Chapter 2Phoenix Unwritten

Willow held Phoebe close, her voice choked with tears.

“Senior Sister, the little Phoenix says she doesn’t want you. Just let her go.”

Sera didn’t need to respond; the intrusive text did it for her.

[The False Saintess has some nerve! She couldn't get the egg herself, so now she dares to criticize the MC!]

[I can’t stand Willow’s fake piety. Give the Phoenix back to the Girl Boss!]

[The MC faced death for that egg. Willow just stands here moralizing. Disgusting!]

The male cultivator standing behind Sera stepped forward, frowning at Willow. This was Master Gideon.

“Willow, stop this melodrama. Give the Phoenix back to Sera.

“The creature has been contracted. To attempt to break a blood-oath is an offense, and it must be punished.”

Willow’s tears fell faster, making her look truly heartbroken.

“But Master, didn’t you see?

“Senior Sister just used the Soul-Rending Brand! That’s a forbidden art that can destroy the consciousness of even a mid-stage cultivator.

“The little Phoenix just hatched. She’s just a baby. How can she possibly endure that?”

Sera crossed her arms, watching Willow with a cold, mocking smirk.

“And what of it? It’s my contracted familiar. I can punish it however I see fit.

“Even if I chose to incinerate it, it wouldn’t be up to you to object.”

The Soul-Rending Brand!

My true body at the Maelstrom Abyss shuddered violently. My golden True Fire erupted without warning, causing the demonic energy below to shriek in agony.

This thunder not only lacerates the flesh, it tears the soul. One wrong application, and the victim is reduced to nothingness, their spirit scattered to the winds.

My daughter was a hatchling. Her soul was inherently unstable. How could she possibly survive the destructive force of the Soul-Rending Brand?

But the intrusive text was cheering.

[That's right! Disobedient creatures need the Soul-Rending Brand!]

[This Phoenix is so stupid. The Girl Boss is the Chosen One. She’s going to Ascend! Following her is the greatest fortune, and yet it resists!]

[Seriously. Familiars need to act like familiars. Disobey the master, suffer the punishment!]

Willow furrowed her brow, trying to argue again. “Senior Sister, you are forcibly separating a mother and child. This is against the Cosmic Order. If the Phoenix God discovers—”

Sera cut her off, her tone dripping with mockery.

“And what if she does?

“The Phoenix God was careless. She left a nearly-hatched egg undefended to wander off and play hero.

“She only has herself to blame for losing it.

“Besides, the little Phoenix will receive the best possible care with me.

“What future does it have following its mother? To spend eternity guarding the Maelstrom Abyss?”

The intrusive text immediately supported her.

[MC is right! The Phoenix God is irresponsible. Losing the egg is on her!]

[Girl Boss is a formation genius. Later on, everyone will depend on her to suppress the demons. Who even cares about the Phoenix God?]

[The little Phoenix has a future only with the MC.]

I took a deep, shuddering breath, my heart ripped in two.

If I abandoned the Maelstrom Abyss now, the demonic energy would be completely unleashed, bringing ruin to all life.

But my daughter was being subjected to inhuman torture!

Sera took a step closer, her eyes turning cold.

“Willow, my patience is exhausted. If you don't return the Phoenix to me, you will face consequences.”

Willow frantically looked at Master Gideon, pleading.

“Master, please talk sense into Senior Sister!

“For thousands of years, the Phoenix God has helped suppress the darkness.

“If she finds out her child was stolen, it won’t just be the Citadel that faces danger.

“The entire Ascended Realm could be destroyed!”

Master Gideon’s face finally shifted, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

“Willow does have a point…”