The Celestial Phoenix Space

In a single night, Yang Fan lost all his cultivation, reduced to a powerless cripple.

His white hair, flowing gently in the morning mist and breeze, looked old and frail, a stark contrast to his youth.

An eighteen-year-old boy, now crowned with a head of white hair—what a desolate sight to behold.

Yang Fan stood trembling at the door, his eyes dim and lifeless.

Yet, in his heart, there was no despair.

In the endless darkness that seemed to stretch into eternity, a bright light flickered, filling him with a calmness he had never known before.

Deep within his mind, a green light encased the "Celestial Phoenix Technique," a heaven-defying method, slowly merging with his very soul.

At the same time, Yang Fan could see clearly into the "Celestial Phoenix Space."

In that boundless black wasteland of death, he alone occupied a small patch of green earth, the only living space amidst the desolation.

Thanks to the infusion of his life force, the green land had expanded to two square meters.

The modest hut remained unchanged, and the little dog that had once acted so casually now regarded Yang Fan with profound reverence.

"Master, the green land beneath your feet represents your claimed territory. Currently, you are at Celestial Phoenix Level 0, possessing a small capacity to cultivate this land," the dog explained with unexpected initiative.

"And with this small patch of earth, what can I possibly accomplish? If I'm not mistaken, venturing into the surrounding black wasteland would almost certainly lead to my immediate death," Yang Fan replied with a calm indifference.

"You are correct, Master. You cannot step onto the blackened land. But with your current Level 0 status, you can plant any natural treasures capable of surviving harsh environments on this green land. For now, the time acceleration factor is twofold," the dog continued patiently.

"Oh? So you're saying that this green land can sustain any plant from any environment? Even if I were to plant an Ice Lotus from the peak of a thousand-foot mountain, it would still thrive here?" Yang Fan's interest piqued.

"Precisely. Not only the Ice Lotus—should you bring a treasure from the deepest oceans, it would flourish just as well," the dog said with a smile. "However, due to the limits of your Celestial Phoenix level, the green land's powers remain modest. As your level rises, you will eventually be able to grow even metals and minerals."

"And what does this 'time acceleration' mean?" Yang Fan asked, puzzled.

"Time acceleration means that plants on this green land will grow at an accelerated rate. For example, if a spiritual herb normally requires ten years to mature, it would only take five here. And as your level increases, the acceleration rate will grow even more pronounced. Additionally, if you pair your cultivation with the 'Celestial Phoenix Technique,' the acceleration can be greatly enhanced in a short time."

"Time acceleration… This is unbelievable!" Yang Fan was deeply shaken. The green land could not only adapt to any plant but also speed up time itself.

"There are countless more wonders to the Celestial Phoenix Space... You'll discover them in time, Master," the dog added, with a mysterious smile.

"Very well, if it's truly as you say, losing all my cultivation may not be as bitter a loss as I thought. But for now, I'll have to bide my time…" Yang Fan's gaze flickered with uncertainty.

"Master, have you forgotten about the 'Celestial Phoenix Technique'? It surpasses all mortal cultivation methods. Though it may not grant you instant mastery over heaven and earth, it will certainly allow you to stand tall among your peers," the dog reminded him kindly.

Yang Fan's heart surged with excitement.

On the Eastern Victory Continent, he knew well that cultivation techniques were classified into Entry-level, Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced tiers. Beyond these, there were the legendary top-tier techniques.

In the small Southern Ridge Yang Clan, the family's reach only extended to Entry and Basic-level techniques.

The higher the level of the technique, the greater its potential, enabling the cultivator to walk further on the path of immortality. Of course, the higher the level, the more complex and powerful the technique became.

To obtain an Intermediate-level technique was a dream come true for Yang Fan. As for Advanced techniques, he dared not even dream of them.

And a heaven-defying technique? He had never even heard of such a thing.

"A heaven-defying technique…" Yang Fan could hardly wait to begin his cultivation.

However, the pressing matters of reality wouldn't allow him to indulge just yet.

For today was the "Asking Heaven Gathering"—a day of utmost importance to his family.

The higher-ups of the clan placed great emphasis on this event, and every young member of the family was required to attend.

Thinking about the "Asking Heaven Gathering," Yang Fan couldn't help but laugh bitterly. Given his current state, he had no idea what the outcome would be.

After sitting quietly in his courtyard for a while, trying to calm his empty, powerless body, Yang Fan finally understood the fragility of being mortal.

Without his cultivation, he was nothing more than an ordinary man.

In the world of cultivation, he was no different from a cripple.

As the first light of dawn painted the sky with soft hues of red, the Yang family fortress began to stir with life.

It was the day of the "Asking Heaven Gathering," and the family's young talents rose earlier than usual.

Yang Fan stood up, sighed lightly, and muttered to himself, "What must come will come…"

He was curious to see, in his moment of greatest weakness, who among them would treat him sincerely.

Just as he stood, a soft and melodic voice echoed from outside the courtyard:

"Brother Yang, it's me, Yang Man. May I come in?"

"The door is open, come in," Yang Fan replied softly.

"Good! Brother Yang, you haven't left yet. How about we go together…"

But before she could finish, the elegantly dressed, radiant Yang Man froze, staring at the figure before her—a young man with white hair and a pale, haggard face.

"Ah—!"

Yang Man gasped, covering her mouth in shock, her face filled with horror.

"Brother Yang... What—what happened to you? How did your hair turn white?" she stammered, her eyes darting nervously as she noticed something unsettling.

"Sister, what happened?" A voice interrupted from behind. Dressed in a purple robe, Yang Guang strode into the courtyard, his gaze falling on Yang Fan, freezing in surprise.

"Brother, your hair…" Yang Guang was momentarily stunned. But as his eyes traveled down Yang Fan's figure, he, too, noticed the startling change.

"Could it be that Brother Yang has suffered a cultivation mishap… and also…" Yang Guang hesitated, waiting for Yang Fan's response.

"Yes, as you suspected. During my cultivation, I accidentally suffered a backlash. Not only that, but all my cultivation is gone," Yang Fan said with eerie calm, his white hair swaying in the morning breeze, a picture of forlornness.

"Brother, you… you've lost your cultivation?" Yang Guang's mouth fell open. A fleeting look of joy crossed his face before he quickly hid it.

Yang Man's delicate face showed a moment of sympathy, only to return to an indifferent mask as she averted her gaze, unwilling to look at him any longer.

Yang Guang, inwardly rejoicing, strolled up to Yang Fan and patted his shoulder with false concern, saying, "Brother Yang, don't lose hope. With your talent, even after losing your cultivation, it's not impossible to recover."

"Thank you for your kind words, Brother Yang," Yang Fan replied indifferently, a faint smile on his lips.

Inside, though, he scoffed. In the world of cultivation, regaining one's lost power was nearly impossible. Much like martial arts in the mortal world, missing the prime age for training would make any future progress slow and arduous.

"Brother Yang, let's head out first," Yang Man said with a coquettish smile, taking Yang Guang's hand, and together, they left Yang Fan's courtyard, their intimacy on full display.

Yang Guang's heart swelled with joy—without Yang Fan in the way, he would now be the clan's unrivaled genius. And the woman he cherished would finally be his.

Yang Fan watched the pair leave with a mocking smile. There was little sorrow in his heart.

He had never liked the hypocritical Yang Guang, nor had he truly cared for Yang Man. Now, he had seen their true colors.

"Very well... very well indeed..." Yang Fan exhaled slowly, stepping out of his courtyard with a newfound sense of calm.

At that moment, he felt neither sadness nor relief, as though he were an indifferent observer to the world around him.

"Brother Fan! Brother Fan!"

A youthful voice called out just as Yang Fan stepped beyond the threshold of his courtyard.

"Brother!"

Yang Fan smiled at the sight of his younger brother, Yang Lei.

"Brother Fan... your hair?" Yang Lei was taken aback, his face full of concern.

"Don't worry about me," Yang Fan said, his smile faint but warm.

"How can I not? You look so pale, like a ghost! Something must've gone wrong with your cultivation. Let me go ask the family head to excuse you from the gathering," Yang Lei rushed to his brother's side, attempting to pull him back into the courtyard.

"Stop, Lei. Let me explain," Yang Fan said, a soft smile on his lips.

"Brother Fan, what's going on?" Yang Lei asked as he studied his elder brother closely. Suddenly, he realized the harsh truth.

"Yes, I'm

 afraid it's just as you think. I've lost all my cultivation," Yang Fan admitted quietly, not wanting to hide it from his younger brother.