Soul Land V: Rebirth of Tang San

"Indeed, the talent and abilities this child is currently displaying are all telling us that she possesses the posture of an Emperor, and it is very likely that she could become the next ruler of the Peacock Demon Clan. However, she is not there yet. Until she achieves the status of an Emperor, anything is possible. Therefore, we must see the inevitability of her becoming an Emperor before we can confidently entrust her with the position of City Lord. Let's not forget, she also has human blood flowing in her veins. This makes it even more necessary to be stringent during the assessment process. According to ancestral teachings, a non-Emperor's official duty challenge must be against a higher-ranked opponent. She must at least defeat an opponent with a First Level Bloodline from a higher rank. White Tiger Great Demon Emperor, the opponent she is facing now is from the Phoenix Demon Clan which is also a Flying Demon Race. Is there any problem with this?"

The White Tiger Great Demon Emperor said in a deep voice, "Cao Yuwei is a senior Great Demon King of the Undying Fire Phoenix Tribe. Even though the challenge is against a higher rank, it shouldn't be this kind of challenge. At the very least, he is of a mid-tier Great Demon King Level, and he also possesses the undying talent. This is essentially an unwinnable assessment."

The Heavenly Fox Great Demon Emperor smiled slightly and said, "To do what others cannot is what makes one superior. If she cannot pass such an assessment, then how can it be proved that she will inevitably become an Emperor in the future?"

The White Tiger Great Demon Emperor was about to continue arguing when Pretty Girl's voice came from below, "Grandfather, I am willing to accept this round of assessment. Thank you."

Upon hearing the word 'grandfather', several Emperors in the audience squinted their eyes. Even though Pretty Girl had shown the White Tiger Transformation during the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, and coupled with the protection from the White Tiger Great Demon Emperor at this moment, the Emperors could guess some connection between her and the White Tiger Great Demon Emperor. But her calling out 'grandfather' confirmed their relationship. The Emperors' understanding of Pretty Girl deepened. She was not only the heir of the Peacock Demon Clan but also had such a profound connection with the White Tiger Great Demon Emperor.
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The White Tiger Great Demon Emperor took a deep breath and nodded slightly, saying, "Good, but do not actively admit defeat."

His words were reminding Pretty Girl that the Phoenix Demon Clan, when facing the Peacock Demon Clan, would show no mercy. And in the official duty battle, there were never any rules restricting it; unless one admitted defeat, the Emperors could not intervene to stop the fight.

"Understood," Pretty Girl replied, then turned to face Cao Yuwei, the senior Great Demon King from the Undying Fire Phoenix lineage.

Cao Yuwei was a man of impressive appearance, exuding the unique temperament of the Phoenix Demon Clan—noble, fiery, and with a demeanor that seemed to burn heaven and earth.

Whether it is the Phoenix Clan or the Dragon Clan, giving birth to offspring is very difficult. This is an issue all strong races must face; otherwise, where would there be room for the weaker races to survive? The stronger the race, the more difficulties it faces in continuing its bloodline. Among these, the Phoenix Demon Clan, Dragon Clan, and the Behemoth giant beast are the most challenging. Thus, even within the Undying Fire Phoenix lineage, there are less than a hundred true Undying Fire Phoenixes. Although each one is powerful, their numbers are indeed scarce, far fewer than the Peacock Demon Clan.

Cao Yuwei had lived for five hundred years and was considered to be in his prime among the Phoenix Demon Clan, being a seasoned and powerful individual. He had held the status of a Great Demon King for over a hundred years and was strong and steady. This was why the Undying Great Demon Emperor chose him for this test—to give Pretty Girl as little chance as possible.

Looking at the young girl before him, Cao Yuwei somewhat disdained her in his heart. He had already been alerted to her presence before but stayed hidden on the Undying Great Demon Emperor. He had also watched Pretty Girl's previous two matches. Although they were overwhelmingly quick victories, in his view, they counted for nothing. He could easily do the same. There was a fundamental difference between those with and without a First Level Bloodline.

Without the class of a First Level Bloodline, after reaching God Rank, it simply is not the same level. Pretty Girl may have shown strong abilities, but the Undying Fire Phoenix lineage naturally suppresses the Peacock Demon Clan. In front of the mighty phoenix flame, the spatial attribute is difficult to utilize. And even if Pretty Girl has dual attributes, what of it? There is a whole major class difference – a Demon King and a Great Demon King, are simply not on the same level! Not to mention he has the undying trait; he actually never thought he would need to use this undying trait. In his opinion, this young Peacock Demon girl couldn't possibly defeat him.

"Begin!" the voice of the Great Demon Emperor Heavenly Fox descended from the sky, announcing the official start of Pretty Girl's last match in the first round of the assessment.

The surge of potent energy erupted almost instantaneously. Pretty Girl felt as if a volcano had exploded in front of her, with the scorching heat enveloping the sky and the earth. In an instant, everything before her eyes had turned into a golden-red color.

Phoenix True Fire! This is the powerful innate ability awakened by members of the Immortal Phoenix Demon Tribe once they reach the God Rank Cultivation base. The Phoenix True Fire has the absolute property of incineration, burning everything to ashes, everlasting and indestructible.

The terrifying heat completely obscured Cao Yuwei's figure, making it impossible to spot her location, while everything below was instantaneously engulfed by the searing flames.

Not only that, but as a resounding phoenix cry echoed through the air, the phantom of a massive phoenix with a wingspan of a hundred meters materialized, causing the space within a hundred meters below the Emperor Sky Pillar to distort violently.

At the God Rank, the powerful can awaken a Domain that is unique to them. This is one reason why those at the Demon King Level are so formidable—of course, if it's a weaker race, it's quite normal not to awaken a Domain. However, for those with a First Level Bloodline, awakening their bloodline is almost an inevitability.

And at the higher echelon of the Great Demon King Level, the Domain would evolve with the emergence of a second characteristic. The Domain of the Undying Fire Phoenix lineage is the Phoenix True Flame Domain, characterized by its ability to scorch the heavens and boil the earth. Within the Domain, the power of the Phoenix True Fire escalates immensely, not only being undying and indestructible but also able to create a self-sustaining cycle, turning all the elements in the air into its own fuel—a terror indeed.

Once the lineage of the Undying Fire Phoenix evolves to the Great Demon King Level, a second, more terrifying feature—divine consciousness burning—emerges within the scorching domain. The Phoenix True Fire can not only burn the body and weapons but also immolate the divine consciousness. Once unable to withstand it within such a Domain, one would face the fate of both body and soul being extinguished. The Undying Great Demon Emperor can rank within the top three precisely because of this; even the Crystal Great Demon Emperor would need to simulate the Phoenix True Flame Domain to counter it, achieving a stalemate where neither can burn the other.

Though Cao Yuwei somewhat disdains Pretty Girl, just as the Great Demon Emperor Heavenly Fox anticipated, this senior powerhouse of the Phoenix Clan wouldn't slacken due to a weaker opponent. From the get-go, she was all out, unleashing her Great Demon King Level Phoenix True Flame Domain. Complete control of the battlefield!

Even if Pretty Girl has some means to withstand the Phoenix True Flame Domain for a short time, her own energy consumption within the powerful Domain would be enormous. In contrast, as a member of the Undying Fire Phoenix Tribe, Cao Yuwei would receive a significant enhancement within it. With such a disparity of gain and loss, she wouldn't give Pretty Girl even a chance to resist.

The White Tiger Great Demon Emperor watched the scene below with a grim expression, ready to intervene at any moment. According to the rules, he should not interrupt but the Great Demon Emperor Heavenly Fox had already turned what should have been a single match into three—what would be the harm in breaking the rules just once to save his granddaughter's life?

It was precisely because he had anticipated the existence of the Phoenix True Flame Domain that he spoke out in opposition earlier.

But just then, a point of silver light shone in the center of the Phoenix True Flame Domain. At first, the silver glow was but a pinprick, but quickly, that point of silver light expanded outward silently and without notice.