The flow of the flames changed completely with the appearance of the golden Vermilion Bird. I stared in disbelief at the scene—the fire streaming from the white-lined gate now moved downward, as if bowing in submission to the golden Vermilion Bird, slowly passing beneath its feet. Before me, all I could see was a sea of golden fire.
The flames came from that golden Vermilion Bird—a power so overwhelming it inspired awe. Standing before it, I felt utterly insignificant. I raised a hand to shield my forehead and quietly watched the golden Vermilion Bird.
"I will honor the promise, but not now. There are things I must finish. Let me go back."
"Hahaha..."
The golden Vermilion Bird laughed. Suddenly, it spread its wings and, in an instant, golden light flooded the space. I closed my eyes, lifted my hands, and when I opened them again, the golden Vermilion Bird was gone.
"Over here."
A familiar voice sounded behind me. I turned around quickly and was stunned—the voice was so familiar because it was me. I was standing there, my whole body emitting a faint golden glow, golden eyes filled with laughter, staring right at me.
"What do you want? Let me out."
I watched warily as the golden Vermilion Bird transformed into me. Wherever it walked, the flames parted to either side, as if clearing a path for it.
"You say you'll keep your promise—but is that in seconds, minutes, days, months, or years? Decades, even?"
I let out a startled cry. This guy seemed impatient. I glanced back once more at the space behind the white-lined gate.
"But right now, I'm in trouble. I can't abandon everyone and go with you."
"Hmph. You humans—your words are often full of lies, malice, hypocrisy. Why should I trust you?"
I had no idea how to answer. Then I pointed to my own heart.
"My heart can tell you, if you can hear it."
The golden Vermilion Bird waved its hand.
"No need. I'll confirm it myself. Catch, Ethan Zhang."
As it spoke, the golden Vermilion Bird raised its hand. A cluster of fiery red appeared, and then the Phoenix Blade flew toward me. I grabbed the Phoenix Blade tightly.
Suddenly, as soon as I gripped the Phoenix Blade, I saw the golden Vermilion Bird holding a golden Phoenix Blade, charging at me. I hurriedly raised my own red Phoenix Blade to block.
Bang! The force was overwhelming—I couldn't withstand it at all. I looked around; despite the incredible power of the blow, I wasn't sent flying. Suddenly, the golden Vermilion Bird withdrew its strength after striking my Phoenix Blade.
"What exactly do you want?"
The golden Vermilion Bird didn't reply. It kept swinging the Phoenix Blade at me, blow after blow. I could only defend instinctively. Its attacks were simple—just raising the golden Phoenix Blade and chopping down at random. I gripped my Phoenix Blade with both hands, right hand on the hilt, left hand on the blade, blocking again and again.
I had no idea what this guy wanted. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore—this meaningless fighting. After blocking another strike from the golden Vermilion Bird, I let go with my left hand, gripped the Phoenix Blade with my right, and thrust it at him.
With a thunderous sound, my Phoenix Blade pierced the golden Vermilion Bird's body—but it felt like stabbing into flames, no sense of anything solid. The golden fire kept burning.
Suddenly, I felt an intense heat. I quickly let go of the Phoenix Blade. Right before my eyes, the blade melted into drops of crimson liquid, sizzling and evaporating into the air.
Suddenly, the golden Vermilion Bird raised its golden Phoenix Blade and swung it at my head. I stared in shock, but just as the blade was only a few centimeters from my neck, it stopped.
"What are you trying to do?"
I asked again.
"I told you, I would confirm it myself. I have now confirmed your resolve."
"So what's the result?"
I asked, watching the golden Vermilion Bird intently. With a wave of its hand, the golden Phoenix Blade turned into a mass of golden fire and merged into its body.
"Just like the Phoenix Blade that melted just now, so is your resolve, Ethan Zhang."
I gasped. The golden Vermilion Bird turned away, silent, its back to me. After a long pause, it finally turned around.
"Just now, why didn't you attack with the intent to kill me? You clearly could have used these flames. Why?"
I stammered.
"Aren't you a sacred spirit? Aren't you? You didn't want my life, so naturally..."
"That's nonsense, Ethan Zhang. Let me tell you, from the moment we came into existence, I've seen countless people—among them, the truly strong. Let me show you what true strength looks like."
Suddenly, the golden Vermilion Bird raised its hand. The surrounding sea of fire faded away, and an image began to appear. I stared at it.
On the edge of a cliff stood two figures. One was a giant, over two meters tall, wielding a broadsword. The other was thin and frail, holding a longsword. Both stared at each other, the mountain wind whipping their messy hair.
I looked closer. The man in white seemed familiar. I stared for a long time before realizing—it was Quinn Lee. My eyes widened in shock.
"Who do you think will win between those two?"
"Definitely Quinn Lee."
I answered immediately. After all, Quinn Lee was currently the lord of Fangyuan City, a high-ranking Blue Wraith. He must have been a formidable force even in life.
"Max Young, do you really want this? Is being called the strongest in the world really so important to you?"
Quinn Lee spoke. The giant nodded seriously, lifting his broadsword.
"Then don't blame me."
Quinn Lee charged forward. In an instant, his longsword flashed, stabbing out multiple times. The giant couldn't even defend himself—wounds appeared across his body, and he managed to block only three strikes.
"No need to keep fighting—the outcome is clear, Max Young."
But at that moment, the giant burst out laughing, wild and unrestrained.
“Hmph, Quinn Lee, you're missing something crucial that every true warrior needs. Let me tell you what it is.”
In that instant, Max Young seemed to become a different person, charging straight at Quinn Lee. After a fierce exchange, Quinn Lee still held the advantage, while Max Young gained several new wounds.
“Max Young, if you keep fighting, you'll die.”
Quinn Lee said coldly, then raised his longsword, its blade gleaming with icy light.
But at that moment, Max Young simply laughed.
“Quinn Lee, how do you know I'll die? Maybe it'll be you. Until the very end, no one can say who will win or lose!”
“Max Young, the murderous aura on you is too heavy. You've committed too many killings. Your martial skills will never improve unless you let go of your rage, only then—"
Quinn Lee's words were cut short as Max Young swung his great blade at him. Each strike was powerful, every blow filled with killing intent, aimed to end Quinn Lee's life. In contrast, Quinn Lee seemed only intent on stopping Max Young.
Suddenly, after taking a sword blow from Quinn Lee, Max Young's blade crashed down, snapping Quinn Lee's longsword. Without hesitation, Max Young swung at Quinn Lee's neck, eyes gleaming with savage delight.
In an instant, Quinn Lee completely lost his advantage and was forced into a desperate corner. As his sword broke, he knew he'd lost, standing motionless.
Just as the blade neared Quinn Lee's throat, it stopped. Max Young froze in place.
“Max Young, why? Didn’t you want to be the strongest in the world...?”
Max Young laughed, shaking his head.
“I have no interest in being the strongest. I’m only interested in you as a fellow warrior. As I expected, you’re just like the others—always talking about righteousness and morality. Nonsense! A true warrior goes all out, even against an ant. You’re not a real warrior.”
The vision vanished in an instant. In the final scene, I saw Quinn Lee looking utterly lost, his eyes filled with confusion.
“Do you understand now, Ethan Zhang?”
The golden Vermilion Bird asked. I was still immersed in the fight just now. Quinn Lee clearly had superior skill, and though Max Young was strong, he was no match for Quinn Lee—yet in the end, he defeated him.
“Do you fear it? Your own power—whether as a man or a ghost, Ethan Zhang, answer me.”
I stared blankly at the golden Vermilion Bird, then nodded. I truly feared my own power. Many times—especially after my ghost half faded—my human side was afraid. After the Second Phoenix Rebirth, the power I gained made me hesitant, holding myself back.
The golden Vermilion Bird nodded, pacing before me, then continued speaking.
“That's right. Those who do not fear their own power have no right to possess it. You know this well. But after understanding it, you became powerless. Think about it—how long has it been since you moved forward? You've been stuck, unmoving. Between your ghost self and your human self, which is truly stronger?”
I fully admitted what the golden Vermilion Bird said. My ghost self was far stronger than I am now. Back then, I was full of hope, following the plan Hu Tianshu set for me. But as a human, I was different—I feared death, as though I'd placed a restriction on myself.
“Ethan Zhang, your path is still long. This time, you will die if you keep this mindset. If you keep using your power so rationally, tell me—how can a sharp blade cut the enemy if its sheath is always locked? Just now was the same.”