Bai Xue rushed toward the raging inferno at blinding speed.
Flames covered everything. The air was thick with the stench of burning wood, flesh, and scorched earth. Heat pressed down from all directions, yet she moved forward without hesitation.
Then she saw it.
A magnificent and enormous ethereal bird hovered in the burning sky.
Its eyes glowed bright yellow, filled with raging flames. Its wings were vast and dense, so wide they seemed capable of covering the entire heavens. Fire danced across its body—red, gold, and orange interwoven like living flames.
It was beauty incarnate.
As though every fragment of beauty in creation had been used to form this being.
Yet its splendor was deadly.
The brilliance of its face alone felt capable of burning anything that dared to look upon it to ashes. Fire roared endlessly around it.
Bai Xue stopped before the Phoenix—
as if she felt no fear of fire,
as if burning meant nothing to her.
The Phoenix spoke, its voice echoing like thunder.
"Human, you are brave to stand before me in such a manner. I would have felt regret... but now you will die—along with all these people."
Bai Xue tilted her head slightly.
"Phoenix..." she murmured.
"Hm. I don't think calling you just that is appropriate."
"The true children of the gods," she continued softly.
"That's what they call you... right?"
Her eyes curved in mischievous amusement.
Her expression revealed fearless confidence and reckless daring.
The Phoenix narrowed its blazing gaze.
"How do you know this?"
"Who are you?"
Bai Xue smiled.
"What difference does it make?"
"I'll get straight to the point."
"I want you to follow me."
The Phoenix roared in fury, flames erupting violently.
"Follow you? NEVER—!"
"AHHHHH—!"
A torrent of fire shot toward her.
Bai Xue dodged instantly—leaping right, left, and behind the Phoenix in rapid succession.
"Dark Moon," she said calmly.
"Attack."
Dark Moon released a surge of water toward the Phoenix—
But the moment it reached him, it vanished.
Not a single drop touched his body.
The Phoenix moved so swiftly that Dark Moon couldn't even understand how the attack had failed.
The Phoenix laughed coldly.
"You cannot harm me."
Dark Moon concealed herself within the shadows, remaining unseen.
Bai Xue lowered her gaze slightly, then looked up with a smile.
"So that's how it is," she said lightly.
"You're right—we can't even touch you."
She tilted her head again.
"Then why don't you show your true form?"
The Phoenix's fury exploded.
"What nonsense are you spouting? You will die—NOW!"
The Phoenix attacked fiercely with its beak and wings.
Bai Xue dodged repeatedly, attempting to leap above him—
But the moment her hand brushed against his flames, searing pain tore through her skin.
She hissed and leapt back, clutching her burned hand.
Then—
A massive fireball shot toward her.
Dark Moon instantly expanded her shield, blocking the attack.
"Master," Dark Moon said urgently,
"I can suppress him with my power. This is a pure Fire Phoenix. It cannot withstand my Dark Night."
Bai Xue shook her head.
"What are you saying, Darky?" she replied calmly.
"If I rely entirely on my beast, I'll be nothing but a coward."
She paused, thinking.
"Instead..."
"Why don't you pour an enormous amount of water on him?"
Dark Moon nodded silently.
High above the sky, a colossal water sphere formed—then crashed down upon the Phoenix.
In that instant, the Phoenix's power shifted.
Fire transformation—
to Ice transformation.
Half of its body froze, revealing its second nature—
An Ice-and-Fire Dual Spirit Phoenix.
Bai Xue leapt onto its back.
In a flash of light, a sword appeared in her hand—a flowing ribbon attached to its hilt, dancing wildly in the heat.
"Ha!" she laughed softly.
"I didn't think I'd have to use this so soon."
She sliced her finger and let several drops of her blood fall onto the blade.
The sword hummed.
Time itself—stopped.
In that frozen moment, Bai Xue drove the sword straight into the Phoenix's head.
The sword erupted with a terrifying power, weaving countless fetters of distorted space around the phoenix. His wings were shackled, his neck trapped by chains that seemed to pierce not just flesh, but soul itself. Every attempt to move, every surge of his flames, was absorbed and nullified.
This was no ordinary blade.
It was the Binding Space Sword.
Formless, yet all-encompassing, it devoured the strength of others, twisting their own power against them.
"You... deceiver!" the phoenix roared, flames surging as he thrashed violently. "Release me!"
But all his struggles were in vain. The fetters only tightened, mocking his strength.
Bai-Xue's gaze was cold, unyielding.
"This sword was created with the help of Dark Moon," she said, her voice sharp as ice.
"Submit. Form a contract with me. This is your only path."
"You are just a child!" the phoenix spat, fury crackling around him. "How could you be so powerful? I am not afraid of you!"
Bai-Xue's expression did not change. She removed her jade pendant, pricked her finger, and let crimson drops fall upon it. The jade glowed as she approached, her voice calm and commanding.
"I ask you once more: become my beast—or die."
The moment the jade touched his neck, an ancient, bone-deep fear tore through the phoenix's soul. It was the kind of terror only a warrior who has faced gods could feel.
The phoenix froze, his flames flickering. After a long pause, he bowed his head in submission.
"You are no ordinary child," he admitted, his voice strained with reluctant awe.
"You are... a warrior worthy of respect. I... I will serve you, Master. I, the last phoenix of this lifetime world, submit my honor to you."
A faint smile curved Bai-Xue's lips.
She removed the spatial fetters, and with precise movements, began the binding spell. The air shimmered with the energy of the contract, and a spirit mark burned into the center of the phoenix's forehead, sealing their bond.
Dark Moon appeared suddenly, eyes widening.
"MASTER! Your eyes!"
Bai-Xue touched her face. One eye glimmered icy blue, piercing like frozen steel. The other burned crimson red, raging like molten fire.
"It seems... the soul fusion with the phoenix has altered me," she said quietly, her voice carrying a deadly calm.
"My cultivation has increased. I am stronger... infinitely stronger than before."
The phoenix lowered his head.
"Master... what name shall I bear?"
Bai-Xue considered for a moment, a small, cruel smile forming.
"You possess both ice and fire... You shall be called Fri-Ze."
"From this moment, you are my champion," she said. "And now... let me introduce you to my other soul beast."
Dark Moon appeared, his form muted, yet the aura of his power undeniable.
"Long time no see, monster," he said, voice low, a dangerous edge beneath his words.
Fri-Ze flared, wings snapping in indignation. "You! What are you doing here?"
"Oh? You already know each other?" Bai-Xue's voice was smooth, cold, and sharp. "Excellent. That makes things simpler."
Dark Moon's eyes glinted dangerously. "Your kind—spirit beasts that once abandoned humans—why serve a child now, Eclipse Princess? And I hear the phoenix, the mightiest of beasts, lost to a thirteen-year-old girl? Pathetic."
"We are children of the gods," Fri-Ze spat, flames sparking. "You know nothing of us. The gods have always kept us by their side."
"Yes," Dark Moon said with a cruel smile. "Because they knew you were a monster... one that must be controlled."
The two beasts glared at each other, a storm of power crackling between them.
Bai-Xue's voice rang like a blade through the tension. "Enough. Whatever your history, both of you are now bound to me. I will not tolerate fighting. You will serve peacefully—or face my wrath."
"Yes, Master," they said, voices low, filled with both respect and caution.
"Good," Bai-Xue said, turning to Fri-Ze. "Remain in your fire phoenix form for now. Your true power is not to be revealed yet."
"Understood, Master."
Meanwhile, the princes worked swiftly, rescuing the trapped civilians from the inferno.
Min-Sheng arrived atop his lion.
"Crown Prince, apologies for the delay," he said.
The Third Prince nodded. "We've evacuated almost all of the people... and the beasts."
Suddenly, a massive phoenix descended from the sky. Its wings blotted out the sun, and as it touched the flames, the fire vanished instantly.
All eyes turned skyward in awe.
On its back rode a masked figure, the child who had tamed a legendary phoenix.
Whispers spread through the crowd. "How... how did a child tame such a creature?"
Bai-Xue descended gracefully. Every head bowed.
The Crown Prince stepped forward. "I apologize for my earlier rudeness, great warrior. I am the Crown Prince of Wang-Jin. I hope you will stay in our country for some time."
Bai-Xue inclined her head, calm yet imperious. "I intend to remain here... for a while."