Chapter 1: Rebirth

**Chapter 1: Rebirth**

The searing pain in Feng Ruoyan's chest was unbearable. Blood pooled around her, warm and sticky, as she struggled to breathe. Her so-called fiancé, Li Xuan, stood over her, his sword dripping with her lifeblood. Beside him, her once-beloved best friend, Yue Ling, smirked, her delicate face twisted with cruel satisfaction.

"Did you really think you were special, Ruoyan?" Yue Ling scoffed. "The Phoenix Blood Sect should belong to me. You were just an obstacle."

Betrayal. The word cut deeper than the sword wound in her chest. She had given them everything—her trust, her loyalty, her heart. And in return, they had used her, discarded her, and laughed at her dying breath.

Her vision blurred, the last thing she saw was the cold moon above, shining down on her lonely demise.

But fate was not done with her.

A surge of heat burned through her body. It wasn't pain—it was power. A force older than time itself pulled her into a swirling abyss of red and gold. Fire danced in the darkness, coiling around her soul like a dragon's embrace.

Then, a voice whispered in the void, ancient and knowing. **"Rise again, Phoenix."**

---

Feng Ruoyan gasped awake.

She sat up abruptly, her chest heaving. Her hands flew to her body, expecting to feel the fatal wound, but there was none. Her skin was smooth, unmarked. Her clothes… these were the simple disciple robes she wore at fifteen.

Fifteen?

Heart pounding, she rushed to the bronze mirror in the corner of her small room. A youthful face stared back at her—rounder, softer, untouched by betrayal. Her long black hair flowed freely, her eyes burned with an intensity that had not yet been dulled by pain.

"I… I've been reborn?"

Memories crashed into her mind like a tidal wave. She was back, three years before her tragic death. Back when she was still the naive, trusting girl who believed in love and friendship. Back when Li Xuan and Yue Ling were still pretending to care.

A slow, chilling smile curved her lips.

"This time… I will not be their fool."

Determination flared in her heart, hotter than the fire in her veins. She clenched her fists, feeling something awaken inside her—her fire spiritual root, purer and more powerful than before. A second chance. A chance to rewrite her fate, to seize the power she had once lacked.

And most importantly…

A chance to make her enemies pay.

---

She steadied her breath and closed her eyes. There was something she needed to confirm.

Her parents.

In her past life, they had died under mysterious circumstances, leaving her alone in the sect at a young age. She had been told it was an accident, but she had never questioned it. Now, with her memories intact, suspicion clawed at her heart.

If she was truly back in time, then they were still alive.

Tears pricked at her eyes as a surge of longing overwhelmed her. Her father, Feng Zhiwei, had been a respected elder in the sect, known for his unwavering sense of justice. Her mother, Lan Yue, was a gentle yet formidable alchemist, always smelling of rare herbs. They had loved her deeply, and she had barely remembered them before her past life ended in tragedy.

She could not waste this second chance.

Feng Ruoyan wiped her tears and rose to her feet. This time, she would protect them. This time, she would uncover the truth.

And if anyone dared to harm her family, they would burn in the flames of her wrath.

---

A buried memory surfaced, sharp and painful.

She had once been chosen as a candidate to become the true disciple of the **Star Lord**, one of the most powerful cultivators in the realm. It had been the greatest opportunity of her life, a path to unparalleled strength. But fate had been cruel.

On the night of the final selection, she had been moments away from success. The Star Lord himself had acknowledged her exceptional talent, stating that she was the strongest contender. But before she could claim her rightful position, a dire accusation tore through the sect like wildfire.

Her parents had been accused of treason.

Before she could prove their innocence, they were dragged before the sect elders, their pleas ignored. She had abandoned the selection trial, rushing to their defense—only to arrive too late.

Her father lay in a pool of blood, his sword shattered beside him. Her mother's lifeless form was cradled in his arms, her robes stained with crimson. The elders of the sect stood coldly above them, their expressions indifferent. No one listened to her cries. No one questioned the injustice.

The truth had been erased, and she had been powerless to stop it.

That night, she had lost not only her family but also her destiny. The title of Star Lord's disciple had gone to someone else. Without that status, she had been reduced to nothing—vulnerable, isolated, easy prey for Li Xuan and Yue Ling's schemes.

**But now… now she knew the truth.**

She gritted her teeth, fists trembling. If she had arrived moments earlier, if she had been stronger, if she had never trusted the sect's lies… her parents might have lived. The Star Lord had never betrayed her—it had been the sect elders who orchestrated it all.

In this life, she would not repeat those mistakes.

She would reclaim what was stolen from her. She would find the truth behind her parents' murder. And she would take back her rightful place as the disciple of the most powerful being in the cultivation world.

**This time, she would not lose.**

---

The next morning, she wasted no time. With a newfound sense of purpose, she sought out her parents, heart pounding with anticipation. As she approached their courtyard, the scent of medicinal herbs filled the air, bringing back memories she had long buried.

The doors opened, and there they stood.

Feng Zhiwei's sharp yet kind gaze met hers first, his brows furrowing in concern. "Ruoyan? What's wrong?"

Lan Yue stepped forward, her gentle hands reaching out. "You look pale, my dear. Did something happen?"

Overwhelmed, Ruoyan fell to her knees, tears spilling freely. "Father… Mother…"

Their warmth surrounded her as they knelt beside her, embracing her tightly. For the first time in two lifetimes, she was home.

But as their embrace warmed her heart, another memory surged to the surface—one she had buried deep.

The moment she lost them.

Her hands clenched as the past clawed its way forward, revealing the night of flames, treachery, and a truth more horrifying than she had ever imagined…