Esvele felt conflicted. 

Why does senior sister Shirley keep being kind to her? Despite her being normal and clumsy, not knowing when to speak and how to speak. Even now, there seemed to be no sign of abuse after she asked such a question.

"That's right..." After a few seconds, Princess Shirley suddenly responded and nodded as she rubbed the feathers of the Burning Phoenix.

She was considerate of her magical beast mount's feelings, but the poor girl just said for her to go ahead. For one, due to the blood connection between them, they could communicate mentally.

"My Burning Phoenix's bloodline has already thinned out by a level, standing at low-quality. It could only reach the King Beast Stage, the Eighth Stage's peak despite being an Emperor Rank Species Magical Beast." Princess Shirley replied in an indifferent tone.

"However, this is already best of what a top disciple could obtain in this millennium..." She added.

Esvele, who was finding it difficult to comment on hurriedly nodded her head, "That's right! There is no need to worry over this, senior sister Shirley. After all these years, the bloodline of the Burning Phoenix is starting to thin out. It isn't senior sister's fault that you got a bloodline thinned out Burning Phoenix."

Princess Shirley nodded her head, "If this keeps up, it wouldn't be long before the Burning Phoenix becomes a King Rank Magical Beast Species. It would not be able to retain its bloodline and regress to a magical beast of lower stature."

"Yes..." Esvele placed a hand on her rapidly beating heart, 'Senior sister Shirley is so brave to talk about this openly. Even if I had ten times the guts, I wouldn't talk about this openly, especially in front of a Burning Phoenix...'

Esvele found it astonishing that the Burning Phoenix could keep its calm despite them talking about its thinned bloodline. 

It was like talking two people talking about another person's inability, humiliating even though it wasn't that person's fault in the first place.

Esvele was really both intimidated and awed by this Burning Phoenix.

However, she didn't know that senior sister Shirley had already considered her magical beast mount's future. 

It took only a drop of diluted essence of the Fire Phoenix Immortal to rejuvenate her Burning Phoenix's bloodline! Perhaps, at that time, it would become stronger than any Burning Phoenix present in the Burning Phoenix Ridge and possibly reach the peak of Ninth Stage!

Rumors were starting to spread in the Burning Phoenix Ridge and its surroundings that its destiny was already fading, in the sense that the bloodline of the Burning Phoenix is also fading. Currently, this wasn't a topic to be encroached by disciples. It was sensitive, and only elders and above were allowed to speak on it, but even they didn't easily open the topic for fear of repercussions.

Esvele became hesitant. She was truly starting to respect senior sister Shirley from the bottom of heart after being with her all this time. She slowly reached out her hand, wanting to say something, but in the end, her pupils shook, becoming too afraid to say anything at all.

The rest of the journey was spent in silence and enjoying the scenery while riding on the Burning Phoenix. Soon, they arrived at a location where crimson mountains were almost everywhere their eyes could see.

A crimson and fiery pathway was constructed on a long, narrow piece of highland along the top of hills or mountains. Beside the ridge of the mountains were numerous red, blue, purple, and crimson floating palaces that belonged to the Burning Phoenix Ridge!

Princess Shirley didn't even need to stop at any juncture. The guardians who looked after the enormous floating gate automatically opened upon seeing the Burning Phoenix carry two disciples. She traveled straight towards the small floating palace that was assigned to her.

Small was subjective when big structures were considered. This crimson floating palace was alone sixty meters tall and thirty meters wide. It looked grand and majestic, better than an imperial palace level structure as it was made from better Emperor Grade materials.

Unless one was at High-Level Eighth Stage, it became almost impossible to harm this crimson floating palace!

Once they arrived on the platform, the Burning Phoenix immediately flew away to feast on its feed, leaving Princess Shirley alone with Esvele. They walked into the palace and entered the hallway before arriving at a particularly wide and tall hall. It was the center of the crimson palace, a place for recreation and entertaining visitors.

There was also a garden that decorated the hall with blue, purple, and red-colored flowers, making it seem flowery and dazzling.

Princess Shirley walked in the garden while Esvele followed. She extended her hand and touched those flowers as she walked before she stopped, turning to look at Esvele, a sigh escaping from her breath, "Esvele, do you know why I chose you to be my follower?"

Esvele became stunned. 

What brought this suddenly?

She knew that every top disciple possessed a plethora of followers consisting of core disciples and inner disciples. Top disciples have numerous disciples under them, but senior sister Shirley only had one who was none other than her!

Just before she could answer, her senior sister Shirley continued.

"It's because out of the hundreds of core disciples that I saw; only you were new and untainted by the present disciples' schemes. However, you..."

Esvele's pupils dilated.

"You have disappointed me, junior sister..." Princess Shirley shook her head.

Esvele's eyes became moist, "Senior sister, I..."

"You don't need to say anything. I really thought I could have a junior sister whom I could trust, but reality once again told me that I was just too hopeful, perhaps naive. Just pack up your things and leave. I won't make it difficult for you..." Princess Shirley turned and walked away.

Esvele became stunned as her mouth remained agape. Tears started to leak before she knew it.

"Senior sister, I... I am sorry..." Esvele sobbed as she wiped the tears that were falling out her eyes. She couldn't really stop her tears as she felt guilty. She clenched her teeth and ran away from the crimson palace without letting out a sound.

Princess Shirley stopped and looked back, her eyes flashing with a complicated glint.

======

A few hours later. 

Below the mountain ridges and the crimson palaces, there were hundreds of floating abodes. In a particular humble abode, within a womanly room, a figure could be seen lying on the bed. The whites of her eyes and the tip of her nose were red. 

This woman was none other than Esvele.

Esvele had finally stopped crying after a long time. She held the pillow between her arms and laid her face by the cheek, slightly curling her body in a defensive position. It was unknown what she was thinking, but her expression seemed lifeless for the most part.

*Ding!~*

Abruptly, she woke up to a sound. It was the sound of a visitor.

Esvele's eyes lit up, and liveliness returned to her face. She ran out of her room and arrived at the hall, whereupon the scenery changed. 

The hall looked like a forest, with blue, purple, and crimson trees rooted in the background. These trees were all king grade wood, but the disciples were forbidden to tamper with it. If found, it could lead to harsh punishment.

The moment Esvele arrived and saw the visitor, disappointment flashed in her eyes felt hatred swept her heart, "It's you!"

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