Chapter 430: Wooing

"Memories of me? Well, sealing them was the right thing to do. As long as Ling'er is alive, that's what matters. Even if she forgot about me, she couldn't forget the feelings, the pain in her heart."

Nie Qingqing sighed deeply as she looked at Zhong Shan.

"How can the seal on Ling'er be lifted?" Zhong Shan asked seriously.

"Lifting it? There is a way, but it's extremely difficult," Nie Qingqing replied.

"Difficult? No matter how hard it is, it must be done."

"To remove the seal, only the one who placed it can undo it. The Phoenix Clan's supreme elder must perform the 'Phoenix Song of the Nine Heavens' to lift the seal without harming Ling'er's soul. However, it's said that performing this technique takes a significant toll on the Phoenix Supreme," Nie Qingqing explained.

"So what? Please help me arrange a meeting with her. I need to talk to her," Zhong Shan said.

Nie Qingqing gave Zhong Shan a peculiar look.

"Do you think meeting the Phoenix Supreme is so simple?" A mocking voice suddenly sounded from outside the hall.

A woman in a green dress slowly walked in, her eyes cold and piercing.

"Little fellow, you haven't seen me for a while, and your cultivation has improved quite a bit! How did someone with your bone structure manage to reach the Nascent Soul stage?" the green-clad woman remarked, staring at Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan looked at her curiously. She was stunningly beautiful, but he didn't recognize her. How did she know him?

"Qing'er!" Nie Qingqing called out immediately.

Qing'er? Zhong Shan's mind flashed with realization. She was the Qingluan, the green phoenix that Nie Qingqing used to ride to Heavenly Wolf Island. She was that phoenix general?

"Zhong Shan greets the Phoenix General!" Zhong Shan said.

The green-clad woman sneered, "I just heard you want to meet the Supreme. Why should the Supreme meet you? What qualifications do you have?"

"I have something important to discuss with the Phoenix Supreme. As for my qualifications, once the Supreme meets me, she will understand that I indeed have the necessary qualifications," Zhong Shan said seriously.

Indeed, Zhong Shan had the qualifications. While his title as the Duke of the East of the Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty might seem low, his status as the Emperor of the Da Yao Dynasty was enough. The Emperor of Da Yao stood on equal footing with the Supreme of the Wolf Clan, who, in turn, was an equal of the Phoenix Supreme.

"Hmph, impossible!" Qingluan dismissed him outright.

Seeing Qingluan's resolute refusal, Zhong Shan didn't press the issue and turned back to Nie Qingqing. "Princess Qingqing, no matter what, you saved Ling'er, and I will be forever grateful. Since I can't meet the Phoenix Supreme, I have another request."

"Oh?" Nie Qingqing looked at Zhong Shan in surprise.

Qingluan also looked slightly puzzled, seeing how quickly Zhong Shan shifted focus.

"Ling'er has forgotten me, but she hasn't forgotten our feelings. I want to try rekindling those memories. Can you create opportunities for us to meet?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Meet?" Nie Qingqing looked at Zhong Shan with some hesitation.

"I won't do anything. I just want to talk to Ling'er!" Zhong Shan pleaded, his eyes filled with hope.

Not realizing the power of Zhong Shan's persuasive words, Nie Qingqing reluctantly agreed. "Alright, I'll try."

"Thank you!" Zhong Shan immediately smiled.

"Dare I ask, Phoenix General, how should I address you?" Zhong Shan turned to Qingluan.

"My name is Qinghong," Qingluan replied proudly.

"Zhong Shan apologizes for the intrusion," Zhong Shan said.

"Hmm!" Qinghong felt somewhat appeased.

After leaving Qingqing Princess's residence, Zhong Shan returned to the Namming Palace.

Standing on the floating island, Zhong Shan looked at his gathered companions and recounted the earlier events.

"Zhihuo!" Zhong Shan called out.

"Huh? General?" Zhihuo the wolf general was slightly surprised.

"I have an important task for you, of utmost importance!"

"Zhihuo will give it my all!" Zhihuo said firmly.

"Hmm. In the princess's residence, there's a phoenix general, Qinghong. Do you know her?" Zhong Shan asked.

"You mentioned her just now, General," Zhihuo replied, nodding.

"You have one month to win her over. Make her wholeheartedly devoted to you as your wife," Zhong Shan commanded.

Ordered to seduce a woman? Zhihuo's face fell. Win her over?

The others around him were initially surprised but then burst into laughter.

"What's the matter? Is there a problem?" Zhong Shan asked Zhihuo.

"General, send me to fight in a battle or risk my life, no problem. But to seduce her? This...!" Zhihuo complained.

"Isn't your wife deceased? You're single now, what are you afraid of?" Liu Wushuang teased.

"Yes, Qingluan is very sought after in the Phoenix Clan. Qingluan is of the wood element, which enhances fire. She's the perfect partner for someone who cultivates fire, like you!" Lin Xiao added with a laugh.

"But..." Zhihuo was at a loss.

"Didn't you just say you'd give it your all?" Shui Wuhen laughed.

"But, this is different!" Zhihuo protested.

"There's no difference. This is an order!" Zhong Shan said firmly.

Feeling aggrieved, Zhihuo reluctantly accepted his orders.

"General, could you describe the bird that Princess Ling'er was holding again?" Mister Corpse asked, frowning.

"Why?" Zhong Shan asked, puzzled. Nonetheless, he used a spell to conjure an image of the red sparrow for Mister Corpse.

Upon seeing the image, Mister Corpse's eyes widened in surprise.

"What is it?" Zhong Shan asked.

Mister Corpse took a deep breath. "General, do you know what this is?"

"Isn't it just a mutated sparrow?" Zhihuo asked, confused.

"A sparrow? Ha, this sparrow is more noble than all the sparrows in the world combined," Mister Corpse said solemnly.

"Oh?"

"This is a Vermilion Bird!" Mister Corpse said with certainty.

Vermilion Bird? The group was puzzled. What's the difference? Vermilion is red, red is vermilion, a red sparrow is a vermilion sparrow, right?

Only Zhong Shan's pupils contracted. Vermilion Bird, indeed. Lihuo?

"Has there never been a Vermilion Bird in the world?" Zhong Shan asked.

Zhihuo was about to speak.

"No, it's impossible for a Vermilion Bird to appear in this world," Mister Corpse shook his head immediately.

Zhihuo was puzzled but still nodded.

"Why?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Because every Vermilion Bird's fate is 'Immortal Fate'," Mister Corpse said.

"How is that possible? Immortal Fate? Are you saying that this Vermilion Bird is an immortal? How could an immortal exist in this world? Wouldn't they have ascended?" Zhihuo immediately dismissed the notion.

"Not an immortal, but an immortal avian. Vermilion Birds are incredibly rare. Some say they are mutated sparrows, others say they are evolved phoenixes, but their origins are unknown. The only thing known is their rarity and that each one possesses an Immortal Fate. It's very strange that this one hasn't attracted the world's heavenly punishment, and it must be due to some secret method," Mister Corpse explained.

"That's impossible. If none have ever appeared, how can you say that people... some people... You must be making this up," Zhihuo accused, trying to expose Mister Corpse's lies.

"I believe Mister Corpse," Zhong Shan interjected.

With Zhong Shan's words, everyone suppressed their doubts. Surprised, Mister Corpse nodded and continued, "Do you know why those who have ascended to the immortal realm dare not return?"

"Because of the world's rules of rejection," Zhong Shan answered.

Mister Corpse nodded. "That's one reason, but more importantly, those with Immortal Fate who return will face a severe limitation imposed by this world. A terrifying limitation."

"Oh?"

"Time Reversal!" Mister Corpse declared.

"Time Reversal? I think I've heard the Supreme mention it, but I didn't understand at the time. What does it mean exactly?" Zhihuo asked.

"Did Emperor Xuansha mention it?" Zhong Shan inquired.

"Yes!"

"Time Reversal means that this world will impose restrictions on their Immortal Fate, causing them to regress from their peak to their lowest point. In other words, their lifespan will be limited to a hundred years. If they don't leave within a hundred years, even immortals must die," Mister Corpse explained.

"People envy the immortal realm, but the immortals fear the mortal realm. In other words, the mortal realm is actually an immortal graveyard?" Zhong Shan mused with a smile.

"Uh, you could see it that way," Mister Corpse replied, looking at Zhong Shan strangely.

"Wait!" Zhong Shan's brows suddenly furrowed.

"What is it?" Mister Corpse asked, puzzled.

"That red bird, no, Vermilion Bird, it seemed to have developed intelligence but not much, like the mind of an infant. It's very likely that it was born in this world. Didn't you say no one knows how it was born?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Uh!" Mister Corpse frowned, unable to understand.

"It must have been born in this world and then used by the Phoenix Supreme with some secret method to conceal its Immortal Fate," Zhong Shan speculated.

"Uh, that's possible," Mister Corpse nodded.

Zhong Shan's eyes glowed with determination. "You all may leave now. Mister Corpse, come with me to the hall to discuss the Vermilion Bird further."

"Yes!" everyone responded immediately.

Three days later, Zhong Shan, accompanied by Zhihuo, returned to Qingqing Princess's residence.

Zhihuo now had a very challenging task: to win over Qingluan Qinghong.

"Why the long face? It's not like I'm sending you to your death. What are you afraid of?" Zhong Shan scolded Zhihuo as they waited.

"I'd rather face death!" Zhihuo muttered, his face twisted with discomfort.

Zhong Shan glared at him, making Zhihuo fall silent.

Not long after, Nie Qingqing arrived.

"Princess Qingqing!" Zhong Shan greeted her.

"Hmm, when you meet Ling'er, I must be present," Nie Qingqing stated.

"Uh?" Zhong Shan frowned.

"Don't worry, I'll stay hidden. Otherwise, how would I know if you bullied Ling'er?" Nie Qingqing said.

Zhong Shan smiled wryly but nodded.

"By the way, is Qingluan Qinghong still at your residence?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Yes," Nie Qingqing nodded, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

Zhong Shan pulled Zhihuo over. "This is General Zhihuo. He has urgent business with Qinghong."

Zhihuo's face was extremely stiff, looking as if he was walking to his doom.