The spiritual energy was restored, and he became a mortal immortal in two days.

My expression changed.

How did you know?

"How would I know?"

Wu Mingtian laughed heartily, "Third Sister, do you think no one will know that you secretly leave the palace every year?"

"Father dotes on you, turning a blind eye to everything, but shouldn't we, as your older brothers, at least care about where our little sister is?"

His smile gradually turned cold.

"I heard he's a savage who lives deep in the mountains? He doesn't even have a proper place to live, just a thatched hut?"

"Third sister, oh third sister, you are a princess of the Tianfeng Dynasty, how could you fall for such a piece of trash?"

I was so angry that I was trembling all over.

"You are not allowed to insult him!"

"insult?"

Wu Mingtian scoffed, "Third Sister, you're too naive."

"Do you think you can escape this power struggle by going to the deep mountains and forests every year to find your lover?"

He paused, his voice icy:

"Hand over the Heavenly Phoenix Crown, and I'll let you go."

otherwise......."

He didn't continue speaking.

But I understand.

"Are you threatening me?" I stared intently at him.

"It's not a threat, it's a deal."

Wu Mingtian waved his hand, "Third sister, what use is that crown to a woman like you? Why not give it to me? I'll guarantee you and your lover's safety."

"What if I don't pay?"

"Not paying?"

Wu Mingtian laughed, a ferocious laugh, "Then don't blame me for being ruthless as your older brother."

He clapped his hands.

Two soldiers in black armor escorted a woman out from behind.

The woman was dressed in plain clothes, her hair was disheveled, and her face was streaked with tears.

She is my mother.

"Mother!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Minghuang..."

My mother looked at me, her voice trembling, "Don't worry about me...you go quickly..."

"Walk?"

Wu Mingtian sneered, "Do you think you can leave?"

He looked at me, his eyes filled with mockery:

"Third sister, hand over the Heavenly Phoenix Crown, and I will release Mother and you as well."

"otherwise......."

He drew the sword from his waist and placed it against his mother's neck.

"I'll let you see with your own eyes how the Empress Dowager dies."

I bit my lip hard, and blood flowed down the corner of my mouth.

I hate it.

She hated herself for being incompetent, hated herself for not being able to protect her mother, hated herself for... dragging Prime Minister Chen down with her.

"Third Sister, my patience is limited." Wu Mingtian's voice grew colder and colder. "I'll give you three breaths to consider."

"one."

My hand gripped the sword at my waist.

"two."

A resolute glint flashed in my eyes.

# Chapter Forty-Five: The Imperial Tutor in the Mountains

"three!"

Wu Mingtian's voice was resolute.

My sword was half an inch out of its sheath, its blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

But I know that this sword strike will not land.

The Empress Dowager's neck trembled beneath that blade.

"Minghuang... don't worry about me..."

The Empress Dowager's voice was hoarse, but her eyes held a resolute determination, "The Heavenly Phoenix Crown must never be handed over... it's your life..."

"shut up!"

Wu Mingtian slapped his mother across the face, the crisp sound echoing through the valley.

My pupils suddenly contracted.

Something inside shattered at that moment.

It's not meridians, it's not the dantian, it's shackles—all the shackles I've borne for the past eighteen years as a princess, as a woman, as a weakling.

boom!

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged forth wildly.

My long hair moves without wind, and the ends of my hair ignite with crimson-gold flames.

A phoenix mark slowly emerged between his brows, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.

"This is......"

Wu Mingtian's expression changed drastically. "Bloodline awakening?!"

I slowly raised my head, my eyes no longer showing any hesitation: "Brother, you have made a mistake."

The moment the words left my mouth, I vanished.

It wasn't lightness skill, nor was it movement technique; it was pure speed, an instinct bestowed upon him by the Heavenly Phoenix Body after his bloodline awakened.

When I reappeared, I was already standing in front of my mother.

He gripped the knife that was held to his mother's neck with his left hand.

With his right hand, he struck out with his palm.

"puff!"

The black-armored soldier wielding the knife suffered a dent in his chest and was sent flying backward, crashing into three ancient trees before coming to a stop. Blood and saliva mixed with fragments of internal organs spurted from his mouth.

Wu Mingtian reacted extremely quickly, thrusting his sword towards my back.

When the sword tip touched my robe, it felt as if it had pierced a wall of bronze and iron.

No, it's harder than a wall of bronze and iron. Crimson-gold flames ignited from his robes, burning along the sword towards Wu Mingtian's palm.

"what!"

Wu Mingtian screamed in agony and threw down his sword, retreating. His right palm was charred black and emitted a burnt smell.

I picked up my mother and moved again.

"Stop her!"

Wu Mingtian roared.

Dozens of soldiers in black armor came in formation, their long spears forming a forest, blocking all paths.

I stopped and gently placed my mother behind a boulder.

"Mother, wait for me a moment."

He turned around and faced the hail of bullets.

I extended my right hand, my five fingers loosely clenched.

hum-

The Heavenly Phoenix Crown hanging from my waist flew out on its own and hovered above my palm.

The nine gems on the crown lit up simultaneously, each reflecting the phantom image of a phoenix.

"Heavenly Phoenix Nine Strikes, First Form—"

My voice was eerily calm.

"The Phoenix Cries".

The first jewel in the crown exploded.

It's not about breaking apart, it's about releasing.

A phantom of a crimson-gold phoenix soared into the sky, its cry echoing through the valley.

Wherever the sound waves passed, the spears in the hands of the black-armored soldiers shattered inch by inch, blood flowed from their ear canals, and they fell to the ground screaming in agony.

Wu Mingtian covered his ears; blood was seeping from all seven orifices.

"Impossible... You clearly haven't practiced the Nine Strikes of the Heavenly Phoenix..."

I did not answer.

Because no answer is required.

The moment my bloodline awakened, the nine inherited techniques sealed within the crown automatically flooded into my sea of ​​consciousness.

This is not cultivation, but inheritance, a gift left to future generations by the first empress of the Tianfeng Dynasty.

I stepped forward.

The black-armored soldiers tried to stop them, but their steps felt like lead.

That wasn't intimidation; it was fear that stemmed from one's very blood.

Faced with the fully awakened Heavenly Phoenix Body, mortals don't even have the right to stand.

"Second move, Phoenix Dance."

The second gem lit up.

My figure transformed into nine afterimages, each one resembling a phoenix spreading its wings.

Wherever they went, the black-armored soldiers fell like wheat being harvested, each with a fine line of blood on their neck.

Precise, deadly, and graceful as a dance.

Wu Mingtian was finally afraid.

He turned to run away.

"The third move, Phoenix Perches."

The third gem shines brightly.

My figure appeared in front of Wu Mingtian, not by catching up, but by simply appearing there, as if space itself had lost its meaning at that moment.

She pressed a palm against his chest.

There was no loud noise, no explosion.

Wu Mingtian's body stiffened.

He looked down and saw a phoenix mark slowly emerging on his chest.

Wherever the mark passed, the meridians withered and the true energy dissipated, frantically pulling at his power.

"Mother, let's go now."

"Minghuang...your eyes..."

The Empress Dowager's voice was choked with sobs.

I know what she's talking about.

My eyes must be crimson gold at this moment.

That was a sign that the Heavenly Phoenix Body had fully awakened, and also a sign that lifespan had begun to burn.

"fine."

I whispered, "As long as I can see him, everything will be alright."

His figure transformed into a streak of crimson-gold light, rushing towards the deep mountains.

Behind him, Wu Mingtian collapsed to the ground, shouting hoarsely, "Send a message! Third Sister has awakened the Heavenly Phoenix Physique and taken the crown!"