The Storm Gathers
A day and a half of relentless, focused forging saw the completion of six sets of Cloud Titanium Light Armor. As Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin emerged from the heat-hazed workshop, a staff member approached them with a respectful bow. "Master Yao Xuan, Master Tang Wulin, President Mu requests your presence in his office."
Exchanging a glance, the two boys made their way to the familiar office. Mu Chen greeted them with a warmth reserved only for his most prized disciples. "Yao Xuan, Wulin, come in. Sit."
They took their seats. Without preamble, Mu Chen retrieved two sleek, metallic cards from his spatial ring and placed them on the table. Each card bore intricate soul circuit patterns on one side and the three stark characters "Spirit Ascension Platform" on the other.
"The Platform is entering its Riotous Period," Mu Chen explained, his tone serious. "It's a time of both great danger and great opportunity for tempering. These are invitation cards. Use them to enter and sharpen yourselves."
Tang Wulin spoke up, his voice grateful but firm. "Thank you, Master. But our academy has already secured spots for us as part of our final examination. Please, save these for Senior Sister Mu Xi and others."
Mu Chen's eyebrows rose slightly, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "Donghai Academy spares no expense for you, it seems. Good. But Mu Xi has her own card. Keep these. They have no expiration. If not this time, then the next."
Understanding the value of such a gift, Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin accepted the cards with sincere thanks.
"One more thing," Mu Chen added, his expression softening. "Your Senior Sister Mu Xi will also be entering the Riotous Period. If your paths cross… look out for one another."
"We will, Master," Yao Xuan promised.
That evening, with the rest of the team returned from their city excursions, Yao Xuan gathered them on the training ground. He and Tang Wulin distributed the finished armor.
"Try them on. Any adjustments, Wulin and I will handle them," Yao Xuan instructed.
The armor was a marvel of minimalist design—plates of Thousand Refined Cloud Titanium, lightweight yet incredibly resilient, tailored to each of their physiques. As they donned the gear, the fit was perfect. Xie Xie executed a few experimental flips, the armor moving silently with him. Wang Jinxi thumped his chest plate, producing a satisfying, solid thud. Zhang Yangzi tested the range of motion in his shoulders, grinning. Even Gu Yue gave a slight, approving nod as she fastened the last clasp, the silver-white metal complementing her hair and eyes.
The night before the trial, the six gathered in Yao Xuan's dormitory. A tangible mix of excitement and tension filled the air.
"Tomorrow, we face the storm together," Yao Xuan said, extending his right hand into the center of their circle. "Let's do our best."
"Together!" Tang Wulin declared, placing his hand on Yao Xuan's. Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi followed suit, their hands stacking in a pyramid of solidarity.
All eyes turned to Gu Yue. She hesitated for only a heartbeat, her silver gaze flickering to Yao Xuan's waiting hand. Then, with a grace that seemed to slow time, she extended her own slender, pale hand. Instead of placing it on top, she slid it beneath, pressing the back of her hand gently against Yao Xuan's palm. It was a subtle, intimate deviation—a silent acknowledgment of their unique bond amidst the brotherhood. A faint, warm current passed between their skin before the moment broke, and she joined the stack. The unity was sealed.
The next morning, a fine, misty rain veiled Donghai City as they arrived at the Spirit Pagoda. The atmosphere was starkly different from their usual visits. The grand hall thrummed with activity, crowded with soul masters of various ages and affiliations, all drawn by the promise and peril of the Riotous Period.
Yao Xuan's gaze swept the room, his [Eye of Observation] activating discreetly. The results were sobering. Over ninety percent of those present pulsed with the aura of Soul Elders, many at the advanced or even peak stages. These were not novices; they were veterans, hunters, and elites, their eyes sharp with calculation and ambition. The entry card to this event was worth a fortune, and those who held it came prepared to claim its worth.
A sliver of urgency tightened in Yao Xuan's chest. His strength was formidable, capable of rivaling a mid-stage Soul Elder, but these were seasoned combatants. Survival for two hours, ensuring his team's safety, had to be the absolute priority. Any ambitions of aggressive hunting would come only after that primary objective was secured.
Following Wu Changkong and a Pagoda attendant, they were led to their designated immersion chamber. Six familiar metal pods awaited. The attendant's briefing was grim. "The danger level is exponentially higher. Six-thousand-year soul beasts can appear. Some elite variants possess power rivaling ten-thousand-year beasts. If you are killed within the simulation, the spiritual feedback trauma will be severe. At the first sign of catastrophic failure, exit immediately."
They acknowledged the warning with solemn nods. One by one, they entered the pods. The lids sealed with a soft hiss. A wave of disorienting dizziness washed over Yao Xuan, a deeper, more potent tug than usual, as if the simulation itself was trembling with pent-up energy.
Consciousness reassembled.
He stood in the forest. But it was more. The air was thicker, richer with spiritual energy, carrying a wild, electric charge that raised the hairs on his arms. The light filtering through the canopy seemed sharper, the shadows deeper. The familiar environment was now a pressure cooker of latent power.
And for the first time, his five teammates materialized around him in a loose circle, all present in the same instance.
"Battle formation," Yao Xuan commanded, his voice calm and clear, cutting through the ambient tension.
The team moved with drilled precision. Yao Xuan and Gu Yue took point. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie formed the responsive core. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, anchors of defense and power, covered the rear.
"Our primary objective is to survive the two-hour assessment," Yao Xuan stated, his eyes constantly scanning the hyper-realistic woods. "We stay near the forest's edge initially. Avoid the deep zones. Safety is paramount."
He met each of their gazes. "Once survival is assured, our secondary goal is harvest. The spiritual energy yield here is triple the norm. We will use that to strengthen our soul spirits. Together."
A unified "Understood!" echoed from his teammates, their trust in his leadership unwavering.
"Now," Yao Xuan said, a faint, hard smile touching his lips. "Suit up."
With a thought, he retrieved the six sets of Cloud Titanium Light Armor from his spatial ring. The polished metal gleamed dully in the forest light. As his teammates began securing the protective plates, Yao Xuan's senses remained stretched to their limits, listening to the Riotous Period forest breathe. It was a breath filled with the promise of thunder. The trial had begun.