The Long Journey to Immortality

"It's interesting to say that initially, the winner of the beauty pageant for nearly twenty consecutive years was a phoenix," Feng You explained. "There was no other way. Back then, the representatives of various tribes who were selected as judges all hoped to curry favor with the phoenix tribe by using their voting power."

He then added, "Of course, we phoenixes are indeed the most beautiful among all birds."

"Later, in order to avoid suspicion and at the same time make the beauty pageant more meaningful."

“The phoenixes were no longer allowed to compete, and the stage was given to other races.”

"After the Phoenix withdrew, the Peacock clan still won the most championships."

"However, the winner of the last beauty pageant was a male Peng bird from the Peng clan. I was also a judge that time. He was indeed handsome, and his feathers were golden and shiny, making him look beautiful."

Feng You recalled, "About 30,000 years ago, the beauty pageant split into two."

"A contest to see the beauty of each in their true spirit and magical beast forms."

"A beauty surpassing that of her after transforming into human form."

"Based on a comprehensive ranking and score, we will then determine which bird is the most beautiful."

"Initially, the first match was more important."

"But now, the second round is valued more by the participants because it is fairer."

……

The Hundred Birds Festival has been held for nearly 100,000 years, and there are countless stories to tell about it. Feng You talked for a long time before introducing Han Lu to the many interesting activities that would take place at the Hundred Birds Festival.

"What about the new activity? Dad, didn't you say you had a plan? The draft should be ready by now, right?" Han Lu asked curiously.

Feng You smiled sheepishly, "Over the years, I've exhausted all my creative ideas. It's not so easy to come up with any new activities."

"Either new events that were previously popular are kept for a long time, or new events that were just started are deleted long ago because they are unpopular."

"There weren't any new activities at the last bird festival, and with so many days left this time, I doubt we'll come up with any good ideas either."

“Oh, by the way,” Feng You asked Han Lu for help, “have you ever participated in similar activities in the Zhengyi Sect? Do you have any ideas?”

"No, that's not the case," Han Lu replied after a moment's thought. "Human cultivators don't have long lifespans, and most of them focus on cultivation. Even if they have entertainment activities, they are just doing what they want."

"In the most recent small competition, the sect added a chess tournament."

“That’s a pity,” Feng You said with a hint of disappointment. “I was hoping you could give me some good ideas.”

Han Lu smiled and said, "Although there's nowhere to learn from, I do have an idea, but I don't know if any predecessors have thought of it."

"Hey? Tell me about it."

Han Lu took three breaths to organize her thoughts before continuing, "Isn't there an illusion array in the Three Phoenix Forest for the young phoenixes to play with? We can use that as a template to create a temporary illusion array for the guests who come to the Three Phoenix Forest to play and have fun."

"A hundred levels are designed in the illusion array, with three difficulty levels: easy, normal, and hard. You can get a token for each level you pass."

"These tokens can be used as currency to exchange for material rewards."

"So it's both fun and inspiring, I think it will be very popular."

Han Lu's idea was just a spur-of-the-moment thought and was not perfect. It also borrowed a lot of elements from the assessment in the Zhengyi Sect's Grand Competition Secret Realm.

Whether she would be popular or not, she didn't even know if she had ever appeared at the Bird Festival in history.

Han Lu brought it up simply because she wanted to help her father.

After listening, Feng You recalled for a moment and said, "This idea seems good. At least as far as I know, no similar ideas have appeared at the Hundred Birds Gathering."

"It just requires controlling costs, designing levels, and building illusion arrays."

"It's not difficult to implement."

Feng You said happily, "I'll share this idea with the other two clan leaders later, and I think they'll approve of it."

"Daughter, you've been a great help this time."

Han Lu chuckled and said modestly, "It's just an immature little suggestion."

Following that, the father and daughter, based on Han Lu's idea, chatted enthusiastically, gradually enriching the idea and turning it into a feasible solution.

"In that case, it should be considered foolproof and will definitely be popular," Feng You, who had participated in several bird gatherings and worked as both an organizer and a participant, concluded.

Finally, Han Lu asked her which diplomatic occasions she and her father would attend at the Hundred Birds Conference, and which high-ranking officials from which tribes they would likely meet, asking her to prepare herself mentally.

Feng You and Han Lu talked a lot, and Feng You indicated that she would appear as the "heir".

Although she had no interest in the position of patriarch of the Phoenix Clan, Han Lu did not refuse to take on the responsibilities she should bear.

In her opinion, she, as the young lady, was unlikely to become the clan leader.

Before her father left her, she was very likely already close to the Nascent Soul Realm, or even had already ascended to immortality.

On the contrary, Feng Hong needs to be prepared.

Feng You spoke his mind in a lighthearted manner, without feeling that there was anything wrong with it.

He knew very well that his exceptionally talented daughter's path of cultivation would not end in the mortal realm.

When Feng Hong was mentioned, Feng You happened to have something to tell his daughter.

“Feng Hong just advanced to the late stage of Foundation Establishment a few days ago. After the Hundred Birds Gathering, Ru Bing and I will send him to Phoenix Perch Forest for cultivation.”

"In that case, you two siblings will not be able to see each other for another one or two decades."

"You'd better spend more time with your younger brother these days, so as not to break his heart."

After saying that, Feng You muttered in a slightly lower voice, "Ten years ago, when I talked to Feng Hong about going to Fengqi Forest to cultivate, he was extremely unwilling."

"Now, they're bringing this up with me on their own initiative, as if they can't wait to leave."

That's strange.

Muttering these words, Feng You left to find the other two clan leaders to continue discussing the specifics of the Hundred Birds Gathering.

Han Lu was not surprised by her younger brother's reaction.

"This must be what love is."

Han Lu was certain that Feng Hong was so eager to go to Phoenix Perch Forest for secluded cultivation in order to advance to the Transformation Realm as soon as possible so that he could openly get together with his "old flame".

For the next two weeks, Han Lu and many other phoenixes in the Three Phoenix Forest participated in a major construction project.

Everyone worked together to use spiritual magic to build a temporary venue and guest rooms to accommodate the guests participating in the Hundred Birds Gathering.

Several highly skilled Illusionary Phoenixes, led by Feng You, gathered together and began setting up a giant illusion array in an open space in the Three Phoenix Forest, putting Han Lu's brilliant idea into practice.

In the blink of an eye, ten days have passed.

As the phoenixes completed most of their preparations, the first group of guests who came to attend the Hundred Birds Gathering also arrived at the Three Phoenix Forest.

Chapter 964 Phoenix Angelica

Although the Hundred Birds Gathering does not have explicit requirements or thresholds for the participants' cultivation level, it does have unspoken rules.

Unless they are "second-generation officials" chicks like Feng Hong, only bird spirits and magical beasts that have reached the Transformation Realm are allowed to participate in the Hundred Birds Gathering as guests.

The first group to arrive at Sanfeng Forest was a team of thirty True Spirits at the Transformation Realm, half of whom were Peng birds and the other half were peacocks.

These two bird spirits are the only two true spirits among all birds, besides the phoenix.

With its noble lineage and extraordinary abilities, if it weren't for its bloodline talent being inferior to that of the phoenix, the bird kingdom would likely be divided into three factions.

The most distinguished guests arrived first, and naturally, two of the three phoenixes of Sanfenglin also sent high-ranking officials to greet them.

The patriarchs of the Ice Phoenix Clan and the Illusion Phoenix Clan greeted them outside the Three Phoenix Forest, showing them great respect.

When Feng You made his appearance, Han Lu naturally accompanied him, following behind.

Feng Rubing's position was a little awkward, but thankfully, she was greeted in human form, and the family of three still stood together.

The four leaders of the four clans were all powerful figures with cultivation levels comparable to the late Nascent Soul stage. They had known each other for at least a thousand years and were all acquaintances. Naturally, the atmosphere remained relaxed even in such a formal diplomatic occasion.

The roc birds and peacocks who followed the clan leader to the Three Phoenix Forest did not consider themselves outsiders.

Most of them were acquainted with one of the phoenixes who came to greet them, and it wasn't their first time visiting the Three Phoenix Forest.

They each found acquaintances and chatted and laughed, having a great time.

If the phoenix, who planned the first Bird Festival with good intentions, knew of such a scene, it would surely be very gratified.

Han Lu is less than two hundred years old and this is her first time participating in such an event. Naturally, she has no acquaintances among the Peng Bird and Peacock clans.

Fortunately, her mother, who had also recently returned to her clan, was with her, which helped her remain calm and composed in the lively atmosphere, preventing her from feeling awkward.

Suddenly, Han Lu noticed that a phoenix's gaze was lingering and flickering on her and Feng Rubing not far away.

When she followed her gaze to the male phoenix, it lowered its head and pretended nothing had happened.

This strange situation puzzled her.

Upon seeing that the other party was an Ice Phoenix, but only at the Transformation stage, Han Lu couldn't help but connect the other party with a familiar figure.

"Mom," Han Lu tugged at Feng Rubing's sleeve and asked telepathically, "Is the Bingfeng not far to our left the same Feng Baizhi that you once told me about?"

Following Han Lu's suggestion, Feng Rubing looked to her left.

He recognized the other person's identity simply by noticing the top of their head, which didn't look like that of a young man. He nodded slightly and replied telepathically, "That's right. What, daughter, have you seen him before?"

"No, it's just that he kept glancing at you and me furtively, so I guessed it."

Feng Rubing said, "About half a year ago, Feng Baizhi returned to Sanfeng Forest from Fengqi Forest. It is said that she also sought advice on the matter of Heming and received guidance from Senior Feng Hanchi, who was acquainted with your father."

"I was also annoyed that he didn't take the initiative to seek your advice."

"Now it seems..." Feng Rubing chuckled, "that she was just shy."

Not all young phoenixes are as early to fall in love as Feng Hong.

Many newly grown phoenixes are just like Mo Zhehan, who has just met Han Lu. They are very shy. Let alone meeting a beautiful female phoenix like Han Lu alone, they stumble over even a simple greeting.

This is partly because the phoenix, as a true spirit, matures its mind a little later.

On the other hand, it is also related to the overly strict control by guardians when the child was young.

The extremes must be reversed.

Where can you find a high school where students aren't allowed to date, but then they're already talking about finding girlfriends and getting married in college?

Feng Rubing's words reminded Han Lu of many things, and she smiled knowingly.

Seeing her daughter's expression and having heard her daughter's latest opinion about "her brother's brother-in-law" from Feng You, Feng Rubing, with a "let's watch the show" mentality, transmitted her voice and said, "Since he's unwilling to take the initiative to find you, why don't you take the initiative to find him?"