Forged in Sync, The Final Trial
Beyond Yao Xuan's steady ascent, the rest of Class Zero had not been idle. Under Wu Changkong's demanding tutelage and buoyed by the environment Yao Xuan's cultivation unintentionally created, they had each carved their own path of growth.
Gu Yue remained his closest peer, a silent shadow and brilliant counterpart. At Soul Master rank 38, she trailed him by a single tier, her progress a testament to her own profound heritage and disciplined effort. Her spiritual power, ever so slightly, edged his at 852 points—a silent point of pride and a constant, gentle reminder of her own immense capabilities. Her control over the elements was artistry, her strategies during team drills were flawless, and her presence was the calm center around which much of the team's coordination naturally orbited.
Xu Xiaoyan, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin had flourished. Their soul power levels—33, 36, and 31 respectively—surpassed their original destinies, fueled by the dense ambient energy and their own relentless drive. Their spiritual powers grew healthily, with Tang Wulin nearing the 500-point threshold, a key for his future as a blacksmith. While only Tang Wulin, with his formidable physique, could support千年 soul rings on his first two slots, the others had secured excellent second soul spirits with help from their friends, their skillsets solidifying.
Their secondary professions reflected their personalities: Gu Yue, the precise architect, reached Level 5 in mecha design. Xie Xie, the pragmatic craftsman, became a Level 3 mecha builder. Xu Xiaoyan, with her strategic mind, excelled as a Level 4 mecha designer. Tang Wulin's hands, meant for creation, achieved Level 4 in blacksmithing.
Through it all, the bond between Yao Xuan and Gu Yue deepened in a language of quiet understanding. It was in the way she would wordlessly adjust her pace to match his during long runs, the way he would always have a warm cup of her favorite tea ready after an intense study session. It was in the protective circle he would unconsciously form around her in crowded spaces, and the way her analytical critiques of his forging techniques always ended with a single, genuinely impressed nod. Their affection was a series of actions, a constant, reliable warmth.
Physical intimacy, however, remained a carefully held line. Yao Xuan's restraint was born of profound respect for the complete entity she was—Gu Yue and Na'er. To cross that threshold with one, while the other personality slept within, felt like a betrayal of the pure, foundational bond formed in Aolai City. His vision was one of wholeness, of a future where no part of her would feel lesser or overlooked. The legendary Sea God's Fate Meeting loomed in his mind as the proper crucible to resolve this, to stand before both expressions of her soul with a heart that encompassed them equally. Until then, his love was expressed in patience, in protection, and in building a future worthy of their combined legacy.
The time for departure arrived. In the Dean's office, Wu Changkong made his farewells. His own path now intertwined with his students', he would accompany them to Shrek City, his mentor's role not yet complete.
"Your final assessment," Wu Changkong announced to the five teenagers in the Zero Class classroom, his voice carrying the weight of a chapter closing. "Yao Xuan, Gu Yue. You will venture to the deepest region of the Spirit Pagoda's Intermediate Ascension Platform and slay the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear that lairs there. Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan. You will survive within the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform for twenty-four hours… during its riot period."
A challenging send-off, designed to test the limits they had spent years pushing.
At the Spirit Transmission Tower, they prepared to enter. Before parting ways with the trio, Yao Xuan placed a hand on Tang Wulin's shoulder. "Lead them. Trust your instincts." Tang Wulin met his gaze and gave a firm nod.
Then, it was just him and Gu Yue. As they stood before the portals, he turned to her. In her form-fitting combat suit, she was a vision of lethal grace—tall, poised, her violet eyes holding galaxies of quiet confidence and shared purpose. His admiration was not of lust, but of awe for the warrior and soul beside him.
"Ready, partner?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Always," she replied, a subtle smile touching her lips. She didn't take his hand, but she stepped closer, their shoulders almost touching, a united front.
They entered the Intermediate Platform, a world of oppressive ancient auras and towering, hostile flora. Yao Xuan did not bother with the lesser beasts that lurked in the periphery. Instead, he allowed a wisp of the Ancestral Dragon's sovereign pressure to emanate from him—not a violent roar, but a deep, resonant hum in the fabric of the world. The message was clear: Make way. The jungle before them stilled, then rustled as creatures fled.
For the few proud or ignorant beasts that challenged the decree, a flick of his wrist—a gleam of nine-colored light from a claw-tip—was enough. He made it look effortless, conserving their strength for the true quarry. The spiritual energy released was minimal, but he and Gu Yue absorbed it seamlessly, a trickle maintaining their peak condition.
They moved in sync, a dance of silent efficiency through fifteen hours of treacherous terrain. No words were needed. A glance from her would direct his attention to a hidden ravine; a slight shift in his stance would cue her to cover a blind spot. Their bond was their most potent sensor.
Finally, deep in a valley of shattered crystalline trees, Yao Xuan felt it. A dense, savage, and immensely proud aura, like a mountain of rage and claws. The air grew heavy with a metallic scent.
He stopped and looked at Gu Yue. Her eyes were already fixed on the valley's heart, glowing faintly with amethyst light. She felt it too.
"It knows we're here," she said quietly.
"Then let's not keep it waiting," Yao Xuan replied, a spark of focused anticipation in his eyes. This was their final trial in East Sea City—not just a test of power, but a demonstration of the partnership they had forged. Together, they stepped forward to meet the guardian of the deep.