Azure Sky Realm – Crimson Hearth City – Feng State]
Feng Liuxing stepped carefully out of the forest clearing, his golden aura subdued, yet the tremor of the Phoenix within him was undeniable. Each step felt lighter, more precise, as if the ground itself responded to the rhythm of his newly awakened Physique and Spirit Root. He entered the Feng Clan estate silently, careful to appear ordinary, though every subtle motion now carried an edge beyond the understanding of his peers.
[Feng Liuxing – Mortal]
[Spirit Root: Phoenix Divine Root – RANK: Primordial]
[Physique: Chaos Phoenix Fire Body – RANK: Chaos]
[Bloodline: Eternal Phoenix Clan – Emberfall Branch – RANK: Primordial]
[Current Cultivation Stage: Body Forging – Early Stage]
[Known Techniques: Basic Body Forging Forms + Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art (Chaos Level – 2%)]
In the main courtyard, dozens of young cultivators were finishing their morning sparring. Feng Liuxing's cousins waved him over.
"Liuxing! Over here, try the forms we practiced!" called one cousin, grinning.
Feng Liuxing nodded and moved to join them. He began performing the Body Forging forms, each movement flowing naturally, subtly more precise than any ordinary disciple could manage. The instructor noticed immediately.
"Liuxing, your stance wavers slightly at the third step. Focus on grounding your qi," the instructor advised, demonstrating the motion with practiced fluidity. Feng Liuxing adjusted instantly, his Phoenix Fire Body resonating with the correction, allowing the qi to circulate effortlessly through his limbs.
"Thanks, instructor," Feng Liuxing said, bowing respectfully. His cousin nudged him playfully. "Feeling stronger already, huh?"
"Perhaps," he replied, keeping his smile small and casual. The true extent of his Awakening remained hidden. The Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art pulsed faintly, amplifying his strength, speed, and control, yet restrained enough to avoid suspicion.
By midday, whispers spread through the estate: the Decennial Recruitment Trial would begin soon. Every ten years, the trial selected disciples for entrance into the sects, a pivotal moment in the life of any young cultivator. Excitement and tension rippled through the courtyard as the news traveled. Feng Liuxing could sense the aura of each disciple nearby, Body Forging and Qi Refining alike, and with the fragment's guidance, he could perceive weaknesses and inefficiencies invisible to ordinary eyes.
During sparring, Feng Liuxing moved carefully, executing forms with precision. Every punch, kick, and stance carried the refinement of the Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art, though he restrained the power to remain undetected. A minor fist strike produced a faint shockwave, unnoticed by others, while he silently observed every subtle flaw in his cousins' movements.
A disciple from another family in Crimson Hearth City practiced nearby, and Feng Liuxing noted their cultivation stage and known techniques without a word. He could see their potential and limits, the first hints of the competitors he would eventually face during the trial.
"Liuxing, your footwork again," the instructor called, pointing out a subtle imbalance. Feng Liuxing corrected instantly, integrating the advice smoothly. His cousins exchanged glances, impressed but unaware that the young boy before them had awakened a Chaos Phoenix Fire Body far beyond normal limits.
As the sun dipped lower, Feng Liuxing took a quiet walk near the edge of the estate, his thoughts on the upcoming trial. The first test would be the Beast Hunting Trial, followed by the Character Evaluation, and finally the Spirit Root Test. He reflected on the whispers of rivals in the city, aware of at least one boy from another clan whose family also sought glory in the sects. For now, that rival was only a shadow of a challenge, yet a name on his growing list of observations.
A faint rustle in the nearby trees made him pause. His aura dimmed slightly as instinct took over. Something—or someone—was observing him, though no figure revealed itself. Feng Liuxing exhaled slowly, letting the Phoenix within him pulse gently. The path of the Phoenix Sovereign had begun, quiet, hidden, and inevitable. The Decennial Recruitment Trial awaited, and with it, the first sparks of a journey that would shake the Azure Sky Realm—and perhaps worlds beyond.