Chapter 1371 – Father 

The Phoenix Race rejoiced at the return of the Celestial Phoenix Maiden to their race. 

The Celestial Phoenix Maiden had always been the most outstanding talent of the Phoenix Race of all time, and the her people had always hoped that she would be able to revive the Phoenix Race. Unfortunately, she had perished while saving Ye Qingyu, and although this meant that Ye Qingyu was forever indebted to the Phoenix Race and he had always treated the Phoenix Race well all this time, the death of an outstanding prodigy would always be a huge blow to any race. That was because each prodigy carried the fortunes of the universe and often represented the fortunes of the entire race. Thus, the death of a prodigy was also the death of their fortunes. 

The Celestial Phoenix Maiden had finally returned to their fold. 

The entire race rejoiced. 

The elderly clan leader, who was also her father, was now getting old, but he was still an authoritative figure within the Phoenix Race. He was also known to be an iron-willed figure within the Immortal Empire, but now, he couldn’t help crying tears of happiness as he welcomed his daughter home. 

“Father…” the Celestial Phoenix Maiden said. Her memories were still intact so she could still recognize her father. 

Two thousand years might have seemed very short to an expert from the Phoenix Race like the clan elder, since it was merely a few occasions spent in self-isolation, but it felt like ages to a father who had lost his precious daughter. 

Ye Qingyu felt guilty and apologetic toward the Phoenix Race, and thus, he spent more than a month with the Phoenix Race. 

He left one month later. 

The Phoenix Race had also celebrated the Celestial Phoenix Maiden’s homecoming for an entire month. 

Her feelings toward him had not changed at all. 

She was reluctant to part with Ye Qingyu, but she still chose to stay with the Phoenix Race. The past two thousand years were a complete blank to her, so she spent some time understanding the circumstances of her death and what happened in the Vast Thousand Star Domains during this period. Although the Phoenix Race tried to prevent her from finding out some things, she finally came to know that Ye Qingyu was already married. 

She froze in shock when she heard this news, then she looked very desolate. 

She could not conceal her disappointment and her expression was very heartbreaking. 

She sat quietly alone under the parasol tree of her ancestral home and spent one entire afternoon there—the Phoenix Race had finally managed to find an intact divine parasol tree with Ye Qingyu’s help more than one thousand years ago. However, this was the first time she had seen this tree. 

“Sir, maybe… we shouldn’t have told her the news,” an elder said worriedly. 

The clan elder of the Phoenix Race looked at his daughter, who sat under the parasol tree in the distance, and sighed. He shook his head and said, “We might be able to keep this from her for a while, but it is only a matter of time before she found out… Sigh, this all boils down to fate. If they are fated to meet but not fated to end up together, there’s nothing we can do about it either.” 

The Celestial Phoenix Maiden was the prodigy of the Phoenix Race and was also a peerless beauty. The blood of the ancient Phoenix God flowed in her veins, so she was extremely noble and proud. If she had fallen for anyone else, it would have been that person’s honor. There were countless prodigies who wanted to take her as their wife, but they might not be worthy of her. If anyone else had caused his daughter such sorrow, this iron-willed man would have already gone ballistic. But since his daughter liked Ye Qingyu, a lofty sovereign who was more powerful than anyone had ever been, a person who was a living legend and miracle, the clan elder couldn’t do anything about it no matter how much he doted on and wanted his daughter to live happily with the man of her choice. 

He didn’t have the power to force Ye Qingyu to marry his daughter even if he wanted to fulfil his daughter’s wishes. 

There were millions of words in the world but the word “love” was often the most lethal. 

The elderly clan elder felt terrible as he watched his daughter’s sad and lonely figure under the parasol tree, but he ultimately turned away and left. 

He knew that no matter what he said or did to console her, nothing would work and it would only intensify her pain. 

He had also been young once and had also experienced heartbreak. 

He sighed as he left the ancient parasol tree and returned to Phoenix City. The moment he arrived, he received word from an elder that the Imperial God Emperor’s oldest disciple, Bai Yuanxing, and his other disciple, Tian Ning, had led a group to Phoenix City and were asking for an audience outside the hall. 

“They’re here? Quick, invite them in,” the elderly clan elder said. He didn’t dare to keep them waiting. 

Bai Yuanxing was now one of the most powerful people in the world and he had already become a Martial Emperor several centuries ago. As the oldest disciple of the Imperial God Emperor, he enjoyed a noble and lofty status. He was also known for being an upright hero and was highly regarded and well-respected within the empire. Although Tian Ning had yet to attain Martial Emperor cultivation, he was one of the most powerful figures within the empire and had a bright future ahead of him. 

These two people would be warmly welcomed by any mighty Emperor or sect leader within the Vast Thousand Star Domains based on the fact that they were the Imperial God Emperor’s personal disciples alone. 

Soon after, Bai Yuanxing and Tian Ning were ushered into the hall and received personally by the elderly clan elder. 

The Phoenix Race received them with the highest honor.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Phoenix Race,” the elderly clan elder said with a smile. 

Bai Yuanxing’s vision had already been restored but he was used to moving around with his eyes closed and would not open his eyes under any circumstance. It was rumored that Bai Yuanxing was cultivating the closed-eye meditation technique and used this technique to seal his cultivation to prevent the frightening energy waves within him from harming others. It was said that once Bai Yuanxing opened his eyes, his strength would be so terrifying that the Imperial God Emperor would be the only person who could control him. 

“You’re welcome,” Bai Yuanxing said with his eyes closed and smiled. 

“Greetings, clan elder,” Tian Ning said as he bowed at the elderly clan elder. He looked very young, as though he was merely a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy. However, everyone knew that the descendant of the Ancient Sky Dragon Sect was already a ninth-level peak Quasi-emperor. 

“Uh… Lord Tian Ning, please don’t stand on ceremony.” The elderly clan elder was surprised and quickly bowed in return. 

He was the head of the Phoenix Race, but Tian Ning ranked higher than him because he was the personal disciple of the Imperial God Emperor. It didn’t seem right for Tian Ning to greet him so formally. 

The rest of the elders of the Phoenix Race were also shocked. 

What was happening here? 

Bai Yuanxing said, “We’re here on behalf of our master to seek a marriage alliance.” 

“A marriage alliance?” the elderly clan elder repeated in shock. 

Bai Yuanxing’s eyes were still closed but he could still sense everything that was happening around him keenly. In fact, his senses were keener with his eyes closed than with his eyes opened. “Yes, our master has fallen for your daughter and is seeking her hand in marriage…” he continued politely. 

The elderly clan elder had no idea what Bai Yuanxing said next because his mind went blank and he was overcome with happiness. When he thought that there was no way to help his daughter, another path had opened. He had assumed that his daughter would be heartbroken for eternity, and this made him feel even worse because there was nothing he could do to help her. However, before he knew it, that legendary figure had come to seek her hand in marriage. 

Uh… did this mean that his daughter’s wish had come true? 

The elderly clan elder, who was usually calm and composed, was now so excited that he felt like jumping in joy. 

He felt as though he was hearing things and only relaxed after getting Bai Yuanxing’s repeated assurances. 

He could guess how excited his daughter would be when she heard this news. 

The elderly clan elder was extremely excited.