Chapter Two: Phoenix Trials

A week later

Feng Xiyang had finally reached the area where his blood reaction felt the strongest. He was currently within another mountain range called the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range. It seemed that his original conjecture had been correct about the Phoenix's location. Right below him was a semi-visible red barrier, likely made by Phoenix power. He could also feel the Phoenix's remnant aura. Grinning, he quickly descended and headed into the small village of Phoenix descendants. As he did so however, he noticed something strange. Every clan member, regardless of age, were at most at the peak of the Elementary Profound Realm. This was odd, considering the boost in talent and power the Phoenix bloodline gives, which was why the Divine Phoenix Empire was so well respected and dominant.

Moving closer to them, his confusion grew, as their Phoenix marks were not only distorted, but also constantly present. Frowning to himself, he decided to simply ask them.

"Excuse me, I have a few questions."

His sudden appearance shocked the nearby villagers, as Feng xiyan had previously been suppressing himself, deciding to observe first.

"Woah, where did you come from little one?"

"I am the 16th Prince of the Divine Phoenix Empire. I was sent here to speak and apologise to the Phoenix spirit. Could you lead me to the Phoenix Ancestor, and perhaps tell me why your Phoenix mark and cultivation levels are so weird?"

The surrounding villagers flinched, a gloomy aura surrounding them, "Sigh, we have been cursed by the Phoenix Spirit, our ancestor sinned heavily and thus the Phoenix put a curse on our bloodline. To meet the Phoenix spirit, you will need to do the Trials, but you are much too young. It is not safe for you, so I cannot in good conscience let you."

Feng Xiyang sighed, feeling pity for them, to have such a noble bloodline, yet carry such a heavy burden for something they hadn't done. He soon smiled, trying to reassure the older man who had come forward to speak, "No worries, although I am young, I am already in the Tyrant Profound Realm . I also have a special affinity for fire so I'm sure I will be fine. I am also on a mission from another rPhoenix spirit, so I can't back out now. Especially since it took me so much effort to find you guys."

The village flinched in surprise at his revelation of his cultivation, as well as being surprised by his cordiality. Most powerhouses, especially younger, more talented ones, were usually rather arrogant and more often than not cruel. While their village was rather recluse, this was common knowledge of how the world worked. As such, his polite behaviour was especially shocking.

The older man sighed, "Well in that case, it seems I must show you the way."

Feng Xiyang was led to a cave within group of rocks connected to the mountain, where who he assumed was the village elder, used some blood to open a formation.

"Use this formation to enter the trial grounds, and be careful."

Nodding to the man, in affirmation and thanks, Feng Xiyang quickly stepped forward, activating the formation and reappearing within the trial grounds before a large pair of fiery crimson eyes.

"You!"

"Feng Xiyang pays respect to the Divine Phoenix spirit. I have come on behalf of my Phoenix Ancestor to apologise and reconcile. He has told me to bring these first four stages of the World Ode of the Phoenix to prove its sincerity."

Feng Xiyang bowed towards the Phoenix as he spoke, taking out the copy of the World Ode of the Phoenix given by the Phoenix of the Divine Phoenix Empire towards the end.

The copy disappeared from his hand, and the Phoenix remained silent for a good while, making Feng Xiyang uncomfortable and nervous.

"It seems both of you have greater intentions than just this. Am I correct?"

Nodding, Feng xiyan quickly explained, "The Phoenix Ancestor has chosen my twin sister as her complete inheritor, and so therefore cannot accept me also. While I was fine with this, due to having the Phoenix bloodline already, and having also been blessed by the Golden Crow, she told me of you, to apologise, and also to attempt to gain your complete inheritance."

"Your words are sincere, and I also sense that you are indeed a perfect inheritor. Making you a complete inheritor is acceptable, but you must earn it by perfectly passing my trials. There are three trials, and should you complete them, I will give you all that remains of me. This includes the 5th and 6th stages of the World Ode."

Feng Xiyang grinned, accepting quickly with an eager expression.

"Very well. The first stage is: Flame Purgatory Demon. The second stage is: Arrows of the Phoenix. The third and final stage is: Corruption of the Heart's Flame. If you wish to forfeit at anytime during the trials you may shout out, and I will immediately let you leave the trial grounds. I wish you success."

Having said so, the trial grounds began to shake and tremble as cracks appeared, lava seeped through the cracks, fire churning around the grounds. In a particularly large pool of lava, a large flaming body appeared, its aura showing the peak of the Tyrant Profound Realm. Which, while daunting to anyone else, did not scare Feng Xiyang. In fact, seeing the flaming attacks, he was completely indifferent, his body having gone beyond resistant to flames, and now not only being entirely immune, but even absorbing the flames to empower himself.

The force of the lava giant was rather powerful, but being a powerful Tyrant himself, and having an extra powerful body due to his extreme Yang physique, he was not too affected. Deciding to end it quickly, he moved forward, and sent out deadly blows all over the lava giant, looking for a weak spot, as it kept regenerating with the nearby lava.

Skipping backwards, Feng Xiyang's eyes roamed over the fiery foe, looking for a way to permanently defeat it. Soon enough he saw a golden mark on its brow, and sensed a slightly different aura from it. Not finding any other paths, he leapt forward once more, his blows all focused on the monster's head, until finally a flaming kick completely pulverised it, it's main impact beginning from the golden mark.

This time the flaming warrior did not revive itself, but instead disappeared, along with a minority of the lava and fire filled landscape.

"Second Trial: Begin."

Soon a screech of a Phoenix could be heard, as the sky was filled with flames. Soon enough, as the trial was named, flaming arrows descended steadily, falling in greater number, size and speed as time went on. While Feng Xiyang initially dodged them, he soon grew bored and let them hit him, grunting slightly as the physical force of them struck his body. This lasted for ten minutes before the fire disappeared, along with Feng Xiyang, as the Phoenix eyes appeared before him once more.

"This is the last trial. And even though it you can be considered to have cheated in the previous two, should you succeed this trial, you will gain my full inheritance."

Soon Feng Xiyang's vision blurred and he was back in the Phoenix Perching Valley with Feng Xue. Seeing her, his heart felt at peace and he rushed forward to hug her, only briefly noticing he rode expression. The two played and talked the whole day, as they usually did, though he noticed an oddity. Feng Xue was hiding a small knife within her robes, something she never needed or would want to do. Confused, Feng Ciyang ignored it, and wondered what exactly the trial was, having been so immersed in the lifelike experience he nearly forgot he was in the trial.

It was later that night, when the two were preparing to rest, where the oddity of before made itself known. Feng Xue, in her sleepwear had come before him, clutching the small knife, and pretended to hug him goodnight, in an attempt to stab him.

Finding it odd, he frowned, but did not resist, having unconditional trust in his pure and lovely sister. Furthermore, even if she did stab him, he doubted he would die from it.

When the blade pierced his heart, surprising him, as he coughed up blood, he wondered if he would survive the test let alone pass it. As his vision darkened and he lost consciousness, he soon felt his body jolt, as he reappeared in front the Phoenix, still in the trial ground.

"Congratulations on passing. You have shown your benevolence and righteous heart. As agreed, I will grant you my remaining legacy. You shall have these remaining drops of Origin Blood, my Origin Essence and Soul Essence. I will also grant you two Divine Phoenix Pellets, as anymore will not be beneficial. Their boost in fire affinity will not be too useful, however they should allow you to, with the aid of my inheritance, reach the Sovereign Profound Realm. After that, I will give you a month to learn and comprehend the 5th and 6th stages of the World Ode. Here."

Golden drops of blood and some energy quickly flew into his body, merging with him and purifying and fortifying his body, bloodline and his veins. His body seemed to be singing in joy at the addition, his Phoenix mark on his forehead turning golden. His body was covered in raging crimson flames that released a rather gentle aura, reminiscent of the Phoenix's healing/rebirth attributes to its flame.

Soon after, the flames died down and his aura increased to the 8th level of the Tyrant Profound Realm. Soon after, he quickly swallowed the two pills gifted by the Phoenix and his cultivation broke through once again, finally reaching the first level of the Sovereign Profound Realm.

Having done so, he reached out and received the jade piece containing the final two stages of the World Ode of the Phoenix. An hour later, he had already finished comprehending the two, thanks to his monstrous comprehension and his extremely strong foundation in the first four stages, having comprehended them thoroughly over the years growing up with very little else to do. Although he had his sister and the love and affection of his parents and grandfather, he was rather restricted, especially compared to his elder brothers.

His cultivation had risen considerably over a short period of time, and so not only did he need to stabilise it, but he also wanted to stabilise and improve his domain.

For the next month Feng Xiyang not only stabilised his cultivation and domain, but he went even further, combining his Golden Crow Flames with his Phoenix Flames, and even merging the two to with his lightning profound energy to form an extremely powerful and unique domain.

Having used up the remaining time, he was sent out of the trial grounds, however before he left he questioned the Phoenix regarding the villagers and their curse. The Phoenix answered morosely, and revealed the method to unsealing them. Happy with all his gains and the additional information, Feng Xiyang left the trial grounds quickly.

When he reappeared back in the village, he was immediately surrounded by interested villagers, some hopeful that he may have found a way to relive them of their curse, for no other reason than pure desperation.

"Hell everyone! Thank you for letting me enter the trial grounds. I have spoken to the Phoenix spirit, and she has also told me how to remove your curse."

The village was so silent you could almost hear their heartbeats. The villagers were shocked, unsure if they were dreaming, and some began tearing up. Soon enough, one person broke down, leading to a chain reaction as many knelt down crying.

The older man who had led Feng Xiyang to the trials before stepped forward and thanked him.

"Thank you, benefactor. Please can you help us remove the curse, we will repay you in any way we can."

The man was kneeling as he spoke, causing Feng Xiyang to quickly lift him up and speak, "Worry not, we are all kin. All of you line up, it is a rather easy process."

Having said so, they all quickly lined up as he washed their cursed seals with his Phoenix flames, purging them. By the afternoon, he had finally finished helping the entire village, and was soon dragged to a celebratory feast. Finding everything novel and exciting, Feng Xiyang was more than happy to go along with the villagers whims.

The next morning however, he bade the village farewell, deciding to explore a few more areas of the blue wind area while he was there, before returning home.