The sun in the Eternal Spirit World was unlike any other Aeros had seen—it glowed not with fire, but with dense, vibrant spiritual essence. It cast a brilliant golden sheen over the Beast Reign Sect as the morning of the competition drew near. The compound buzzed with activity. Cultivators from sects all across the world began arriving, their robes fluttering in the wind like banners of war, each marked with emblems denoting their lineage, philosophy, or beast companion.
Aeros stood at the edge of a tranquil koi pond in the inner courtyard, barefoot, eyes closed, breathing in rhythm with the spiritual pulses that resonated through the land. He could feel it—his Lunar Embrace had stabilized, and the Solar Radiance within him now stirred faintly, as if the very sun above him whispered truths yet untold.
He pressed his palm over his dantian, a gentle warmth radiating outward. "Almost there," he murmured. "I can feel the Radiance weaving with my breath."
Serus approached from behind, a flask in one hand, the scent of rare herbs trailing him like incense. "You're attempting to reach Solar Radiance here?" he asked with a chuckle. "Bold. Most take decades, even centuries."
Aeros opened his eyes, golden irises faintly gleaming. "The celestial alignment here feels perfect. This sun—it doesn't just burn. It guides."
Serus nodded approvingly. "Then listen to it. Let it brand your core. When you reach Solar Radiance, your techniques will change. You won't just fight—you'll radiate."
As he spoke, a horn sounded from the far end of the city. The ceremonial summons.
"The registration begins," Serus said. "Time to meet your opponents."
—
The Micro Colosseum was a marvel of mystic engineering—floating high above the Thunder Bark Forest, suspended by unseen forces, its five elemental zones spiraled outward from a central platform. From above, it resembled a giant lotus of sorts.
As Aeros and Serus arrived with Elder Liang, a sea of cultivators filled the staging grounds. Hundreds, perhaps thousands. Some came in groups, others stood alone like sentinels of pride. Banners bearing sect names danced in the wind—Azure Talon Hall, Stonecall Monastery, Jade Phoenix School, and more.
A voice boomed across the field—Elder Yin, now garbed in ceremonial azure robes adorned with stardust-like embroidery.
"Welcome, cultivators! Today, you step not only into a trial of strength, but of spirit. Each of you shall be assigned to a five-member squad. Alliances may shift. Survival depends not only on your blade—but your will."
A map of the arena projected into the air, detailing the elemental zones. Then, like a spark igniting dry grass, names began to shuffle.
Aeros found himself assigned to Squad Nine. The scroll glowed as the names of his squad appeared:
• Aeros Stormhaven
• Lenia Xuan, of the Moonveil Sect
• Korra Fen, a dual-blade wielder from the Crimson Petal Sect
• Toba Reign, a beast tamer and cousin to Elder Liang
• Zhen, a silent cultivator whose origins were marked only as "Unknown"
Kian, watching from a distance, smirked as he read the scroll. "Let's see how long the prodigy lasts."
—
Inside the stone chamber provided to Squad Nine, a heavy silence lingered like fog. Faint torches lined the circular walls, their flickering light casting long shadows on the floor. The five cultivators had just received their team assignments for the Eternal Nectar trial. None of them spoke at first. The air was tense, charged with both curiosity and unspoken skepticism.
Aeros sat calmly near the back of the room, his back straight, arms resting on his knees. Though he wore no insignia, there was an undeniable aura about him—controlled power and nobility wrapped in a quiet demeanor. The others felt it, though no one wanted to be the first to voice it.
It was Lenia Xuan who finally broke the silence. Her arms were crossed, posture tight with suspicion. "So… you're the one they dropped into our team last-minute. The one who doesn't belong to any sect?"
Aeros met her gaze, unbothered. "That's correct. My participation was arranged by sect seniors."
Toba Reign, a stocky cultivator with thick knuckles and a beast-hide sash, scoffed. "Figures. They say he's from some outer realm nobility, but no one seems to know which one. Seems convenient."
Korra Fen leaned against the far wall, arms folded, her black hair tied in a sharp braid. Her voice was low, almost disinterested. "I don't care where he's from. What I care about is whether he'll hold his own. We're not here to babysit some prince playing cultivator."
Aeros gave a faint smile. "I assure you, I'm not looking to be coddled. I know how to survive."
Zhen, the youngest-looking of the group, fidgeted by the door. He glanced between his teammates nervously, then turned to Aeros. "Do you… have experience with elemental trials? They say the Void zone alone has killed Foundation cultivators."
Aeros nodded. "I've studied each elemental zone in detail. I've also trained in comparable conditions."
Lenia narrowed her eyes. "You trained under whom, exactly?"
"You wouldn't know if I told you" Aeros said with a smirk.
Silence fell again.
Zhen cleared his throat. "We're all here to win the Eternal Nectar. Maybe we should talk strategy?"
Lenia didn't look away from Aeros. "We need trust before strategy. And right now, the only thing I trust is what I've seen. And I haven't seen anything from you."
Aeros stood then, slowly, not in challenge but with calm composure. "Then watch me. You'll see soon enough."
Something in his voice—measured, patient, certain—made the others go still. He wasn't arrogant. But he wasn't afraid, either.
Korra exhaled and broke the tension with a shrug. "Fine. He can stay. But if you falter, we don't wait for you."
Aeros inclined his head. "Fair."
They stared at him for another beat—then slowly, grudgingly, the group began to relax.
Zhen sat down near the map etched into the stone table. "Okay, so… who wants to cover the Void zone?"
Aeros quietly walked over, joining them.
…
That night, under the strange stars of the Eternal Spirit World, Aeros returned to the courtyard and resumed meditation.
He visualized his breath syncing with the sun, letting the golden warmth seep into his soul. Hours passed. His heartbeat slowed. His body pulsed with energy. A faint glow radiated from his skin—first soft, then brighter.
A snap echoed through his body—his spiritual channels expanding, his meridians pulsing like stars being born.
He opened his eyes, and for the first time, his pupils shimmered not with fire, but sunlight.
Solar Radiance. He had ascended.
Just in time. Because tomorrow, they would enter the Colosseum.