The sky at Phoenix Palace was gray. It was as if nature shared in the gloom of the decision that had just been made in the grand assembly. Black clouds hung over the palace, and the wind that usually carried the warm scent of the Phoenix fire now blew cold, suffocating the chest of anyone standing there.
Jin Yunzhao was led out of the grand hall with both hands bound in golden red chains, sacred chains that were usually only used to restrain treasonous ancestor-level beings. He walked with light steps, as if he didn't care. His lips even lifted to display his trademark lopsided smile, making the many disciples following behind him snort in exasperation.
"Look, even at a time like this, he can still smile. How shameless."
"Ancestral chains were put on that brat. What an insult to our ancestors."
"Let it be, soon he will be banished. The Phoenix Secret World is not a place to laugh at."
The whispers spread along the path to the gate of the secret world. The young disciples, even some of the elders who were escorting, looked at him with cold eyes. Some faces showed satisfaction, some sneered, and some openly showed deep hatred.
But Yunzhao only yawned softly, then looked down at the golden chains that bound him. "Hmmm, that's heavy. Can't someone replace this chain with a straw rope instead? It feels more comfortable."
Suddenly, the few students behind her erupted in mocking laughter.
"Hear that? He thinks this is a playful party."
"Shameful. This kid has lost his mind."
The elder walking beside him, the Old Phoenix named Jin Yuan, frowned. "Don't talk so much, Yunzhao. You'll soon enter a place where even ancestors are reluctant to tread. The Phoenix Secret World is not a place for joking around."
Yunzhao turned his head with a flat face. "Elder Jin Yuan, I've always been curious. If that place is so dangerous, why don't you guys just go in and shut me up there? Wouldn't it be faster? Or else... are you all too scared to go in yourselves?"
Jin Yuan's face tightened, but he chose to remain silent. The boy's words were piercing, but he knew responding would only make him look foolish.
On the other side, Queen Jinyan Tianfei stood on the high balcony of the main palace. Her eyes gazed down, watching her son walk slowly towards the great gates covered in golden red light. Her face was resolute, full of authority, yet in the corners of the eyes hidden by the golden curtains, tears flowed unbidden.
As a mother, her heart was broken. But as a queen, she had to maintain firmness. The decision had been made in front of all the elders. There was no room to take back her words.
One of the palace maids standing nearby ventured to whisper, "Your Highness... is there no other way? After all, Prince Yunzhao is still very young."
Jinyan Tianfei let out a long breath. "Precisely because he's young, the secret world can be a test for him. If he is truly my son, then he will be able to survive. If not... let the ancestral flames decide his fate."
But her own heart fluttered as she watched her son still manage to turn his head towards the crowd, throwing a nonchalant smile as if he was just going for a walk to the park.
The gate of the secret world stands majestically at the end of the Phoenix valley. It towered up to the clouds, made of black stone covered with red runic carvings. Behind it, a swirl of light mixed with gold-colored flames blazed. The aura emanating from it was suffocating, as if anyone who took a step would have their soul torn apart.
Hundreds of students gathered, witnessing the historic event. Cheers mixed with jeers rang through the air.
"There he is, the disgrace of our race. Eventually, he will be banished."
"It feels fair. He's embarrassed us all for too long."
"Hahaha, I'm sure he won't last a day in there."
Yunzhao heard everything. He sighed softly, then suddenly chuckled. "Wow, it turns out I'm very famous. Everyone is waiting for me to leave. It feels like a hero being paraded."
Instantly, the crowd of students fell silent for a moment, then erupted in cursing again.
"Hero? You don't deserve that word!"
"Hero? You're nothing but a bully, a scum, and a disgrace!"
But Yunzhao remained relaxed. He even deliberately winked at a group of female students in the front row. "If I survive later, don't scramble to greet me. Just one at a time."
The girls' faces turned red, some from anger, some from blushing helplessly at Yunzhao's pranks.
Elder Jin Yuan patted the chain in Yunzhao's hand, making it rattle. "Shut up, your time is almost up. Don't make this even more embarrassing."
Yunzhao shrugged. "Disgraceful? Everyone has already called me a disgrace. What could be more embarrassing than that?"
When he arrived in front of the gate, Yunzhao's steps stopped. To the right, he saw his mother standing with the main elders. Jinyan Tianfei's face looked cold, almost heartless. But Yunzhao knew his mother better than anyone. He knew that behind those frozen eyes, there was turmoil that almost broke into tears.
With a casual smile, he lowered his head slightly. "Mom, don't cry. I'm just going for a walk, not dying."
The words sounded light, but they made Jinyan Tianfei's chest feel like it was pierced by thousands of needles. His hands, hidden under the royal robe, clasped tightly together until they trembled. He must not show weakness. Not before the elders, not before his people.
Yunzhao then turned to the crowd of students. His easy smile faded for a moment, replaced with a cold stare that they had never seen before. Inwardly, he muttered bitterly.
"You old bastards... all of you who are laughing at me today. Wait until the time comes. I swear I will live. And when I come back, I'll make you swallow all the dirty words you say."
His gaze turned sharp, but he quickly returned to his relaxed face. With light steps, as if unconcerned about the threat behind the gate, he advanced step by step.
The aura from the fire vortex immediately struck her body, making her hair flutter wildly. Rumbling sounds echoed through the air. The watching disciples held their breath.
Elder Jin Yuan shouted, "Jin Yunzhao, you are hereby officially banished to the Phoenix Secret World. Survive if you can. Otherwise... It's the end of your life!"
BOOMM!
Golden light flashed brightly as Yunzhao's body stepped into the vortex. A thunderous sound shook the earth, and a moment later, his figure vanished into the light.
The crowd of students cheered. Some laughed in satisfaction, others clapped their hands. But on the high balcony of the palace, Jinyan Tianfei turned his face away, tears falling down his cold cheeks.
"Live, my son..." she whispered, barely audible.
---
Meanwhile, inside the vortex, Yunzhao felt his body being pulled by an overwhelming force. Cold and heat mixed, as if his bones were being crushed and then burned. But instead of screaming in pain, he chuckled.
"Haha... secret world, huh? Let's see what you're hiding."
Instantly, the light surrounding him grew thicker, and Jin Yunzhao vanished into the depths of the Phoenix Secret World.