Thunder cracked the horizon as the beast tide crashed against the sect's barriers, a roiling sea of fangs and fury. Demonic wolves, corrupted boars, and worse—shadow panthers with rift-born qi—surged from the Whispering Forest, driven by an unseen rift lord. The Azure Cloud Sect mobilized, inner disciples forming spearhead lines, cores at the vanguard.
Lin Feng marched with Xuan Fei's squad, spear strapped beside his new Cloud Sword—a slender blade humming with wind essence. At Layer 3 (10%) post-pill, he felt the Dao's whisper, qi flowing like a gentle gale.
[Quest Chain: Repel the Tide. Stage 1: Slay 20 Beasts. Reward: Rift Shard.]
Huo Yan fought nearby, her phoenix flames scorching swathes. "Stay sharp, Junior! These aren't trial pups—they're rift-tainted."
The line held at first, barriers of array-flared qi repelling waves. Lin Feng's squad faced a boar charge; he led with Boar Charge irony, qi tusks clashing against hides. Sword followed, Cloud Slashes birthing wind blades that eviscerated.
[Kill 5/20. Essence +60.]
Devouring mid-battle became routine—palm strikes siphoning as beasts fell, fueling endless stamina. A panther pounced; Ghost Step evaded, Feral Bite clamping its throat. Devoured: [Panther Pounce (Advanced).]
Zhao Kun's squad flanked left, his Tempest raging despite wounds. He glanced at Lin Feng, eyes stormy—alliance offer burning in his mind. Join the demons? Or redeem?
The tide broke through a barrier section, wolves pouring. Xuan Fei bellowed: "Hold! Sword Formation—Whirlwind!"
The squad linked qi, blades spinning gales. Lin Feng integrated seamlessly, his devours granting adaptive flows. Wolves shredded, but a alpha—Layer 5, horns crackling lightning—leapt the maelstrom.
It targeted Lin Feng, sensing his anomalous qi. Claws raked; Scale Harden held, but lightning arced, stunning.
[HP 60/120. Paralyze Debuff.]
Xuan Fei intervened, sword piercing the beast's flank. "Focus, disciple!"
Lin Feng shook it off, countering with Tidal Pull—yanking the alpha into Huo Yan's inferno. It howled, charred; his spear finished it.
[Devoured: Thunderhorn Alpha. Gained: 40 Essence. Lightning Conduit (Passive): +15% Elec Resist.]
The battle turned, but casualties mounted. A disciple fell beside Lin Feng, gutted. He devoured instinctively, guilt fleeting: Necessity.
Zhao's line faltered; demons swarmed. He fought ferociously, but a panther gored his leg. As it loomed for the kill, Lin Feng's squad reinforced—his Pounce carrying him over, sword severing the head.
Zhao stared, bloodied. "Why save me?"
"Enemies die in the arena," Lin Feng grunted, offering a hand. Foil's complexity—test it. "Not to beasts."
Zhao took it, grudging respect flickering. His static shell cracked: "Perhaps... you're not trash."
Temporary truce formed; they back-to-back against a fresh wave. Zhao's Tempest complemented Lin Feng's devours—gales herding beasts into kill zones.
Huo Yan joined, flames bridging their styles. "Teamwork? Miracles happen."
The tide ebbed at dusk, rift temporarily sealed by elders. Quest complete: [Reward: Rift Shard—Unlocks System Upgrade: Shadow Storage (Store Devoured Essences).]
Lin Feng collapsed in barracks, shard integrating. A void pocket opened in his soul—essences banked for later fusion.
Xuan Fei debriefed: "You three shone. Core trials await victors."
But scouts whispered: the rift lord was a fallen cultivator, summoning abyssal forces. Zhao pulled Lin Feng aside post-meal: "That cloaked one... offered power. But your way—devouring—it's tempting. Teach me?"
Lin Feng weighed: Ally or absorb? "Prove loyalty first. Train together."
Their first session: Zhao's brute force vs. Lin Feng's precision. Dialogues probed: Zhao confessed orphanage horrors, forging his cruelty. "Weakness killed my brother. I won't be weak."
Lin Feng shared fragments—clan's fall, system's "gift." Mutual growth—dynamic shift.
Huo Yan watched, her arc intertwining: "Bonds in cultivation? Rare as phoenix tears."
A sub-plot emerged: the cloaked demon's spies infiltrated, targeting Lin Feng's "anomaly."
As moon rose, Lin Feng fused essences: [New Skill: Devourer's Storm—Whirlwind of Absorbing Blades.]
The tide receded, but war loomed. Lin Feng's thoughts deepened: Power devours the devourer? No—master it.
Zhao, alone, burned the demon missive. For now, rival's path.