Hope arrived at the designated gathering point just outside the building where the trials had taken place earlier. The sky above was still dark, the stars twinkling faintly, but there was a sharpness to the air, as if the world itself held its breath. Standing in the midst of the quiet crowd, he took in the sight of the other fifty-three participants who had passed the trials.

Not counting himself, some were as young as 16, some as old as 29, each of them displaying their own unique energy, a reflection of the trials they had endured. Most of them still wore the expressions of cautious optimism mixed with anxiety.

The excitement of being chosen was obvious, but so was the weight of what lay ahead. Hope recognized some faces from the trials, but he didn't bother trying to make conversation. He was already growing accustomed to being an outsider.

What caught his attention next were the elders from the Phoenix Cry Pavilion. He noticed Marcus first, his tall, commanding presence standing apart from the rest. Marcus was a man of few words, but Hope could sense the immense power behind his calm demeanor. Lea was by his side, her fiery red hair almost glowing in the moonlight, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd with interest. And then there was Cedric, the elder who had spoken to them during the trials.

Unlike the other two, Cedric seemed less imposing but no less confident. His eyes gleamed with a sense of purpose, as if he was always thinking several steps ahead. He was flanked by several other figures, whom Hope immediately noticed were much weaker in comparison. They didn’t carry themselves like powerful cultivators. Instead, they seemed more like errand elders—people with some authority, yes, but not the raw strength of a true expert.

Hope couldn't help but wonder about their role. Surely they weren't just there to watch? The question was answered before he could voice it.

Cedric’s voice cut through the murmurs of the gathered participants as he addressed the group. “Everyone seems to be here” he began, his tone calm yet commanding. “We will travel to the Crimson Phoenix Empire by riding an avian beast.”

The words struck the air like a bell, and immediately the crowd began to buzz with excitement and curiosity. The mere mention of an avian beast sent whispers spiraling among the participants. Some even turned to one another, eager to know more, while others exchanged excited glances, no doubt wondering what it meant for their journey.

Hope, too, couldn’t help but be intrigued. The Central Region, the Crimson Phoenix Empire… he’d heard stories of both, but they were nothing more than distant tales. To actually be headed there was something far beyond what he had ever imagined.

Cedric continued, “The avian beast we will be riding is an Essence Bonding stage beast. It’s equivalent to a Will Refinement realm cultivator. It’s big enough to host all of us. It will take us four days to reach the Crimson Phoenix Empire from here, even with a beast that strong flying us.”

The murmurs grew louder, and some of the participants began to whisper excitedly to each other. Hope could hear their amazement, but his attention was fixated on the horizon. The thought of an Essence Bonding stage beast—something that powerful, something so rare—left him wondering just how extraordinary the Central Region will be. For a moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away, and all that remained was the anticipation of seeing this beast for himself.

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He didn’t have to wait long.

A sound like a mighty gust of wind blew across the area, and before anyone could react, an enormous avian beast soared into view. The air seemed to hum as the massive creature descended gracefully from the sky. The beast had sleek, jet-black feathers that shimmered in the moonlight, its wings stretching wide enough to cast a shadow that swallowed the ground beneath it. It was easily twenty meters in length, with a wingspan that could cover the sky. Its body was thick and muscular, and its eyes gleamed with intelligence and ancient power.

The moment the avian beast landed, the entire group was stunned into silence. Hope’s breath caught in his chest as he gazed up at the creature, a silent awe washing over him. He’d never seen anything like it before—no stories or rumors could have prepared him for the true scale of such a majestic beast. It wasn’t just big; it was imposing, regal, and terrifying all at once.

The participants erupted into chaos.

Some gasped, some shouted, and others simply stood frozen, their eyes wide with amazement. Several of them couldn’t contain their excitement and began asking questions, muttering to one another. Hope stood at the edge of the crowd, still watching the creature as it stood perfectly still, its gaze sweeping over them as if evaluating the gathered group.

"When can I get such a beast to carry me around?" one of the participants said, his voice filled with a sense of longing. His eyes sparkled with the hope of one day owning something so magnificent.

The avian beast’s head turned toward him, and Hope swore he saw a flicker of disdain in its eyes. For a moment, the entire group seemed to freeze, as if the beast had communicated something to the man with nothing but a look. The participant seemed to shrink under the weight of the creature’s gaze, and his excitement turned into an awkward silence. Hope smirked slightly but said nothing. The beast had not only heard the comment but had clearly formed an opinion about it.

Cedric, ever the professional, raised his hand to silence the crowd. "Enough" he said, his voice sharp but calm. "We don’t have time for this. Get on the beast now. We will not linger in the Inner Region longer than necessary."

The words had an immediate effect, and the excited whispers died down. Slowly, the group began to approach the avian beast, climbing up its great wings to find their place. The beast stood stoically, unfazed by the commotion around it, as if it had seen much more than this in its long lifetime.

Marcus and Lea moved swiftly to board, their expressions unreadable. They didn’t seem to notice Hope at all. Hope, not in a rush, walked toward the beast. He had seen countless beasts in his life, but none like this. It was a creature of legend, a manifestation of pure power that only the elite could command.

Hope carefully climbed up its side, his fingers gripping the sleek feathers as he hauled himself onto its back. Once atop, he found a place among the others, his eyes scanning the horizon, still trying to process the enormity of what was about to happen.

As the last few participants took their places, Cedric gave a nod. "Everyone aboard?" he asked.

The group murmured affirmatively, and with a single, powerful flap of the avian beast’s wings, the ground beneath them seemed to shudder. The air swirled, and before Hope could fully brace himself, the beast shot into the sky like an arrow released from a bow.

The sensation of flight was like nothing Hope had ever experienced. The wind howled around him as the massive wings of the avian beast propelled them upward, cutting through the air with ease. The landscape below became a blur of green and brown, the city shrinking into the distance. For a moment, it felt as if they were suspended in time, leaving the world behind.

Hope’s eyes narrowed as the beast continued to ascend, his thoughts moving from the trial to what lay ahead. The Crimson Phoenix Empire—the Central Region. It was the heart of power, where the strongest cultivators resided, and where he would face challenges unlike any he had encountered. The trials were just the beginning. The real journey had just begun.

His grip tightened on the beast's feathers, and for the first time since leaving his old life behind, Hope allowed himself a brief moment of peace. The wind carried him forward, towards the unknown.

As the beast flew higher, the night grew colder, but Hope didn’t feel it. Not anymore.

The journey to the Crimson Phoenix Empire had begun.