Chapter 78: The Phoenix of Rebirth

Yan Chixia turned pale at She Meier’s stern and forceful reproach.
“What? She Meier, what do you mean by that?”
“There’s much you don’t know, Yan Chixia, so let me explain,” She Meier softened her tone as she spoke. “First, let me tell you the origin of the name ‘Stone of Resurrection.’ The ‘Stone of Resurrection’ is actually the egg laid by the Resurrection Bird. Its shell is as hard as stone, and its ashen color resembles limestone, so the eggs of the Resurrection Bird have come to be known as ‘Stones of Resurrection.’

“It is said the Resurrection Bird is a divine creature in this world, endowed with the miraculous power to return from death. Therefore, its eggs—the Stones of Resurrection—also possess the magical ability to revive the dead. They are indispensable ingredients in the crafting of the Soul-Returning Pill, the Great Rejuvenation Pill, and the Calamity-Cleansing Elixir.

“The Resurrection Bird is oviparous, but because its eggs are encased in stone-hard shells, making them extremely difficult to hatch, their numbers have grown fewer and fewer. Now, there are only five left, and all of them dwell in this Valley of Certain Death—more precisely, at this very moment, they’re hidden beneath the golden sands below this thicket of Scarlet-Heart Berries.”

“Really?” Yan Chixia couldn’t help interrupting, curiosity shining in his eyes. “The Resurrection Bird burrows into sand? Why do they hide beneath the golden sands?”

“Hibernation,” She Meier replied. “Most birds don’t hibernate, but the Resurrection Bird is different. Each year, it hibernates for three months to nurture itself and restore its strength. You see, laying an egg is extremely arduous for the Resurrection Bird. Though it only lays one egg a year—a Stone of Resurrection—the process of gestation to formation takes eight months, and that’s not counting the exhaustion of laying the egg, which alone takes a whole month...”

“Is that so?” Yan Chixia couldn’t contain another question. “She Meier, you know so much! So, those five Resurrection Birds are hibernating beneath the sand? Let me see what these divine birds look like.”

With that, he extended his spiritual sense into the golden sands beneath the shrubs. Sure enough, about three feet down, he found five closely clustered spherical hollows, each the size of a large jar. Within each hollow was a brightly colored Resurrection Bird, curled up and peacefully asleep.

“Ah!” Yan Chixia gasped in awe. “How beautiful they are! Such marvelous creatures! She Meier, how did they manage to burrow so deep into the sand to make their nests without leaving a trace?”

“I don’t know either,” She Meier replied. “But I do know that once they awaken and return above ground, they will begin anew the cycle of incubating the Stones of Resurrection. Yan Chixia, do you know why they choose to nest here? Because their Stones of Resurrection require the nurturing of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.”

As she spoke, she picked up the Stone of Resurrection resting on Yan Chixia’s palm. “So, Yan Chixia, don’t be fooled by its small size. Its medicinal power is immense. Just this one, added to the other ingredients, is enough to create a Calamity-Cleansing Elixir capable of fully curing your master’s ‘Incinerating Death’ affliction. But if you insist on adding five Stones of Resurrection to the mix... If your master took such an overdose of the elixir, could his frail body withstand it? He’d be dead on the spot!”

Hearing this, Yan Chixia clapped his forehead in relief.
“You’re right, She Meier, thank you for reminding me... All right, put this Stone of Resurrection into your storage ring, then let’s hurry back to Pure Serenity Temple—”

“Silence!” She Meier cut him off before he could finish. “Brother, can’t you ever think things through?”

“Huh?” Yan Chixia was taken aback. “She Meier, did I say something wrong again?”

“What do you think?” She Meier retorted. “I’ve already told you—the Stone of Resurrection is essential for making the Soul-Returning Pill, Great Rejuvenation Pill, and Calamity-Cleansing Elixir. This one is for your master’s Calamity-Cleansing Elixir. If we leave now with just one, what about making the other pills? What about the seven or eight herbs I still need to collect? If we return now, my task will be unfinished. How would I face my master?”

Yan Chixia blushed with embarrassment.
“You’re right, She Meier. I let victory go to my head! So, how many Stones of Resurrection should we take this time?”

“Six,” She Meier answered. “Three for you, three for me.”

“Agreed.” Yan Chixia nodded. “I’ll gather five more.”

“Wait a moment,” She Meier said, puzzled. “Yan Chixia, I said six... Aren’t you going to ask why? Where exactly will the six Stones be used?”

Yan Chixia laughed heartily. “Why ask? I already know where each one is going!”

“Oh?” She Meier blinked. “Really? Well, tell me then—let’s see if you’re right.”

“Very well,” Yan Chixia replied. “Listen: three Stones for us—one for the Calamity-Cleansing Elixir, one for the Soul-Returning Pill, one for the Great Rejuvenation Pill. As for your three: one for the Soul-Returning Pill, one for the Great Rejuvenation Pill, and one for the Calamity-Cleansing Elixir—because your master’s nephew, Cloud Master Yun, must also urgently need it.”

“Well!” She Meier looked at Yan Chixia with wide eyes. “Yan Chixia, you’ve suddenly become quite clever! That’s right—my master’s nephew, Cloud Master Yun, is even worse off than your master. His chest and back have already turned black as coal... If he doesn’t take the Calamity-Cleansing Elixir within five days, he won’t survive!”

“Is that so?” Yan Chixia asked. “Then where is Cloud Master Yun now?”

“Where else? Of course, he’s at Zixia Palace on Mount Li. Otherwise, how would my master have known your master went to the Wastelands?” She Meier replied. “Now, don’t waste any more time—go and fetch five more Stones of Resurrection. Then, I’ll take you to a place you’d never even dream of...”