When Rain spoke those words, her interest sparked immediately. That charming smile curled at the corners of her lips, her voice dripping with playful temptation.

Ethan, seeing this, was momentarily stunned. This woman seemed obsessed with 'devouring' him, metaphorically of course.

Quickly recovering, he cupped his hands politely. "Shopkeeper Rain, it's getting late. Time to rest."

With that, Ethan turned smoothly and ascended to the second floor, returning to his room.

"Humph, I really don't understand his style," Rain muttered, pouting as she rested her chin in her hand, gazing longingly toward Ethan's room.

Meanwhile, in his room, Ethan began to set up a protective formation—an intricate formation to shield the Egg.

He retrieved the Phoenix Egg and the palm-sized Phoenix Blood Crystal.

The blood essence within the Phoenix Egg pulsed powerfully, its heartbeats strikingly clear and vibrant.

The crimson egg's surface glimmered like molten lava flowing beneath its shell.

"Come on, little one, enjoy this," Ethan coaxed softly.

He drooped a single drop of his blood essence onto the Phoenix Blood Crystal.

Using his own essence and blood as a key, he activated and guided the power within the blood crystal.

The Phoenix Blood Crystal began to glow a fierce red.

Its protective film dissipated as the magnificent essence and blood power surged outward.

Within moments, the room filled with a swirling blood-red mist.

This was the direct essence and blood power radiating from the Phoenix Blood Crystal.

"Little one, don't be distracted—it's time to feast," Ethan encouraged gently.

At Ethan's instruction, the Phoenix Egg burst into red-orange flames, pulsing with vibrant energy.

The blazing firelight radiated fiercely, causing the room's temperature to surge abruptly.

Suddenly, the flames wove into a whirlpool of fire.

Etheric ribbons of red essence and blood spiraled out from the crystal, pulled fiercely toward the Phoenix Egg.

"It has begun." Ethan settled into a cross-legged meditation posture.

Though guarded within the formation, a flicker of apprehension remained.

He focused his mental energy, blocking out external perceptions and potential interference.

Simultaneously, his strong essence and blood fortified an even stronger protective shield within the nine-layered formation.

The essence and blood power held by the Phoenix Blood Crystal was potent, sharing the same origin as the Phoenix Egg inside.

Were this power extracted, it would amount only to a few precious drops of essence and blood.

However, for the young phoenix within the egg, the blood essence effect was dozens of times more potent than absorbing his own blood essence.

Ethan watched the Phoenix Egg intently, breathing slowly as he awaited the moment of hatching.

An hour passed.

The glowing image faded.

The Phoenix Blood Crystal lost its fiery hue, turning translucent like ordinary crystal before crumbling into fine dust.

_Click~!_

A faint cracking sound pierced the quiet.

Joy flickered across Ethan's face as he fixed his gaze on the Phoenix Egg.

Cracks began forming across the eggshell surface.

Crisp snapping noises followed one after another.

The cracks spread and deepened until the entire shell fractured.

Then, a burst of red-orange flames exploded outward from the egg.

_Boom~!_

A pillar of incandescent flame soared skyward, blazing from the Blood Tavern into the night sky above Noble Sun City.

Most cultivators in the city glimpsed this spectacle, climbing rooftops to peer toward the source.

Yet many kept their distance, intimidated by the Blood Tavern's formidable reputation.

After all, the Blood Tavern belonged to the transcendent powerhouses of the Oceanreach Continent, packed with formidable cultivators.

Such a majestic phenomenon was not unusual but a sign of the highest level cultivation breakthroughs.

Few in Noble Sun City dared approach for fear of incurring the tavern's wrath.

Inside the tavern, Rain was roused from her rest by the intense fluctuations of energy.

She slipped out into the night air and climbed to the rooftop, frowning as the column of blood-red flame illuminated the sky.

"What is brother Ethan doing to cause such a commotion, such flame energy?" she wondered aloud.

"Forget it, I need to contain it."

Rain silently recited a protective mantra.

Her hair billowed in the cool night wind as she formed a blood-red aura around herself.

Suddenly, a blood-colored formation blazed into existence, raising a hard shield of energy protecting the tavern.

The magnificent heavenly manifestation was blocked and gradually faded as the protective wall blunted its intensity.

The Blood Tavern fiercely guarded any of its members who cultivated in seclusion.

Ethan showed remarkable talent—a blazing future was inevitable.

It was only right to provide him with safety, a strong sense of belonging, cultivating his loyalty and trust.

Rain looked around sternly and loudly commanded, "Everyone return. My Blood Tavern cultivators are practicing. There's nothing interesting here."

At her command, the curious onlookers dispersed.

.....

Meanwhile, at the Fragrant Zither Pavilion, Seraphina and Cain Ashenvale, having just finished tea and conversation, leaned on the balcony, gazing vaguely at the Blood Tavern.

A faint blood-red formation barrier shimmered in the distance.

"Mr. Cain, what was that sound just now?" Seraphina asked softly.

"It likely signified a treasure's appearance or a powerful cultivator completing a breakthrough in seclusion."

"The Blood Tavern caused it. There's a high probability someone achieved a cultivation breakthrough and triggered this extraordinary phenomenon. The flame energy is fierce, pure, and unmistakably powerful," Cain explained with solemn eyes.

"Blood Tavern…" The image of Ethan flickered in Seraphina's mind.

"Could that have been him? How could he be so capable?"

She discarded improbable guesses.

"By the way, does your Azure Origin Dao Sect have a physique cultivator named Ethan? What is his cultivation status? Does he possess any unique physique?" Cain asked.

"Ethan?" Seraphina smiled, surprised.

She hadn't expected Cain Ashenvale to know Ethan.

Yet, considering Ethan's high ranking among Skyreach Territory's geniuses and his unusual physical cultivation, it made sense Cain would notice.

Growing calm, she answered, "He's just a rough and aggressive guy. Far inferior to you, Mister Cain."

"He's merely a physical cultivator mastering a complete body cultivation method. Apparently, he holds an invitation letter from the Blood Tavern."

"Ethan appeared suddenly. I assumed he had a special spiritual body like yourself, but it turns out he's just a physical cultivator."

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Capsule - 1 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 3 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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