Hearing the Phoenix Clan's cry, the people present once again stirred with anticipation.
Several bolder Cultivators and demons took another step forward and touched the painting.
Three Cultivators and one demonic Cultivator successfully merged into the painting, while the rest, like the first Cultivator, were burned to death by the fierce flames.
It was clear that what the Phoenix Clan said earlier was too subtle.
It should have added, "Only those fated with the Phoenix Clan may enter; those not fated will die upon touch."
However, there was no standard for what constituted "fated" or "unfated"; one could only test it with their life.
Perhaps this was also the first trial set by the Phoenix Clan; the inheritance left by the Phoenix Clan was not so easily obtained, and cowards were not worthy of this opportunity.
Some people, realizing this, became timid.
Opportunities are precious, but life is more so.
They thought it better to explore other parts of the secret realm to see if they could find other treasures.
But at the same time, many others unhesitatingly took a step forward and touched the painting.
Opportunity and danger coexist; if even the cost of entering this painting was so high, then obtaining the Phoenix Clan's inheritance might allow one to soar to greatness!
Unlike the excitement or nervousness of others, Wen Xiangjie calmly walked to the painting and reached out to touch it.
"Your Charm is 10, your Luck is 10; you can enter the Phoenix Clan's inheritance painting."
Wen Xiangjie stepped into the painting, and what greeted her eyes was a breathtakingly beautiful immortal realm.
She walked on a sea of clouds flowing with brilliant light, with thousands of suspended strange peaks floating before her; the streams flowing through the valleys were crystal clear, faintly shimmering with golden light, and countless tiny Phoenix Clan feathers floated on the surface of the water.
Looking as far as the eye could see, a towering Wutong tree was located on the east side of the painting; under the canopy of the Wutong tree, strands of molten gold-like light threads hung down, like magnificent tassels forming a Phoenix Clan's nest.
Such a beautiful scene, yet it subtly revealed strangeness everywhere.
If the canopy of the Wutong tree were not flowing, one could still barely describe the scenery within the painting as being entirely like this.
However, the Wutong tree's canopy was flowing, yet the sea of clouds she stood on was solidified and not drifting, and the light flowing on it seemed to be stuck, changing at an extremely slow pace.
This indicated that her current location was most likely an illusion within the painting, and the true core of the painting was where the Wutong tree was located.
This painting used the Wutong tree to attract the attention of those who entered, inducing them to overlook the immediate danger.
Wen Xiangjie rummaged through Qing Gui's storage belt from her own storage ring and found a low-grade puppet paper figure from Qing Gui's storage belt.
Fortunately, there were usable scraps in Qing Gui's storage belt; she was reluctant to use items from her own storage ring to scout ahead.
The puppet paper figure stiffly followed Wen Xiangjie's instructions, heading towards the Wutong tree.
After only two steps, the paper figure inexplicably spontaneously combusted, instantly turning into ashes.
This painting was indeed full of dangers.
There were many clever people like Wen Xiangjie; many Cultivators and demons who successfully entered the painting discovered this.
"Damn it, I knew the Phoenix Clan's inheritance wouldn't be that easy to get!" a demonic Cultivator couldn't help but curse.
However, the next second, he horrifyingly discovered that his body was burning, just like the puppet he had sent out to test.
"No—!"
As soon as the scream left his mouth, this demonic Cultivator, like the puppet, completely vanished from this illusion within the painting.
Wen Xiangjie pondered, what was the burning mechanism of this painting's illusion related to?
Purity of heart? Could it be that one couldn't even say a single curse word?
Just as Wen Xiangjie was thinking, a Phoenix Clan's cry suddenly echoed in her ears.
This Phoenix Clan's cry was noticeably more tender than the one heard before entering the painting.
A Little Phoenix burst out of a cloud, crashing through it; the cloud she broke through was like a torn canvas, revealing a corner of the true scenery below.
At the same time, Wen Xiangjie received a system notification.
"Your Beauty is 10, your Affinity is 10, your Luck is 10; you have gained 100 favorability from the illusion-guarding Little Phoenix. You have passed the trial of the painting's illusion."
Wen Xiangjie: ?
So... there's even this kind of way to clear it?
The Little Phoenix flew to Wen Xiangjie, intently staring at Wen Xiangjie's face for a while, then affectionately let out a spoiled Phoenix Clan's cry towards Wen Xiangjie.
Looking at the expectation in the Little Phoenix's eyes, Wen Xiangjie reached out and stroked the beautiful feathers on the Little Phoenix's body, praising, "What beautiful feathers! Where did this Little Phoenix come from, looking so pretty?"
Facing such a cute creature, Wen Xiangjie couldn't help but soften her voice.
After hearing Wen Xiangjie's praise, the Little Phoenix clearly became even happier. She originally wanted to land on Wen Xiangjie's shoulder, but unexpectedly, she tilted her little head and saw the Elf Queen sitting on Wen Xiangjie's left shoulder.
Noticing the Little Phoenix's gaze, the Elf Queen friendly waved to the Little Phoenix in greeting.
The Little Phoenix was initially unhappy to see another pet sitting on Wen Xiangjie's shoulder.
But seeing that the Elf Queen was so beautiful and her attitude so friendly, she couldn't get angry.
The Little Phoenix gave the Elf Queen an arrogant glance, shrunk her size, and landed on Wen Xiangjie's head, proudly raising her little head.
This unique position was where she, the great Phoenix Clan King, should land!
Wen Xiangjie looked up at the Little Phoenix's adorable, arrogant demeanor and couldn't help but reach out and stroke the Little Phoenix's little head again.
The Little Phoenix comfortably narrowed her eyes slightly.
Feeling comfortable from Wen Xiangjie's touch, the Little Phoenix flapped her wings.
Soon, raging flames ignited all around, and the entire illusion became a sea of fire.
Wen Xiangjie and the Elf Queen, sheltered under the Little Phoenix's wings, felt not the slightest heat.
The golden-red flames burned away the illusion, which was like a sheet of paper, revealing the real scenery it had concealed.
The real scenery was as if the scenery in the illusion had come alive; the light on the sea of clouds flowed naturally, and the stream also made gurgling sounds.
The Little Phoenix flew from Wen Xiangjie's head to stand before Wen Xiangjie, making chirping sounds, signaling Wen Xiangjie to follow her.
Wen Xiangjie followed behind the Little Phoenix, moving smoothly and unhindered towards the Wutong tree at the center of the painting.
The closer she got to the Wutong tree, the more she could feel its immense height. Its main trunk was so huge, like a colossal pillar supporting heaven and earth, holding up the scenery of this painting.
Wen Xiangjie stroked the Little Phoenix's feathers and arrived at the base of the Wutong tree.
To Wen Xiangjie's surprise, a female Cultivator had arrived at the base of the Wutong tree before her.