Chapter 79: Life After Disaster

At this moment, Jiang Xiaofei also lifted his head, gazing at the black-robed man who had suddenly appeared in the void. When he heard the words "King Xiao" uttered by the Demon Star, he was utterly astonished.

The name King Xiao echoed throughout the ancient era of China—a legendary figure who struck awe across the land and intimidated the Western nations. He was revered by the people as the titled God of War, who ultimately ascended to divinity and was enshrined among the gods.

Such a legendary hero should have long faded from sight, pursuing the supreme path. Yet now, he descended to the mortal realm and appeared here, stirring excitement in all who witnessed it. After all, King Xiao was a prodigy of ancient China, a man who hated evil with a passion, battled darkness, and single-handedly thwarted the schemes of Western vampires. With his intervention, surely the Demon Star could be subdued.

Jiang Xiaofei, shocked yet exhilarated, cried out that they were saved, struggling to crawl to Lan Lianshuang's side. With blood-soaked hands, he shook her body, eager to share the joy of surviving disaster. Yet no matter how he shook her, Lan Lianshuang remained unconscious, filling him with remorse—if not for protecting him, she would not have ended up like this.

In the void, the black-robed man listened silently to the Demon Star's words, his gaze resting gently on the battered Jiang Xiaofei below.

Seeing herself ignored, the Demon Star was flooded with shame and fury, compounded by years of accumulated resentment.

She roared angrily, "King Xiao, you sealed me for ten thousand years—will you never let me go?"

"Let you go? I once considered it, thinking your cultivation hard-won, intending first to temper your spirit and guide you towards virtue. But your actions have left me deeply disappointed. How can I let you go? How can I answer to the people of the world? Only by eliminating you can peace be restored."

"Today, I will erase all memories of your previous life, plant a slave seed, and make you serve the man you have harmed."

"What?" The icy voice from the black-robed man made the Demon Star's face change dramatically, her hatred erupting as she screamed, "You cannot do this to me! I'd rather die than be a slave!"

"You have no choice."

The cold voice rang out as the black-robed man raised his palm. Instantly, an invisible force descended upon the Demon Star.

Under its pressure, she felt immense weight, the surrounding space condensing, rendering her motionless like an insect trapped in amber.

Terror seized her; her eyes brimmed with desperate struggle as she tried to summon Phoenix True Fire to break the shackles.

But no matter how she urged it, the Phoenix True Fire within her remained dormant, as if even it feared the man before her.

This filled her with overwhelming fear. The black-robed man was like a heavenly law—unassailable, demanding submission.

After a moment of internal struggle, the Demon Star lowered her voice. "Fine, I agree, but I have one condition: after a thousand years, you must free me from servitude and restore my freedom. Otherwise, I will destroy my soul rather than be a slave."

"The weak have no conditions."

With a cold shout, the black-robed man bound her very soul. Her eyes filled with bitter hatred, she cried, "King Xiao, you are so cruel! I am not resigned!"

Without a word, the black-robed man flicked his finger, sending a thin black light like lightning into her body.

Immediately, the Demon Star lost her original consciousness, transforming into a graceful, alluring woman. She knelt in the void, lowering her head respectfully. "Master, Little Phoenix will follow you all her life, never to betray."

The black-robed man said nothing, walking down to Jiang Xiaofei. He spoke calmly, "Boy, since fate has brought us together, I grant you an opportunity. Today I bestow upon you Phoenix True Fire—may it become your strength."

Jiang Xiaofei was both delighted and anxious. "Senior, I appreciate your kindness, but Phoenix True Fire is such a rare treasure—is it right for me to accept it? Besides, how can a man keep a woman by his side?"

The black-robed man, sensing Jiang Xiaofei's concern, waved his right hand. Little Phoenix transformed into a phoenix emblem, which flew over and was imprinted on Jiang Xiaofei's brow, resembling a phoenix-tail flower. It quickly faded.

Yet Jiang Xiaofei sensed a new force within him, filling him with power. He opened his hand to examine his body, astonished to find his wounds rapidly healing until he was completely restored, as if nothing had happened. He pinched his cheek to confirm the pain—otherwise, he might have thought it was a dream.

He knew all this was thanks to the black-robed man. Without him, his injuries would never have healed so swiftly.

Jiang Xiaofei clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, senior, for saving my life. I shall never forget your kindness."

The black-robed man nodded with a smile. "If you are in danger and need Phoenix True Fire, simply activate the phoenix mark on your brow. But never flaunt it."

Jiang Xiaofei nodded solemnly. "Thank you for the warning, senior. I understand that possessing treasure invites trouble. If anyone tries to take it, I will kill them." As he spoke, his eyes flashed fiercely.

"Excellent, you remind me of myself in my youth," the black-robed man replied with satisfaction, then turned to leave.

Seeing the black-robed man about to depart, Jiang Xiaofei hurriedly glanced at the unconscious Lan Lianshuang lying on the ground and asked, "Senior, my friend is gravely injured—could you save her?"

The black-robed man turned and smiled. "Just a friend?"

"Yes, she is my most important friend. If not for me, she wouldn't have been so badly hurt. Please, senior, save her," Jiang Xiaofei replied, looking at Lan Lianshuang with guilt in his eyes.

The black-robed man smiled. "No need to worry. She suffers only from the backlash of the seal—nothing serious. She is merely weak and will recover in a few days."

Jiang Xiaofei breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned, "Seal? What seal?"

The black-robed man remained silent, as if concealing something. He turned and said, "If fate wills it, we shall meet again. When next we meet, I hope you have become a god. Then you will know the truth of everything."

"The truth?" Jiang Xiaofei felt lost and confused, but when he looked again, the black-robed man had vanished without a trace. Presumably, King Xiao had returned to the divine realm.

Staring at the empty void, Jiang Xiaofei sighed softly. He had never imagined he would see the legendary King Xiao in his lifetime, let alone receive Phoenix True Fire!

It was beyond anything he had dared to dream—after all, Phoenix True Fire was not something ordinary people could refine or control.

He immediately activated Phoenix True Fire, and a golden flame rose in his palm. The fire was gentle, like cotton candy, but he knew it contained terrifying power.

With a thought, the fire sank into his palm.

Then Jiang Xiaofei carefully picked up Lan Lianshuang and transformed into a rainbow, vanishing into the void.