After the restrictions on the Undying Phoenix Body and the Little Phoenix flared up again, the Little Phoenix finally ceased its struggle and was once again held by Mu Jinyu by the neck.
"Don't you know how to be gentle? You almost burned me to death!"
Mu Jinyu flashed with a blue light, using Life Source Energy to heal the burns, and then peeled off the dead skin. He then wove this Life Source Energy into a green robe and wore it, no longer appearing disheveled.
"Damn it, how could you have the Undying Phoenix Body? Did you... did you eat my Phoenix Saliva Grass?"
The Little Phoenix, being held by the neck by Mu Jinyu again, was already ashamed and annoyed, but then it remembered the crimson glow that Mu Jinyu had emitted earlier, resonating with the aura of the Phoenix clan. After pondering for a moment, it suddenly screamed.
"That was my battle reward, naturally I had to eat it. You couldn't burn me to death, so don't even think about rebelling in the future."
Mu Jinyu's tone was slightly smug as he spoke, ignoring the Little Phoenix's continuous screams, carrying it towards the Soul Shatter Grass.
The Yinming Ghost Ape was immensely powerful, whether in terms of body, soul, or cultivation, it was invincible in the same rank. Without the Phoenix True Fire that naturally restrained all evil spirits, Mu Jinyu would have had to expend a lot of effort to deal with that ghost monkey.
Now things were much easier.
He just got burned a bit by the little fellow, no big deal.
Mu Jinyu quickly reached the Soul Shatter Grass.
This time, without any accidents or interference, he easily picked the Soul Shatter Grass and carefully stored it in a Jade Box.
"Finally done, I can prepare to leave this ghostly place."
After stowing away the Jade Box, Mu Jinyu clapped his hands and got up from the ground, then returned to the Bi Fang Cauldron with the little Phoenix, who had given up resisting.
"Chirp chirp chirp..."
Back in the Bi Fang Cauldron, Mu Jinyu naturally released the grip, and the Little Phoenix immediately fled from his side, hiding in Jian Ruyan's arms, crying about his misdeeds!
Listening to the Little Phoenix's complaints, Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou, recalling the scene of Mu Jinyu returning with it by the neck, though they knew it harbored hostility, couldn't help but soften and said, "Can you stop bullying it in the future?"
Mu Jinyu glanced at the Little Phoenix and said amusedly, "It not bullying me would be good enough, what do you mean by me bullying it?"
"If I hadn't grabbed it just now, I bet it would have run away as soon as we left, and then I'd be at a huge loss."
Jian Ruyan frowned and said, "You didn't have to grip it by the neck, did you? You could have grabbed its wing."
"Do you think it's like catching a chicken?" Mu Jinyu retorted.
Had he grabbed the Little Phoenix's wings and lifted the restrictions, it would have regained mobility, flapping its Phoenix wings, and he would have had no hope of holding it with just one hand.
Then, ignoring the little fellow's complaints, Mu Jinyu maneuvered the Bi Fang Cauldron, leaving the Poison Marsh Pond!
Once out of the Poison Marsh Pond, Mu Jinyu didn't linger, passing through various dangerous places they had traversed before, slowly approaching the exit of the Cursed Soul Forest.
As they neared the exit, Mu Jinyu frowned and said, "I wonder if that cursed thing has really been cast upon us, it's such a nuisance!"
Zhuo Yue said uncertainly, "We haven't encountered any calamities so far, maybe it's because the Little Phoenix has been with us, preventing the curse from successfully taking hold?"
He wasn't too sure about this guess, especially considering the terrifying nature of the curse that endangered those around him.
Mu Jinyu frowned and said, "That's not right, during this period, I acted with the little thing several times, you guys didn't have any interaction with it, so I'm concerned that you might have been cursed during this time."
Having said that, Mu Jinyu turned his gaze to the Little Phoenix eating Spiritual Medicine in the corner.
Because Jian Ruyan hadn't defended it earlier, but instead advised Mu Jinyu to grab its wings in the future, it was now in a spat with Jian Ruyan, refusing to get close to her.
Mu Jinyu shouted to the little fellow, "Hey, little thing, put some fire on them."
The Little Phoenix heard Mu Jinyu's call and glanced up at him, initially reluctant to respond, but eventually, with a shift of its eyeball, grudgingly agreed.
Then, after Mu Jinyu released a small portion of its restriction, it chirped loudly, flapping its wings as flames rolled and blended, transforming into overwhelming fire heading towards the four of them.
Mu Jinyu shook his head and said, "I knew you had no good intentions, this little guy."
That said, he also neither dodged nor evaded, accepting the burns of the Phoenix True Fire.
After all, the restrictions released were limited, and the power of the flames wielded by the Little Phoenix was only around the First Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm. Though the fire was unusual, it couldn't harm Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou at the Fifth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm.
Much less Mu Jinyu and Zhuo Yue.
The Phoenix True Fire burned them for about three minutes.
Mu Jinyu continually watched Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou's situation.
They were fully resisting the roasting of the Phoenix True Fire, their cheeks flushed from the heat, sweat continuously rolling down their foreheads.
Mu Jinyu noticed, from time to time, wisps of black smoke escaping from the tops of their heads.
"This should be the so-called Cursed Soul Forest's curse, for sure it's insidious!"
After everyone was roasted by the Little Phoenix for more than an hour, Mu Jinyu saw that during the last half hour, not a wisp of black smoke escaped from Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou's bodies, and he felt relieved.
Once again restraining the Little Phoenix, preventing it from continuing to release fire and vent its discontent.
"Hoo hoo..."
After enduring the scorching of the Phoenix True Fire for over an hour, Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan were somewhat dehydrated.
Once liberated, they collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
Mu Jinyu walked over, gave them water to drink, and let them recover a bit.
Once they all recovered.
Mu Jinyu didn't rush to immediately leave the Cursed Soul Forest!
After all, outside still waited a powerful entity that had forced them into the Cursed Soul Forest, Ji Ran!
They had been exploring the Cursed Soul Forest for five to six days, unsure whether that old fool was still outside.
If he was still there, what capability did he have to retaliate?
Mu Jinyu frowned, thinking should he have obtained a Heaven-reaching spiritual treasure from the Lustrous Immortal Realm's Immortal Hall, he could definitely squish that old thing.
Yet, after wandering in the Cursed Soul Forest, all he got were dozens of Spiritual Medicines and the Soul Shatter Grass; all the benefits were taken by the Little Phoenix.
His cultivation did not improve at all.
Just like when they were first forced into the Cursed Soul Forest!
How would he confront Ji Ran, that old brute?
No, wait...
It's not that he hasn't had a major gain!
Mu Jinyu suddenly thought of how the Dragon Resentment Evil Poison, after absorbing the Phoenix Poison, transformed into Dragon-Phoenix Resentful Fiend!
The upgrade of poison isn't what's crucial, the key is...
He seems to be able to temporarily control Dragon-Phoenix Resentful Fiend with his Dragon Soul, without worrying about it going out of control after release, ultimately being unrecoverable!
"Let's try it, at worst I'll fail to handle that old brute and go back to the Cursed Soul Forest to find another exit!"
Mu Jinyu's eyes flashed as he finally made a decision, flipping his palm to take out the Jade Bottle containing the Dragon-Phoenix Resentful Fiend, deciding to head out and give it a shot.
The Little Phoenix, tucked away in a corner and heartbroken, saw Mu Jinyu pull out that Small Jade Vial, and its pupils shrank immediately. Its body instinctively shifted back several times before running back to Jian Ruyan's side.
It didn't dare throw a tantrum anymore.