Begin and End

(Next Day)

Yun Che reached the trail grounds along with the people from the Clan. The atmosphere around was lively as if it was the first vacation they got to spend after the long pandemic ended.

With the people here in high spirits as they were, at last, going to witness the glory of their God's trial grounds which their ancestor has once succeeded.

They even had a hard time going to sleep when they were informed they would head to the Phoenix Trial Grounds the next day. Carry bags were conspicuous on their faces, but yet their enthusiasm was unwavering and didn't show any signs of stopping.

Yun Che spread his aura and started to inspect the place. The area was around the hilly region not far away from the Phoenix Clan.

The residual Phoenix Spirit which was in deep slumber feeling the aura suddenly opened its golden eyes and gazed at the incomers.

"Interesting..." A deep voice of an ancient beast sounded inside the trial grounds.

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(Outside the trail grounds)

Feng Baichuan calmed down the crowd who were very eager to enter and headed to the entrance intending to drop blood of his. But something surprising happened.

The entrance started glowing with a deep shade of yellow light. It was so bright that all the people present there had to shield their eyes from the glow.

Slowly, the golden light dimmed out and the entrance opened on its own.

Feng Baichuan stood there dumbfounded. He had come over here many times and had to offer his blood on entry each time to the Divine Beast. His body became frail donating all the blood. But now, it suddenly opened on its own. It's too bizarre.

It was unknown to the Phoenix People except him. So, as they were clueless, rushed into the trial grounds and were awed at the scenery ahead of them. Some of the elders started telling the kids the stories of their God while the latter was listening keenly with interest.

Feng Baichuan had a faint smile, he put all his thoughts on the back of his head and directed both Cang Yue and Yun Che to the staircase where the actual trails were held.

Feng Baichuan many times tried attempting the trail to break free of the curse but it was futile. It was not that easy to complete the trails successfully. Otherwise, their clan wouldn't be in such a dire situation all these years.

Just as before, there was a deep yellow glow and the entrance opened soon after.

Feng Baichuan instructed them to immediately give up if it was too hard. And not be stubborn enough to continue.

Cang Yue nodded and with a firm and resolved tone bid her farewell to Yun Che and entered the trail.

"We have to wait here, benefactor. At a time, Only one can go through a trail onc..."

Feng Baichuan didn't even complete speaking and the entrance opened on its own.

Yun Che leisurely walked into it.

Feng Baichuan had a wry smile on his face. He couldn't believe this was the same trail he underwent not long back.

He then prayed for their safe return and returned to his Clan members and started telling them the tales he had known so far.

Meanwhile, he also told them about his experiences facing the trails so far.

*Gulp*

All of them gulped when they heard how hard it is to pass the trial and were amazed by their ancestor.

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(Sky Poison Pearl)

The spiritual connection of the Sky Poison Pearl is cut off, so Jasmine didn't know what's currently happening.

She started earnestly praying that Yun Che will return safely.

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(Inside the Trial Ground)

Just when Yun Che stepped through the entrance, it felt as if he entered another dimension.

It was pitch black everywhere. It brought him back memories he spent in the Void of Souls.

A pair of mysterious eyes suddenly opened in the pitch-black space overhead.

These two eyes were huge, yet long and narrow; they were about the same shape as a human's eyes.

Then the body of the Phoenix deformed into that of a bird with yellow hairs.

It bent its neck and its head reached the ground not daring to look directly into Yun Che's eyes.

If the residual spirit of the Phoenix didn't identify Yun Che's true presence, then it's not even worthy of its name. Even the original Phoenix had to lower its head sensing the divinity Yun Che's body currently emanated.

"Lord, what makes you come here?" asked the Phoenix spirit in a humble tone, continuing to bow its head.

'System, why is this quest seems so easy?' asked Yun Che.

The quest he was given by his system was comparably very easy. No matter how you look at it, it's too damn easy!!

[Ding!...]

[Host, System only gives the tasks to Host which can be easily accomplished]

[System will never let Host's life be at risk in any case]

Yun Che was touched by the system of his. He once again couldn't help but feel grateful for the system he got.

[Host, Order the Phoenix Spirit to surrender its already extinguishing soul]

[Merging it with Host's soul will birth a new type of flame and can boost the spirit's vitality]

The Phoenix Spirit was about to get exhausted because It's probably a fragment and it can't continue to exist by itself. By merging with the system, it can go through the <Nirvana> so Yun Che didn't hold back and asked. It's like he is indeed doing a favor for the spirit.

The Phoenix Spirit didn't even resist and promised Yun Che to render its soul as soon as the trails are completed. It didn't matter for it if it was earlier and a little later. It gave up on its desire to live.

"Lord, do you want me to lessen the difficulty of the trail?" asked the Phoenix Spirit as it watched the difficulty Cang Yue is currently facing.

Yun Che shook his head.

Her clothes and body were half burnt and filled with scars all over. She continued to battle with her light sword.

As royalty, she was taught profound arts related to the sword. She was much interested in it so she keenly learned it. It now came to her need. Her strong will alone kept her away from the brink of collapsing.

Anyone looking at Cang Yue who's struggling in the trial grounds will garner utmost sympathy from them. Gritting her teeth, no matter how many times she fell, she never gave up.

Cang Yue somehow managed to pass the 2nd stage. And the final test which remained was the test of the soul.

Silhouette of her mother formed in front of her. If she can kill her, she was promised to be granted the bloodline which she didn't do. Thus, she passed the trails.

Even the residual Phoenix Spirit grew impressed by Cang Yue. But as Cang Yue's cultivation is way inferior, her body could only be granted with a drop of Phoenix Blood.

As for the World Ode of the Phoenix, Yun Che himself wanted to teach her. He completed merging the soul of the Phoenix and his system worked itself and filled up the incomplete part. It was not a problem.

The Residual Phoenix Spirit felt her divinity decreasing steadily and suddenly her vitality receiving a massive boost which was against her expectations. She could only thank Yun Che for his benevolence.

*****