Phoenix Trial

A few minutes later, Phoenix village appeared in Takashi's sight. The place is not big, even smaller than Yun Che's hometown Floating Cloud City, which is considered to be the most backward place on Profound Sky Continent.

The villagers here are part of the hidden Phoenix clan, but compared to the cultivators in the Divine Phoenix Empire, the strongest empire on this continent, they are far behind. Cursed by the Phoenix to never achieve a Realm above the tenth level of Elementary Profound Realm, due to a past inheritor who went against the words of the Phoenix spirit. The members of the Phoenix clan are living a miserable life here, hidden from the outside world.

Not that Takashi cares about these people, without paying attention to them, he opened up the protective barrier around the village with his strength. The clan members noticed the commotion and panicked briefly. Feng Baichuan the leader of the clan hurriedly ran out of his home, ready to meet this unwelcome visitor. When he saw Takashi floating in the air, he knew that this is at least a Sky Profound Realm cultivator, because only those who achieved that realm can break free from the limits of earth and fly freely in the skies like an eagle. (xD this sentence)

'How did such a strong person find this place? And why is he here?'

Feng Baichuan is feeling anxious, because, without the protective barrier, their whole clan is completely helpless in the face of the beasts in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range. Their tenth level Elementary Profound Realm cultivation will also play no role against the robber gangs hidden in this area. Bowing his head, he asked cautiously.

"Senior, may I ask why you are here?"

Takashi, who had been scanning the area, looking for the entrance of the Phoenix trial was interrupted by Feng Baichuan's words.

"I am here to take the trial."

"No, you can't!"

Hearing what Takashi is going to do, the clan leader was unable to control his words. He regretted it instantly. This world pays high attention to the difference between strong and weak. One inappropriate word may result in the doom of oneself. Fearfully glancing at the floating Takashi, he was relieved when he saw that there was no anger on his face.

Having no desire to pay attention to these people, Takashi completely ignored them and moved to the entrance of the trial he had just scouted out.

Feng Baichuan could only helplessly watch him breaking the formation and walking in. They are deeply afraid of the Phoenix spirit and since the time their ancestor had sinned, they had hidden here, trying to prevent anyone from entering the trial. Only now did he understand, that with their strength they are not qualified to stop anyone at all.

Without hesitation, Takashi stepped into the training ground. What awaits him here is endless darkness with no source of light in sight.

Knowing what awaits him here, Takashi patiently stood still. Twenty seconds later golden lights appeared above him forming the image of two bird eyes, of course much more majestic than ordinary ones.

The eyes observed him for a moment, before a divine and ancient voice sounded in Takashi's ears.

"You are a very strange human. There is no profound energy in your body, but I feel that you are very strong. But how strong exactly I can't tell at all. This is the first time that I am unable to judge the strength of someone.

And your aura...how is this even possible?"

There was a bit of shock in the voice of the Phoenix. It is an extremely ancient creature, after all, having lived from the era of Gods to the present, it has experienced too much. Even if it is only the immortal soul, some wisdom and a little part of the divine power of the original Primordial Phoenix, it still has the most important memories of it. Now there is a human being on this planet in the lower realm it can't see through.

'It makes sense for the spirit to be perplexed, Kratos is a multiverse level being after all. His aura is not something even the strongest ancient gods in this world can ever hope to compare to.'

Takashi was calm about the situation, Kratos aura is already an insurmountable obstacle for the Phoenix not to mention the chat group. Quickly getting into his role, Takashi is ready to pass this trial in the most efficient way possible.

Communicating with the chat group in his mind, Takashi gave up part of the mental protection it gave him and allowed the Phoenix to view his memories. Of course, they were modified. He showed the life of the original Uchiha Takashi before he took over his body and then how he fell into a space crack to an ancient battlefield, where he fought hard to survive and gradually rose in strength until he fell into another space crack and ended up in this world.

"Greetings Phoenix Spirit. These things are not important. I would like to take part in your trial."

The spirit quickly calmed down, hearing that Takashi is interested in the trial it felt a bit of joy. This trial was originally set up in the hope of finding a worthy inheritor and Takashi is exactly what it had hoped for. (Neither humble nor arrogant, with a gentlemanly demeanour)

Although it only managed to see snippets of Takashi's memories, what it saw shocked it. Different worlds and the cruelty of the battlefield where the young Takashi had ended up. But he never gave up helping others in need, always maintaining a noble character.

It thought for a moment and continued speaking in its divine but pleasant voice.

"You can participate in the trial, but I deem the first two trials unnecessary in your case. Although I can't see through your strength, your aura shows me that you have been through many cruel battlefields, so there is no need for me to conduct strength tests.

You only need to complete the third trial. If you succeed I will pass on everything I have to you."

It concealed the fact that it read his memories. Nobody would like such a thing after all and because it judged him to be the perfect inheritor, it didn't want to have a crack in their relationship.

In fact, the Phoenix thought that even the third trial is not actually needed for him, but to prevent Takashi from being suspicious it still let him take it. The Phoenix is sure that he will succeed anyway.

This was what Takashi meant in passing the trial with the most efficient method possible. The third trial is no problem for him either. The Primordial Phoenix is a noble beast with a righteous character. As long as he fulfils the requirements and shows the same traits in himself it's easy to pass.

"Alright let's start."

In the next moment, the eyes above him disappeared and his surrounding changed to a desolate land full of blood and corpses. He recognized it immediately, this was one of the places he had the showed the Phoenix.

'So it's about her.'

And sure enough, a beautiful woman appeared behind him. She had long black hair, feminine facial features and sky-blue eyes. She walked up to him and hugged him tightly. Takashi played along, letting her hug him but he looked calm.

"Lisa..."

Lisa is the lover Takashi had created for himself in his memories. They had gone through a lot together on the battlefield and eventually fell in love with each other, but the happy times did not last long, because she got killed due to his mistake, making him extremely depressed and full of guilt.

"Why? Why didn't you save me? Do you not love me?"

Her voice was full of blame and there was a blade in her hand. Without hesitation, she stabbed at his heart with it. Takashi could dodge this blow easily, but instead, he removed all defences on his body and let her kill him.

"If I can die in your hands, I am happy Lisa."

His smile was calm and there was no regret on his face, as if he had come into peace with his past. Blood spilt from his body and his breathing became weaker until the illusion dissipated. The smile on his face was still there though, as he stared blankly ahead.

"You could have dodged her attack easily, why did you not do it?"

"I understand that this should be a test for my character, I just acted like I think is right.

I have blamed myself in the past, but a man can't stay down. Let the past be the past and become powerful enough to never lose someone again."

The Phoenix voice sounded in his ears again and he answered calmly with a long sigh.

'Man my acting is definitely world-class.'

"How did you know about her? Did you read my memories?"

There was no blame in his voice, he just sounded a bit tired.

"Forgive me for this. But you are definitely worthy of being my inheritor.

As promised I will give you everything I have..."

Takashi was silent for a moment and then said slowly.

"Thank you."