Morning arrived with tension across the Fire Sect.The mountain air felt strange as if the wind itself was waiting.
Feng Lianhua stood at the edge of the Inner Flame Pavilion courtyard watching clouds move slowly across the sky.
She had not slept after the assassination attempt, her senses remained sharp.
The golden flame inside her dantian was stable but more active than before.
It no longer felt like a spark, but it felt like something stretching its wings.
Footsteps echoed along the stone path.
An inner disciple approached and bowed stiffly.Junior Sister the Ice Palace delegation has arrived
The Ice Palace.
Even outer disciples knew that name.
A sect that stood equal to the Fire Sect in power.
Masters of absolute cold, opposite of flame.
Feng Lianhua nodded and began walking toward the main ceremonial plaza.
Disciples gathered along the sides of the wide staircase that led down the mountain
Whispers spread quickly.
Why would the Ice Palace visit without notice.
Was it about last night.
Was it about the shattered Testing Mirror.
Was it about her.
She ignored them and continued forward.
The ceremonial plaza was vast with pillars carved from crimson stone.
Elder Zhao stood at the center with several inner elders beside him.Across from them stood three figures dressed in white robes trimmed with silver.
The air around them was visibly colder
Frost gathered lightly along the edges of the plaza floor.At the front of the delegation stood a tall young man.Silver hair flowed freely down his back.His posture was straight and calm.His eyes were pale blue and unreadable.
Bing Yichen.
The Crown Prince of the Ice Palace
Feng Lianhua felt it the moment her gaze landed on him.His aura was not aggressive
It was steady.
Cold.
Deep.
Like an endless frozen sea.
He turned his head slightly.
Their eyes met.
The world around them seemed to pause.
Within her dantian the golden flame flickered
The phoenix stirred.
Ice blood.
Ancient.
Careful.
Feng Lianhua kept her expression calm.
Elder Zhao stepped forward.
We welcome the Ice Palace to the Fire Sect.
Bing Yichen inclined his head politely.
We sensed a spiritual disturbance last night.
We came to ensure balance remains intact between our territories.His voice was smooth and quiet yet carried easily across the plaza.
Balance,
A polite word.
But everyone understood the meaning.
The Ice Palace felt the awakening.
They wanted to confirm what had changed.
Elder Zhao smiled thinly.The disturbance has been handled.A minor incident,
Nothing that affects the harmony between our sects.
Bing Yichen's gaze shifted slowly across the gathered disciples,It paused when it reached Feng Lianhua.Just for a second
But she noticed.
Ice brushed against flame
Not clashing
Testing.
She felt a faint thread of cold spiritual sense attempt to approach her aura.The phoenix reacted instantly.Golden heat surged beneath her skin.
Not outwardly,
Only internally.
The cold thread withdrew.
Bing Yichen's expression did not change,
But something flickered in his eyes
Interesting.
Elder Zhao gestured politely,
Perhaps the Crown Prince would like to observe our training grounds.
Bing Yichen nodded once.
The disciples parted to create space as both sects moved toward the central training arena.
Feng Lianhua remained near the back,
But she could feel his awareness.
Not invasive,
Not hostile,
Watching.
The training arena was built of reinforced stone capable of withstanding Golden Core battles.
Elder Zhao turned toward the disciples
To demonstrate our sect strength we will conduct a sparring match.His gaze shifted deliberately.Zhao Mingyuan stepped forward with confidence,He bowed to the elders.
I will represent the Fire Sect.Of course he would.He needed to restore his pride.
Elder Zhao looked toward the Ice Palace.
Will your sect offer a representative.
One of the white robed disciples stepped forward.But Bing Yichen lifted a hand slightly.
I will spar
A quiet ripple moved through both sects.
The Crown Prince himself.
Zhao Mingyuan stiffened.
But he could not refuse.
The arena cleared.
Zhao Mingyuan stepped to one side, and
Bing Yichen to the other.
The signal was given.
Zhao Mingyuan attacked first.Flames erupted from his palms forming twin serpents of fire that spiraled toward Bing Yichen.The temperature in the arena surged
Bing Yichen moved only slightly.
He extended one hand.
Frost spread outward in a smooth arc.
The fire serpents froze mid air.
Ice encased them instantly.
Then shattered them into harmless sparks.
The difference in power was obvious.
Zhao Mingyuan gritted his teeth and formed a hand seal,a massive fire lotus bloomed above him,It descended rapidly toward Bing Yichen.
This time the ice prince stepped forward
His foot touched the arena floor.
A wave of cold expanded outward.
The fire lotus slowed.
Cracked.Then dissolved into mist.
Bing Yichen appeared before Zhao Mingyuan in a single silent movement.
His palm hovered an inch from Zhao Mingyuan's chest.
Ice gathered there,
Not striking
But ready.
Zhao Mingyuan froze.He understood
Defeat.
Bing Yichen withdrew calmly,
The spar ends here.
His voice held no arrogance,
Only certaint.
Elder Zhao forced a polite smile.
An impressive display.
The arena tension slowly eased.
But Feng Lianhua felt something else,
When Bing Yichen released his cold aura she sensed a faint undercurrent, not ordinary ice,
Something older.
The phoenix inside her spoke softly,
He carries ancient blood as well,
Not as old as ours,but old.
Feng Lianhua watched him carefully
as the formalities concluded, Bing Yichen approached Elder Zhao once more
May I walk through your inner disciple grounds.Elder Zhao hesitated briefly,
Then nodded.
Of course,
Permission granted.
Bing Yichen began walking;
Not toward the elders,
Not toward Zhao Mingyuan,
But toward her.
Disciples parted automatically.
Feng Lianhua stood still.
He stopped a few steps away.
You are the source of last night's disturbance.
It was not a question,
But it was a statement.
Feng Lianhua met his gaze calmly.
I do not know what you sensed.
A faint breeze stirred between them
His eyes studied her more carefully now
Your flame is not ordinary
Neither is your ice
She replied without hesitation.
A faint almost invisible curve touched the corner of his lips direct.
Most would avoid speaking so boldly
You are not afraid of me.
He observed.
Should I be.
Her voice was steady.
He considered her for a moment,
No.
He answered simply.
A strange silence lingered between them
Not hostile.
Not warm.
Balanced.
He stepped slightly closer. Your flame resisted my spiritual sense.
That rarely happen.
Feng Lianhua did not look away.
Then perhaps you should not test others without permission.
For the first time a clearer smile appeared in his eyes.
Perhaps.
Behind them Zhao Mingyuan watched with dark expression.His fists clenched tightly.
Elder Zhao approached quickly.
Crown Prince if there are no further concerns we will prepare a banquet in your honor.
Bing Yichen's gaze lingered on Feng Lianhua one second longer.Then he stepped back.We will stay for one night.
No more.
The tension eased slightly,but the air between frost and flame had already shifted.
As the delegation moved away Feng Lianhua exhaled slowly.
The phoenix's voice echoed within.
He is not your enemy.
Not yet.
I did not sense killing intent,
She replied silently
But he is not simple.
"No".
The phoenix agreed,
Neither are you.
That night the Fire Sect held a formal banquet.Lanterns glowed warmly across the main hall,Music echoed softly,Wine flowed.
Feng Lianhua sat among inner disciples.
Whispers continued around her.
Across the hall Bing Yichen sat beside the elders.His posture relaxed yet aware.
At one point his gaze lifted again,
It met hers across the distance for a brief moment.
No hostility.
No fear.
Only recognition.
Flame and frost.
Opposites.
Yet neither yielding.
Outside the banquet hall clouds gathered once more.High above unseen by mortal eyes. A faint golden mark shimmered briefly in the sky,
Watching,
Waiting,
And deep within her dantian.
The small phoenix opened both eyes fully for the first time.The real trial is coming
It whispered.
Feng Lianhua felt it too.
The Fire Sect thought they controlled her,
The Ice Palace thought they were observing her, but Heaven had already begun to move.
She lifted her cup slowly,
Not in celebration,
But in quiet promise.
Let them come, Flame does not fear frost,
and this phoenix would never kneel