famed for its cuteness in modern society, wasn't always a mere bamboo eater. It once possessed a unique ability: the ability to consume iron, earning it the nickname "Iron-Eating Beast" in the animal kingdom's underworld.
The [ Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of the Five Emperors ] notes that Chiyou's Pixiu, a ferocious beast often used to lead battle charges, refers to the modern panda.
Consider this: the Huang Emperor rode a Yellow Dragon and a Roc, while Chiyou rode a panda.
Imagine the legendary battle between the Huang Emperor and Chiyou, with Chiyou astride his panda locked in fierce combat against the dragon-mounted Huang Emperor...
Could pandas truly be this formidable? Capable of battling dragons?
Just as Phoenix was pondering how to confront her enemy, she froze in shock. The Iron-Eating Beast had appeared, but its first instinct wasn't caution. Instead, it immediately latched onto Chiyou's thigh in a tight hug.
The Iron-Eating Beast wrapped all four paws around Chiyou, clinging to him as if utterly devoted.
"Damn it, Iron-Eating Beast... what are you doing? Let go!" Chiyou hadn't anticipated the beast's sudden embrace. Instead of helping him, it was only causing more trouble.
But the more Chiyou struggled to shake it off, the tighter the Iron-Eating Beast clung.
"Big Brother, your Iron-Eating Beast still adores you! Hahaha..." Feng Bo couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Chiyou struggling with the beast.
"Big Brother, did you summon us solely to confront the Slayer of Luo ahead?" Unlike Feng Bo, Yu Shi remained serious, despite his wild appearance.
"Yes, my brothers. The Slayer of Luo is no weaker than that brat Huang Emperor. And did you see the Great Sword she wields? That's... the Xuanyuan Sword! Even Jingwei, the spirit bird born from Yan Emperor's daughter, has ties to her!"
Chiyou shoved the Iron-Eating Beast aside and, hearing Yu Shi's question, quickly warned them to avoid underestimating their opponent.
"She's connected to the Yanhuang Emperors? In that case, we can't let her go. I initially thought the Slayer of Luo was quite beautiful, no less so than the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden who aided the Huang Emperor..."
Hearing Chiyou's words, the Wind Master and Rain Master glared at the Xuanyuan Sword in Phoenix's hand. Their earlier lecherous gazes now burned with hatred.
Having already been defeated by the Huang Emperor, Chiyou and his followers knew their next battle would be equally grim.
"Big Brother, let me test this Slayer of Luo's strength first and see how much power she inherited from the Yanhuang Emperors," Feng Bo, his monstrous appearance resembling a demon, said without waiting for Chiyou's reply. He raised his fan and unleashed a violent gust of wind towards Phoenix, instantly creating a hurricane.
"For a defeated general, you're awfully arrogant!" Phoenix retorted, facing the raging winds. She simply planted the Xuanyuan Sword before her, creating an invisible barrier. The tempest roared against the barrier, leaving both Phoenix and her protective field unscathed within the eye of the storm.
"Little brat, if the Huang Emperor hadn't summoned the gods led by the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, we would have unified the world long ago!" Feng Bo snarled, unable to contain his anger at Phoenix's words.
"Defeat is defeat. All your excuses are meaningless. Since ancient times, the victor reigns as king, and the vanquished are branded as villains. Does the process even matter?"
"I should thank Chiyou for dragging you out of myth. Your presence here only strengthens my authority."
With that, Phoenix performed the Dusting Step, instantly closing the distance to Feng Bo. Raising the Xuanyuan Sword, she slashed at him with a swift, decisive stroke.
Feng Bo dared not underestimate the Xuanyuan Sword's power. As a master of Divine Speed, possessing velocity akin to the Kamaitachi, he swiftly evaded the blade.
"How dare you!" Feng Bo chanted the Spirit Speech as he dodged. "I command the eight winds, harmonize the five elemental cycles, and nurture all living things!"
Instantly, countless towering plants erupted from the ground, reaching heights of hundreds of zhang in mere fractions of a second. Their verdant tendrils snaked hungrily toward Phoenix.
"Flaming Wind..."
Seeing the frenzied vegetation, Phoenix instantly transformed into a vortex of Li Fire Wind and surged through the mass. The plants crumbled to ash in its fiery embrace.
"As I thought, I still prefer using my fists!"
As the Li Fire Wind dissipated, Phoenix immediately retrieved the Xuanyuan Sword. She had intended to use it to send Chiyou back to Myth, but realized that wielding the blade was actually suppressing her own power.
Turning her gaze to Feng Bo, Phoenix began to take the battle more seriously.
Beautiful, shimmering feathers materialized around her. In the next instant, she vanished, reappearing behind Feng Bo with blinding speed, leaving him no time to react.
"Reversed Feather Strike!"
Phoenix unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks on Feng Bo's back.