Chapter 120: The Unreliable Old Man (Part II)

Yin Su stopped in her tracks. The woman ahead was far too powerful; she dared not take the risk. She had previously assumed she was the only one in this forest, but it seemed this woman’s strength was so heaven-defying and her presence so perfectly concealed that Yin Su had been completely unable to detect her.

Sighing, she realized she was essentially an intruder, foolishly wandering into a place of danger only to stumble right into the master of the domain. She could only hope the woman wouldn't mind too much; otherwise, she might find herself unable to leave this forest for quite some time.

"Junior, come forward and let me have a look at you," the woman's voice resonated from the cave, devoid of any strong emotional fluctuation. However, having gone so long without seeing another person, she felt a flicker of curiosity.

Yin Su hesitated, looking at the elder in the cave. Seeing the woman’s eyes remained closed, she attempted to turn and run.

"You dare leave?" A hint of anger laced the old woman’s voice. Who in this realm didn't know her identity or her temper? This girl, barely at the peak of the Void Sect stage, actually wanted to run? Was this some kind of joke?

A surge of force caught Yin Su, slamming her back toward the cave entrance. Landing hard on the stone ground, she felt the jarring impact. She realized then that there was no way to escape this mysterious woman.

"May I ask who you are, Senior?" Yin Su stood up and straightened her clothes, though her body ached—the woman had not held back. Despite the pain, she bowed respectfully.

"Eh? You don't know who I am?" The elder expressed great surprise. That shouldn't be right. Logically, every member of the Phoenix Clan knew this forest was a forbidden zone housing a Great Elder of the clan—and that Great Elder was none other than herself.

Yet, the girl claimed not to know her, and her expression didn't look like a lie. But the girl possessed the power of the Phoenix Clan, and her talent and bloodline were exceptional. "Wait, let me see how her bloodline fares."

A powerful force erupted from the elder, instantly enveloping Yin Su and rendering her immobile. Yin Su tried to resist with all her might, but her strength was useless against the elder’s power; she couldn't even scratch her.

"Stop squirming! I'm not going to kill you. Be quiet, or I can't guarantee your life if you keep fussing!" the elder said impatiently. Faced with an absolute powerhouse, Yin Su had no choice but to temporarily yield.

As the elder’s energy delved deeper into Yin Su’s body, the elder’s previously expressionless face began to flicker with a myriad of emotions—amusement, distress, anger, and confusion—shifting as rapidly as a performer in a traditional face-changing act.

"Hey, junior, come here!" The elder’s voice remained haughty, but the tone had softened considerably.

Feeling the elder’s power withdraw, Yin Su quickly checked herself, ignoring the strange woman's words. To her surprise, the elder hadn't planted anything in her; instead, her meridians felt even more expansive. Confused, she looked up at the elder in the cave.

"What are you looking at? Get in here. Don't tell me you expect an old woman like me to come fetch you?" The elder was growing impatient. This junior was truly a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger; she had ignored every one of her summons.

"Hey, why should I come over? You’re so strong; who knows if you’ll kill me the moment I get close? Only a fool would listen to you!" Yin Su’s eyes darted around, buying time.

"What do you mean 'hey'? I am your ancestor! Don't you have any manners, you little girl?" The elder’s voice rose again, clearly on the verge of losing her temper.

"Pfft, who knows if you're telling the truth? I don't even know who my ancestors are, how could you? And what do you mean I have no manners? You called me 'hey' too!" Yin Su subtly shifted position at the cave entrance; she sensed this place was not simple.

The elder, hearing the girl's retort, was incensed and longed to drag her in and punish her, but she couldn't—that blasted barrier stood in the way. Recalling the information she had gleaned from the girl, she took a deep breath, telling herself not to be rattled by a junior. She had to stay calm; she couldn't lose the big picture over a trivial matter.

"Little girl, what’s your name?" The elder stopped forcing the issue, her attitude much improved.

"Yin Su." Sensing the shift in the elder’s demeanor and realizing she hadn't been harmed, Yin Su dropped her confrontational stance.

"Yin Su? I've never heard that name. Could it be that someone with great talent appeared in the clan while I was away?" the elder muttered to herself.

Hearing this, Yin Su deduced that the elder must hold significant power within the Phoenix Clan. Why else would she speak with such authority? But if she were a leader, why would she be placed in this desolate forest? While the spiritual energy here was abundant, a leader should be in a prosperous city, shouldn't she?

"Are you from the Phoenix Clan, Senior?" Yin Su asked, emboldened by the elder’s calmer state.

"Oh, it seems you really don't know. But that’s not right—didn't your parents or elders tell you this forest is the most mysterious forbidden place of the Phoenix Clan? No one is allowed in here without my permission," the elder said languidly, revealing much in the process.

Perhaps she could tell this strange woman her identity, Yin Su thought.

"I apologize, Senior. I am actually not from the Void Continent. Not long ago, I obtained a way to return here and traveled with my friends. That is why I am unaware of the Phoenix Clan's forbidden zone or the rules regarding entry," Yin Su said, finally showing the respect of a junior.

"What?! Well, that explains it. You returned from the Desolate Continent. If I recall correctly, very few members living there ever find a way or possess the strength to return to the Void Continent. You are quite impressive. You said you were with friends—where are they?" the elder asked, partly to herself.

Yin Su sat on a rock, unhurried. "They should have gone to the territories of the Spirit Fox Clan, the Tiger King Clan, the Dragon Clan, and the reclusive Li family."

The elder, who had kept her eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open, two dazzling beams of light shooting from her gaze. "Are you sure? Are they really with members of the other four clans?"

Surprised by the reaction, Yin Su gave a simple nod. She didn't understand why the elder was so shocked; it seemed normal enough.

"Who told you how to enter the Void Continent?!" The elder’s voice trembled. It seemed the method Yin Yao’s father had shared had a story behind it that no one knew.

"My friend’s father. Why?" Yin Su looked toward the cave, growing suspicious and guarded. She couldn't let her loose tongue harm Senior Mo Qin, Yin Yao’s father.

After Yin Su’s reply, a rare silence descended. The elder didn't ask further questions, lost in her own thoughts, which only fueled Yin Su's curiosity. Was there something unique about that method?

After a long while, the elder’s voice sounded again. "Very well, Yin Su, come in. Do not resist. I mean you no harm. I discovered toxins in your body; although someone helped you purify them recently, I believe my power can help you better harness that toxic energy."

This time, Yin Su did not hesitate. She stepped into the cave, finally getting a clear look at the elder. She was indeed a beauty. She sat cross-legged on a stone, eyes still closed, yet she seemed to see everything—nothing could escape her.

"Junior greets you, Senior. May I ask your name?" Yin Su knelt before the woman, who looked remarkably young despite her age.

"Just call me Grandma Feng Yi." So, the elder was named Feng Yi.

"Yes, it is nice to meet you, Grandma Feng Yi." Yin Su stood up with a smile.

Feng Yi did not open her eyes, but a smile touched her lips. "Yin Su, come, sit before me and let me thoroughly purify those toxins for you. In the eyes of others, they are dangerous, but to your Grandma Feng Yi, they are merely weapons waiting to be harnessed."

Agreeing with this perspective, Yin Su walked over and sat down. Soon, a rush of incredibly pure spiritual energy entered her body.

"It may be painful, but I believe you can endure it. I trust you won't let me down," Feng Yi said softly, soothing Yin Su’s heart.

Yin Su understood the pain of purification—she had experienced it before. Although the guardian of the space seal had done it while she was unconscious, she remembered the agony all too well.

"Grandma Feng Yi, is there a barrier at the cave entrance that prevents you from leaving?" Yin Su had suspected this ever since the elder had insisted she enter rather than pulling her in directly.

"Hehe, you are quite observant, little one. Yes, there is a barrier, and it was one I set myself. I cannot leave until I break through from the Void Emperor stage to the Void Sovereign stage," Feng Yi replied calmly, using the conversation to distract her.

"Void Sovereign? Is it really that difficult to advance from Void Emperor?" Yin Su wondered, having advanced quite rapidly since arriving on the continent.

"It is a major watershed. You will understand in time," Feng Yi explained simply.

Yin Su understood the weight of those words and why the breakthrough was so difficult.

"Hiss..." Yin Su gasped as the pain hit, focusing all her attention inward.

"Speak up if you cannot hold on," Feng Yi reminded her kindly.