[Azure Sky Realm – Crimson Hearth City – Feng State]
Feng Liuxing paused at the edge of the estate, his eyes narrowing toward a sudden rustle in the nearby underbrush. The golden light of his Phoenix aura flickered faintly, resonating with the Chaos Phoenix Fire Body within him. Yet, when he approached, the leaves swayed in empty silence. No figure, no beast—only the faint tremor of life in the forest beyond.
He exhaled slowly. "Perhaps only the wind," he murmured, though instinct told him otherwise.
The morning calm was broken by the announcement echoing from the estate:
"Attention all Feng Clan members: the Decennial Recruitment Trial will commence in one month. Every young cultivator must be prepared. Use this time wisely."
Feng's mind shifted immediately. One month. That was all the time he had to prepare before facing disciples from other sects, including the rivals he had sensed in the city. He glanced at his own status, letting the fragment within quietly hum:
[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%)]
His eyes swept the horizon. Body Forging Early Stage… not enough. He had to reach Body Forging Peak, perhaps even touch the edges of Qi Refining if he wanted any chance of matching the stronger competitors. And there was only one way: training alone, in the wild, facing real threats.
By midday, Feng had slipped past the estate's walls, entering the forest he had long avoided for casual walks. The sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns on the moss-covered ground. Every step he took was precise, controlled—each muscle tuned to the subtle pulse of Qi flowing through his Chaos Phoenix Fire Body.
A rustle to his left. A small movement in the leaves. Feng's golden aura flared just enough to alert him.
A Tier 1 Spirit Beast, a rabbit-like creature with a faint spiritual glow in its eyes, hopped into view. Its fur shimmered with a pale green light, marking it as a low-level Spirit Beast.
The rabbit charged. Feng flowed with the motion of his body, executing a series of Body Forging strikes, each movement enhanced by the faint pulse of the Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art. A shockwave rippled outward as his fist connected, sending the rabbit tumbling, dazed but not yet defeated.
It tried to flee, but Feng's next strike landed precisely. The rabbit fell, dissipating into a faint shimmer of spiritual energy—a point of experience absorbed silently by the fragment within.
Feng paused, taking a deep breath. "Beginner's prey," he murmured. The forest remained alive with unseen eyes. Every movement, every breath, was now a lesson.
Hours passed. Tier 1 after Tier 1 fell to Feng's controlled strikes. The Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art pulsed faintly stronger with each encounter, reaching 3% as dusk approached.
Then, from deeper within the forest, a low growl vibrated through the air. Feng froze, senses alert. He could feel the power signature, the weight of muscle and refined Qi, far surpassing anything he had faced today.
A shadow shifted behind the trees—a Tier 2 Low Tier Fang Wolf, its fangs glinting under the fading sunlight. Its eyes burned with cunning intelligence, far beyond the simple reflexive instincts of the Tier 1 beasts.
Feng's body tensed, the Chaos Phoenix Fire Body thrumming in response. He stepped forward, golden aura flaring just enough to signal readiness.
This one… will test me.
The forest fell silent, every leaf and twig seeming to hold its breath. Feng Liuxing stood ready, the first real challenge of his month-long training staring him down.