Sui You found no fault with her double standards, "So what? What's your status? And what's Yu Yu's status? Can you two be compared?"
"Exactly, you're so old, such an ancient dragon. If you really liked feathers, couldn't you just pick some up outside? The foot of Phoenix Mountain in the Phoenix Clan is covered in phoenix feathers. Many humans often sweep up feathers nearby to make things for themselves," Qi Nian chimed in with a teasing remark.
Yue Zhiyin clutched his chest, looking heartbroken and speechless.
Sui You rolled her eyes in exasperation, about to say something, when the buzzing sound of a bell suddenly echoed from outside.
Sui You stood up and lightly shook her feathers.
A large clump of downy fluff slid down Qi Yu's wings.
Sui You shook her body again, shedding more down, completely burying Qi Yu.
Qi Yu poked his head out from the pile of fluff.
He found the phoenix down to be warm and cozy, like a natural down comforter.
Ordinary goose down couldn't compare.
Ming Lou, resting his chin on one hand, watched the scene and couldn't help but revert to his original form. He pounced into the pile of fluff, then, while enjoying himself, said, "Speaking of which, why didn't I think of this before? The land where the Huang clan lives is spring-like all year round, and the phoenix trees are evergreen. It's such a warm place, with natural hot springs too. Why didn't I think of coming here for winter?"
When Ming Lou retracted his wings, he transformed back into his original form, appearing as a white tiger.
Apart from the elders, adult phoenixes, and Sui You, the Phoenix Lord, all the young phoenix chicks were terrified of Ming Lou, the hulking creature who could roar with an open mouth.
Therefore, upon hearing Ming Lou's words, Sui You couldn't help but tease, "Just forget it. If you came to our Phoenix Clan to spend the winter and spent all day lying in the hot springs in your original form, scaring all our younglings, could you afford to compensate us?"
Ming Lou pouted. While saying he couldn't afford it, he rolled on the ground.
His fluffy belly made Si Qing, standing nearby, unable to resist reaching out and stroking it a few times.
Ming Lou immediately nudged his large head against Si Qing's hand.
Yue Zhiyin pulled Ming Lou back onto his lap and held him in his arms.
Sui You sighed, carefully shaking off all the small downy feathers from her body. Then, she lifted her foot and said, "Qi Yu, if you want these feathers, you'd better pack them up quickly. I need to go and molt."
With that, she proudly lifted her chin and walked away leisurely.
Qi Yu immediately scrambled up and chased after her, "I want to see the process! I want to see the process! I'll pack these up when I get back."
After speaking, Qi Yu worried that if he left, the phoenix clan's maids might clean up the area. So, he used his magic to create a clone. He instructed the clone to sweep up all the feathers on the ground and pack them neatly.
Only then did he feel reassured, and pulling Si Qing along, he ran out after Sui You.
...
Along the way, Sui You maintained an air of noble elegance. When the bonfire was lit, she spread her beautiful feathers and circled in the air a few times. Finally, she let out a phoenix cry and plunged into the sea of flames.
Seeing this, Qi Yu initially expected a tragic scene. However, the moment Sui You plunged into the flames, the bonfire immediately turned a vibrant crimson.
Moreover, as the flames turned crimson, all the phoenix trees in the Phoenix Clan instantly sprouted the freshest, greenest new leaves.
The old leaves fell to the ground, turning into dust and disappearing.
At this moment, Qi Yu looked less like a Heavenly Dao and more like a child from the mortal world, sitting by the bonfire with a face full of curiosity, his mouth slightly agape.
He watched, mesmerized, without realizing it.
After Sui You leaped into the sea of flames, apart from the flames turning crimson, there was the original form of phoenix spiritual energy within the fire.
As the phoenix spiritual energy became more stable, the sea of flames before Qi Yu suddenly receded like a tide, gathering into a ball. Finally, it transformed into a phoenix in mid-air and gradually solidified, descending to the ground.
Sui You shook her wings.
At that moment, the long feathers on her wings shimmered with iridescent light. The down on her back and abdomen seemed to have become denser, and her phoenix crown was even taller and more beautiful.
Qi Yu unconsciously compared the Sui You before him with the first phoenix original form he had seen in his memory.
It was then that he realized with a start that Sui You had become increasingly elegant and noble over the years. Even her phoenix original form was vastly different from before.
Compared to the current Sui You, her previous phoenix original form was like a young chick that hadn't fully grown.
The current Sui You was truly an adult phoenix that had completed its transformation and was exceptionally beautiful.
Qi Yu thought absentmindedly. When he came back to his senses, Sui You had already retracted her feathers and transformed back into human form.
Her hair seemed to have grown even longer. Previously, it could be coiled two or three times when it reached the ground. Now, it could be coiled several times and still have some left dragging.
Ming Lou, having reverted to human form, had been squatting nearby, resting his chin on one hand and lost in thought.
Seeing the long hair trailing behind Sui You, his gaze involuntarily followed it back and forth. Finally, as he watched, his instincts took over, and he pounced forward.
Fortunately, Sui You had a premonition. The moment Ming Lou pounced, she immediately dodged behind Yue Zhiyin.
As a result, Ming Lou was caught squarely by Yue Zhiyin.
"Now do you understand why the Winged Tiger clan is always unwelcome when they come to the Phoenix Clan for business?" Sui You's forehead veins pulsed as she pointed at Ming Lou, who had retracted his fangs and was being held by Yue Zhiyin, and complained in a low voice to Qi Yu and the others. "It's because of this. Every time they come to our Phoenix Clan, they habitually try to catch our younglings or birds, and they don't even spare adult phoenixes. They always want the feathers from their tails."
Yue Zhiyin lowered his head and covered his mouth, almost bursting into laughter.
Qi Nian couldn't hold back any longer and fell to the ground, clutching his stomach, almost dying of laughter.
Ming Lou covered his mouth with some embarrassment, his voice muffled, "I don't want to! But my cultivation is the lowest, I can't help it! I feel like it's so warm here, I feel like it's a good place to sleep. But you're all moving around, and that scent is gently wafting. In my eyes, it looks like a moving roast chicken..."
"Moving roast chicken, hahahaha!" Qi Yu couldn't help himself anymore, covering his face, almost laughing to tears.
Si Qing also couldn't help but smile.
Sui You walked over with a dark expression, conjured a long whip from her waist, and cracked it on the ground in front of Ming Lou, making loud snapping sounds. "Can't control yourself, low cultivation, do you want to undergo special training with me?"