Chapter 66: Falling into Enlightenment

The young servant scratched his head. "Master Hong, that wine is very expensive. A jar costs a thousand mid-grade spirit stones. Do you have enough money with you today?"

Hong Chilong's laughter suddenly froze.

A thousand mid-grade spirit stones were indeed a bit pricey.

Zhou Qingcang thought for a moment and tossed over a translucent spirit stone. "Is this enough?"

The servant glanced at it and widened his eyes. "This, this is a high-grade spirit stone?!"

"Master Zhou, this is very precious, but it's still not enough. One high-grade spirit stone can only be exchanged for a hundred mid-grade spirit stones."

"Oh." Zhou Qingcang nodded and then tossed over nine more high-grade spirit stones. "Is this enough now?"

"More than enough! I'll fetch the Divine Phoenix Brew for the three of you right away!" The servant's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Hong Chilong grumbled, "You're this wealthy?"

Zhou Qingcang shook his head. "I wouldn't have known if the servant hadn't mentioned it. These were all given to me by my master, and I still have over a hundred more on me."

Hong Chilong and Shen Mo were speechless.

As expected of the top sect of the Xuanjiang Five Sects, the Divine Sword Sect!

Extravagant beyond measure!

Shen Mo coughed lightly. "This wine is too expensive. I think I'll pass."

Hong Chilong grabbed him. "No way! If the three of us drink together today, we're friends. Consider this drink on us!"

Zhou Qingcang didn't speak but nodded in agreement.

"Alright, then I'll drink," Shen Mo smiled.

Such a practiced act of playing hard to get!

Before long, the servant solemnly brought a jar of wine to the three of them.

Shen Mo glanced at it; the jar was very small, barely over a foot high.

The servant wiped off the seal on the jar's mouth and used a bamboo ladle to fill three wine cups, handing them to the three men.

Hong Chilong complained, "What's this? Such a small cup, so dainty. Who can drink to their heart's content with this?"

The servant hurriedly smiled and explained, "Master Hong, you may not know, but the Divine Phoenix Brew is extremely potent. Ordinary people get drunk after just half a cup. You three have to participate in the hundred sect ceremony tomorrow, so you really shouldn't drink too much."

Hong Chilong wanted to say more.

Zhou Qingcang nodded. "He's right. One cup is enough."

"Alright, but leave the jar. My brother bought this!"

"Of course, of course." The servant covered the jar and set the Divine Phoenix Brew aside.

Hong Chilong was the first to raise his cup. "Come, let's toast!"

Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang also raised their cups.

Clink.

The three of them clinked their cups and drank in one go!

As soon as the Divine Phoenix Brew entered his mouth, Shen Mo felt as if he had swallowed a mouthful of lava.

Scorching hot, it seemed to burn through his esophagus and stomach entirely.

But this sensation quickly vanished, replaced by a gentle warmth.

A warm and soothing force spread from his stomach to his entire body.

His vision began to blur and turn hazy.

When Shen Mo looked at the Phoenix Nirvana painting again, he suddenly felt as if he saw a vivid and lifelike phoenix.

Its cry pierced the heavens.

Its fire scorched the plains.

Reborn from the flames.

Phoenix Nirvana!

Shen Mo couldn't help but mimic the phoenix in the mural, starting to wave his arms.

A peculiar aura suddenly surged around him as he moved his fists.

It felt as though he was a phoenix reborn from the fire!

This scene immediately caught everyone's attention.

Murong Yue was first startled, then showed a look of surprise.

Shen Mo was having an epiphany!

Hong Chilong and Zhou Qingcang were taken aback, instinctively looking at the Phoenix Nirvana painting.

Zhou Qingcang still felt nothing.

Hong Chilong, however, felt the same as Shen Mo.

Before long, he too began to imitate the phoenix, embarking on a path of rebirth through fire!

Zhou Qingcang, slightly tipsy, showed a hint of surprise and admiration on his face.

He was smart and quickly understood why.

He had an ice attribute sword body, while Shen Mo and Hong Chilong had fire attribute physiques.

They had a higher affinity with the Phoenix Nirvana painting, making it difficult for him to comprehend it.

"This place holds no opportunity for me, but other opportunities will come in the future."

Zhou Qingcang felt no jealousy, instead stepping back to avoid disturbing Shen Mo and Hong Chilong's enlightenment.

Murong Yue quickly moved to their side.

The master of the Verdant Vine Sect also appeared beside them.

Murong Yue looked at the Verdant Vine Sect master. "Master Mo, these two disciples have entered enlightenment. Although Hong Chilong is not from our sects, he should be protected from external disturbances."

The Verdant Vine Sect master, Mo Hanshan, nodded. "Naturally, I'm not a petty person."

"Good!" Murong Yue nodded appreciatively and then sternly ordered, "Everyone, stay back!"

The two masters formed a powerful aura, protecting Shen Mo and Hong Chilong and immediately pushing back the surrounding crowd.

Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and others looked on with envy at Shen Mo and Hong Chilong, who were being protected by the two Nascent Soul stage masters.

Not far away, Zhou Qingcang and Mo Yuheng were also observing the changes in the two.

They didn't feel envy or jealousy, only a bit of curiosity.

The other disciples each had their own thoughts.

Liu Yunxuan, watching from a distance, was nearly bursting with anger.

The Phoenix Nirvana painting had gone uncomprehended for over a hundred years.

How did Shen Mo achieve enlightenment today?

Why couldn't it be me?

His heart was nearly consumed by jealousy.

He could already foresee that once Shen Mo succeeded in his enlightenment, he would be welcomed by everyone present.

Zhou Qingcang and Hong Chilong would treat him as an equal genius.

Mo Yuheng would greatly admire him.

Shen Mo's combat power would soar.

But he, Liu Yunxuan, would remain the same, stuck in place!

The more Liu Yunxuan thought about it, the angrier he became, and he simply turned and left.

At this moment, Shen Mo and Hong Chilong were both immersed in their spiritual realms.

Everything in the outside world seemed to disappear.

News of someone achieving enlightenment from the Phoenix Nirvana painting on the top floor quickly spread.

Many people wanted to come to the top floor to see for themselves.

But Fengqi Tower immediately dispatched many enforcers to guard the entrance to the top floor, keeping the curious onlookers out to prevent them from disturbing Shen Mo and Hong Chilong's enlightenment.

Time passed by second by second.

The aura around Hong Chilong gradually rose.

It was as if a phoenix was reborn in flames within him.

The next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes.

He even spewed actual flames from his mouth.

Hong Chilong was overjoyed and wanted to shout out his excitement.

But the auras of Murong Yue and Mo Hanshan quickly pressed down on him.

Hong Chilong immediately shrank back.

Seeing that Shen Mo was still deep in enlightenment, he nodded repeatedly, indicating he understood, and made no sound.

After stepping out of the aura's range, Hong Chilong let out a sigh of relief.

Mo Hanshan asked softly, "What did you comprehend?"

Everyone else cast curious glances.

The Phoenix Nirvana painting had been here for over a hundred years. People only knew it was an authentic piece left by a deity-transformation stage cultivator.

But no one knew what insights it could provide.

Hong Chilong said proudly, "The Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique. I've comprehended the first form."

Murong Yue's eyes narrowed. "Only the first form? What grade is it?"

Hong Chilong scratched his head. "I don't know, but it feels very strong."

Mo Hanshan nodded. "Once Shen Mo finishes his enlightenment, you two can find a place to practice it."

"Alright!" Hong Chilong said excitedly.

He vaguely felt that this first form of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique was likely stronger than the earth-level martial arts of the Shaoyang Sect.

Another two hours passed.

The aura around Shen Mo also began to rise rapidly.

Along with it came an astonishing increase in temperature!

Everyone became alert.

Shen Mo was about to awaken!