Word of two sixteen-year-olds reaching Core Formation spread through the cultivation world like wildfire. Within days, Kai and Yuhan went from talented disciples to legendary prodigies.
The Azure Sky Sect's morale soared. Other sects sent congratulatory messages. Young cultivators flocked to join, hoping to train alongside the legendary duo.
But in the Phoenix Flame Sect, Hua Xinya convened her war council.
"Two Core Formation cultivators under seventeen years old," she said coldly. "If we let them continue growing, in ten years they'll be unstoppable. We need to eliminate them now."
"Direct assassination would violate Alliance rules," one elder cautioned.
"Then we'll use indirect methods. Create situations where they die 'naturally.' Demon beast attacks. Failed missions. Accidents." Hua Xinya's smile was cruel. "They may be prodigies, but they're still young and reckless. That's a weakness we can exploit."
The plan was set in motion.
One week later, Kai and Yuhan were assigned to investigate demonic activity in the Shadowmere Caverns—a mission rated appropriate for Core Formation cultivators.
What they found was a trap.
The caverns were infested with demon beasts far beyond the mission parameters. Not Foundation or Core Formation level threats, but Nascent Soul level monsters that should never have been in the Mortal Realm.
"This is a setup," Yuhan said, sword already drawn.
"Obviously. The question is whether we fight through or retreat."
Before they could decide, the cavern entrance collapsed. Trapped.
Dozens of demon beasts emerged from the darkness—twisted creatures with too many limbs, glowing red eyes, corruption radiating from their forms.
"Well," Kai said, void energy gathering around his hands, "I guess we fight."
What followed was brutal. Kai and Yuhan fought back-to-back, their coordination perfect but their cultivation still too low for this level of threat.
Kai used every technique he knew, adapted every method from his previous life. The Void Palm. Shadow Steps. Spatial manipulation that pushed his new Core Formation powers to their limits.
Yuhan's sword was everywhere at once, each strike containing pure sword intent that could cut through reality itself.
But there were too many. For every beast they killed, two more appeared.
"We're not going to win this," Yuhan panted, blood streaming from a dozen wounds.
"No," Kai agreed. "But we're going to survive it."
He made a decision. Drew on the void not as a cultivator but as someone who'd touched the Transcendent Realm, who'd merged with the Void itself in his previous life.
Forbidden technique. Dangerous beyond measure. But necessary.
"Yuhan, grab onto me and don't let go!"
Yuhan wrapped an arm around Kai. Kai pulled on the Void, not to attack but to move. Spatial teleportation—a technique that shouldn't be possible below Nascent Soul realm.
Reality bent. The cavern twisted. For one sickening moment, they existed everywhere and nowhere.
Then they were outside, collapsing on grass under open sky, three miles from the caverns.
Every demon beast was left behind, trapped in the collapsing space they'd fled from.
But Kai was unconscious, blood leaking from his eyes and ears. Using that technique at Core Formation had nearly killed him.
Yuhan gathered him up and flew toward the sect at maximum speed, terror lending strength to his exhausted body.
Don't die. Please don't die. Not again.