Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 378: The Secret Technique of the 9 Phoenix Pavilion

Huang Tian then closed his eyes slightly, his expression solemn and dignified, as if communing with the heavens and earth, summoning the mysterious and powerful power within him. Instantly, a soft golden light enveloped his body. At first, it was faint and hazy, like the dawn's first rays. Then, the light grew stronger, intertwining like golden threads, slowly flowing through his body. As his true energy continuously gathered, the outlines of three phoenixes gradually became clear on his back and arms. The phoenixes were dazzlingly colorful, their feathers seemingly forged from pure flame and gold, each gleaming with a vibrant light, as if possessed of life. Their postures were graceful and agile, their eyes majestic and intelligent, as if inscribed upon their skin with divine intervention, blending seamlessly with his form, seemingly a natural expression. Huang Tian suddenly opened his eyes, and a golden light shone from them, like the sun breaking through the clouds, its brilliance ablaze. He whispered, "The phoenix appears again, with the body of the Nine Phoenixes!" This roar seemed to contain the power of the creation of the world, shaking the martial arts arena slightly and rippling the energy barrier.

At this scene, the audience was stunned into silence. Emperor Zhang Shengli's normally calm and dignified expression instantly twisted, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. He leaned forward, his fingers trembling slightly as he blurted out, "The secret technique of the Nine Emperors Pavilion, the Nine Phoenix Body!" His voice trembled with a hint of fear, as if he had witnessed the most incredible thing in the world.

The eighth prince Zhang Zhichen looked confused and curious. He turned to look at his father and asked eagerly, "Father, what is the Nine Phoenix Body?" His eyes were wide open, and his clear eyes were full of desire for knowledge. His voice was crisp and childish, which seemed particularly abrupt in this tense atmosphere.

Before Zhang Shengli could respond, the third prince Zhang Zhilin curled his lips and snorted with disdain: "You don't even know the secret techniques of the Nine Emperor Pavilion, and you still practice martial arts." The arrogance and contempt in his eyes were not concealed at all, as if he was mocking Zhang Zhichen's ignorance.

Seeing the situation, Eunuch Hong hurriedly stepped forward with a flattering smile on his face. He leaned forward and said respectfully, "Your Highness, the Nine Phoenix Body is the supreme body refining secret technique of the Nine Emperors Pavilion. The Nine Emperors Pavilion has always been famous for its body refining techniques. Once this secret technique is performed, the practitioner's body will be like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, extremely powerful. The strength of the body is incredible. Not only can it withstand ordinary attacks, it also has the magical effect of rebirth from the ashes. As long as the secret technique lasts, even if a limb is severely injured, it can recover instantly, as if it had never been injured. Therefore, it is hailed by the world as an invincible technique." His voice was sharp and soft, and every word seemed to be telling an ancient and mysterious legend, full of temptation and awe.

After hearing this, Zhang Zhichen couldn't help but widen his eyes, opened his mouth slightly, and shouted in shock: "Can severed limbs be regenerated? Wouldn't that be comparable to magic?" His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and his eyes flashed with amazement and yearning, as if he had already seen the magical scene.

Eunuch Hong shook his head slightly, still smiling, and explained patiently, "The Eighth Prince is absolutely right. This secret technique is indeed comparable to magic in some aspects. However, I must remind Your Highness that the ability to regenerate severed limbs is only possible when the secret technique is performed. If a limb has already been severed, it will be too late to save it and it will not be able to regenerate." A hint of cunning flashed in his eyes, as if implying that there are many unknown secrets and limitations hidden behind this secret technique.

Zhang Zhichen nodded, not quite understanding, frowning slightly. After a moment, he looked up and asked, "What's going on with those three phoenixes? Why did they appear on the Phoenix Pavilion Master?"

Eunuch Hong cleared his throat and continued respectfully, "Your Highness, you may not know that the number of phoenixes is closely linked to the state of the art, the duration of its execution, and its power. It's rumored that the Nine Phoenix Body art consists of nine levels, with a varying number of phoenixes manifesting at each level. Upon entering the first level, only one phoenix appears. While the practitioner's physical body may be invincible at that level, its duration is extremely short, a mere ten breaths. As the realm rises, the number of phoenixes increases, and accordingly, the power and duration of the art also increase significantly."

Zhang Zhichen stroked his chin thoughtfully, then continued, "Then the Phoenix Pavilion Master has three phoenixes on his body, which means he is in the third realm? If so, how long can this realm last?"

Eunuch Hong shook his head helplessly, a trace of embarrassment and apology on his face, and said: "Your Highness, please forgive me. This is the core secret of the Nine Emperors Pavilion. Except for its core members, I am afraid no one knows how long this third level can last. This old servant only knows a little bit about it and dare not speculate." After speaking, he bent down slightly, pretending to be very nervous.

Many in the audience were witnessing the Nine Emperor Pavilion's mysterious art for the first time. While they had long heard of the Nine Emperor Pavilion's formidable physiques, they knew very little about the art itself, akin to seeing flowers in the fog. Rumors had previously revealed that no one had ever witnessed the art in action. Even within the Nine Emperor Pavilion, not all elders possessed mastery. For example, the Ninth and Tenth Elders, whom Lin Feng had met before, possessed formidable physiques but had not yet mastered the Nine Phoenix Body technique.

Huang Tian, ​​a god of war descended from ancient times, stood proudly at the center of the martial arts arena. The three phoenix totems upon his body, like awakened mythical beasts, shrouded in a faint crimson glow. The light danced and flickered joyfully like a spirit of swift fire. Each flicker was accompanied by a surge of aura so powerful it could make heaven and earth tremble. That aura seemed tangible, like a surging tsunami, radiating wildly from Huang Tian's center. Wherever it passed, space felt like fragile glass, rippled with chilling distortions, as if it would shatter at any moment, dragging the entire martial arts arena into an endless abyss of chaos.

Lin Feng, the brave and fearless young general, now felt a profound pressure unlike any he had ever felt before. The terrifying aura emanating from Huang Tian weighed heavily on his heart, like an invisible, towering mountain. His breathing became rapid and labored, each breath a struggle against the overwhelming force. He swallowed subconsciously, his Adam's apple rolling, his inner tension and uneasiness clearly evident. His gaze slowly shifted from Huang Tian to the slowly burning incense stick below the stage. Only a third of the incense remained, its slender body swaying gently in the breeze, wisps of green smoke rising straight up like the merciless countdown in the hand of the god of death, each wisp of smoke announcing the passage of his remaining time.