After a brief silence, the Primordial Phoenix finally spoke, "Though I cannot punish you for luring the Rising Phoenix Clan to your side, I can certainly punish you for slandering the Celestial Emperor's name." "Just because you refuse to believe it doesn't make it slander," Yuan replied calmly. "Still, if you wish to fight, I'll be more than willing to oblige." The Primordial Phoenix silently swept his gaze over Yuan and the others in the chamber. Alongside Yuan and Feng Yuxiang stood Feng Lingyang, Feng Haoyu, and the Grand Elder. Though his cultivation surpassed them all, he ultimately chose not to act. "You should be grateful the Celestial Emperor forbade me from touching you," the Primordial Phoenix said. "At least, for now." Yuan raised his brows in surprise."Oh? The Celestial Emperor told you not to fight me? How unusual... or perhaps he intends to deal with me personally?" "The Celestial Emperor has far more important matters than wasting time on an insect like you." The Primordial Phoenix sneered, then turned and strode toward the exit. "Of course, the same goes for me." After saying that, the Primordial Phoenix left the room and disappeared from the summit shortly after. "So... what now?" Feng Yuxiang turned to look at Yuan and asked. "Let's return to the Rising Phoenix Clan for now," he said. "Alright." As they traveled, Yuan said, "I will fulfill my promise to you and strengthen the entire Rising Phoenix Clan. Once we arrive, can you gather everyone for me?" Feng Lingyang immediately nodded in agreement. Before long, they returned to the Rising Phoenix Clan's territory. At Yuan's request, Feng Lingyang swiftly summoned every member of the clan. Yet even before she could announce the results of their journey, the clan members already understood the outcome, as Yuan's very presence within their grounds spoke louder than words. "As you may have already realized, your leader has accepted my offer. From this day forward, the Rising Phoenix Clan stands under my command." "If you are unwilling to follow me, I will grant you the chance to leave now," Yuan declared. "There is no need for words or explanations-simply depart in silence, and no punishment will follow." He then stood in patient silence, giving time to those who wished to go. After several minutes, a handful of figures quietly took to the skies, vanishing into the distance without a trace. Yet, despite their departure, the overwhelming majority of the clan remained. "Anyone else?" he asked. When the remaining members shook their heads, Yuan nodded. "Very well. As a reward for choosing to stand with me, I will bestow upon you all a blessing." With a single gesture, Yuan directed his will toward the gathered clan members. At once, the heavens above bloomed with radiant golden symbols, each one pulsing with profound might. "Those who choose to serve me, accept the Immortal Monarch's symbol. From that moment forth, you shall be my followers, and my decree shall be your law." One by one, the clan members reached out to the golden symbols, allowing them to sink into their bodies and fuse with their Dantians. Once everyone had accepted his symbol, Yuan activated another skill. In the blink of an eye, a wave of radiant power swept across the Rising Phoenix Clan. Unlike an ordinary blessing, the Grand Blessing etched its effects permanently into the bodies of all who had accepted his symbol. "This feeling! My body... It's overflowing with power!" Cries of astonishment echoed as the clan members suddenly felt their strength rising beyond imagination. "This is the Immortal Monarch's power...? Feng Lingyang mumbled, her voice filled with awe. However, Yuan shook his head and said, "This is just a simple blessing. The real thing begins now." Yuan pricked his fingertip, letting a stream of blood flow forth. It quickly condensed into a sphere the size of a fist, hovering in his palm. With a firm clench, the sphere burst apart, scattering into countless drops of crimson light. Guided by his will, one drop entered the mouth of every clan member present. The clan members shuddered in ecstasy, their senses overwhelmed by the peerless taste of his blood, a flavor surpassing every delicacy they had encountered in their lives. "I just fed each of you a drop of my blood. Soon, your bloodline purity will improve," he said to them a moment later. "Just like that?!" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂 "If you can't believe it, you can test your bloodline," Yuan remarked. "Hand me the Golden Phoenix Needle!" Feng Lingyang commanded loudly. The next moment, one of the elders approached her with the needle in hand. Feng Lingyang immediately tested her bloodline while everyone watched in anticipation. When the results appeared seconds later, Feng Lingyang's hands went limp. The Golden Phoenix Needle slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor as she stood frozen, her face blank with shock. "Clan Leader?! What's wrong?!" the Grand Elder cried, his voice laced with worry. "M-My bloodline..." she whispered in a daze. Too shaken to form her thoughts into words, she simply lifted her trembling fingers and pointed toward the fallen needle. The Grand Elder bent down and picked up the fallen Golden Phoenix Needle, his gaze fixed upon the results. "By the Heavens!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling as his eyes grew wide with disbelief. The other elders hastened to gather around him. When their eyes fell upon the results, their expressions froze, as though their very souls had been shaken. "91.2 percent?!" one of the elders revealed. "What?!" Gasps rippled through the crowd as the rest of the members heard the result, their surprise mirroring the elders' reactions. None of them, however, knew the hidden truth-that Feng Lingyang's bloodline had long been weakened by a curse, a secret known only to the elders and a select few. Therefore, in their eyes, Feng Lingyang's bloodline had only increased by two percent, not six percent, as her bloodline had weakened to 85.2 percent. (More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)