The wind howls through the barren landscape, a vast expanse of dry grass and withered trees. The horizon is bathed in the dimming orange and purple hues of twilight. The air is thick with the scent of ash and dust. Jiang Chen, a young man in ragged clothes, lies prone on a jagged rock, his body sprawled out. His chest rises and falls with each shallow breath, and his face is marked by exhaustion. His expression, however, is calm—there is a sense of tranquility beneath the surface of his disoriented state.
Jiang Chen's eyes flicker open. A split second of confusion clouds his mind as the environment around him sharpens into focus. He sits up abruptly, gripping his head as if to shake away the remnants of a strange dream. The moment he opens his eyes, there is a flash of memories—strange, ancient images fill his thoughts: a battle, an all-consuming fire, a figure that seems to call to him from the past.
Jiang Chen (thinking, confused): "This world... it's familiar, but strange. These memories... they're not mine... or are they? Phoenix-Soul... is that what I once had?"
He stumbles to his feet, brushing off the dust from his tattered robes. His muscles ache, and every step feels like a painful reminder of his lost strength. But there is a fire burning deep within him—an unfamiliar power that seems to beckon from the depths of his soul.
Jiang Chen (thoughts, whispering): "This power... it's mine. But it's dormant. I need to understand it. To master it. But first... I must move."
---
Jiang Chen begins walking through the wilderness, his steps slow but steady. His mind is clouded, his memories fragmented. As he continues forward, he hears the faint sound of a voice, a mocking laugh carried on the wind.
Voice (mocking): "You've finally awakened. How amusing. I knew you would... even if you didn't remember."
Jiang Chen's head snaps in the direction of the voice. Standing at the edge of a cliff, silhouetted against the darkening sky, is a man in dark robes—Lin Shaoyu, his eyes gleaming with an arrogant, almost predatory look. His presence is commanding, his aura oppressive.
Lin Shaoyu (smirking): "So, you've come. How quaint. But you are not what I expected. Weak. Feeble even."
Jiang Chen's gaze hardens. He feels something stir within him—an instinctive recognition of the danger this man poses.
Jiang Chen (coldly): "Who are you?"
Lin Shaoyu (laughing, stepping forward): "I'm someone who knows you better than you know yourself. Someone who shares your obsession with the Phoenix-Soul. But you... you don't remember, do you? How delightful."
Lin Shaoyu's energy surges, crackling like a storm in the air around him. Jiang Chen takes an instinctive step back, his body tensing, preparing for what's to come.
Lin Shaoyu (mocking, extending his hand): "The Phoenix-Soul is calling to you. But you are not ready to wield it. You are nothing but a pitiful imitation of what you once were."
Lin Shaoyu raises his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a dark sword materializes in his grip. He swings it through the air, the blade cutting the wind with a sharp, ominous hum.
Lin Shaoyu (taunting): "Let me show you what true power looks like. You should have stayed in the dark, where you belong."
---
Jiang Chen, despite his uncertainty, instinctively reaches for his own weapon—an ancient sword that seems to shimmer with a faint, ethereal glow. His grip tightens, but his body feels strangely weak. The memories of his past life, the power he once wielded, are still out of reach. He doesn't know how to access the Phoenix-Soul, but the need to protect himself and survive is instinctive.
Lin Shaoyu's blade slashes toward Jiang Chen with deadly speed. Without thinking, Jiang Chen raises his sword to block, but his strike lacks precision. The force behind Lin Shaoyu's blow knocks him off balance, sending him crashing to the ground.
Jiang Chen (gritting his teeth, thoughts racing): "I have the power... I've felt it before. I can't lose to him. Not like this."
Desperation fills him. His fingers twitch, and suddenly, there's a surge of energy within him—an overwhelming, almost violent force. The air around him distorts, and the world slows to a crawl. Time itself seems to bend, as if responding to his will.
Jiang Chen (thoughts, heart pounding): "This… this is it! I can control it. Time… slows down…"
In that moment, Jiang Chen moves with an almost superhuman fluidity. He dodges Lin Shaoyu's next attack, his movements crisp and precise. Lin Shaoyu's eyes widen as he watches Jiang Chen shift through space as if moving between moments, his movements effortlessly outpacing the strike.
---
The time manipulation, however, takes its toll. Jiang Chen stumbles as his vision blurs. The effort strains his mind, and his body trembles as the power he's just begun to control becomes overwhelming. Lin Shaoyu's blade grazes his side, leaving a deep cut. Jiang Chen gasps, his hand pressing against the wound.
Lin Shaoyu (grinning darkly): "So, you've tapped into something, haven't you? But you're still weak. The Phoenix-Soul is not something that can be mastered so easily."
Jiang Chen staggers to his feet, barely holding onto his sword. The time manipulation fades, and the world around him returns to its normal pace. He's exhausted, but there's a fire in his eyes—one that refuses to go out.
Jiang Chen (breathing heavily, but resolute): "I'll master it... no matter the cost. I will not let you take what's mine."
Lin Shaoyu steps back, his smile widening. He looks almost... entertained.
Lin Shaoyu (chuckling): "Very well. We'll see how long that resolve lasts. But for now... I'll let you live. Consider it a gift."
Lin Shaoyu turns away, his presence dissipating like smoke in the wind. Jiang Chen watches him leave, his heart still racing. The fight is over—for now—but the true battle has only just begun.
---
Jiang Chen is left standing alone in the silence of the wilderness, the wind howling around him. His hand clutches the wound on his side, blood seeping through his fingers. His breath is heavy, but his mind is even heavier with questions.
Jiang Chen (thoughts): "Who was that? And what does he want with me? The Phoenix-Soul... it calls to me. I can feel it... inside of me. But it's not enough. Not yet."
He looks up at the sky, his gaze hardening with determination.
Jiang Chen (thoughts): "I have to find out more. I have to unlock the full power of the Phoenix-Soul. I can't let anyone control it—not even me."
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End of Chapter 1