The crimson sky still lingered on the horizon, a reminder of the storm and the awakening that had changed Lian Feng's life forever. His body still thrummed with the energy of the Dark Phoenix, every muscle alive with a power he could barely comprehend. The ruins beneath him were silent now, but Lian Feng's sharp eyes noticed movement. Shadows darted in the distance, cultivators drawn by the fiery pulse that had erupted from his chest moments ago.
This was the moment he had unknowingly been preparing for his entire life—the moment where hiding was no longer an option, and strength would speak louder than fear.
Lian Feng's breath came in sharp bursts, but there was no panic in his expression. He flexed his hands, feeling the tingling, almost electric fire that had fused with his veins. His eyes glowed faintly red, reflecting the residual energy of the Dark Phoenix. He had survived poverty, starvation, and fear—but now, the world had changed. And so had he.
"Let them come," he muttered under his breath, voice calm, almost chilling. "I am no longer the boy who hides in the shadows."
---
The Approach of Rivals
Below the cliffs, a dozen figures appeared, moving swiftly through the ruins. They wore the insignia of the Crimson Claw Sect, a minor but aggressive cultivation sect notorious for hunting untrained youths with latent potential. Their leader, a tall man with a scar across his left eye, signaled the others silently. His aura was strong, but Lian Feng could feel the difference immediately. They were strong—but none had encountered the Dark Phoenix.
Lian Feng's lips curled into a faint smile. A subtle heat emanated from his chest, the Phoenix within responding to the challenge. He raised a hand, and black-and-crimson flames flickered along his fingers, small at first, then expanding, crackling with energy that distorted the air around him.
"Lian Feng!" the scarred man called out, voice carrying over the wind. "Step down and surrender your soul to the sect. We won't be cruel!"
Lian Feng laughed softly—a sound that carried the weight of newfound power and confidence. "You have no idea who you're dealing with," he replied. The Phoenix roared inside his mind, a wave of fire brushing against his consciousness.
---
The Clash Begins
The first attacker lunged forward, claws glowing with spirit energy. Lian Feng didn't hesitate. He raised his hand, and a wave of black fire surged outward, knocking the cultivator off his feet before he could reach him. Flames danced across the ruins, leaving scorched impressions of stone and wood. The remaining members of the sect froze for a moment, fear flashing in their eyes.
But fear alone would not save them. The scarred man gritted his teeth and summoned his own aura, a sphere of blue energy forming in his palm. He charged with blinding speed, aiming directly at Lian Feng's chest.
Lian Feng's instincts flared. He felt the Phoenix stir, its consciousness whispering: "Don't hold back. Kill, or be consumed." The words were dark, dangerous, but exhilarating. He channeled his energy into his legs, leaping high into the air. As he twisted, the black-and-red flames around his body flared into wings of fire, granting him control of the wind.
The scarred man struck where Lian Feng had been—but instead of the boy, there was only a gust of wind and the scent of burning ozone. Lian Feng descended behind him, fists ablaze, and landed with a powerful stomp that sent a shockwave through the ruins.
"You… what are you?" the man hissed, staggering.
"Your worst mistake," Lian Feng replied, voice calm but deadly. His hands ignited in crimson fire, striking like lightning. Every punch, every movement flowed naturally, as if the Phoenix itself had guided his muscles.
---
The Awakening of Hidden Powers
The battle raged, a dance of fire, shadows, and raw power. Lian Feng's strikes left scorched marks, and the attackers' energy seemed trivial against the Phoenix's aura. Yet, he realized this was only the beginning. Each movement burned through his energy, each attack tested his control over the Phoenix.
In the midst of the battle, he felt a strange, almost sweet sensation—like a voice from a distant memory. It was the Phoenix, guiding him, teaching him. His body moved faster, reacted faster, the fire responding to his thoughts as if it were an extension of his soul.
"Focus!" the Phoenix whispered. "Do not fight as a mortal. Fight as fire incarnate!"
With that, Lian Feng's flames erupted into full wings behind him, their span casting shadows across the ruins. He moved like a shadow of fire, each step leaving a trail of energy that blurred reality itself. The attackers screamed, thrown back by invisible force, their bodies seared by uncontrolled energy.
Even the scarred man, who had been confident and cruel moments ago, could only stare in disbelief. "Impossible… he's not human…"
Lian Feng's lips curved into a cold smile. "I am more than human. I am the Dark Phoenix."
---
The Turning Point
Just as Lian Feng felt in control, a pulse of energy struck him from behind. He spun, barely avoiding the blade of a hidden attacker. Pain lanced through his side, the force of the attack disrupting the Phoenix's control momentarily. He faltered, gasping, the fire around him flickering uncertainly.
"Control… control it… or be consumed…" the Phoenix hissed, almost growling in his mind.
Lian Feng gritted his teeth. The Phoenix was dangerous, yes—but it was also his only weapon. With effort, he focused, channeling the flames deeper into his soul. The pain became energy, the energy became strength, and strength became clarity. He roared, a sound that echoed like thunder across the cliffs, and the Phoenix's wings erupted behind him in full glory.
Black and crimson fire spiraled outward, forming a cyclone that lifted attackers into the air, scattering them like leaves. Rocks, ruins, and debris flew in every direction, yet Lian Feng felt nothing but control. The Phoenix hummed with satisfaction, its voice softer now, almost protective.
---
Aftermath and Revelation
When the flames finally subsided, the ruins were silent. The attackers were gone, either fled or unconscious, and the scarred man was nowhere in sight. Lian Feng staggered slightly, his body trembling from the effort, but he was alive. And more than alive—he was changed.
He looked at his hands, still glowing faintly with residual energy. The Phoenix's presence lingered warmly in his mind, a companion as much as a weapon. For the first time, Lian Feng felt a strange mix of awe and responsibility. Power alone was intoxicating, but it came with danger. The Phoenix was not tame, and it would always challenge him, push him, tempt him.
And yet… he could not help but smile.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered. "I will become stronger. I will not be weak ever again. And anyone who dares to stand against me… will fall."
---
The Appearance of Mei Lin
As he caught his breath, a soft, almost melodic voice called from the edge of the ruins. Lian Feng turned sharply, eyes narrowing. Standing there was a young woman in flowing blue robes, her hair tied neatly, a calm but piercing gaze fixed on him.
"You… you are the one who awakened the Dark Phoenix," she said quietly, almost in awe. "I am Mei Lin, disciple of the Azure Moon Sect. That power… it should not exist in a mortal."
Lian Feng's eyes flicked toward her, evaluating, cautious but intrigued. "And you are?"
"I am here to… observe. Perhaps to warn you," she replied. Her aura was strong, controlled, yet something about her made the Phoenix stir curiously in his mind. She was not an enemy, yet she was not an ally either.
"Observe… warn me of what?" Lian Feng asked, voice steady but laced with challenge.
She hesitated, then stepped closer, her eyes meeting his fully. "Of the world you have just awakened yourself to. Many will come for you. Many will try to control you… or destroy you. Power like yours is both feared and coveted."
Lian Feng's lips curved into a confident, almost playful smile. "Then let them come. I will be ready."
Her eyes flickered—was it admiration, concern, or something else?—and she said nothing more, only watching as Lian Feng's crimson flames died down, leaving him standing tall, resolute, and more alive than he had ever been.
As the storm clouds rolled away, Lian Feng sensed movement far beyond the cliffs—figures, dozens of them, approaching with the intent of war. But this time, he would not flee. He would rise. He would fight. And he would discover just how far the Dark Phoenix's power could take him…
Above him, the Phoenix stirred, wings spread, its eyes glowing as if approving of its new host.
The first trial had ended. But the true journey… had only just begun.