Xiao Ming's words hung in the air for a while with a chilly silence. The Shadow Phoenix's will turned its blazing gaze upon him, its crimson eyes narrowing as though to pierce through his very soul. The void surrounding them grew heavy with an overwhelming sense of foreboding.
"Very well, Little Child," the Shadow Phoenix intoned, its voice reverberating through the trial space like the tolling of a great bell. "The next trial is not one of mere strength or skill. This will test the essence of your existence, the core of your understanding of life and death."
Xiao Ming's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, but he maintained his calm expression. However, within his heart, a ripple of anxiety coursed through him, yet his unyielding will refused to falter.
