The crimson light of dawn still lingered over the jagged peaks, painting the valley in streaks of fire and shadow. Lian Feng's body ached, each muscle protesting the strain of yesterday's and today's battles, yet he felt alive in a way he had never known. The Dark Phoenix throbbed within him, a pulse of power that coiled around his heart and mind, whispering, urging, demanding. It had been two days since its awakening, and already, the boy who had once scavenged scraps in the outskirts of the Phoenix Realm was no longer merely mortal. He was a storm waiting to break, a fire that refused to be tamed.
Mei Lin stood beside him, her blue robes fluttering in the wind, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon where the Shadow Vanguard had vanished. "They will not forget today," she said softly, almost as if speaking to herself. "Neither will their allies. You've made yourself known, Lian Feng. The moment you wielded the Phoenix's power openly, you became a target for every ambitious cultivator in this realm." Her eyes flicked toward him, sharp and assessing. "You must train. Control, strength, technique… all of it. Otherwise, the next attack may end differently."
Lian Feng's crimson eyes reflected the rising sun. He nodded, but his lips curved into a faint, confident smile. "I know," he murmured. "I've tasted power… and I will not let it slip through my fingers. I've survived the weak… now I must face the strong. Every day from now on, I rise stronger than the day before. Every battle, every opponent, every trial is fuel. I will master the Phoenix. And anyone who dares to challenge me… will learn what fire truly means."
The Phoenix stirred within him, its consciousness no longer merely a whisper, but a living presence intertwined with his soul. Its wings, invisible yet vast in his mind, stretched as if testing their strength, and its eyes glimmered with a crimson light that sent shivers down his spine. "Good. You understand the first lesson. Strength is not merely to strike, but to survive, to endure, and to dominate. But today's battles… they were only a taste. The real storm approaches. It is time… to hunt, to train, to conquer."
Lian Feng closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The valley was silent now, the bodies of scattered cultivators still smoldering in the distance. He could feel the Phoenix's energy pulsating through his veins, and he allowed himself a small, private smile. For the first time, he did not feel fear. Only exhilaration. The sensation was intoxicating. Power, raw and untamed, coursed through him, but unlike before, he sensed control beginning to form. It was a delicate balance—a tightrope between the fiery chaos of the Phoenix and his mortal body's limits. He had survived the first real test. Now it was time to push further.
"Lian Feng," Mei Lin said, her voice firm yet gentle, "there is a place nearby… an ancient training ground, long abandoned. Legends say that only cultivators capable of withstanding extreme energy fluctuations can survive it. If you are to control the Phoenix fully, this is where you must go. I will guide you, but the trial will be yours alone." Her eyes softened briefly, betraying a hint of concern. "Many have tried… few have returned. It is dangerous."
The boy's eyes glinted. "Danger is nothing to me. I've faced men, weapons, fire… I am ready for this. If the Phoenix demands trial, then trial I shall endure. Let them watch… let the world tremble. I will rise from fire, from shadow, and from pain stronger than ever before."
Without hesitation, he leaped from the cliff, wings of the Phoenix flaring briefly as they carried him downward with speed that made the wind itself shiver. Mei Lin followed, her own aura shimmering with calm energy, guiding their descent. The valley widened below, revealing a narrow canyon that seemed untouched by time. The walls were jagged, black stone etched with cracks that pulsed faintly with residual spiritual energy. This was the place—the ancient training ground. Legends spoke of cultivators who had entered seeking enlightenment or power and vanished forever, their screams carried away by the winds. Yet Lian Feng felt no hesitation. Only anticipation. Only hunger.
The moment his feet touched the cracked stone of the canyon floor, the air seemed to thicken, vibrating with an energy so potent that even the Phoenix stirred uneasily. Lian Feng felt a subtle tug, as if the energy itself was probing him, testing him, measuring his worth. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, letting the Phoenix's power flow outward to meet the ancient energy. The black-and-crimson flames spread across his skin, coiling like serpents, intertwining with the ambient spiritual pressure. It was like stepping into a storm of power, a storm that was both beautiful and terrifying. Yet he smiled. He was ready.
Mei Lin watched carefully. "The energy here is alive… it tests everything—strength, endurance, spirit. You must focus or it will consume you. Remember, Lian Feng… control is the key." She stepped aside, leaving him alone in the center of the canyon, her aura providing only minimal protection. "I will be close… but I cannot intervene. This must be yours."
He nodded, flexing his fingers as the Phoenix stirred within him. "I understand. Let it come."
The canyon seemed to pulse in response, and the ground trembled beneath his feet. Suddenly, the air thickened further, and from the shadows emerged shapes that seemed alive but not mortal—phantoms of energy, manifestations of the canyon's ancient trials. They moved swiftly, striking without warning. Lian Feng barely had time to react. His fists blazed with fire, and wings of shadow erupted behind him, deflecting and striking with deadly precision. Each blow shattered the illusions, but for every one destroyed, two more appeared. The energy of the Phoenix merged with his own, allowing him to anticipate the movements, yet the trial was relentless. Each attack, each dodge, each strike pushed his body to the edge. His muscles burned, his vision blurred, but he did not falter.
The Phoenix's voice echoed in his mind, sharper now, commanding. "Do not hesitate. Feel the energy. Become it. Bend it to your will." Lian Feng clenched his fists and allowed the flames to surge through his body, feeling the raw fire of the Phoenix intertwine with the mystical energy of the canyon. His punches left trails of black and crimson, striking with force that shattered the illusions entirely. The canyon itself seemed to respond, the walls quivering and the energy spiraling outward, feeding him, testing him further. Pain lanced through his chest, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward, letting the Phoenix guide every movement, every strike.
Hours passed, though time itself seemed meaningless in this place. The trials were endless, relentless, designed to break body, mind, and soul. Shadows clawed at him, energy surged uncontrollably, and yet he endured, growing stronger, faster, sharper with each passing moment. The Phoenix's flames no longer flickered uncertainly—they roared, coiling around him like living wings, responding instantly to his thoughts. Lian Feng realized, with a thrill that made his heart pound, that he was beginning to master control. Not perfect, not complete, but the first true mastery of power born from fire and shadow.
Then, the final challenge emerged. A figure appeared before him—a reflection of himself, but twisted, darker, more feral. The clone's eyes glowed crimson, and its aura mirrored the Phoenix's, yet warped and malevolent. "You seek to control the Phoenix?" it hissed, voice echoing like thunder. "You will learn that power is not given… it is taken! And only the strongest survive!" The clone lunged with speed that matched Lian Feng's own, striking with fists and feet that burned with a dark fire. Each blow was a mirror of his own strength, forcing him to anticipate, adapt, and exceed his own limits.
The battle raged. Lian Feng moved with fluidity that blurred the line between man and beast. Flames coiled, shadows danced, and the canyon became a whirlwind of energy. Blow met blow, strike met strike, and every movement tested not just his physical strength, but his control over the Phoenix, his mind, his heart. Pain, exhaustion, and frustration surged, but he pushed through, focusing every thought, every ounce of willpower on survival and victory.
Finally, with a deep, commanding roar, Lian Feng unleashed the Phoenix fully. Flames erupted in a colossal surge, wings spreading like an inferno of black and crimson fire. The clone screamed, its energy unraveling under the assault, until it dissipated entirely, leaving nothing but the echo of its power behind. Lian Feng fell to one knee, sweat and blood streaming down his face, his body trembling with exhaustion, but his eyes burned brighter than ever. The trial had ended. He had survived. He had won.
Mei Lin's voice carried through the canyon, calm and steady. "You have passed… but this is only the beginning. What you faced here is a glimpse of the enemies and challenges ahead. There are cultivators far stronger than the Shadow Vanguard. The real war for the Phoenix… begins now."
Lian Feng nodded slowly, crimson flames flickering along his arms, chest, and back. The Phoenix whispered in his mind, approving, powerful, alive: "You have endured, mastered, and surpassed. The storm has begun… and together, we will rise, stronger than any who dare oppose us." He stood tall, wings of fire and shadow flaring briefly, the canyon glowing with his presence. He was no longer a boy, no longer weak, no longer afraid. He was Lian Feng, host of the Dark Phoenix, and the world would tremble at his rise.
From the horizon, a faint ripple of energy signaled movement. He could sense it—a far stronger presence approaching, one that would challenge every skill, every ounce of power he had gained. His fists clenched, the Phoenix roiling within him like a living storm. "Let them come," he whispered, voice steady, determined. "I am ready." The first true test of his journey had ended. The next… would decide his destiny.