Morning came without notice. In the cave, Leng Chen opened his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. He looked around, momentarily confused. "Where is this…? Oh, right. I'm still in the Consciousness World."
As his thoughts settled, a calm voice spoke from behind him, startling him.
"Good morning. Feeling better?"
Leng Chen spun around, instantly on guard. Standing silently behind him was Phoenix, its gaze steady and composed.
"Uh… morning." He replied awkwardly, then quickly checked his wounds. "Better, I think. But it'd be great if I had some of those fruits…"
"Fruits?" Phoenix asked, tilting its head slightly. "What fruits?"
Leng Chen described them eagerly. "They're shaped like acorns, but bright red like tomatoes. They taste sweet and sour."
Phoenix nodded in understanding. "Ah, you mean Red Oak Fruits. They only grow in the territory of the Shadow Moss Beasts."
"Shadow Moss Beasts? Are those the moss-covered ape-like creatures?" Leng Chen asked tentatively.
Phoenix glanced at him and replied matter-of-factly, "Yes. Let me guess—you were caught stealing their fruits and got chased all the way here?"
Leng Chen scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Uh… yeah. That's pretty much it. I ran for my life after that."
"Ran for your life? From what?" Phoenix asked, its tone curious.
"That massive… thing!" Leng Chen exclaimed. "It was at least thirty meters tall! It nearly crushed me!"
Hearing this, Phoenix chuckled lightly. "Thirty meters? That wasn't the leader. Just a gatekeeper. It probably chased you because it feared punishment from its true master."
Leng Chen stared in disbelief. "What? That giant wasn't the leader? Then how terrifying is the real leader?"
Phoenix's voice grew calm again. "True leaders—lords, as we call them—aren't just about size or strength. They're also wise. Only creatures with both great power and intelligence can ascend to lord status."
"Lords?" Leng Chen echoed, intrigued. "Are there other ranks, too?"
Phoenix turned to look at him, its sharp gaze unwavering. "You don't know about ranks? Doesn't your kind classify creatures?"
Leng Chen's heart skipped a beat. He thought quickly, "Of course I don't know—I'm not from this world! But if I say that, who knows how it'll react? Better to keep things vague for now." With a forced smile, he said, "Well… we don't really have powerful creatures back home, so there's no need for ranks."
Phoenix didn't seem entirely convinced but didn't press further. "Strange. The southern lands are said to be teeming with dangerous beings. It's hard to imagine there's nothing there. But… everyone has their secrets."
Phoenix continued, "Here, creatures are divided into six ranks: Ordinary, Elite, Gatekeeper, Lord, God, and Transcendent. Ordinary is self-explanatory. Elite creatures can overpower dozens of Ordinary ones. Gatekeepers undergo a qualitative transformation, evolving into forms that reflect their inner will. Lords awaken fully to their consciousness, mastering their true power. Gods merge their soul and consciousness into one, forging unique primal forces. As for Transcendents… that's a realm of legend. Few even believe they exist."
Leng Chen listened intently, his mind racing. "If that's the case, the so-called 'followers' I encountered must surpass even the Transcendent rank…" His thoughts spiraled until Phoenix's voice broke through.
"In the hills behind this cave, I planted some fruits long ago using my power. They have excellent healing properties," Phoenix said.
"Really? That's great!" Leng Chen said, brightening.
"Follow me," Phoenix said, already heading deeper into the cave.
Leng Chen quickly followed. Soon, they reached a fork in the path, with four branching tunnels ahead. Phoenix walked decisively into the first tunnel on the right, and Leng Chen trailed closely.
The tunnel was pitch black, but then small orbs of orange flame appeared, floating serenely in the air around Phoenix. The flames illuminated the path, their gentle flicker casting dancing shadows on the walls.
Leng Chen couldn't help but marvel at the sight. "Are these flames… the legendary Phoenix Fire?"
Phoenix glanced back at him with a faint smirk. "These? No, just a bit of fire I conjured with my consciousness. Nothing special. Why would I waste true Phoenix Fire on lighting the way? Hurry up—we're almost there."
"Oh, right! Got it!" Leng Chen replied, quickening his pace. "I wonder what kind of fruit it is this time. Can't wait to see…"