Phoenix Rising in the Eternal Abyss

Lian Yu ascended.

Step after step, the Dragon's Gate Trial crushed down upon her, yet the fiery energy surging through her body countered the weight, pushing back against the mountain's will.

Her breath came sharp and uneven, but she forced herself forward. There was no stopping. There was no turning back.

She heard the voices around her—some shocked, some awed, some resentful.

"A Heavenly Phoenix Body… in the Black Dragon Sect?"

"What kind of luck is this? Even the major sects would fight for someone like her!"

"She was just a nobody a moment ago, now look at her!"

Jiang Xue's hands curled into fists at the murmurs, her amber eyes darkening.

"So what?! It's just a rare body type! It doesn't mean she's strong!"

Her words carried, but no one responded. The entire sect had seen it—Lian Yu had broken through the weight of the trial as if it had no hold over her anymore.

That was not something an ordinary cultivator could do.

Even Wu Yilan, who was usually unreadable, was watching with keen interest.

Jiang Yuefeng was grinning from ear to ear. "Tch, little Lian, you really know how to surprise people! First surviving the abyss, now a Heavenly Phoenix Body? If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I'd call it a joke."

At the highest platform, Xie Wushen remained silent, his gaze fixed on the girl who shouldn't have made it this far.

The Heavenly Phoenix Body—one of the rarest divine constitutions in existence. It was said that those who possessed it were blessed by the flames of heaven, immune to the natural laws of suppression.

And here it was, in this unassuming young lady.

The incense stick burned lower.

Lian Yu could see the final steps ahead, but her body still screamed in protest.

Even if the trial's weight no longer crushed her, the sheer physical exhaustion of climbing had taken its toll.

Her clothes were drenched in sweat, her muscles felt like they were on fire, and her vision blurred slightly with every step.

Just a little more.

She exhaled, pressing forward—

And suddenly, the world shifted.

The stairs beneath her vanished, and she found herself falling into endless blackness.

Lian Yu gasped. Illusion?

Before she could react, a voice—deep, ancient, and filled with power—spoke directly into her mind.

"You who walk the Phoenix's path… prove yourself to the Dragon's Will."

A roar echoed through the void.

Then, before her, a colossal black dragon emerged from the darkness, its golden eyes burning with a challenge.

Lian Yu barely had time to register what was happening before the beast lunged.

Its claws slashed toward her, sharp as blades, aimed directly for her chest.

Instinct screamed at her to move—but she had never fought something like this before.

The little phoenix within her dantian stirred, its warmth flooding her limbs.

Move.

Lian Yu twisted just in time, the dragon's claws narrowly missing her as she rolled to the side, flames erupting at her feet to steady her.

Her heart pounded.

This wasn't just a test of endurance.

This was a trial of will.

The Black Dragon Sect's legacy was built on strength, on proving oneself before the ancient dragon spirits of the mountain.

And this dragon was testing her.

Lian Yu gritted her teeth.

Then I'll prove myself.

She charged forward.

The dragon roared, and Lian Yu answered with fire.

Golden flames erupted from her palm as she threw a strike towards its chest. The dragon's eyes flashed in recognition—it had seen this flame before.

It hesitated for only a second.

And that was enough.

Lian Yu's flames surged forward, clashing with the beast's dark energy, splitting the illusion apart—

And just like that, she was back on the steps.

She stumbled, her heart racing, but the final stair was right there.

With one last push, she stepped onto the peak of the Dragon's Gate.

The incense burned out.

Silence.

Then—

The crowd erupted.

"She did it!"

"She passed!"

"She reached the top before the incense burned out!"

Jiang Xue looked like she had swallowed a lemon, her face pale with shock.

Jiang Yuefeng let out a loud whistle, slapping his knee. "Now that was dramatic! Hah, little Lian, I knew you had it in you!"

Wu Yilan simply smiled.

Then—Xie Wushen spoke.

"The trial is over."

Silence fell again as his voice carried across the platform.

He turned, his red eyes finally meeting Lian Yu's for the first time.

For a moment, his gaze was unreadable.

Then—

"From this day forward, Lian Yu is a disciple of the Black Dragon Sect."

The air seemed to freeze.

Then, all at once, the disciples bowed.

"Welcome to the sect."

Lian Yu stood at the top of the stairs, her entire body aching—

But she had done it.

She had won.

She collapsed to the ground, her body finally surrendering to exhaustion.

Her limbs trembled, her breath came in ragged gasps, but she had done it—she had reached the top.

She didn't notice, but Xie Wushen's fingers twitched, his hand moving ever so slightly, as if—for the briefest moment—he intended to help her up.

But then—

"Little Lian! You did it!"

Jiang Yuefeng's voice rang out, his golden figure appearing beside her in a blur as he leapt up from the courtyard below. He knelt beside her, grinning as he reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"I knew I had a good feeling about you!"

Tch.

Xie Wushen's jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists before he abruptly turned away, his crimson eyes darkening.

Without another word, he vanished into the mist.

Jiang Yuefeng blinked after him, tilting his head. "Huh? What's wrong with Boss?" He frowned for a moment, then shrugged.

"Ah, whatever."

He turned back to Lian Yu, his grin returning as he lifted her up effortlessly, throwing one of her arms over his shoulder to steady her.

"Come on, little Lian. Let's get you inside. You're officially one of us now."

With his steady support, Lian Yu took her first step deeper into the Black Dragon Sect.

—x—

The murmurs of the gathered disciples still buzzed behind them as Jiang Yuefeng guided Lian Yu past the trial's platform.

Every step felt heavy, exhaustion weighing down on her bones, but she refused to show weakness. The moment she entered the Black Dragon Sect as a disciple, the real battle had only just begun.

As they moved through the entrance halls, she caught glimpses of the sect's grandeur. Towering stone pillars, carved with dragon motifs, loomed over the walkways. The walls pulsed faintly with residual formation energy, the protective enchantments humming in the air.

Despite its fearsome reputation, the Black Dragon Sect was beautiful in its own way—not polished and elegant like the White Cloud Sect, but powerful, untamed, and ancient.

Lian Yu barely had the strength to admire it as Jiang Yuefeng led her through a maze of corridors, eventually stopping at an open courtyard where a row of new recruits stood.

"Looks like you made it just in time," he said, nodding toward the gathering of freshly accepted disciples.

Lian Yu followed his gaze, her chest tightening at the sight.

Most of them were tall, strong, and radiated confidence—some even seemed to be at the Core Formation realm already. They were from noble clans, talented cultivators who had entered the sect through influence and prestige.

Compared to them, she was an outsider, a nobody.

Jiang Yuefeng must have sensed her tension because he nudged her lightly. "Relax, little Lian. This sect is built on strength, not status. You've already proved yourself."

She exhaled, and relaxed slightly. He was right.

She hadn't just passed the trial—she had done so in a way no one could ignore.

And yet—

"Hah. I can't believe she's standing here with us."

Lian Yu turned toward the speaker, her expression hardening.

Jiang Xue.

The girl stood with her arms crossed, her amber eyes brimming with irritation.

"You lucked out with that body type of yours," she sneered. "If not for your precious Heavenly Phoenix Body, you would've collapsed on the first step."

Lian Yu met her gaze evenly.

She was too tired to argue, but she wouldn't lower her head.

Jiang Xue stepped forward, closing the space between them.

"I hope you don't think you're special now," she whispered, her voice low enough that only Lian Yu could hear. "This isn't over. I'll make sure you don't forget your place."

Lian Yu's lips curled in a small, defiant smirk.

"Then you'd better try harder," she murmured back.

Jiang Xue's eyes flashed with irritation, but before she could retort, Wu Yilan entered the courtyard, her presence immediately silencing the chatter.

"Enough. New disciples, line up."

Without another word, the recruits straightened, standing in rigid formation.

Wu Yilan's cold gaze swept over them.

"You have been accepted into the Black Dragon Sect," she said. "But do not mistake this for mercy."

Her voice rang sharp and clear.

"The Black Dragon Sect does not waste resources on the weak. If you cannot keep up, you will be cast out. If you cannot prove your worth, you will be forgotten."

Her icy glare landed on Lian Yu for the briefest moment before moving on.

Lian Yu's hands clenched at her sides. She understood the message well enough. She had passed the trial, but her fight to survive in this sect had only begun.

Wu Yilan continued, "From today forward, you will train under the guidance of the senior disciples and elders. Your first task as official members of the sect is to undergo your first combat assessment. Those who fail will start at the lowest ranking and will have to claw their way up. The sect does not grant prestige to those who do not earn it."

Lian Yu barely had a chance to process her words before another figure entered the courtyard. A stern-looking elder, dressed in dark robes lined with silver, stepped forward with a list in his hands.

He eyed the group before announcing, "Pairings for the first combat test will be decided now. These battles will determine your starting rank within the sect."

Lian Yu's stomach tightened. A combat test? Already? She had barely recovered from the trial.

Her exhaustion, still fresh in her muscles, was screaming at her to rest. But rest was a luxury she couldn't afford.

The elder continued calling names, the tension in the air thickening with every pair announced.

Then—

"Jiang Xue versus Lian Yu."

A hush fell over the courtyard.

Lian Yu's head snapped toward Jiang Xue, whose smirk returned full force.

"Oh," Jiang Xue said smoothly, rolling her shoulders as she stepped forward. "This will be fun."

Jiang Yuefeng hesitated before releasing his grip, and the moment he did, Lian Yu staggered slightly, her balance unsteady without his support.

Inside her dantian, the little phoenix stirred, letting out an irritated chirp as if scolding her for overexerting herself.

A soft golden glow radiated from the tiny bird, and suddenly, wisps of pure Qi flowed from it, threading into Lian Yu's veins like warm sunlight melting through ice.

Her exhaustion faded in an instant. Strength returned to her limbs, her breathing steadied, and the heavy fatigue washed away as if it had never existed.

As the last traces of weariness left her, the little phoenix yawned, ruffling its feathers before letting out a series of soft, satisfied chirps. Then, with a gentle flick of its wings, it curled up inside her dantian and drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Thank you, little phoenix. Lian Yu smiled inwardly, her heart warm with gratitude. I won't forget your kindness today.

Before she could reflect any further—

"Let's begin!"

The moment the elder's voice rang out, Jiang Xue struck.

Her movement was swift, precise, a blur of amber and silver as she closed the distance between them in an instant.

Lian Yu barely had time to react before a fist wreathed in golden qi came hurtling toward her ribs.

Her instincts screamed—move!

At the last second, she twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the full force of the strike. Even so, the pressure alone sent a sharp gust of wind past her side, the sheer difference in power undeniable.

Jiang Xue grinned.

"Faster than I expected." She pushed off the ground, launching into another attack.

Lian Yu braced herself.

A barrage of blows came her way—palm strikes, sweeping kicks, sharp, controlled movements that showed Jiang Xue was no ordinary fighter.

Lian Yu ducked, weaved, and blocked as best as she could, but her body was still sluggish, her moves not nearly as refined as Jiang Xue's were.

Jiang Xue was toying with her.

"Come on, little phoenix," Jiang Xue sneered, her golden eyes flashing with amusement. "You were making such a scene during the trial. Where's all that power now?"

Lian Yu grit her teeth. She knew why her strength wasn't responding properly.

The Heavenly Phoenix Body granted immense potential, but she hadn't yet trained in controlling the qi it generated. She could feel the golden flames within her dantian, but without technique, without understanding, she couldn't wield it properly.

She needed time.

Jiang Xue wasn't going to give it to her.

A burst of force erupted from the ground as Jiang Xue pivoted and aimed a devastating kick toward Lian Yu's midsection.

Lian Yu barely managed to raise her arms in defense before the impact sent her skidding back.

The watching disciples murmured.

"She's losing."

"Figures. The trial was just luck."

"Jiang Xue is too strong for a newbie."

Lian Yu's fingers dug into the ground as she halted herself, forcing her breathing to steady.

Focus. Adapt. Fight.

Jiang Xue smirked, rolling her shoulders. "Tired already? I was hoping for more."

Lian Yu exhaled slowly. Then, she closed her eyes.

The flames inside her flickered.

The little phoenix stirred, its warmth coiling through her veins like a second heartbeat.

Jiang Xue frowned. "What are you—"

Lian Yu's eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with golden embers.

Jiang Xue barely had time to react before Lian Yu moved—this time, faster than before.

She surged forward, closing the gap in an instant, her body suddenly light, fluid like fire in the wind.

Jiang Xue's instincts flared, but it was too late.

Lian Yu countered with a strike of her own—an open palm, wreathed in shimmering golden flame.

Jiang Xue blocked instinctively, but the moment their energies clashed, her expression twisted in shock.

The impact sent her reeling back, her body jolting as the lingering heat of phoenix qi clashed violently with her own golden energy.

"What—?!"

The audience gasped.

"She turned it around!"

"What was that move?"

"She's not just fast—her qi is disrupting Jiang Xue's attacks!"

Jiang Yuefeng whistled from the sidelines. "Oh? Looks like she's finally getting serious."

Lian Yu didn't hesitate.

She had no proper technique, no true martial mastery—but what she did have was instinct.

Adaptation.

She had spent years watching disciples train from the shadows, memorizing patterns, movements, weaknesses.

Jiang Xue's fighting style was powerful, but predictable. She relied on overpowering her opponents with refined techniques and superior qi control.

Lian Yu couldn't match that power yet. But she didn't need to — She would burn through it instead.

Jiang Xue's eyes narrowed, her irritation evident.

"Not bad," she admitted. Then, with a flick of her wrist, golden qi flared around her hands like twin dragon fangs. "But you're still beneath me."

The courtyard hummed with tension as the two girls squared off.

Jiang Xue's golden qi flared, the air crackling with raw energy, while Lian Yu's golden flames flickered around her, their warmth coiling through her limbs like a living force.

The onlookers murmured, their eyes locked onto the battle.

"That flame… it's different. It's not just ordinary qi."

"But Jiang Xue is still stronger. She's already late-stage Qi Condensation."

"That newbie won't last much longer."

Jiang Xue's smirk sharpened, her confidence unwavering.

"You got one lucky hit, little phoenix," she said, cracking her knuckles. "Let's see if you can survive the next."

She vanished.

Lian Yu's eyes widened.

A blur of gold shot toward her, a gust of wind whipping past her as Jiang Xue's movement technique accelerated her forward in an instant.

Lian Yu barely had time to raise her guard before a palm strike crashed into her ribs, sending a shockwave through her body. She stumbled back, coughing as heat spread through her chest.

Jiang Xue didn't stop. Her figure twisted mid-air, her leg spinning into a vicious roundhouse kick.

Too fast!

Lian Yu threw up her arms in a desperate block—

Boom!

The impact sent her skidding across the stone platform, her feet scraping against the rough surface as she struggled to hold her ground.

The crowd cheered, Jiang Xue's supporters grinning.

"She's done."

"Jiang Xue's combat techniques are too refined."

"The phoenix girl won't last."

Jiang Xue exhaled sharply, lowering her stance, her amber eyes burning with fierce amusement.

"See? Strength is more than just luck." She took a slow step forward, her voice mocking. "You can have a rare body type, but if you don't know how to use it, it's worthless."

Lian Yu steadied herself, wiping the blood from her lip. Her breathing was uneven, but she was still standing. She closed her eyes for a brief moment.

She could feel the little phoenix stirring inside her dantian, the warmth of its golden qi flickering within her like an unburnt flame.

It wasn't gone.

She just wasn't drawing from it properly.

Lian Yu's fingers curled, and this time, instead of just letting the power flow, she willed it forth. The golden fire surged to life, licking at her fingertips, coiling up her arms like living embers.

Jiang Xue's expression darkened.

"Finally taking this seriously?"

Lian Yu lifted her gaze—and for the first time, her golden eyes glowed. The heat spiked, the pressure around her shifted—and in the next instant, she moved.

Faster than before.

Jiang Xue's smirk vanished.

Lian Yu was in front of her in an instant.

Her fist—wreathed in pure phoenix flame—slammed toward Jiang Xue's core.

Boom!

Jiang Xue barely twisted out of the way, the flames grazing her side, leaving a burning scorch on her sleeve.

Her eyes widened in shock—not because of the strength of the attack, but because—

Her qi was unstable.

Lian Yu's flames weren't just strong—they were disrupting Jiang Xue's energy flow.

Jiang Xue's footing wavered for a fraction of a second—and Lian Yu seized the moment.

She twisted her body, using the momentum to send a flaming kick toward Jiang Xue's shoulder.

Jiang Xue barely blocked in time, her arms shaking as the impact pushed her back.

The crowd gasped.

"She—she forced Jiang Xue back?!"

"What kind of flames are those?!"

"She's actually fighting evenly?!"

Jiang Yuefeng grinned from the sidelines.

"Oho? That's interesting…" He folded his arms. "That wasn't just a lucky attack. That was control."

Wu Yilan's sharp eyes narrowed as she seemingly appeared in the crowd, studying Lian Yu with renewed focus.

"Not just control," she murmured. "She's adapting mid-fight."

Jiang Xue gritted her teeth, her stance tightening. Her pride burned at the murmurs around her.

A nobody—a girl with no training, no technique—was actually forcing her to fight seriously.

Unacceptable.

Jiang Xue exhaled sharply.

Then—her golden qi exploded outward, surging into the air like a burning dragon, a fierce, refined pressure slamming into the courtyard.

Lian Yu's breath caught.

This was—

"Dragon Fang Qi."

One of the Black Dragon Sect's elite techniques. Jiang Xue's expression was ice-cold now, all traces of amusement gone.

"You want to act like we're equals?" she said snidely. "Fine."

Jiang Xue vanished again and y his time, she was twice as fast.

Lian Yu barely reacted before a palm strike struck her chest, sending her crashing into the stone floor. Pain exploded through her body, her vision blurring for a moment.

Jiang Xue appeared above her in a flash, her leg descending in a finishing blow—

Lian Yu rolled away just in time, barely avoiding the impact.

Boom!

The stone cracked beneath Jiang Xue's foot. The force alone would have shattered her ribs if she had been even a second slower.

The fight was escalating fast—and if Lian Yu didn't match it, she would lose.

She gritted her teeth.

No. I won't fall here.

She forced herself up, her golden flames burning fiercer than before.

Jiang Xue's eyes narrowed, watching her carefully.

For the first time in the fight, there was hesitation in her stance.

Lian Yu smirked, "Still think I'm beneath you?"

Jiang Xue's expression twisted in frustration and she lunged, her Dragon Fang Qi coiling around her fists like twin serpents.

Lian Yu exhaled, the golden flames around her surging in response. Their energies collided.

Jiang Xue's movements were sharper, more refined. Each strike carried the weight of years of training.

Lian Yu's movements were instinctual, raw, and unpolished, yet unpredictable. She was moving on pure survival, her body adapting with every exchange.

The courtyard was silent, all eyes locked on the two combatants.

Jiang Xue attacked relentlessly—palm strikes, kicks, sharp jabs of condensed qi—each one aiming to overwhelm Lian Yu's defenses.

Lian Yu dodged, blocked, and countered where she could, but her body was slower, still unfamiliar with her own strength.

Jiang Xue saw it. She smirked, pressing forward.

"You can't keep up."

Lian Yu gritted her teeth.

Then—a mistake. Jiang Xue feinted left, but the real attack came from above—a devastating axe kick aimed at Lian Yu's shoulder.

Too late!

Lian Yu raised her arms just in time, but the impact slammed her down onto one knee. Pain shot through her body, her limbs shaking.

Jiang Xue loomed over her, eyes burning with triumph.

"It's over."

She whipped her leg back for a final strike—

And that's when Lian Yu moved. Not away. Not to defend — but to move forward.

Golden flames exploded outward as Lian Yu stepped into Jiang Xue's attack, her body twisting, palm outstretched.

Jiang Xue's eyes widened in realization—too late. Lian Yu's open palm struck Jiang Xue's core.

The moment they made contact, the golden flames flooded into Jiang Xue's qi channels, sending a violent tremor through her entire body.

Her energy staggered, disrupted—and her balance shattered. Jiang Xue stumbled back, coughing violently, her qi momentarily thrown into chaos.

The watching disciples gasped.

"She—she countered!"

"What the hell just happened?!"

"Jiang Xue's qi… it collapsed for a second?"

Jiang Xue tried to steady herself, but Lian Yu was already there. She launched one final strike—a blazing kick aimed straight at Jiang Xue's chest.

Jiang Xue crossed her arms, trying to block— Boom!

The force sent her skidding backward, her heels digging into the stone courtyard as she barely managed to stay on her feet.

Lian Yu staggered.

Her legs shook, her breathing ragged, her flames flickering weakly—but she was still standing.

Jiang Xue, panting, clenched her fists and a hush fell over the courtyard.

The elder overseeing the match stepped forward, his expression impassive but firm.

"Winner—Lian Yu."

The moment the words left his lips, the silence shattered.

Gasps. Shocked murmurs. Some disciples stared in disbelief, others exchanged looks of awe.

"She actually won?"

"Jiang Xue lost?!"

"Is this real?"

Jiang Xue's fists trembled, her face pale with disbelief.

"I… lost?"

She stared at Lian Yu, eyes burning with frustration and fury.

Lian Yu exhaled slowly, her body barely holding together.

She had won — but only by chance.

Jiang Xue hadn't even gone all out. If the match had lasted even a few moments longer, she would have lost. But a win was a win.

Jiang Yuefeng let out a low whistle from the sidelines, grinning. "Little Lian, you really don't disappoint."

Wu Yilan simply nodded, her gaze unreadable.

Jiang Xue stepped forward and the crowd fell silent again.

For a long moment, Jiang Xue just stared at her. Then, without a word, she turned on her heel and walked away.

No insult. No mocking remark. Just… silence.

Jiang Yuefeng chuckled, slinging an arm around Lian Yu's shoulders. "That's Jiang Xue's way of saying you've earned her attention. She won't say it, but she acknowledges you now."

Lian Yu raised a brow, her lips curving into a small, exhausted smirk. "Good."

As the crowds dispersed and the day's training came to an end, Lian Yu's strength finally gave out.

She barely registered the moment her knees buckled, her body tilting forward—only to be caught effortlessly.

"You did well, Little Lian."

Jiang Yuefeng's voice was gentle, his usual playful tone softened with something almost warm. He scooped her up with ease, cradling her against his chest as if she weighed nothing.

"This big brother will take you to your new room," he assured her, his golden eyes soft. "Don't worry about anything else. Just rest."

Lian Yu wanted to respond, but the exhaustion dragged at her.

The steady rise and fall of his breathing, the warmth radiating from him, settled into her aching bones like a lullaby.

She let out a soft breath, her head resting lightly against him.

And before she knew it—

She had already drifted into a deep, much-needed sleep.