The night after the Sky Trial Platform shattered did not belong to the Fire Sect.
It belonged to silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The suffocating kind.
The outer disciples did not sleep. Lanterns burned longer than usual. Windows remained slightly open. Curtains shifted as shadows lingered behind wooden frames. The air itself seemed heavier, as if the mountain was holding its breath.
Feng Lianhua sat alone inside her small courtyard residence.
The room was simple — stone bed, wooden table, cracked water basin. Eight years of neglect were evident in the peeling paint and faded prayer talismans hanging crookedly along the doorframe.
Yet tonight, the space felt different.
Warmer.
The faint glow of golden light flickered beneath her closed eyelids as she meditated.
Inside her dantian, the sea of golden fire had stabilized. It no longer raged uncontrollably. Instead, it flowed in quiet currents, like molten rivers beneath the surface of the earth.At its center floated the tiny phoenix.
Its feathers were not fully formed. They shimmered like fragments of light trying to remember their shape.
"You are breathing too unevenly," the phoenix remarked.Feng Lianhua's brows furrowed."I almost died today."
The phoenix yawned lazily.
"You almost died every day before today."
She could not argue with that.
She adjusted her breathing.
Inhale.
Exhale.
The golden sea pulsed rhythmically."Why now?" she asked quietly within her consciousness. "Why did you awaken now?"
The phoenix's single visible eye glowed faintly.
"Because they finally tried to erase you."
A pause.
"Blood remembers when it is cornered."
Outside her courtyard, footsteps crunched against gravel.Feng Lianhua's eyes snapped open.
Her aura instantly withdrew inward, hiding the golden presence deep within her core.
The knock was gentle.
Too gentle.
"Junior Sister Lianhua," came a voice from beyond the door.
It was Senior Disciple Wei Shan.
He had never spoken to her before.
She rose calmly and opened the door.
Wei Shan stood there with a polite smile. His robe was pristine, his posture straight.
But his eyes were calculating.
"Senior Brother," she greeted evenly.
He glanced at her carefully.
"You appear… well."
"Should I not be?"
He laughed lightly.
"The elders are concerned. Such an unusual manifestation during the ceremony."
He leaned slightly closer.
"They have asked that you report to the Inner Hall at dawn."
Feng Lianhua nodded.
"I will."
Wei Shan's gaze lingered a second too long before he turned and left.
The moment he disappeared beyond the path—
The phoenix's voice echoed sharply.
"He lies."
"I know."
Wei Shan's spiritual pressure had carried faint traces of killing intent.
Small.
Hidden.
But present.
Feng Lianhua closed the door slowly.
"They will test me," she murmured.
"No," the phoenix corrected.
"They will try to control you."
The Inner Hall – Dawn
The Fire Sect's Inner Hall towered at the peak of the mountain, built from crimson stone that shimmered faintly with embedded fire crystals.
Feng Lianhua walked alone along the ascending path.Disciples moved aside when they saw her.Whispers followed.
"She shattered the Testing Mirror."
"They say a divine beast appeared."
"No… it's demonic possession."
She ignored them.
Her steps were steady.
But inside—
The golden flame hummed softly, aware.
As she entered the hall, Elder Zhao sat upon the central throne-like seat, flanked by four other elders.
The atmosphere was oppressive.
Heavy spiritual pressure filled the chamber.
Testing.
Suppressing.
Feng Lianhua bowed respectfully.
"You summoned me."
Elder Zhao studied her carefully.
"Release your spiritual aura."
A trap.
If she released too much, they would panic.
Too little, and they would assume concealment.
She inhaled slowly.
And released a thin stream of golden qi.
The temperature in the hall rose instantly.
The elders' eyes widened.
"That is not standard fire element," one muttered.
Elder Zhao leaned forward.
"Where did you obtain this power?"
"I awakened it," she answered calmly.
"How?"
She paused.
"I don't know."
The silence stretched.
Elder Zhao's gaze sharpened.
"You will undergo a soul examination."
Her fingers twitched slightly.
The phoenix's voice echoed urgently.
"They cannot see me."
"I know."
Soul examination required placing her palm upon a Spirit Revelation Orb — an artifact capable of detecting foreign spiritual entities.
If they discovered the primordial phoenix spirit inside her—
The consequences would not be expulsion.
It would be dissection.
Elder Zhao gestured.
The orb was brought forward.
It glowed faintly red.
"Place your hand."
Feng Lianhua stepped forward.
Her heart beat steadily.
The golden flame within her dantian flickered anxiously.
"Suppress yourself," she whispered inwardly.
"I am not afraid," the phoenix replied.
"I am."
Her palm touched the orb.
Instantly—
The orb flared bright red.
The elders stiffened.
But then—
The red light shifted.
Gold seeped into it.
Pure.
Brilliant.
The orb began trembling violently.
Cracks formed across its surface.
Elder Zhao's face darkened.
"Withdraw!"
Feng Lianhua pulled her hand back just as the orb exploded in a burst of golden sparks.
Fragments clattered across the hall floor.
Silence.
Complete silence.
She lowered her hand calmly.
Elder Zhao's voice was quieter now.
"You will not leave the sect."
A ripple of surprise crossed the other elders' faces.
"She is unstable—"
"All the more reason," Elder Zhao interrupted.
He looked at her carefully.
"From today onward, you are promoted to Inner Disciple."
Shock echoed through the hall.
Inner disciple?
After eight years of ridicule?
Feng Lianhua's expression did not change.
But inside—
The phoenix laughed softly.
"They want to keep you close."
"I know."
Elder Zhao continued."You will reside in the Inner Flame Pavilion. Training begins immediately."
He leaned back slowly.
"You belong to the Fire Sect."
It sounded less like a blessing.
More like a claim.
The Snow Peak – Ice Palace Territory
Far beyond the Fire Sect's mountain range, snow blanketed an entirely different landscape.
The Ice Palace stood carved from glacial cliffs, its architecture elegant and cold as moonlight.Atop the highest peak stood Bing Yichen.White robes flowed in the wind. His long silver hair shimmered against the snow.
His eyes — pale blue — were fixed toward the southern horizon.
He had felt it clearly last night.
A flame unlike any other.
Not violent.
Not chaotic.
Ancient.
Behind him, an elder approached respectfully.
"You sensed it as well?"
"Yes," Bing Yichen replied softly.
"A fire capable of disturbing even our Ice Formation."
The elder's brow furrowed.
"Should we inform the Heavenly Court?"
Bing Yichen's gaze sharpened slightly.
"No."
The elder hesitated.
"But if it is the Phoenix Bloodline—"
"Then Heaven will already know."
Silence fell.
The snow swirled between them.
Bing Yichen closed his eyes briefly.
For a moment—
He saw golden wings against a dark sky.
And a girl standing alone at the center of flame.
His eyes opened slowly.
"Prepare a delegation," he ordered calmly.
"To the Fire Sect."
Inner Flame Pavilion – Fire Sect
The Inner Flame Pavilion was vastly different from the outer disciple quarters.
It was luxurious.
Marble floors. Spirit-infused lanterns. Training chambers reinforced with flame-resistant stone.
Feng Lianhua stood inside her new residence.
She ran her fingers across the smooth walls.
Eight years.
Eight years of being ignored.
Now they were watching her every move.
The phoenix manifested briefly within her consciousness.
"You do not look pleased."
"They are afraid," she replied.
"Good."
A knock came at her door again.
She opened it to find Zhao Mingyuan standing there.His expression was forced calm.Congratulations," he said.
She studied him quietly.
He stepped closer.
"You should be grateful. Without the sect's protection, who knows what might happen to someone… like you."
Threat disguised as concern.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Senior Brother, were you always this kind?"
His jaw tightened.You think a sudden awakening makes you superior?"
She met his gaze evenly.
"I think it makes you nervous."
A flicker of rage flashed across his face.
His Golden Core aura flared briefly—
But she did not step back.
Instead—
A faint golden flame flickered along her fingertips.
Small.
Controlled.
But enough.
Zhao Mingyuan felt it.
His aura recoiled instinctively.
He masked it quickly and forced a smile.
"Be careful, Junior Sister. Power gained too quickly often consumes its owner."
He turned sharply and left.
Feng Lianhua closed the door slowly.
"He will try to kill you," the phoenix observed calmly.
"Yes."
She walked to the window.
Beyond the mountain peaks, clouds gathered strangely.
Thunder rumbled faintly.
Unnatural.
Watching.
"Heaven is stirring," the phoenix whispered.
Night – Assassination Attempt
The moon hung low.
Feng Lianhua remained seated in meditation.
She had not extinguished the lantern.
Let them see her silhouette.
Let them think she was vulnerable.
The golden sea within her dantian rotated steadily.
Her senses were sharper now.
She felt it instantly—
A fluctuation in the air.
A masked figure slipped silently over her courtyard wall.
Foundation Establishment stage.
Assassin technique.
The figure moved soundlessly toward her back.
A dagger coated with spiritual poison glinted faintly.
Three steps away.
Two.
One—
The assassin lunged.
Feng Lianhua vanished.
The dagger struck only empty air.
The assassin froze.
Golden light flickered behind him.
"You should have aimed for the heart."
Her voice was calm.
He spun—
But a wave of golden flame erupted from her palm.
Not explosive.
Not chaotic.
Precise.
It struck his chest.
His spiritual defenses shattered instantly.
The assassin screamed—
But the sound was swallowed by flame.
In seconds—
Only ash remained.
Feng Lianhua stared at the blackened mark on her courtyard stone.
Her breathing remained steady.
"I did not hesitate," she murmured.
"You are remembering," the phoenix replied.
Footsteps approached in the distance.
She extinguished the flame instantly.
By the time patrol disciples arrived—
She was seated calmly.
Meditating.
The ashes scattered silently into the night wind.
High above the mortal realm—
In the Heavenly Court—
A golden flame flickered inside an ancient celestial mirror.
The Heavenly Emperor opened his eyes slowly.
"Find her."
His voice echoed across the divine hall.
"The Phoenix must not rise again."
Back in the Inner Flame Pavilion—
Feng Lianhua stood beneath the moonlight.
Her gaze lifted toward the sky.
The golden flame within her burned brighter.
"They tried to bury me."
Her voice was soft.
But steady.
"They tried to erase me."
The phoenix's voice overlapped gently.
"They failed."
Thunder rumbled once more.
Faint.
Distant.
But approaching.
Feng Lianhua closed her eyes.
"I will cultivate."
Not to ascend.
Not to kneel.
But to burn.
And somewhere across frozen peaks—
Bing Yichen opened his eyes at the same moment.
Ice energy rippled outward.
"Phoenix…"
He whispered.
And the mountain winds carried both frost and flame into a future neither Heaven nor Earth could yet control.