As far as Noah's eyes could see, he found the barren land truly had no end. It was desolate and only the constant howling of the scorching wind could be heard.
SCREECH!
A deafening cry of a Phoenix came from the sky.
Noah looked up at the sky, which was now a deep shade of crimson red due to the innumerable number of red dots overwhelming it.
He could see the miniature Phoenix covered in blazing scarlet flames heading in his direction.
As they quickly moved in his direction, they appeared to be larger and larger upon their descent.
Their outward appearance immediately seemed like sharp-pointed flaming arrows buzzing with intense scorching power.
"Hehe, I think I have been limiting myself quite lately since I arrived in this world. Since I can't remember everything, I will delegate all the skill creation to Lily, and since we are naturally connected by soul, she will know what I want. Lily, access all of my mind's memories," Noah silently spoke as he looked up at the infernal arrows.
<< Thank you for your trust Noah >>
"I created you to help me, not to just use you when I needed something. It is your duty from now on ."
<< Accessing the host's memories. Authorization confirmed >>
<< Searching through memories...>>
<< The skill 'Gluttonous king Beelzebuth ' has been synthesized >>
'Haha, now it is easier that way. Although I can think up some skills easily due to [ Accelerated Thought Processing] and [ Parallel Processing], I find it quite a hassle with all the brain's rapid activities. Lily can execute such actions efficiently. What was an AI help for?'
Noah thought and raised his hand toward the multitude of fiery attacks.
<< Gluttonous King Beelzebuth >>
He executed the skill. The skill itself was from Rimuru Tempest's arsenal of abilities from 'That Time I reincarnated as a Slime.'
[Gluttonous King Beelzebuth: With this skill, the host can be able to absorb/ devour anything into the body, be it skills, organic matter, or inorganic matter
• Decomposition: Able to decompose any target.
•Soul Eater: Able to consume any type of soul and convert it into pure energy. ]
From his hand, a swirling vortex of devouring power started generating.
The immense devouring power eclipsed the innumerable flaming arrows and like an ancient voracious beast, Noah absorbed all the attacks in one go. The little Phoenix flames were just supplements to his draconic bloodline.
Eventually, eternal silence ensued it was as if nothing ever happened.
They were no more flaming arrows. The Second Phase was already finished the moment it started.
Inside the Sky Poison Pearl, Jasmine was appalled by that horrible ability that seemed to be able to bring out an illusion that it could even devour heaven and earth.
She felt goosebumps all over her petite immature body, imagining herself being gnawed alive by that terrifying devouring force.
"T-This person is not a native of Blue Pole Star. Even in the Realm of the Gods, such abilities are almost non-existent, since I don't know everything about the God Realm," Jasmine couldn't help but mutter in a shaking voice.
Jasmine wasn't alone in that moment of shock and awe, the Spirit of the Phoenix was also included.
"In the vast universe of the Primal Chaos, I have never seen such a devouring ability. I have Billions of years of experience but I even find the deeply rumored 'Universe Devouring Beasts' that live within spatial crevices definitely cannot hold a candle against such power," The barren landscape distorted as pitch-black darkness returned to the surroundings, and the pair of gigantic golden eyes emerged. The spirit of the Phoenix was filled with great admiration and respect for this mysterious youth.
Jasmine hearing the praise from the Phoenix to Noah, couldn't help but look at him in a new light.
That was the Primordial Phoenix, a Supreme Beast of the Era of the Gods that had existed for countless eons. Its wisdom was immeasurable and unrivaled, so the praise it gave Noah was a true measurement of his capabilities.
His talent was more than she thought.
"Maybe he can help me in my quest for revenge," Jasmine couldn't help but mutter with a hopeful voice.
'But to do that I have to make him stronger since his current cultivation level isn't worth anything in front of my enemies.' Jasmine bit her lower lip while in deep contemplation. Whatever thoughts and plans she was amassing in her mind, only herself could realize them.
'Lily, the next and last phase will be about matters of the mind and heart, so some mental penetration will be done by the Spirit of the Phoenix, and I have no time for such shenanigans. I don't want my mind to be somewhere just any being can enter,' Noah telepathically talked with his AI Lily as he looked at the golden slits of the Phoenix.
<< I understand your intention master>>
'Tch, why are you calling me master now?'
[... ]
'Alright, just call me whatever name you like.'
[ Thanks master ]
[ Searching for skill...]
[ The skill <Invulnerable Mind> has been created]
[ Invulnerable Mind: The host will be completely immune to any form of psychic interference regardless of its nature or origin. Your mind will be like an impenetrable fortress, nothing can affect it or enter it without your permission.]
Noah felt his mental defenses were now impossible to breach.
Telepathic abilities or any form of mind-related effects would not affect him.
"Young man, apart from that bizarre ability of yours, I sense two heavenly treasures on you. Are you the favored Son of the Heavens?"
The astounding voice of the Phoenix jolted Noah out of his thoughts.
Noah wasn't surprised by the Phoenix's Spirit founding about the Sky Poison Pearl and Mirror of Samsara.
Even if the Phoenix's Spirit knew, it couldn't do anything to him because the Phoenix itself was filled with benevolence and it couldn't catch him if he wanted to escape.
"Favoured Son of the Heavens, huh?" Noah soliloquized.
What Favored Son of the Heavens?
He was just an outlier who didn't belong to this Cultivation Universe!
He was there to mess up the said heavens and shake the whole Primal Chaos.
He couldn't consider himself the protagonist of the Primal Chaos Dimension. His stage was far beyond a mere universe.
'The Spirit of the Phoenix failed to see Mt.Tai,' Noah chuckled inwardly but he didn't comment anything on its assumption.
Seeing that I didn't answer, the Spirit of the Phoenix just sighed and continued, " Since you have completed the Second Phase, I will tell you about the Third Phase which will be a trial of the heart."
"Although you have terrifying strength, the third phase is usually the hardest to pass as up until now only seven people have successfully passed it. It will test the resolve and choices of your heart."
"Calm down, I am going to look into your memories to project an illusion that will test your morality and resolve."
The golden eyes of the Phoenix's Spirit looked at Noah as it explained the Third trial.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
With those words, the Phoenix's Spirit tried to look into Noah's memory.
But it was surprised by what it found.
It couldn't access his memories.
It felt as if his mind had a tall and unbreakable defense that stood mightly unabated.
The Primordial Phoenix was a True God powerhouse, even if it was just a remnant of its soul, its power was no laughing issue.
"Y-You...What...What do you have in your mind? I can't access any of your memories!' The Phoenix's Spirit voice trembled in apprehension.
'Hmph, I can't allow you to touch my mental domain, especially my memories. O Phoenix, my memories are sacred. You telepathically communicating with me can be considered my magnanimity,' Noah sneered inwardly but he wore a clueless expression on his face.
"Sigh, now what do I do with you?" The Spirit of the Phoenix let out an exasperated voice.
"It seems you have a heavy restriction on your memories and I can't access it. So the Third trial will be ineffective against you."
"The Trial ends at this juncture."
"I don't know what shocking secrets you carry and while I am curious to know them, those matters are not of importance to me. Since you have flawlessly completed the first and second trials, I would just reward you with two drops of Phoenix Origin essence and the Fragment of the [ World Ode of the Phoenix]."
Noah was satisfied by the rewards. It was already enough that he could get a drop of the Phoenix Origin essence.
It was perfect.
The Golden Eyes of the Phoenix flashed and a blinding light came from the sky.
Two drops of the Phoenix Origin essence that shone with a fiery luster and a broken piece of white jade descended to where I was.
"I believe that the energy contained in the two drops of Phoenix Origin essence will not be a problem for you since you have fire immunity due to your unknown dragon bloodline and also the sturdiness of your physique."
Noah patiently nodded and two drops of Phoenix Origin essence entered his forehead.
Without delay, he used [Genetic Access] and Lily did the rest.
[ A drop of the Phoenix Origin essence is being analyzed]
[ The Matching DNA of the Primordial Phoenix has been coded ]
[ Recreating the complete bloodline of the Primordial Phoenix ]
[ Primordial Phoenix Bloodline has been created.]
[ Due to the presence of the True Fire Dragon Bloodline, a new path has been taken...]
[ Fusing the True Fire Dragon Bloodline and Primordial Phoenix bloodline...]
[ Fusing...]
[ A new bloodline has been conceived...]
[ The Primordial Dragon-Phoenix Hybrid bloodline has been completed]
[ Primordial Dragon Phoenix Supreme Physique has been acquired ]
[ Your soul has been fundamentally changed to Primordial Dragon Phoenix Soul ]
[ Initialization of body reconstruction to hold the new species...]
Noah's body melted into a puddle of goo-like liquid. His bones, muscles, skin, marrow, and even his cells melted.
It was simply inconceivable.
But only two souls witnessed this mind-blowing scene.
His melted physical body was covered in unknown red flames that burned with such a horrible intensity that even the Spirit of the Phoenix was petrified with shock.
She felt that the unknown red flame could even burn its Phoenix flame to nothingness.
Even the Vermillion Bird Flames and Golden Crow Flames that it recognized were not to be spared in the presence of the unknown red flame.
The unknown red flames were on a level that it couldn't fathom anymore.
It was simply an enigma.
Jasmine wasn't affected since she was in the Sky Poison Pearl which protected her from feeling the threat.
She was also in awe at the sudden turn of events.
Did he just melt into a puddle? Isn't he supposed to be dead now?
What kind of flames are these?
On the part of the Phoenix's Spirit, she thought that flames had some nirvanic characteristics and yet at the same had draconic attributes.
Like a Phoenix experiencing Nirvana, the previously deconstructed body of Noah started undergoing reconstruction.
From the cellular level, his body was formed until it was whole again.
A Dragon and Phoenix tattoo was branded on his naked back.
There were no notable changes on his naked body, except for his overall attraction, it seemed to have increased. He had an aura full of majesty and regality.
His previous red eyes changed. They now had a deep mystical golden color due to the Dragon-Phoenix bloodline.
All of a sudden, an illusory image of the Dragon and Phoenix appeared above his head. The scene was awe-inspiring. The dragon majestically roared and the Phoenix released a sonorous cry.
The illusory image wasn't merely limited to the domain of the Phoenix Trial but it auspiciously spread to the whole Blue Pole Star and the Realm of the Gods.
The whole Primal Chaos was shaken.
In the Eastern Divine Region, Heaven Mystery Realm,
The Heaven Mystery Realm was known for its future predictions and anything they predicted came true.
But sadly this time, they couldn't deduce anything.
It was as if they were barred from getting any information involving Noah or else they would suffer a terrifying backlash.
Even the mighty figures of the Realm of the Gods couldn't find the source since Noah had hidden his existence, and since the projection was all over Primal Chaos, they couldn't guess where it came from.
Thus the Dragon-Phoenix projection remained in the minds of countless beings in the Primal Chaos.
They could only formulate baseless speculations.
Some said that the Son of Fate was born.
Some said a calamity would befall the Primal Chaos.
Others said a heavenly treasure was born.
Some were even close to the answer by proclaiming that a Dragon and Phoenix have united.
Bullish*t.
It was just one person undergoing an evolution. And that was it.
Jasmine and the Spirit of the Phoenix naturally didn't know that disturbance had extended to the outside world.
Because at that moment their eyes were only fixated on Noah's naked body.
Particularly, his little brother!
***