A pale morning sun rose over Qingye Sect, filtering through the mist like gold on white silk. Lin Ho stood in the outer courtyard, his breath steady, his posture sharp. After a night of refining Silent Mist Steps, his movements had become smoother, each shift of his feet almost soundless.
A sharp bell rang through the mountains — crisp, urgent, official.
A sect-wide call.
From across the compound, disciples began gathering. Notices were posted on jade boards, inscribed with glowing runes.
> Mission Posting: Level-2 Outer Patrol Location: North Crescent Forest
Details: Wild spiritual beasts have emerged near a mortal village. Investigate, suppress, and protect civilians.
Participants: Outer and Inner Disciples, minimum Meridian Forging Realm
Reward: 50 merit points, bonus rewards based on performance
Lin Ho's eyes narrowed. A field mission — his first since joining.
Just then, a familiar voice called out.
> "Ho!"
He turned to see Luo Yuyan approaching, her robes fluttering like frost-kissed wind.
> "You're joining the patrol?" she asked.
> "I was considering it," he said.
> "Don't 'consider.' Come. I've seen the signs. This isn't a simple beast tide. There's a dark presence there."
> "You sound certain."
> "Because Elder Qiu assigned me to lead it — and told me to bring you."
Lin Ho nodded once.
> "Then I'll follow."
---
North Crescent Forest – Outer Perimeter
A dozen cultivators marched along a winding mountain road, flanked by towering evergreens and hidden spirit beasts that watched from the shadows. The group included two Inner Disciples — Luo Yuyan and a broadsword-wielding youth named Zhou Feng — as well as ten outer disciples, including Lin Ho.
Some whispered about Lin Ho's presence.
> "Isn't he the one from the entrance test?" "He's just Early Meridian Forging. Why bring him to a Level-2 mission?"
Zhou Feng didn't bother hiding his disdain.
> "Don't drag us down, rookie."
Yuyan gave Zhou a sharp glance, silencing him without a word.
> "Stay sharp. The beasts aren't the threat. The forest is."
---
Anomaly in the Fores
They arrived at the village edge just as dusk settled in. But something was wrong.
There was no sound — no birds, no insects. Just wind through hollow trees.
A child's wooden doll lay cracked in the dirt. Doors swung open in the breeze. A bowl of rice steamed — untouched
> "They vanished," Yuyan muttered. "Not slaughtered… taken."
Lin Ho knelt and pressed two fingers into the soil. A ripple of dark spiritual energy pulsed upward, faint but ancient.
> "This isn't just a beast surge," he said. "There's corruption in the leylines."
Suddenly, the trees groaned.
A howl echoed — low, wet, and monstrous.
From the treeline emerged twisted beasts: wolves with moss-covered spines, serpents with three burning eyes, a deer-like creature with bone branches instead of antlers.
Five… no, six of them. At least three were Ascendant Beasts.
Zhou Feng panicked.
> "This is insane! We're not equipped for—"
But before he could finish, the beasts charged.
---
The Battle
Yuyan's sword gleamed with frostfire as she leapt forward, engaging the largest wolf-beast head-on. Her strikes were elegant and merciless, carving arcs of burning ice.
Zhou Feng shouted and activated a broadsword technique, trying to hold the flank.
The outer disciples struggled, falling back quickly.
One of the beasts broke through the line and lunged at a young girl—
Only to be intercepted by Lin Ho.
His Chaos Qi erupted like a tide — not explosive, but consuming.
He struck with an open palm, and the beast's momentum simply… vanished. It crumpled midair, dazed by something it couldn't understand. Lin Ho moved like liquid thunder, his body flowing and snapping between positions.
> "What technique is that?" "He's not using one—he's becoming one!"
Two beasts turned on him now, sensing the threat. They struck with bone claws and venomous breath — yet nothing landed. Lin Ho slipped past them, and in a single burst of will, devoured their spiritual attacks.
Then he retaliated.
Not with rage.
With silence.
He struck once — and the forest floor cratered.
Both beasts were thrown back, howling.
Yuyan, slashing through the last corrupted creature, turned just in time to see the aftermath — the mist coiling around Lin Ho's body like the ghost of something ancient.
> "That Qi again…"
---
Aftermath
The beasts lay slain or fleeing. The village was abandoned, but no blood had been spilled. It was as if the people had simply… vanished.
As the group regrouped, Yuyan stepped beside Lin Ho.
> "You saved three of them," she said quietly. "You fight like someone who's walked through real war."
He didn't respond. Just turned toward the forest, gaze distant.
Zhou Feng stared at him with a mix of awe and shame, saying nothing.
Then, from deep in the trees… a voice echoed.
Ancient. Whispering.
> "The Spiral awakens. The stars remember."
Only Lin Ho heard it.
His Chaos Bloodline pulsed in reply.
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