"No, young brother, please show mercy, we can talk it out." Seeing its life threatened, the phoenix suddenly spoke human words.

"Talk it out? You just tried to devour me. If our positions were swapped, I doubt you'd let me go." Lin Chen snorted coldly.

After speaking, he continued to use the power of devouring to completely refine the phoenix.

As he devoured the phoenix's soul power, Lin Chen felt his own spirit growing stronger.

The phoenix's expression became extremely ugly: "Young brother, we can talk it out, don't devour me!"

The phoenix was very frustrated, never dreaming that this young boy could possess such power.

Just now the phoenix was thinking of devouring Lin Chen to increase its power, but in the blink of an eye, it put on a pitiable appearance, trying to win Lin Chen's sympathy.

"Who is your brother? I'm not familiar with you." Lin Chen snorted coldly.

Lin Chen knew the principle of releasing a tiger back to the mountain, so naturally, he would not show mercy.

With those words, Lin Chen continued to use the devouring power to try and devour the phoenix.

"Come on, kid, I am a divine beast, the only one in the world, can you bear to kill the last phoenix in the world?" The phoenix, now devoid of arrogance, smiled sheepishly and tried to ingratiate itself.

"Sorry, in this world, you phoenixes are already legends, so you might as well continue being a legend."

Hearing Lin Chen's uncompromising response, the phoenix was left speechless; clearly, this kid was hard to deceive.

"Young brother, if you don't kill me, I'm willing to tell you a monumental secret."

"A monumental secret?" Lin Chen hesitated for a moment.

With that, Lin Chen stopped devouring and asked.

The phoenix looked at Lin Chen and continued, "Indeed, we phoenixes are supreme among divine races, but we have always been the targets of all deities' hunts."

"Why do they hunt you?" Lin Chen asked, puzzled.

The phoenix sighed: "There are two reasons. First, to obtain my power; second, because we phoenixes know a monumental secret."

"A monumental secret?" Lin Chen hesitated for a moment.

"A hundred years ago, I was ambushed by those guys outside and nearly died. In desperation, I hid in this altar, unexpectedly trapped by an ancient deity's formation here for a millennium. Those fools outside are trapped in this altar as well."

"After cultivating for this hundred years, my strength has somewhat recovered. Just as I thought the seal on the altar showed signs of loosening, I was caught by you."

The phoenix's eyes bore despair, a forlorn gaze full of helplessness.

Listening to the phoenix's predicament, Lin Chen also felt a bit sympathetic; this guy certainly seemed unlucky.

But Lin Chen said calmly: "Dumb bird, I'm not here for your sob story. What secret does your phoenix clan know?"

Seeing Lin Chen's indifferent expression, the phoenix was speechless: "Hey, can't you show some sympathy and comfort my wounded heart?"

"Sorry, I'm more interested in the secret you know." Lin Chen said calmly.

"You, you heartless guy." The phoenix said, speechless.

"By the way, I want to know why you have such a treasure like the five-colored lotus?" the phoenix asked.

It had been subdued by the five-colored lotus' transformed rope, making it wary of the treasure.

"This was transformed through devouring the Spiritual Fire." Lin Chen said.

"Devouring Spiritual Fire, no wonder you're so strong." The phoenix looked at Lin Chen with newfound respect.

"Alright, meeting you must be bad luck, Phoenix Lord, I'll tell you. Our phoenix clan guards a divine relic that holds the heritage from the Creator God Fu Yi. Whoever obtains it can gain the ability to perceive the heavens and earth."

"Fu Yi's heritage?" Lin Chen was slightly surprised upon hearing this.

"Indeed, your five-colored lotus is very similar to a divine artifact left by Fu Yi God." The phoenix continued.

"How is this possible? I've never been to that relic, how could I have something from there?" Lin Chen hesitated for a moment.

The phoenix also shook its head and said: "Yes, I find it unlikely too, so maybe it's a replica crafted by descendants following Fu Yi God's artifact."

"Replica?" Lin Chen hesitated for a moment.

So that's it, Lin Chen thought, it's certainly possible.

"Although your five-colored lotus is just a replica, it's already a powerful item on a earthly plane, and its owner may be a descendant of Fu Yi." The phoenix continued.

"Fu Yi's descendant?" Lin Chen was momentarily stunned.

"By the way, dumb bird, do you really know where the relic is located?" Lin Chen continued to ask.

"Hey, I was once a legendary phoenix divine race. Can you show me some respect? Don't call me a dumb bird, okay?" The phoenix expressed some dissatisfaction.

"Oh, oh, actually, I think dumb bird suits you. Do you know where the relic is?" Lin Chen continued to ask.

"Of course, or how else would I end up being hunted, losing my body?" the phoenix said sternly.

Lin Chen pondered for a moment, not completely believing the phoenix's words.

"Kid, I've already said so much, can you let me go now?" the phoenix asked.

"Sorry, I never promised to let you go." Lin Chen smiled.

"You, you dare trick me?" The phoenix was furious.

"Of course I'm not tricking you, you just told me such a place exists, but you didn't tell me where it is. Seems like I wouldn't benefit at all by letting you go, right? You really think I'm a child easy to fool?" Lin Chen rolled his eyes at the phoenix.

Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, the phoenix said helplessly: "That place is in the Immortal Realm, you can't go there now."

Lin Chen smiled: "I have a great idea. Once my strength increases some more, when I reach the Immortal Realm and find that heritage, I will naturally let you go, how about that?"

"Do I have any other choice?" the phoenix sighed.

Though the phoenix's heart was filled with rage, it knew it was already a captive, its life hinging on Lin Chen's whim. It had no bargaining power, so its only option was to bide time and wait for a chance to escape.

"Why is my fate as a divine beast so bitter?" the phoenix lamented to the sky.

Back in the day, the phoenix clan was so glorious that no one dared provoke them, even in the Immortal Realm. Yet now its fate seemed so miserable.

"Hey, you're still a divine beast, why act like a complaining woman?" Lin Chen said speechlessly.

In Lin Chen's mind, dragons and phoenixes were the supreme divine beasts of Chinese mythology, but this phoenix didn't quite match the glorious image he held.