Chapter 15 The Third Phase
### Chapter 15: The Third Phase Test Continues
The grand tournament arena buzzed with anticipation as the remaining contestants prepared for the third phase of the test. Having endured rigorous battles and trials, only a handful of participants remained, each determined to prove their worth.
### **The Trial of Insight and Will**
Unlike the previous phases, which tested raw strength and combat ability, the third phase focused on the competitors' strategic thinking, resilience, and spiritual endurance. Each participant was required to step into the "Illusory Domain," a mystical space created by the Star Lord himself. Within this domain, their deepest fears and weaknesses would manifest, forcing them to confront their past and their innermost struggles.
#### **Ruoyan's Trial: The Flames of Betrayal**
Ruoyan took a deep breath as she entered the shimmering portal. Immediately, she found herself standing amidst a burning battlefield. The familiar scent of blood and smoke filled her lungs, and before her stood the figures of **Yue Ling and Li Xuan**, their faces twisted with mockery.
"Did you really think you were special?" Yue Ling sneered, her voice filled with contempt.
Li Xuan raised his sword, the very same one that had once pierced Ruoyan's heart in her past life. "A woman like you is only useful as a stepping stone."
The scene shifted, morphing into the night of her death—her own flames raging uncontrollably as betrayal struck deep into her soul. The pain was as real as it had been back then. Her breath hitched, but she clenched her fists, forcing herself to remember: **this was an illusion.**
Closing her eyes, she steadied her breathing. The fire around her changed, molding into a **majestic fire dragon**, its golden eyes locking onto her. The flames no longer burned her—they were hers to command. With a resolute step forward, she shattered the illusion, leaving the past behind.
#### **The Other Contestants' Trials**
- **Lei Tian** of the **Thunderstorm Hall** faced the shadow of his father, constantly belittling him for his weakness. He struggled, until he unleashed his lightning core, finally proving himself.
- **Lin Feiyan** was tormented by visions of her younger sister being slaughtered due to her inability to protect her, her sword trembling as guilt gnawed at her spirit.
- **Zhao Ming** encountered an endless battlefield where he was forced to kill innocents, testing his resolve to balance strength with justice.
- **The Five Dark Horses**, whose backgrounds were unknown, faced eerie trials. One, a masked contestant known as **Shadow Lotus**, endured a painful vision of drowning in darkness, only to emerge with newfound resilience.
Each trial revealed a different struggle, pushing them to the brink of collapse before they either succumbed or overcame their fears.
#### **The Heavenly Steps Trial**
As the contestants emerged from the Illusory Domain, the final part of the trial was revealed—**the Heavenly Steps.**
A massive staircase of ethereal light stretched into the sky, its golden steps shimmering with celestial energy. Each step tested the body, mind, and soul, growing increasingly difficult with every ascent. Only those with true willpower and resilience could climb high enough to pass.
- The first ten steps drained **spiritual energy**, challenging the participants' cultivation foundation.
- The next twenty steps **tested their physical endurance**, increasing gravity with each level.
- The fiftieth step **attacked their souls**, unleashing illusions of their darkest regrets.
- The final ten steps **burned with divine flames**, igniting the true essence of their spirits.
Ruoyan, her fire dragon soul awakened, **climbed with steady determination**, her flames resonating with the celestial energy. With every step, she felt her body burn, her meridians nearly rupturing from the immense pressure. But instead of succumbing, her fire spiritual roots began evolving—transforming into **Dragon Fire Roots**, absorbing the celestial flames and reinforcing her very essence.
By the time she reached the ninetieth step, her body had undergone a complete transformation. Her bones gleamed with a faint golden hue, her flames radiating both destruction and renewal. She was no longer just a fire wielder—she was **fire incarnate.**
Others fared differently—
- **Lei Tian** stopped at the **eighty-fifth step**, his thunder qi unable to fully harmonize with celestial energy.
- **Lin Feiyan** reached the **seventy-second step**, her sword emitting a powerful aura of justice.
- **Shadow Lotus** surprised everyone, reaching the **eighty-eighth step**, proving their hidden talent.
### **The Elders' Observations**
From their elevated seats, the sect elders and the **Star Lord** observed the trials closely. Some contestants faltered, unable to overcome their inner demons, while others emerged stronger than before. The ability to conquer one's fears was just as crucial as wielding spiritual power.
- **Elder Mo** of the **Heavenly Sword Sect** nodded approvingly. "These young ones have potential. Fear can break even the strongest warriors, yet some of them managed to rise above it."
- **Mistress Hua** of the **Moonlight Valley** added, "Ruoyan's control over her fire is evolving. She no longer fears it—she wields it as an extension of herself."
- **Grandmaster Wu** of the **Thunderstorm Hall** observed Lei Tian thoughtfully. "He may yet surpass his father."
### **The Star Lord's Hidden Thoughts**
Above them all, the **Star Lord** remained silent, his cosmic gaze locked onto Ruoyan. **He had seen something within her—a destiny that even she had yet to realize.**
As he observed, his mind drifted to the **visions he had glimpsed of the future.**
Ruoyan's fate was entwined with the stars themselves, but whether she would rise as a beacon of hope or a force of destruction remained unclear. The trials were merely the beginning. Her true test had yet to come.
As the illusions dissipated, the strongest warriors stood tall, ready for the next challenge. The third phase was not yet over, and only those with true strength—both of body and spirit—would proceed to the final round.