In a time so ancient that only chaos stretched its tentacles across every corner of the world—a boundless, raging void. In that era, a female bird was born. She dissolved the darkness within her heart and followed the only light in her sight: the sun.
This bird, once ordinary, followed the arduous path of the Dao, surpassing one stage of cultivation after another. The brave bird believed she was invincible, until a man appeared—a man so powerful he defeated the stubborn bird, tamed her, and made her his pet.
As time passed, under the guidance of this great master, the bird ascended to heights of power reached by only a few. But one day, the master left her a message:
"Once, you had no past, no name, and no goal other than reaching the sun. That goal is unrealistic for you now, my little one, after discovering the vastness of the world. I have decided to ascend to the Upper Realm. But before that, you must know who you are..."
The legendary bird held the paper in her hands, reading it while weeping.
"You are the Phoenix. Destined to reach the sun one day. And so that you may be strong enough to find me in the Celestial Realm after you ascend... your name shall be Ni Ni Layan, the Celestial Phoenix."
Signed: Song Mi-Leon – The First Founder of the Demonic Sect.
The bird wept bitterly, but she did not know she would cry even more. She ascended through the teachings of her master—teachings the world labeled "demonic," yet they urged for pure spiritual balance. She rose until she became supernaturally powerful, only to discover that everything was just the beginning.
The path was never easy. Every time she thought she was the strongest, she was startled by the world's expansion. She had only one goal for the longest time: to ascend to her master in the Upper Realm and tell him how strong his Ni Ni Layan had become—that she deserved to be the Phoenix.
When she finally reached the peak and decided to ascend, she was met by the force of the Five Hundred Heavenly Tribulations, which nearly claimed her life. She endured using her master's teachings. But when she finally stepped into the Upper Realm...
She was met with a devastating shock. She wasn't special. She wasn't truly strong. She was nothing more than a tiny straw in the wind. She discovered that although she was a Phoenix, she belonged to a mediocre lineage among the Sun Phoenix tribes. Even her "Great Master," the greatest person in her eyes, was nothing but a lowly security guard for the palace of a Young Master.
Despite his greatness to her, he was just a moth.
But she did not despair. She fought, resisted, and ascended further and further, without sleep, rest, or pleasure. She evolved her lineage until she became the Queen of the entire Celestial Realm—the strongest and greatest of them all.
But she had made yet another mistake... she believed that this was the end, the ultimate peak. She was wrong once again.
One day, while wandering near the Wall of Worlds, she thought of shattering it to merge the Lower and Upper Realms together. But as she attempted the feat, two men descended. Their mere aura was enough to kill her without a doubt; they were more powerful than anything she had ever imagined in her entire life.
"Clumsy girl... by the Covenant of Worlds, you shall die for attempting to touch the security of the Realms."
Just as she stood on the brink of death, the heads of those emperors were severed by the most powerful being Ni Ni Layan had ever encountered. From this man, she caught a scent she had never smelled before—yet it felt strangely familiar. It was the scent of the Sun... or more precisely, the Solar Essence: The Solar Yang.
But this man spoke words that were utterly bizarre:
"System, it seems she isn't the one. I've upgraded you with everything I possess, yet you claim there are unknown forces hiding their source? You are useless."
This man used strange and unique terminology. He was breathtakingly handsome and radiant. Before he could depart, Ni Ni Layan stopped him, trembling with fear.
"My Lord... excuse me... how can I become as powerful as you?"
The man looked at her in surprise and smiled slightly.
"I... I don't know. To be honest, if you want advice from me: follow your heart."
Follow the heart? What does that even mean? She wanted to ask something else.
"Forgive me, my Lord... but... who is the most powerful being in this universe? Is it you?"
The man erupted into loud, boisterous laughter.
"I am not even one percent of it... the most powerful known being in this world is... The Ruler of the Ninth World."
Since that moment, one question haunted her: If she defeated the Ruler of the Ninth World, would she truly be the strongest? Would she finally reach the end?
But... that man, the one who was the pinnacle of power in her eyes... he died. A messenger arrived, bearing his final words to her. The message read:
"O Phoenix... I do not know why I remembered you as I stand on the brink of my end. But I want you to know one thing: In truth, Cultivation does not depend on merging Yin and Yang to become one with the universe. It is about becoming yourself. Not being subject to the laws—but making the laws subject to you."
Yes... at that moment, she realized she had been wasting her time. Cultivation, the monotony of training, the unification with Yin and Yang—those paths would only lead you as far as the Second World.
If you truly wish to reach the highest heavens, you must reach them as you. Not by merging with the universe, but by immersing yourself in the "Higher Self."
Strengthen yourself. Do not try to blend into the world. Be unique. Be singular. Do not be a mere copy of everyone else.
But she had relied her entire life on cultivating Yin and Yang. How could she possibly be "herself"?
She came to realize that to be yourself, you don't necessarily have to rebel against nature; rather, you must forge your own path. She had spent her whole life walking in the footsteps of her first master. And once again, she was about to fall into another trap by following the path of someone else.
So... why not create a path based on her own instincts? Her primal nature?
To immerse herself in her lust to the very marrow—by doing so, she would finally achieve her "True Self."
But in the end, when she attempted to traverse the path of carnal lust for the first time in her life... she was betrayed. She was murdered, only to be reincarnated once more.
Yet, could it be? This man she met only yesterday—the one carrying the exact same scent as that unfathomably powerful man... Could he truly make her what he claimed? Could he make her the Phoenix she dreamed of being... without the lust?
Morse stared into Ni Ni Layan's furious eyes; she was waiting, demanding an answer.
He didn't truly know what to say. But... he believed he could. After all, he possessed a System. And those who possess Systems do not just die; they transform into legends instantly.
"If you truly believe you cannot achieve this without me, then you are not the Phoenix I know," Morse began, his voice steady despite his racing heart. "You have performed miracles that all the worlds combined could never hope to replicate."
He was spouting pure nonsense, and he could feel her starting to notice.
"In any other case, if someone else asked me this, I would say it's impossible. But because it is you... there is no doubt. The only one capable of reaching the sun is you."
Oh, damn it... did she see right through me?
Ni Ni Layan burst into laughter—a cold, mocking sound. She felt as though she were being played; she had heard better flattery than this a thousand times before.
"You're joking, aren't you?"
In truth, she didn't really want to kill him. She felt a strange proximity to him, as if he were that same powerful man she had once encountered.
"Do you want to see proof? Tangible proof?" Morse challenged.
Was he kidding? Did he truly believe there was a single shred of evidence to support his nonsense? It was nothing but cheap talk.
"Oh, really? And what is this proof of yours?"
Morse swallowed hard, then said, "I'll show you, but on one condition only."
"And that is?"
"Say: 'I accept the meridians from the System.'"
She chuckled at his bizarre words. "Fine. I'll play along until the end. I accept the meridians from the System."
Suddenly, a holographic notification appeared—a strange blue window the likes of which she had never seen in her life.
[ Congratulations! Origin Yin Meridians accepted. Integrating meridians... ]
A bizarre sphere of light materialized in Morse's hand. Suddenly, as if his body were being controlled by an external force, he lunged forward and thrust the sphere of light directly into Ni Ni Layan's chest.
Her eyes snapped shut, and she collapsed to the ground before him. Morse stood there, staring at his own hand in a daze.
"Damn... her chest is magnificent and so soft. I need to get away before my thoughts wander too far."