Jiang Zhuohua returned to the Phoenix Courtyard with a rosy complexion and stood behind the Phoenix Lord. Beside the Phoenix Lord floated an illusory soul—it was Xu Kun's second aunt, Yuan Lichang.
"What are you two looking at?" Jiang Zhuohua followed their gazes downward. When she saw Xu Kun's current state, her phoenix eyes widened.
"What is Kun doing? Aren't you going to stop him?"
With that, Jiang Zhuohua, frantic to save her child, was about to fly out, only for the Phoenix Lord to suppress her with a backhand.
"Mother Goddess?" Jiang Zhuohua was full of confusion.
Yet the Phoenix Lord smiled. "Only after being pushed to death can one be reborn. Kun has successfully comprehended the true trial of this stage."
A wistful expression appeared on Yuan Lichang's face. "I thought the second stage was merely a test of the heart, meant to assess Kun's character. I never expected you to have planned so far ahead, Mother Goddess. This Nüwa Stone..."
Only then did the Phoenix Lord explain, "The Myriad Feather Trial is a legend, but it is also an agreement between Qing'er and me."
An agreement? The two phoenixes looked at the Phoenix Lord in surprise.
A trace of loneliness surfaced on the Phoenix Lord's face. "I devoted myself to having Kun take charge of the Phoenix Courtyard and, after me, lead the Phoenix Race to even greater heights."
"But Qing'er had always been certain that Kun would not follow the path I had laid out for him."
"That was why the Myriad Feather Trial of today came to be!"
The two phoenixes finally understood. The Myriad Feather Trial, which even they had believed was a spur-of-the-moment decision meant to vindicate Xu Kun, had been arranged long ago, when Mu Qingxuan returned to the Phoenix Courtyard.
"Chang'er,