Chapter 35: The Choice of Fire
Li Feng, Mei Lian, and Zheng Wei stood back to back, weapons raised against Jiang Ren and the Scarlet Iron Sect's elite hunters. Their enemies moved with deadly precision, trained killers honed in the art of assassination. Jiang Ren stood at the center, his gaze locked onto Li Feng, his blade glinting ominously in the firelight.
"You never understood, did you?" Jiang Ren's voice was calm, almost mocking. "You think the Coiled Dragon Ring is your burden alone. That you are special. But Shen Longwei has uncovered the truth—you are nothing more than a conduit. A vessel."
Li Feng's grip tightened around his sword. "You talk too much," he growled, lunging forward. Their blades met with a shower of sparks, and the force of Jiang Ren's counter sent Li Feng skidding back.
Mei Lian intercepted a Scarlet Iron Sect assassin, her movements swift and lethal. She spun, her twin daggers slicing through the air, barely missing her opponent's throat. "We need to get to the Flame Lotus!" she shouted, eyes darting toward the temple's inner sanctum.
Zheng Wei, despite his injuries, stood firm, chanting incantations under his breath. A golden barrier formed around them briefly before another assassin shattered it with a precise strike. The monk gritted his teeth, pushing through the pain. "They won't stop," he warned. "Not until we're dead."
Jiang Ren struck again, his blade slicing toward Li Feng in a series of relentless blows. The Coiled Dragon Ring pulsed, reacting to the danger. Power surged through Li Feng's veins, and as he dodged the final strike, the ring flared with azure energy. But with every use, he felt it draining him, sapping his strength like a hungry beast demanding more.
Jiang Ren smirked. "See? It's already taking its toll." He sidestepped, allowing one of his assassins to lunge at Li Feng from behind.
Mei Lian was faster.
With a sharp cry, she intercepted the attack, her dagger clashing against the assassin's sword. "You're not dying here," she snapped at Li Feng before twisting to kick the assassin away.
A sudden tremor rocked the temple, and an ominous heat spread through the chamber. The murals of the celestial war glowed, flames dancing along their etched forms. Then, the great brazier at the center of the sanctum ignited with an explosion of golden fire.
From within the inferno, a figure emerged.
A monk clad in robes of burning gold, his skin wreathed in living flames. His eyes, molten embers, regarded them with silent judgment.
"The Phoenix Temple does not tolerate desecration," the guardian intoned, his voice ancient and powerful. "Only those worthy may claim the Flame Lotus."
Jiang Ren hesitated, his stance shifting. "What is this?"
The guardian ignored him. Instead, he turned his gaze upon Li Feng. "You bear the Coiled Dragon's burden. But power untamed is destruction. The time has come for you to choose."
A searing pain burned across Li Feng's palm as the Coiled Dragon Ring reacted to the guardian's presence. He staggered, clutching his hand. The air grew thick with an unseen force, pressing against his very soul.
The guardian raised a fiery hand. "Embrace the Coiled Dragon's power completely, or be consumed by it."
Li Feng's heart pounded. This was it. The moment that would define his path. He looked at Mei Lian and Zheng Wei, their faces tight with exhaustion but unwavering in their belief in him. He looked at Jiang Ren, who still stood ready to strike, waiting for the right moment to seize victory.
Then another voice cut through the chaos, laced with amusement and knowing.
Lady Yuexiang.
"Every path you take, every choice you make, has already been foreseen," her voice echoed through the chamber, unseen but omnipresent. "So tell me, Li Feng… what will you choose?"
The flames flared, shadows dancing wildly along the temple walls.
Li Feng took a breath and stepped forward.