Lin Chen's body plummeted rapidly, swiftly falling into the sacrificial altar.

"Damn it, this guy actually ran away." A muffled voice came from the mouth of a monster.

"No worries, this guy might run, but the monk can't escape the temple. Old Third, you stay here and guard while we go hunting." The monster occupying Jin Si's body said with a sinister smile.

Lin Chen felt as if he had fallen into a void, all around him engulfed in flames.

Fortunately, Lin Chen possessed the fire attribute, otherwise, if he were an ordinary person, he would have been reduced to ashes under such flames.

About ten minutes later, Lin Chen finally landed.

He saw not far away, a suffocating wave of heat approaching.

This wave of heat rolled in like a tempest.

Especially at the cave entrance not far away, the heat wave was even more intense than outside.

Lin Chen took a deep breath; even for him, this terrifying heat wave was difficult to endure.

Lin Chen finally understood why the ancient gods sealed those creatures here.

This was simply purgatory; Lin Chen immediately felt overwhelmed upon landing, not to mention that terrifying creature being sealed here for a thousand years.

One can only imagine the torment those creatures suffered during this millennium.

However, for some reason, he always felt something in the flames was summoning him.

He took steps towards the cave, with each step, the scorching aura intensified.

But Lin Chen gritted his teeth and continued forward.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Lin Chen felt burning underfoot; his shoe soles had been roasted through.

When Lin Chen reached the cave entrance, he looked into the depths to see what was calling him.

"What is that?" Lin Chen was immediately taken aback upon seeing the light cluster.

In the depths of the cave was a fiery red light cluster, seemingly containing traces of life.

Lin Chen entered the cave, nearing the light cluster and saw it was a soul body.

The red soul body appeared to be trapped by something, desperately attempting to break free.

Lin Chen was slightly taken aback, looking into the light cluster.

The soul body was actually a phoenix!

Heavens, isn't the phoenix a legendary mythical beast? How could it be here?

The phoenix was desperately ramming the light ball, seemingly trying to escape.

With each impact, it was heavily repelled by the electric light emanating from the ball.

Yet the phoenix was not discouraged, charging at the light ball again and again.

"Master, your luck is incredible." A voice suddenly echoed in Lin Chen's mind.

"How is this divine phoenix here?" Lin Chen curiously asked.

Xiaoshuai smiled faintly: "The phoenix must have been severely injured in the past. It's known as the undying bird, so killing it is exceedingly difficult, thus those who injured it trapped it here."

"So that's how it is; you mean for me to subdue it?" Lin Chen asked.

Xiaoshuai nodded: "With such a once-in-a-lifetime chance, your personality wouldn't let it pass by."

Lin Chen nodded, yet his eyes still revealed a trace of seriousness.

"The phoenix is a legendary divine beast, controlling it is incredibly difficult," Lin Chen said, somewhat hesitantly.

Xiaoshuai smiled slightly: "This phoenix is heavily injured; its true strength is less than a tenth of its former self, giving you a full opportunity to devour it."

Lin Chen pondered for a moment, finally nodding: "Okay, I get it. What should I do next?"

Xiaoshuai said: "You only need to merge your mind with the light ball, but be careful, although the phoenix is injured, it's still a divine beast. Should you fail to devour it, you might easily be counter-devoured by it."

"Counter-devoured?" Lin Chen's face changed.

Xiaoshuai laughed: "Indeed, if you fail to devour it, there's a high chance you could be devoured by it."

"This!" Lin Chen's face tinged slightly; the price was too high.

Xiaoshuai continued: "Though risky, the gains are even greater."

"The phoenix is called the undying bird; if you succeed, you can gain its traits. Even gravely injured, even on the brink of death, you might experience rebirth." Xiaoshuai said.

"Rebirth." Lin Chen's heart was slightly moved upon hearing this.

This was indeed a massive temptation for Lin Chen.

The enemies Lin Chen would face in the future would be stronger, and he wouldn't know if he'd get gravely injured. But being able to rebirth after being injured was incredible.

"Okay, I think this deal is worth it, so I'm willing to try." Lin Chen nodded.

With that, Lin Chen no longer hesitated, placing one hand on the light cluster.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Lin Chen's divine sense dove into the light cluster.

Upon entering, Lin Chen felt the soul power bearing down on him.

Feeling that formidable soul power, Lin Chen's heart quivered, nearly crushed by its immense pressure.

"Such strong soul power, truly worthy of a divine beast." Lin Chen admired silently in his heart.

Lin Chen's expression tightened, stabilizing his mind as his soul power erupted, suppressing the phoenix.

Lin Chen's martial Spiritual Energy burst out, weaving into a great net, enveloping the phoenix.

The phoenix cried out, rushing towards the light net.

But upon impacting the light net, the phoenix was rebounded.

How is that possible?

The phoenix showed a look of disbelief.

This human had just entered, and it had initially disregarded him.

Yet this guy possessed such formidable strength.

The light net was strange, and not only embodied the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—but also had devouring power, consuming its soul power.

"How is this possible?"

The phoenix never imagined that this young man's strength was so formidable.

Though the phoenix struggled desperately, the net Lin Chen wove only tightened around it.

The great net emitted waves of strange Spiritual Energy.

Even though the phoenix exerted all its effort, it seemed as if the opponent was specifically restraining it, without any opportunity to counterattack in Lin Chen's presence.

As the net contracted, the heavily injured phoenix's aura weakened even further.

However, the phoenix apparently didn't intend to be captured, spreading its wings and intensifying its fiery glow.

Under the phoenix's desperate strike, the net Lin Chen wove even began to show cracks.

This won't do, at this rate, the phoenix will definitely break through the net's confinement.

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened as the five-colored Spiritual Fire converged into a five-colored ribbon, tightly binding the phoenix.

Devour!

With a roar, the devouring force emanated from Lin Chen.

As Lin Chen's devouring commenced, the phoenix's soul kept shrinking, and its momentum kept weakening.