The sun had barely risen over the jagged peaks of the Phoenix Realm, yet the air already hummed with tension. Lian Feng stood atop the cliff, his crimson eyes scanning the distant valley. Smoke curled from the horizon—not natural fog, but the deliberate mark of approaching forces. He could sense them before they appeared: dozens, perhaps hundreds, of cultivators moving in perfect formation. Their energy pulses were uniform, calculated, precise—a sign of a single sect or faction coordinating the assault.
The Dark Phoenix stirred inside him, its presence heavier now than ever, a living inferno barely contained. "Finally… challengers worthy of my fire," it whispered, its voice laced with hunger and pride. Lian Feng flexed his fingers, feeling the black-and-crimson flames flare along his skin like living tattoos. He had survived the minor clash yesterday, but this… this was something entirely different.
"This is no scouting party," Lian Feng muttered under his breath. "They're coming to destroy everything in their path."
---
The Approach of the Crimson Legion
From the valley below, the first ranks of the Crimson Claw Sect appeared—more than Lian Feng had ever faced in one encounter. At their center marched a figure that made his blood run cold: the scarred man, his left eye now glowing faintly blue, his aura radiating deadly precision. Lian Feng recognized him immediately—the same cultivator who had underestimated him yesterday.
The scarred man raised his hand, and the entire legion halted in unison. "Lian Feng," he called, voice carrying over the valley like a sharpened blade, "you've awakened the Dark Phoenix. Today, we claim it. Step down, or die!"
Lian Feng's eyes narrowed. The Phoenix pulsed within him, hunger flaring. "Kill… or be consumed," it murmured. His chest flared with heat as he inhaled sharply, exhaling a stream of black-and-crimson fire into the wind—a warning, a herald, a declaration.
"This is my choice," Lian Feng said firmly. "I do not bow to mortals who would see me destroyed. Come, if you dare."
---
The First Wave
The legion surged forward like a living river, dozens of cultivators converging with terrifying speed. Lian Feng's legs braced against the cliff's edge. He didn't move first—he let them advance, observing, calculating. The Phoenix guided him, its whispers threading into his mind, weaving instinct with strategy.
When the first wave reached striking distance, Lian Feng moved. Wings of fire erupted from his back, carrying him into the air with a roar that shook the cliffs. He descended like a meteor, fists ablaze with the Phoenix's energy, striking the front line. The cultivators scattered, some thrown dozens of meters, others burned by the sheer intensity of the flames.
One by one, the attackers regrouped. Spears, swords, and elemental attacks converged on him. Every strike was countered before it landed; every attempt to overwhelm him was met with a precise, devastating blow. Lian Feng's movements were fluid, almost artistic—an intricate dance of fire and shadow. His body moved faster than human eyes could track, every motion infused with the Phoenix's energy.
"This… is incredible," he thought, even as his body ached from the effort. "I am stronger than anyone I've ever faced…"
---
High above the fray, the scarred man observed, his expression unreadable. "So… he has awakened the Phoenix fully," he murmured. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a sphere of blue energy, larger than any Lian Feng had encountered before. The sphere pulsed, swirling with concentrated force, and then split into hundreds of smaller spheres, each moving independently like sentient weapons.
The Crimson Legion launched them toward Lian Feng. "Catch me if you can!" he shouted mockingly, but the Phoenix inside hissed: "Danger… highest level. Focus."
Lian Feng's flames flared, forming a barrier that absorbed the spheres' impact, but the sheer number of projectiles tested his limits. He dodged, deflected, and countered, feeling the Phoenix's consciousness tighten around his mind like a living shield. The energy was intoxicating, yet exhausting. Sweat poured down his face, his muscles screamed, but his control was unshakable.
With a mighty roar, he unleashed a torrent of black-and-red fire, scattering the spheres and sending dozens of cultivators flying. The battlefield erupted into chaos. Rocks shattered, trees ignited, and the air itself seemed to burn with the Phoenix's presence.
---
A sudden movement caught Lian Feng's attention. From the ridge above, Mei Lin descended gracefully, her azure robes flowing like water. In her hands, a staff glowed faintly blue. "Lian Feng! Step aside!" she called, her voice carrying authority and power.
He turned, surprised. "You… why?"
"I cannot let you destroy everything in your path," she replied, eyes narrowed. "Your power is… dangerous, and the sect will not hesitate to use it for their own gain. Trust me—this is for your sake."
Without waiting for a response, she leaped into the battlefield, summoning a wave of pure spiritual energy that collided with the remaining attackers. The combined force of Lian Feng's flames and Mei Lin's aura created a barrier of energy that pushed back the Crimson Legion.
For a brief moment, Lian Feng marveled at her control. She was powerful, disciplined, and precise. And, somehow… she didn't fear him.
"Interesting," the Phoenix purred in his mind. "Perhaps an ally… or a rival to test me."
---
The scarred man's eyes glinted with malice. He had expected Lian Feng to falter under pressure, yet the boy moved like a storm incarnate. With a swift gesture, he summoned a colossal sword of blue energy, swinging it down toward the two of them. The force of its descent cracked the earth beneath them, sending shards flying like missiles.
Lian Feng barely had time to react. He leapt, spreading the Phoenix's wings to glide, flames trailing behind him like comets. Mei Lin's staff clashed with the sword, sparks flying as her blue energy tried to counterbalance the attack. The collision created a shockwave that hurled both of them backward, landing hard but unbroken.
"Enough!" Mei Lin shouted, looking at Lian Feng. "You must control it! This isn't a display—it's life or death!"
Lian Feng's chest heaved. Sweat and blood streaked his face, but the Phoenix whispered calmly now: "Control… not fear… not mercy… control."
He focused, drawing on the Phoenix's energy without letting it consume him. His flames steadied, coiling around his fists and feet like living serpents of fire. With a sharp inhale, he struck again, faster, more precise. The scarred man was caught off guard, staggering backward, his aura destabilized.
For the first time, Lian Feng felt a taste of dominance—the exhilarating rush of power fully controlled, fully his.
---
By the time the dust settled, the Crimson Legion had been scattered, many unconscious, some fleeing, their morale broken. The scarred man retreated, glaring at Lian Feng with a mixture of fear and fury. "This… isn't over," he spat. "The Phoenix… you cannot control it forever."
Lian Feng's chest heaved, but he smiled faintly. "I will learn. And when the time comes… I will decide my own fate."
Mei Lin approached cautiously, her staff lowering. "You are… extraordinary," she admitted. "But extraordinary power attracts extraordinary enemies. You must train, and fast."
"I know," Lian Feng replied. His crimson eyes met hers, steady and confident. "I will not hide anymore. I will rise. I will protect… and I will conquer."
The Phoenix stirred within him, wings unfurling invisibly, a whisper of approval: "Good. This is only the beginning. The world will burn… and I will rise with you."
As Lian Feng surveyed the battlefield, a distant shadow moved across the peaks. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cultivators were approaching—not from the Crimson Claw Sect, but from a far more dangerous faction. The war for the Dark Phoenix's host had only just begun.
Lian Feng clenched his fists, the Phoenix roiling within him. "Bring them… let them come. I am ready."
Above him, the sky cracked with fire and light, a storm of destiny waiting to be unleashed.