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Chapter 4 - Ancestral Jade

The night sky above the palace of the Golden Phoenix emitted a golden-red glow, as if burning with eternal flames. The light from the stars of the Primordial Realm was swallowed up by the cosmic firelight that had always enveloped the Phoenix Race's residence. Within the palace, the stillness of the night seemed to be accompanied by a subtle tension. The past shadows of the duel this afternoon, when Jin Yunzhao had again become the subject of ridicule, still lingered in many people's minds. That kid had once again proven himself to be different, but instead of garnering praise, he was considered to be even more troublesome.

Yet, underneath it all, Yunzhao didn't seem bothered. He was lying in the corner of an empty pavilion, with his hands used as pillows, his mouth hanging open, and his breathing regular, like someone who didn't think about the burdens of the world at all. Outside, the Golden Phoenix disciples were still busy talking about his disgrace, but the young man looked like he was sleeping on the most comfortable silk bed in the world.

"Why do they bother so much... just because I'm too lazy to train, or my body doesn't burn with their fire whip," she muttered softly between the drowsiness that hadn't completely left. Her lips curved into a small smile, a kind of satisfaction that only she could understand.

However, that night was different. Something inside her seemed to whisper, a strange urge that made her eyes open again. The dim light from the spirit lamps around the pavilion trembled softly, as if calling out. Yunzhao blinked, then rose lazily.

"Strange... It's as if something is calling me," she said, scratching her head. "But if I sleep again, maybe I can't hear that whisper. Huh... well, let's see."

Without thinking, Yunzhao stepped outside the pavilion. His feet were light, his stride relaxed, as if he was walking towards the kitchen to get dinner, not towards a place that should be taboo for a young man his age. Yet somehow, he knew exactly the direction to take. His path took him through deserted palace courtyards, long hallways with fire crystal-lined walls, until he finally reached the deepest part of the ancestral complex: the sacred storage room.

The chamber was underground, guarded by layers upon layers of ancient formations that not even the elders carelessly dared to approach. At the entrance, two red-robed guards stood at attention, their eyes closed, but a hot aura enveloped their bodies. Yunzhao peeked from behind a pillar, then stifled a small laugh.

"Only two people... but their aura is like a volcano. If I make a wrong move, I might end up as charcoal." He crouched down, thought for a moment, then smiled broadly. "But... I'm Yunzhao, and I don't like rules. So let's make this night more fun."

He observed the breathing patterns of the guards, then stepped lightly, like the shadow of a bird gliding in the wind. Strangely, although his movements weren't exactly smooth or technical, every time the guards were about to open their eyes, a gust of night wind sent dry leaves flying, covering his steps. Yunzhao himself looked confused, as if unaware that the universe seemed to be helping his way.

Within seconds, he was inside. The giant jade door opened with a rumble, as if acknowledging his presence. Golden light emanated from within, illuminating Yunzhao's now transfixed face. Before him, the Phoenix ancestral storage room sprawled out, filled with heirlooms, sacred firearms, and ancient formation scrolls. But what attracted the most attention was a large jade, standing tall in the center of the room, emitting multi-layered light.

The jade was not just any stone. The carving formed the symbol of a Phoenix flapping its wings, a golden halo swirled around it, and from within it came ripples of fire that did not burn, but soothed. An ancient aura, like the whispers of thousands of Phoenix ancestors, filled the air.

Yunzhao gulped. Not out of awe, but rather because a ridiculous idea flashed through his head.

"Wow... this expensive stone... it must be good as a pillow. I often sleep on hard ground, on wooden benches, even on the back of a fussy young Phoenix. But if I use this, I'm sure my sweet dreams will last longer." He chuckled, then walked over casually.

A soft sizzling sound was heard when she placed her palm on the jade surface. Warm, soft, like a mother's touch. Yunzhao snorted in satisfaction. He then sat down, leaned back, and even closed his eyes while letting out a long sigh.

But suddenly, something happened. The jade subtly trembled, then its golden light surged. Before Yunzhao could react, the entire light was sucked into his body through his palm. The ancient divine flame swirled like a small tornado vortex, wrapped around his body, then vanished instantly. The jade that originally stood firm was now empty, cracked, and left only dull shards.

WUSH!

Yunzhao jumped, staggering backward. His eyes widened, his breathing ragged. He stared at his hands, then at his body that wasn't burned or injured at all. Instead, he felt his chest filled with an inexplicable warmth. There were faint whispers that only he could hear, ancient voices echoing in his ears.

"What the hell..." she said softly. However, instead of panicking, he chuckled. "So... I'm the pillow now? Then that's great, I can sleep well every night."

He laughed so hard that he had to hold his stomach. But amidst the laughter, his eyes reflected a strange light. For a moment, the silhouette of a golden Phoenix appeared behind his body, flapping its wings, then vanished again. He did not realize it, but the entire room shook violently. The ancient formation alarm rang.

BRAAKK!

The storage room door shook loudly. The guards who had been standing outside jolted awake, their eyes widening in horror. They rushed in, and when they saw what had happened, their faces turned pale. The ancestral jade that should have been immovable for thousands of years was now gone; only lifeless fragments remained. And in the center, Jin Yunzhao stood with an innocent face, hands raised as if he had just been caught stealing fruit.

"Uh... hello, guard uncle. I just wanted to borrow it to sleep for a while. How come it broke? Don't tell me I have to pay for it, because I don't have any money." He winked, his cheeky smile coming out of nowhere.

The guards were speechless. They could only stare at him in horror and panic. One immediately ran out, shouting.

"Quickly summon the elders! The ancestral jade... the ancestral jade is gone!"

The voice echoed throughout the palace. From various directions, the auras of the elders, disciples, and guards began to approach. The sacred storage room was instantly filled with uproar. Meanwhile, Yunzhao just stood casually, whistling softly, as if what happened was just a minor accident.

In his heart, he was actually wondering. What exactly had entered her body? Why did she feel so warm, as if golden flames were swirling inside her dantian? But his curiosity did not come in the form of worry, but rather mischievous curiosity. To him, this was just another game of fate that he could laugh at.

And outside that room, the entire Golden Phoenix Race would soon have to face the fact that the brat they considered a disgrace... was now carrying something bigger than just a small problem.

Heavy steps rumbled outside. The aura of the elders exploded, and the guard formation activated. Hundreds of golden firelight shot towards the door. The atmosphere was tense, as the loss of the Ancestral Jade was catastrophic.

Amidst the panic, Yunzhao leaned his body against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment as if to ignore everything. In his mind, he heard a faint voice.

"Phoenix child, your blood is different... You are not just an ordinary heir. This Jade chose you..."

In an instant, Yunzhao's face changed. He opened his eyes, which emitted a strange glint, a mixture of gold and green. But instead of being serious, he scratched his head.

"Ah, so I was chosen, huh? No problem, just don't make me train hard. I'm lazy."

BOOMM!

The door to the ancestral chamber was smashed open. The elders entered with angry faces, their auras burning the air. But what they saw was Yunzhao standing at the altar, a grin on his face.

"Hello, elders. Don't panic, I'm just borrowing a pillow stone for a moment."

Hening.

In the next second, an angry shout erupted,

"YUNZHAO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

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