Chen Nan's heart pounded, and he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Chi Ren, what opportunity are you talking about?"
Chi Ren spread open his right hand.
A piece of red fur appeared in his palm.
Chen Nan couldn't help but frown.
He felt a trace of fire element law emanating from this piece of fur.
"The Phoenix tribe possesses a powerful artifact named the Five Birds Fan."
"It was forged from the feathers of five powerful avian species."
"Its might is incredibly terrifying!"
"To defeat the leader of the Phoenix tribe back then, we lost over a hundred thousand brothers at the Divine Venerable realm."
"This piece of fur is what shed from the Five Birds Fan at that time."
"I've been studying this item for years."
"It was only recently that I gained some enlightenment, realizing it can sense the whereabouts of the Phoenix tribe's remnants."
"If any members of the Phoenix tribe are still alive, we can definitely find them."
"And locate the key to opening the formation."
"Imagine, if you were to find the key to opening the formation, how could you not gain the leader's trust and be entrusted with important tasks?"
Chen Nan was overjoyed.
He never imagined this piece of fur had such a grand origin.
Chi Ren gave him a meaningful look. "If you achieve this remarkable feat, wouldn't we be a suitable match?" He then licked his lips.
Chen Nan appeared very excited and quickly said, "If I can accomplish such a great feat, I will certainly not forget Brother Chi Ren's guidance."
Chi Ren nodded with satisfaction and beckoned to a foreign demon named Ji Wu in the distance. After Ji Wu approached, Chi Ren said, "I have a mission for Father. You will accompany him to carry it out!"
"If the mission is completed, you will be credited with a great achievement."
Ji Wu was overjoyed. "Brother Chi Ren, rest assured, we will definitely complete the mission and not let your expectations go unfulfilled."
Ji Wu understood perfectly in his heart.
Their excursion this time was essentially a gilded opportunity.
It was Chi Ren's intention to promote Chen Nan, wanting him to assist by his side.
Although there was an additional foreign demon creature by his side, Chen Nan was not worried at all, as he could possess Ji Wu.
Chi Ren said, "You two head southwest. I once tailed those Phoenix tribe remnants, intending to capture them all. But after pursuing them for two hundred li, they vanished into thin air!"
"I suspect there is an invisible formation or a small world to the southwest."
"It's highly probable they entered it."
"Understood." Chen Nan replied, "Then we shall take our leave and strive to find the people of the Phoenix tribe." He then ascended into the air, leading Ji Wu towards the southwest.
Ji Wu followed behind him with a fawning smile. "Father, if you achieve greatness in the future, don't forget your little brother!"
"Although I don't have great abilities,"
"My greatest strength is obedience."
"Whatever you tell me to do, I will do, I guarantee no disloyalty."
"We are brothers, there's no need for such formality!" Chen Nan said with a chuckle.
After flying for two hundred li.
Chen Nan landed on a barren, continuous mountain range below.
According to Chi Ren, this was the location where the Phoenix tribe had vanished.
However.
The area was barren, with only some protruding large rocks on the mountains.
And some strangely shaped stones.
There was nothing else at all.
"Father, I've been to this place many times and moved these stones, but found nothing." Ji Wu spoke.
This was the place where the Phoenix tribe had disappeared.
As it was only two hundred li from Phoenix Ridge.
Many foreign demons had come here to search.
Ji Wu offered his opinion. "I feel the Phoenix tribe left this place long ago through a secret method. After all, this is right under our noses, and it's within our territory. Would they dare live in our territory?"
"Not necessarily. Humans have a saying, 'The darkest place is under the lamp.'" Chen Nan surveyed the surroundings. "Have you guys damaged the terrain here?"
"No, no!" Ji Wu exclaimed. "Although we've all moved the strange rocks here, we returned them to their original positions in the end. According to the leader, there's likely a formation here. Rashly moving the rocks could completely sever the connection with the Phoenix tribe."
He paused and asked with confusion, "Father, what did you mean by 'the darkest place is under the lamp' just now?"
Chen Nan explained, "A lamp emits light, illuminating the darkness, but there's a dark area right under the lamp."
Ji Wu replied, "I don't understand!"
Chen Nan continued, "You can understand it as the most dangerous place being the safest place. Because no one would imagine that the enemy lives right within our territory."
Ji Wu gasped. "Do they have the guts?"
Chen Nan was taken aback and couldn't help but sigh, "When mere survival becomes a luxury, they will take desperate measures, even dealing with death itself!"
Ji Wu commented, "That statement seems contradictory!"
Chen Nan shrugged, not denying it.
Indeed.
It was contradictory.
But without falling into such a desperate situation, how many could understand the hardship involved?
Seeing Chen Nan diligently observing the stones, Ji Wu curiously asked, "Father, are the answers we seek truly on these stones?"
Chen Nan replied, "Look at these strange stones on the mountain ridge. Some resemble humans, some resemble flying birds and beasts, appearing lifelike."
"Although the Great Thousand Worlds are full of wonders, and the Creator is miraculous."
"These strange stones were clearly carved later."
"As the saying goes, existence is reasonable."
"I believe they definitely hold value."
Ji Wu immediately offered flattery, his face filled with admiration. "Father is indeed the man chosen by Brother Chi Ren, he understands so many human principles!"
"It seems this little brother must learn a lot from you in the future!"
Chen Nan chuckled.
Damn it, I am human.
How could I not understand the principles that humans should know?
His gaze swept over the stones on the mountain ridge.
He knew.
The descendants of the Phoenix tribe were definitely living here.
Because the feather from the Five Birds Fan in his hand seemed to come alive upon arriving here, as if summoning something.
And the lifelike stones around them were the password to finding the Phoenix tribe.
However, how these passwords were arranged and combined.
He had no clue whatsoever.
He walked to the mountain ridge and carefully observed the shapes of the stones.
Besides flying birds and beasts.
There were also some human stone statues.
Chen Nan counted them meticulously.
There were as many as seven hundred and twenty human stone statues.
These statues included elders, middle-aged people, and some children.
They appeared to represent various age groups.
"What do these seven hundred and twenty human stone statues represent?"
"What do the surrounding flying birds and beasts represent?"
"How can the formation here be deciphered?" Chen Nan was at a loss, having absolutely no idea of the significance of these stone statues.
This made him anxious to the point of desperation.
Because he knew.
As long as he understood the meaning behind these stone statues.
He could break the formation here and find the descendants of the Phoenix tribe.
But the problem was, he had no clue at all.
As he casually sat on the mountain ridge, he suddenly felt something poking his backside. He reached out and felt it; a stone about the size of a fist came into view.
Seeing that it was a stone statue, Chen Nan's pupils suddenly trembled, and then the corners of his mouth turned up into a charming smile. "I finally know how to break the formation here!"