Runes • Rifles • Reincarnation

'Diary Entry #21
After that event, the sacred, divine beast clans locked themselves off from the world, the humans began to gain power and create organizations called 'Sects'. I have decided to create one myself for the Phoenix Clan. Its purpose will be to form a connection with the humans.

They are such an interesting species—weak and fragile, yet ingenious in their ideas and creations. It's my belief that we can learn much from them.'

Jin Shu blinked, surprised. This wasn't the historical record he'd expected—it was a diary, written by the sect's founder. A personal account.

But what caught his attention most was the opening line: "After that event, the sacred, divine beast clans locked themselves off from the world."

That event?

What kind of event would cause the five strongest clans in the world to go into seclusion?

Something wasn't right. He needed to know more.

He scanned the shelf and found five additional scrolls and one book, all penned by the sect's founder. The rest of the materials were newer, authored by various elders and sect masters across the sect's five-hundred-year history.

Starting with the scrolls, Jin Shu opened them one by one.

'Diary Entry #47
The Immortal Phoenix Sect is flourishing. We've just crossed 500 human members, and along with our 500 phoenixes, we now number 1,000 strong!

The humans have contributed more than I ever imagined. I'm so glad I could bring our two species together. I think I'll begin working on recruiting more spirit beasts next.

Diary Entry #48
We've had to limit the human members to females only, at least for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the male humans spent less time cultivating and more time chasing after the females—both human and phoenix. That was not something I anticipated, since the Phoenix Clan is entirely female…

"Ah, so it was men who ruined it for other men. Classic," Jin Shu muttered, shaking his head.

But none of this answered his question, so he opened the next scroll.

Diary Entry #69
I had sex for the first time—

Jin Shu's eyes widened. He rolled the scroll back up with haste and shoved it back onto the shelf.

"What?! What did it say?" Ji Ji squeaked in surprise, flapping on his shoulder.

"Nothing. Nothing worth reading. Definitely not something children should see. And definitely not something that belongs in a public library," he grumbled.

He moved on, cautiously unrolling the next scroll just enough to check the first line. When it seemed safe, he opened it all the way.

Diary Entry #72
My wife introduced me to her clan. She's their matriarch, but she needs the elders' approval before they can officially join our sect.

The elders of the Jade Rabbit Clan are hesitant to join with humans, even after Tu Zi and I tried to persuade them. For now, they've agreed to an alliance, but not full integration.

Diary Entry #73
Because I was sad that the Jade Rabbit Clan wouldn't join the sect, Tu Zi shared a secret with me: the Jade Rabbits aren't an independent clan like everyone believes. In truth, they're a subordinate branch of the Azure Dragon Clan!

I was shocked when she told me. Doesn't that mean our sect is—at least in part—connected to one of the legendary divine beast clans?

Even though my mother was one of the last born from the Vermillion Bird Clan—making my grandmother a Vermillion Bird—after they locked themselves away, we lost all contact with them. But Tu Zi says the Jade Rabbits are still in communication with the Azure Dragon Clan!

"Tu Zi…? That's not my aunt… is it?" Jin Shu frowned.

It was hard to ignore that the Jade Rabbit matriarch shared a name with his aunt. But that couldn't be right… could it?

He thought of his mother and stepmother's situation, drawing unintentional parallels.

"Haa… it's not Aunt Tu Zi…" Shuang said, projecting a mental image of himself shaking his head. "Yue Tu told us about her clan, remember? Every matriarch takes the name Tu Zi."

"Did she?" Jin Shu wondered aloud. "I guess she might have…"

Still, the revelation lingered.

"We've learned the Jade Rabbits were—or maybe still are—in contact with the Azure Dragon Clan. If we can find them, we might be able to find… his family."

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"Even if we're at odds with Long Jinshu, they're still our family," Gold said quietly. "That won't change."

Jin Shu nodded. He was right. No matter what Long Jinshu had done… they would find the Azure Dragon Clan—whether or not the answers brought peace.

Hopefully, there were more clues in these next two scrolls—and the book. He prayed they would find something, anything to guide his path forward.

Diary Entry #80

Tu Zi's physique awakened.

She gained the ability to heal wounds—both her own and others'—at the expense of her qi. Life-threatening injuries, however, demanded more than just qi; they drew on her life force. Thankfully, we discovered a countermeasure.

She began cultivating the element of life—wood.

We're calling her physique the Jadeite Life-giving Physique. Since all the hair on her body turned a beautiful shade of green jade, and she can breathe new life into the dying.

"So that's where Biyu's physique got its name," Jin Shu muttered. "Interesting, but it still isn't what I need."

He paused before opening the final scroll, hoping this one held the information he sought.

Diary Entry #99

They came. Just like back then.

The events of that time seem to be repeating themselves. But this time, she was ready for them. The Pale Dragon of the Azure Dragon Clan showed her invincible power, shocking the world.

Yet… it seems she did something. Only those connected to her in some way can remember the events that took place not long ago.

Diary Entry #100

She came to me! The Pale Dragon herself!

She's so beautiful—with her long, flowing silver hair and horns peeking out from under her hood. Absolutely gorgeous.

She delivered tons of resources for our sect and, strangely, a bunch of useless, half-finished scrolls…

But the news she brought was disconcerting.

We will have to ascend—the entire Phoenix Clan—leaving behind our sect and our human friends. Worst of all, we must go now.

My child still hasn't hatched, and she won't be able to survive the ascension. So… we must leave her behind.

I've named her Feng Lian—because I will long for her until the day she ascends and joins us in the realm of immortals.

Diary Entry #101

As my final act in this world, I sealed the hidden Phoenix Realm in the south.

I'm still not sure why the Pale Dragon ordered me to do it, but she said it would be vital for the remaining descendants of the five divine beast clans—and the remnants of my Immortal Phoenix Sect—in the future.

(P.S. Never again drink the wine the Pale Dragon gives you!!)

After just a single sip, I blacked out for an entire week with no recollection of what I'd done. Though Tu Zi says we had the best sex of our lives… and that I somehow picked up two more wives.

Jin Shu hurled the scroll back onto the shelf the moment he finished reading.

"Seriously… why are they keeping this stuff in the public library?"

"What stuff?" Ji Ji squeaked in his ear. "Can't you read it out loud? Please?"

He ignored her, focusing instead on what he'd gleaned from the last scroll.

His aunt, Long Zui, might've been the one known as the Pale Dragon. The description matched—silver hair, a fondness for strong wine, and a habit of handing out seemingly useless scrolls. That certainly sounded like her. Especially since he now possessed one of those scrolls… and it was definitely written by her.

More importantly, he learned that some event had pushed her to act—something rare, considering her usual indifference.

Whatever that event was, it might have also triggered the Phoenix Clan's ascension to the immortal realm.

And then there was Grand Elder Feng Lian. Apparently, she was the sect founder's daughter? He wasn't sure how that worked—according to her diary, she'd only ever had wives. No husband. But then again, he didn't know how phoenixes were born. Maybe, somehow, two women could have a child together…?

The final thing he learned was about the hidden phoenix realm. According to the scrolls, it had been left behind for descendants of the divine beast clans—or at least, probably them. That part was vague. Still, it seemed important. And since he was headed there anyway, he hoped it might finally give him some solid answers.

With the scrolls finished, he turned to the book. But after skimming a few pages, he set it back on the shelf. Nothing useful. Just dry records of cultivation progress.

Though he did at least learn the sect founder's name—Huang Bin.

Oddly, she hadn't given her daughter the same surname. Then again, both names meant "phoenix." If he remembered correctly, in Gold's world there was a myth that male phoenixes were called Feng and females Huang. But as far as he knew, in this world, all phoenixes were female.

"If you don't start reading them out loud, I won't guide you anymore!" Ji Ji chirped indignantly.

"Next time," he promised, already turning toward the stairs that led to the upper floors.

On the second floor, he combed through various cultivation techniques, keeping an eye out for anything tied to the history of this world. He uncovered a few helpful texts, though most of it amounted to general knowledge he'd been missing.

The third floor was more rewarding—filled with high-level cultivation techniques that he—or rather, Nano—could use as a foundation to craft something improvised and, hopefully, superior.

After hours of reading—so dull it put Ji Ji to sleep—they finally stepped onto the fourth and final floor.