The eerie calm after the battle was palpable. As the dark cultivators lay defeated, Li Tian stood tall amidst the debris of their bodies. His heart still pounded with adrenaline from Crisis Mode, but his focus was razor-sharp. The system had granted him another powerful technique, and that meant the challenges ahead were only going to intensify.
Zheng Wei approached him cautiously, her eyes filled with admiration but also a hint of concern. She had witnessed his overwhelming display of power, but the way the system had pushed him beyond his usual limits left her worried.
"You fought like a god out there," she said softly, stopping just in front of him.
Li Tian gave her a nod, but his expression remained serious. "It wasn't enough. Whoever sent those assassins won't stop until I'm dead. They're getting more aggressive."
Zheng Wei sighed. "We'll be ready for them. Whatever comes, we'll face it together."
The way she said "together" carried a deep sense of loyalty and love. Li Tian looked into her eyes, realizing that their relationship had grown far beyond what it used to be. He felt a warmth inside him, something beyond power and ambition—something more human.
Before he could respond, the system interrupted.
[New Quest: Seek out the Ancient Sect of the Phoenix. Discover the true potential of the Phoenix Flame Strike technique.]
[Reward: Advanced Phoenix Mastery and Unknown Treasure.]
Li Tian glanced at Zheng Wei, then back at the mountain range ahead. "The system is guiding me toward something called the Phoenix Sect. I need to master the new technique."
Zheng Wei nodded, gripping her spear. "Then we better start moving."
The two set off once again, their steps quick and deliberate. The journey ahead seemed perilous, but both were confident. They moved in silence, only the sounds of the wind and the distant cries of wild creatures filling the air as they trekked through the mountainous terrain.
Hours passed before they finally reached the entrance to a secluded valley. A grand stone gate stood before them, towering and ancient, with the symbol of a phoenix engraved on it. As they approached, the gate began to glow faintly, and an overwhelming energy emanated from within.
"This must be the place," Li Tian muttered, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.
Zheng Wei felt the intensity of the aura surrounding the entrance. "The energy here… it's almost suffocating. Whatever's inside, it's not ordinary."
Li Tian took a deep breath, his mind already calculating the risks and rewards. He had faced numerous threats, but this place felt different. Ancient. Alive.
"Let's go," he said, stepping forward confidently.
As they entered the valley, they were greeted by an enormous courtyard. The remnants of old buildings and statues of phoenixes adorned the space, but it was clear the sect had long been abandoned. In the center of the courtyard stood a massive, dormant phoenix statue, its stone wings stretched out as if ready to take flight.
Before they could explore further, the air shifted around them. From the shadows, figures began to materialize—ghostly remnants of what once were the warriors of the Phoenix Sect. They moved with a silent grace, their spectral forms crackling with energy as they surrounded Li Tian and Zheng Wei.
"So, it's a trial," Li Tian whispered to himself, drawing his sword. He had expected a challenge, but this would be a true test of the new technique.
The ghosts charged at them, and Li Tian didn't hesitate. His body surged with power as he activated the Phoenix Flame Strike for the first time. The energy within him ignited like a raging fire, and as he swung his sword, it erupted with brilliant orange flames.
The air around him burned, and with one powerful slash, a wave of fire surged forward, engulfing several of the ghostly warriors in an inferno. Their forms disintegrated in the flames, leaving nothing but faint whispers behind.
Zheng Wei fought alongside him, her spear moving like a blur as she fended off the spectral attacks. But it was clear that the Phoenix Flame Strike was on a different level. Every time Li Tian unleashed the technique, the battlefield erupted in flames, overwhelming their enemies.
However, the ghosts kept coming. For every one that fell, two more took its place.
"This won't end unless we take out the source," Li Tian shouted over the chaos. His eyes focused on the dormant phoenix statue. It was the center of the energy field around them. Whatever was controlling these spirits was connected to that statue.
Zheng Wei nodded, and together they pushed through the remaining ghosts, fighting their way toward the statue.
As they neared, the statue began to glow, and a low rumbling filled the air. The stone phoenix's eyes lit up with fiery brilliance, and the ground beneath them shook. The temperature in the valley skyrocketed, and flames began to swirl around the statue, forming a vortex of fire and energy.
"This is it," Li Tian said, his voice steady despite the intensity of the moment.
Without hesitation, he raised his sword, channeling all the power of the Phoenix Flame Strike into one final attack. His aura flared to life, and the flames around him grew brighter and hotter. With a deafening roar, he brought his sword down, unleashing a torrent of fire directly at the phoenix statue.
The impact was immediate.
The flames collided with the statue, and for a brief moment, the entire valley was engulfed in blinding light. The energy surged through the air, and the ghosts around them vanished in an instant, their forms dissipating into nothingness.
When the light finally faded, the phoenix statue stood cracked and broken, the fiery vortex gone. Silence fell over the valley once more.
[Quest Complete: Discover the true potential of the Phoenix Flame Strike.]
[Reward: Advanced Phoenix Mastery and Sacred Phoenix Feather.]
Li Tian exhaled, his body relaxing as the system delivered his reward. He reached out to catch the feather that materialized in the air before him, its brilliant red and gold coloring shimmering in the sunlight.
"A sacred treasure," Zheng Wei said, awe in her voice as she looked at the feather. "With this, your power will only grow."
Li Tian nodded, his fingers brushing against the feather's surface. "This is just the beginning."
The system chimed in once again.
[New Quest: Return to the Li Family Estate. An unknown force has been detected approaching your home.]
Li Tian's eyes darkened. He had just finished one trial, but now another challenge awaited him. Something was threatening his family, and it was time to return home.
"We need to go back," he said to Zheng Wei, already preparing to leave the valley. "Something's coming."
With no time to waste, they turned and headed back toward the Li family estate, their pace quickened by the looming threat.