Chapter 1763: Core Mountain

Davis blinked at Ancestor Cornelia, wondering what she wanted to speak about to him. He signaled Eldia to return to his dantian and grasped Nadia's hand, following Ancestor Cornelia without asking why.

Soon, they crossed the ruins and entered the inner crimson mountain of the Burning Phoenix Ridge where Shirley's crimson palace and other palaces were located, relatively unharmed.

"Davis..."

Ancestor Cornelia hesitantly turned around and called his name, and only after he nodded his head in gesture did she lightly smile and speak.

"This time, you really saved us from walking on the path of extinction."

"You're welcome."

Davis didn't bother denying these grateful words as he nodded again, causing Ancestor Cornelia to be more heartened. However, she didn't appear to be as happy as the smile seemed to fade away.

"Davis, last time, I explained to you about the Four Grand Skyfire Magical Beasts, didn't I?"

"Yes?"

Davis couldn't tell what she was getting at while Ancestor Cornelia nodded in continuation.

"That's just a mere title given to the collective existences of the Fire Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Blazing Thunderlight Kirin, and Fire Phoenix. The title: Four Grand Skyfire Magical Beasts was given in recognition of their specialty in fire attribute and their ability to dominate the skies using fire, but like this, there are many titles given to a group of many magical beasts to praise their abilities. However, these magical beasts have one thing in common, and it's because they are all descendants of Paragon Magical Beasts."

"Paragon Magical Beasts?"

Davis blinked as he had never heard of this term before.

"I have this knowledge due to my inherited memories as a Burning Phoenix, but it's extremely vague. Therefore, I'm not sure but hear me out."

Davis nodded his head, appearing very interested, while Nadia also appeared to be curious.

"Normally, Magical Beasts are divided according to their birth and maturity stages, ranging from Mortal Rank to higher ranks. However, there is another intrinsical factor that makes a specific group of magical beasts differ from the average group of magical beasts, giving birth to what is termed as Paragon Magical Beasts because this particular group of magical beasts has their own unique heavenly tribulation factors that descend on them when they try to cross their heavenly tribulation."

Davis's eyes narrowed.

"Like how I heard the Dragon Families like the Zlatan Family and Domitian Family's people are supposed to have a heavenly tribulation that's one level higher than their cultivation base?"

"Indeed." Ancestor Cornelia nodded her head to Davis's quick understanding before she shook her head, "But not quite right as that is not the unique heavenly tribulation factor of dragons. The humans who have the blood of these dragons will undergo a heavenly tribulation that's higher by one level because they have the blood of the Emperor Rank Magical Beast. As for the unique heavenly tribulation factor they will face, it depends on the quality of blood. If they even have so much as a single drop of blood essence of a dragon's, then their heavenly tribulation will start to go from normal to become overbearing. The more their blood is mixed with the descendant of a Paragon Magical Beast like a dragon, the more their heavenly tribulation will be overbearing."

"Then what about Isabella and Shirley?"

Davis couldn't help but ask as he was only half-sure about their tribulation's content with his current knowledge.

"If your Isabella has inherited the Earth Dragon Immortal's legacy, not only would she face an overbearing heavenly tribulation for having the true essence blood of the descendant of a Paragon Magical Beast, she would also face an increase in prowess by two levels due to the nature of Earth Dragon Blood she absorbed being at Immortal Stage."

Davis's expression didn't seem to change.

"However, this is the case if your Isabella is breaking through to the Immortal Stage before reaching the peak in all her three cultivation systems. After all, it is said that to have a perfect foundation when reaching immortality, one should've reached the Peak-Level in all three cultivation stages. I presume you're all aiming for perfection, so when Isabella or anyone reaches Peak-Level Ninth Stage in all three cultivation systems, that is when their heavenly tribulation would increase by a level. For your Isabella, this would constitute a heavenly tribulation whose prowess is three levels higher."

Davis became taken aback before he smirked.

"Still, I have the confidence that she will clear it easily."

After all, Isabella's prowess reached four levels higher. How could the heavenly tribulation stop her when it was just three levels higher?

Ancestor Cornelia also smiled, also knowing about the Earth Dragon Queen's prowess before she continued.

"The same way, since the Fire Phoenix is a descendant of a Paragon Magical Beast, our Shirley will also face a unique heavenly tribulation factor like the overbearingness for the dragon."

At this moment, they had already crossed the inner region of the Burning Phoenix Ridge and headed deep into the mountains, where a dilapidated path seemed to appear in their view as they flew further before appearing in a wide location that stretched like a flat surface, surrounded by a few elevated mountains.

It almost appeared as though it was a dome. One could see the skies clearly from here, and although it appeared like it was a battle arena minus the audience seats, it wasn't. Instead, the crimson tiles on the flat surface were many charred patches, a sign of being burned as though these places were hit by lightning.

Ancestor Cornelia flew forward while being followed by Davis into this location, where a consecrated aura remained, making him recall the heavenly tribulation he faced for Tia, although it was different. This made him also recall the person who just seemed to have ascended today, the Sect Master of the Burning Phoenix Ridge.

Just when Davis was about to ask Ancestor Cornelia, she suddenly spoke.

"The humans and feys of our Burning Phoenix Ridge also have a heavenly tribulation that's one level higher than our cultivation base, but that still depends on the quality of blood they have, and the unique heavenly tribulation factor for us Burning Phoenixes is the same as the other phoenixes. Unfortunately, I... lost my husband in this very location, the Phoenix Ascendance Ground where numerous cultivators of my sect have successfully ascended or failed in its history..."

Ancestor Cornelia's eyes became forlorn while Davis could only remain silent, wondering why she brought him here and told all these things to him.

"Even more unfortunate is that I only managed to see his ashes."

"Were you not with your husband?" Davis couldn't help but ask.

Ancestor Cornelia's eyes abruptly narrowed as rage and hatred brewed within her pupils.

"Every time a prestigious individual of our Burning Phoenix Ridge try to cross their heavenly tribulation, the wicked path would always try to interfere and impede us in whatever way possible. To protect my husband, I battled the wicked path along with many others and held them at bay, but in the end... my husband was unable to overcome his heavenly tribulation..."

They both became silent, but it wasn't long before Davis became more curious.

"Why? Is it due to the unique heavenly tribulation factor of the phoenixes?"

"Indeed." Ancestor Cornelia nodded her head, "The phoenixes face a peculiar heavenly tribulation, where they experience a Heart Demon Tribulation, unlike the dragon's overbearingness."

"Oh, this is a bit similar to what the owners of the Karmic Guardian Physique face during their heavenly tribulation..."

Ancestor Cornelia raised her brows at Davis.

"Is that so? I didn't know..."

She wryly smiled as she rather expected Davis to be astonished, but she found it amusing that she was surprised instead.

"So it was a Heart Demon Tribulation that caused your husband to fail?"

"Possibly..."

Ancestor Cornelia took a deep breath, "After all, losing the lives of some of his wives to the wicked path would be definitely a big blow to his heart."

Davis pursed his lips as he really felt that he should stop asking insensitive questions. Soon, they arrived in front of a small wooden hut made from Emperor Grade parasol wood that Burning Phoenix would like to perch on.

"We phoenixes are almost as strong as dragons, but we are susceptible to emotions like love and affection, making us fall easily. That's why you should also be careful of Shirley losing you, or the people she loves the most as the chances she would be unable to progress above in cultivation base will become higher."

Ancestor Cornelia warned Davis as she continued, causing the latter to nod his head deeply as he took the warning or advice as though he was a junior. Ancestor Cornelia then opened the door to the small wooden hut and moved aside, allowing him to look.

"The same way, she, despite her courage to face her own feelings, was unable to forget you..."

"Sect Master Lea Weiss!?"

"... and failed her heavenly tribulation as a result."

Davis's eyes were wide as he instantly spotted the crimson-robed beauty lying on the crimson bed while Ancestor Cornelia turned her head away, appearing sorrowful as her shoulders drooped.