Thick leaden clouds, sweeping in from afar, vaguely concealed a colossal form within them.
Mortals and ordinary cultivators would naturally remain unaware, but the three present could not escape its notice.
"The Phoenix, Phinix."
Set immediately recognized the identity of the approaching entity.
The Phoenix, the mount of the Sun God Apollo, commanded the miraculous ability of rebirth from ashes, making it nearly immortal and incredibly troublesome.
The Phoenix's appearance here proved that the Norse gods of Asgard also coveted the blood of immortality, dispatching their minions to gather intelligence.
"So it's a Phoenix. I wonder what it tastes like, if the meat is tender."
Ji Mo smacked his lips, his mouth watering.
Finally, a creature that could be eaten had arrived. Moreover, this creature could be reborn from ashes. If he could master such a divine ability, wouldn't it be another life-saving skill?
Anubis and Set felt their scalps tingle.
*Tender meat?*
What kind of talk was that?
Was this fellow planning to eat the Phoenix?
The Phoenix held a significant position in Asgard and was deeply favored by the Norse gods. Anyone who dared to kill it would be offending all of Asgard.
"Your Excellency, I am injured. I shall take my leave."
Set, being a seasoned schemer, felt his eyelids twitching. He dared not get involved in this quagmire, fearing implication.
The power of space and time dissipated, and Set vanished in an instant.
Anubis also intended to slip away, but upon hearing Ji Mo's words, it dared not move its feet.
Ji Mo cursed, "This old fossil has no discernment whatsoever, slipping away so quickly. When I have time, I'll visit Egypt and take apart his skeletal frame to make a hearty soup, breaking all three of his legs."
He had originally planned to use Set to deal with the Phoenix, but he hadn't expected this old rascal to pull such a stunt.
Anubis instinctively clamped its thighs together, trembling, and then subserviently declared, "Master, watch closely. I will serve you with utmost devotion and loyalty, at your command."
"It's in this area, there's a peculiar aura."
The Phoenix circled above the Springfield Orphanage, commencing its search.
Its appearance was similar to that of a phoenix, yet with distinct differences. Its body was half golden and half blood-red, and as its wings flapped, long fiery trails streamed behind.
Ji Mo was quite pleased and said, "Good little dog, follow me and you'll surely eat well and drink heartily in the future. Hurry up, bring it down. I'll eat the meat and drink the soup, and you can gnaw on the bones."
Anubis's mouth twitched. *Little dog? I'm quite robust, thank you.*
And also, *I'm really not a dog, I have a wolf's head.*
Despite feeling miserable and dejected internally, it dared not retort, tearfully accepting the appellation of "little dog."
Then, it redirected its anger towards the Phoenix.
"Come down, you傻鸟 (silly bird)."
Anubis made its move.
Black mist surged all over its body, making it glow. Wisps of dark gray substance emerged from its pores, condensing into a flowing ribbon that swept across the sky.
Like a black bolt of lightning slicing through the void, it accurately struck the unsuspecting Phoenix.
The Phoenix had never imagined that someone would dare to attack it. Its body stiffened, and it plummeted straight down.
*Bang!*
With a resounding crash, dust and smoke billowed, and the ground was gouged out by a large pit.
Anubis was truly ruthless, striking while the iron was hot.
Its form flashed, and it lunged forward, energy swirling in its palm, emitting dazzling light.
"Who dares to ambush me?"
The Phoenix recovered from its stiffened state. Its body blazed with fire, radiating intense heat. It unleashed swaths of divine flames, blocking Anubis's attack.
The flames on its body were exceptionally malevolent. Where they burned, the area was stained black, as if dyed with ink, and all life was extinguished.
"Awooo..."
Anubis, unable to dodge in time, had its head scorched, emitting wisps of smoke. It yelped in pain.
"Anubis, so it's you. You idiotic dog, have you lost your mind? You've grown a dog's gall to dare ambush me."
The Phoenix stared intently at Anubis, filled with immense fury.
It couldn't fathom where Anubis had found the courage to attack it.
Ever since the gods of Huaxia embarked on their journey and never returned, it had been the era ruled by the Norse and ancient Greek gods.
Currently, on Planet Blue, Asgard and Olympus were the dominant powers. Other divine races had never dared to show them disrespect.
"You silly bird, it's you who's grown a dog's gall and courted death by daring to cause trouble here. Have you perhaps forgotten the ancient teachings: those who offend Huaxia shall never return."
Anubis retorted fearlessly, its confidence bolstered.
Now, it represented Ji Mo's authority, naturally displaying a very assertive demeanor.
All the deities on Planet Blue, from ancient times to the present, had adhered to an unwritten rule: the land of Huaxia must never be trespassed upon.
Anyone who intruded without permission met a grim fate.
The most recent tragic incident involved thirteen blue-blooded celestial gods from other star systems who, with stubborn heads and ignoring advice, insisted on seeking death.
As soon as those thirteen unfortunate souls entered the Kunlun Mountain range, their skulls were cleaved open. They died a miserable death.
"Heh, are you joking?"
The Phoenix sneered, "Times have changed, seas have turned into mulberry fields. We all know that the gods of Huaxia, in their efforts to eliminate the source of darkness, waged several wars, only to be annihilated. Now, it is certain that Huaxia has no gods left. What is there to fear? Besides, who do you think you are, acting like a landlord? How laughable."
If it weren't certain that Huaxia truly had no trace of deities left, the Phoenix would not have dared to risk its life.
When the tiger is absent from the mountain, the monkey naturally claims kingship.
In this era, Asgard called the shots on Planet Blue.
"Phoenix, you are the laughable one. In the words of the East, you are nothing but a frog in a well, too self-important. I am not a landlord, but now I am a little dog from the landlord's house. If you know what's good for you, surrender obediently to avoid suffering."
Anubis looked down at the Phoenix with disdain.
Not long ago, it had held the same view as the Phoenix. But only after encountering Ji Mo did it understand the perilous nature of the world.
This mysterious land was not something they could covet. If they harbored malicious intentions, they would indeed never return.
"Oh, if I hear you correctly, you've latched onto a powerful figure. Pfft, a spineless wretch, disgracing the reputation of deities. Unlike you, I am unyielding. Even if I die, I will not yield to foreigners. Let your master come out to face death. I will teach him how to behave."
The Phoenix was exceedingly arrogant, for it was invincible below the level of a main god.
Even when facing a main god, it was no longer afraid. With its ability to be reborn from ashes, few beings could kill it.
Anubis remained silent, observing the Phoenix with a look of pity, for a figure had already stealthily arrived behind the Phoenix.
"Oh, who do you want to teach how to behave?"
Ji Mo's sinister voice rang out, and he raised his palm, swinging it over.
The Phoenix turned its head, only to see a large palm swinging towards it. It was utterly unable to dodge and was immediately slapped to the ground.
Its mind went blank. It felt as if Mount Olympus had struck it fiercely, its head bleeding, stars dancing before its eyes.
Vaguely.
It saw a ferocious man, utterly fearless of the divine flames burning on its body, pounce forward, grab it by the neck, and grin menacingly as he furiously plucked its feathers.