Chapter 73 - Phoenix Trails and Past.

"A deal?" Confused, she asked.

Looking at those golden eyes, Wang Lei said, smiling, "Yes, a deal!"

"What deal are you talking about, Wang Lei?" Phoenix called his name and asked.

Smiling, Wang Lei said, "It is quite simple. You want to check my memories, right?" Phoenix eyes narrowed, "Then how about this; I will let you check my memories; in return, I will check yours. But, of course, we can only check a specific part of the memories."

Phoenix thought for a time. Wang Lei did not disturb her and let her think.

A moment later, Phoenix said, "Very well. But we will do it after you pass the trials."

Nodding, Wang Lei said, "Why not. Just a trail, not enough to reach the apex."

Phoenix did not say anything but transferred him to the ground of the trail. Of course, as it was just an illusion, something Wang Lei could easily bypass with his Dao Heart, but he still let it enter his Heart to see the illusions himself.

With a bright light, Wang Lei found himself standing in the purgatory of flames.

There was nothing but flames all around him – the temperature is above 1000 degrees.

"This is the first trail of Phoenix; Purgatory Flame Demon! You have to fight a Flame Demon here and defeat him to pass the trails. The demon's strength will be the same as yours." Voice of Phoenix came from the void to inform Wang Lei of the trail.

Wang Lei smiled and started to walk deeper into the flame abyss. If only Phoenix Soul knew that elemental attacks were ineffective on Wang Lei.

He kept walking unhindered by the increasing temperature. As he reached a certain distance, magma started to gather and forms a giant flame demon – Half-Step Divine Realm.

Wang Lei did not even bother looking at it and said, <Die>. With the fall of his voice, the flame demon burst into tiny pieces and disintegrated.

Phoenix, who was monitoring the trail has her eyes wide opened, 'What happened?!'. She could not guess what happened. Wang Lei just said a word, and the flame demon died.

She could feel that the demon was dead for sure, but how? She could not tell.

Smiling, Wang Lei said, "Next."

His surroundings change again, now he stood in a vast open land. A cool breeze blew as grass flutters.

"Second Phoenix Trail; Arrows of the Phoenix. Survive the attacks of Phoenix flames to pass this trial." Phoenix said and focused her all attention on Wang Lei to see what he will do this time.

Wang Lei looked above and saw a shower of arrows with phoenix flames. He just stood his place, without moving as if he could not see the arrows coming for him.

Phoenix was confused. 'Did he give up?'

Soon, the arrows reached Wang Lei, who stood like a statue. They started to hit him as more and more rained on him.

This kept going until it finally stopped.

Phoenix was astonished by what she saw as the cloud of dust settles. Wang Lei stood there, completely unharmed. The ground around his was raised to boiling magma, but Wang Lei stood unimpressed.

There was not even a single scratch on his body, as if the toughest steel.

'Is this because of his Dragon Bloodline?' This was the only logical answer that the Phoenix could come up with.

Smiling, Wang Lei said, "Next."

Again his surrounding changes…

---

In a room littered with dust, a child lay on the bed. He seems to be in 15 to 16, but his constitution looked quite weak for a child of his age.

The room he was lying in could be bȧrėly considered as a room, with a roof constantly dripping with water.

The boy ġrȯȧnėd and opened his eyes. Even with his feeble physique, his eyes were as clear as crystal water. It felt as if the whole world was encompassing in those eyes.

This boy was Wang Lei.

Wang Lei looked at his surroundings as a smile forms on his face. If those who knew him saw him, they would be surprised and even astonished as Wang Lei's smiled was filled with sadness.

Suddenly, the door of the room opened, and a girl with the same weak physique as Wang Lei entered the room.

She had long black hair, reaching up to her waist. Crystal black eyes that were shining with life.

Seeing Wang Lei standing, she pouts and said, "Moo~, Brother! Why are you not in bed? You are sick, right? Hurry and lay on the bed!"

Wang Lei looked at the girl and kept staring at her. He did not even hear what she said.

After staring for some time, Wang Lei smiled and said, "It's been a while, Alice."

The girl, Alice, when heard him showed puzzlement on her face, "Why are you acting as if it has been ages since you saw me?"

Wang Lei shook his head and walked towards her; reaching close, he hugs her.

This time, Alice did not say a thing as silent stretches in the room with only the sound of dripping could be heard.

"I am sorry. You died… you died because of me." Wang Lei said as his grip tightens around Alice.

A helpless smile forms on her face. "It was not your fault. Everyone has to go throw a moment when they have to choose an answer; whether that answer is right or wrong, time tells that. You've just chosen the wrong answer."

Sighing, Wang Lei snapped his fingers, and their surroundings changed. They were standing above the void, between thousands and millions of stars.

Adjusting their position so that Alice sat on his ŀȧp, Wang Lei and Alice looked at the stars.

Time stretches as both of them kept looking at the stars silently, until Alice says, "It is time, Brother."

Wang Lei grip tightens around her, but Alice shook her head, "You do not have to blame yourself for what happened, brother. You are living a happy life now; you should enjoy it more instead of regretting your past."

Wang Lei did not say anything but just tightens his hold on her.

A moment later, the illusion shattered, and Wang Lei found himself back in the cave. He silently stood there without saying anything, tears forming around her eyes, but he did not let them fall.

Phoenix also did not say anything and silently waits for Wang Lei.

An hour later, Wang Lei opened his eyes and sighed, "Time is really is a savage beast. A beast that eats everything away… even your memories." He looked at the Phoenix eyes and did a bow, "Thank you for letting me meet with her again."

"… It was you who brought her and thought of her as the most precious person in your life. You do not have to thank me."

Wang Lei just shook his head and did say anything. He did not want to debate on this topic any longer.