The wolf pack's coordination was immediately apparent—this wasn't mindless beast aggression but calculated tactical assault. Two wolves flanked left, two flanked right, one circled behind, and the alpha charged directly at their formation's center. They were testing defenses, probing for weaknesses, applying pressure from multiple vectors simultaneously.
"Standard pack tactics," Feng Yun called out. "Defensive formation beta—contain and counter!"
The team shifted smoothly into their rehearsed response. Chen Wu's barriers expanded into a dome that covered all approach angles, buying them seconds to coordinate. Zhao Mei moved to intercept the alpha's charge, her Peak cultivation giving her confidence to engage the strongest threat directly. Lin Shan tracked the flanking wolves with her enhanced perception, calling out position updates. Axel prepared spatial manipulation techniques to control battlefield geometry.
The alpha struck Chen Wu's barrier with tremendous force, its jaws wreathed in dark Qi that corroded spiritual energy on contact. The barrier held, but fracture lines appeared across its surface—this beast's attacks could breach their defenses given enough time.
"Corrosive element!" Chen Wu warned. "My barriers will fail under sustained assault from that alpha. We need to eliminate it quickly."
"On it," Zhao Mei said, launching herself at the alpha the moment it pulled back from the barrier. Her twin sabers blazed with fire-element Qi as she executed "Burning Phoenix Strike"—a technique that combined speed, power, and elemental advantage against dark-attribute enemies.
The alpha was fast, twisting aside from the first saber, but Zhao Mei had anticipated the dodge. Her second blade was already waiting, cutting across the wolf's flank and leaving a burning wound that sizzled with spiritual fire.
The beast howled in pain and fury, and the pack's coordination tightened in response. The four flanking wolves abandoned their probing attacks and committed fully, rushing Chen Wu's barrier from all sides simultaneously while the rear wolf circled to find an opening.
"They're synchronizing for breakthrough attempt," Lin Shan warned. "Four-point simultaneous strike in three seconds!"
"Axel, spatial disruption on my mark," Feng Yun commanded, her tactical mind running calculations. "Chen Wu, drop barriers on the left side only. Zhao Mei, alpha suppression continues. Lin Shan, target identification for highest threat after alpha."
The four flanking wolves struck Chen Wu's barrier in perfect synchronization, their combined Core Formation Early power focusing on stress points. The barrier held for one second, two seconds—
"Now!" Feng Yun ordered.
Chen Wu dropped the left-side barrier exactly as commanded. Two wolves, committed to their attack vector, suddenly had no resistance and stumbled forward into the formation's interior. Simultaneously, Axel activated his spatial manipulation.
The dimensional fabric folded around the two infiltrating wolves, not trapping them but displacing them—shifting their position fifteen feet to the right, directly into the path of the two wolves attacking from that side. Four Qi beasts collided in a tangle of fur, claws, and confused snarls.
"Lin Shan, highest threat?" Feng Yun demanded.
"Rear wolf—it's circling for Lin Shan's back, Core Formation Early Peak, about to strike!"
Axel was already moving. His spatial perception had tracked the rear wolf's approach, and he'd positioned dimensional anchors in anticipation. When the wolf lunged for Lin Shan's exposed back, it found itself striking a spatial barrier that redirected its momentum downward, slamming the beast into the ground with its own attacking force.
Chen Wu's barrier snapped back into place, now excluding the four tangled wolves from their formation. The beasts were trapped outside, disoriented, and vulnerable.
Zhao Mei didn't waste the opportunity. While the alpha was still recovering from her burning strike, she pivoted and launched herself at the four confused wolves. "Twin Phoenix Devastation!"
Both sabers moved in a coordinated pattern that created a spinning wheel of fire-element Qi. The technique struck all four wolves simultaneously, not killing them instantly but inflicting serious wounds that disrupted their Qi circulation and mobility.
The alpha, seeing its pack decimated in seconds, made the intelligent decision to retreat. It howled a command and began backing toward the forest, but Axel had already anticipated this.
"Spatial cage," he announced, and dimensional barriers materialized around the alpha in a twenty-foot sphere. The wolf slammed into invisible walls as it tried to flee, finding itself trapped in the same technique that had contained the lightning hawk.
"Finish it," Feng Yun ordered.
Zhao Mei moved with lethal efficiency. The trapped alpha, despite its approaching Core Formation Mid cultivation, couldn't dodge in the confined space. Her first strike severed a front leg, the second pierced its chest cavity, the third destroyed its beast core. The alpha died within five seconds of being caged.
The rear wolf, still stunned from Axel's spatial redirection, received similar treatment. Lin Shan herself delivered the killing blow—a precision strike with her reconnaissance blade that pierced the wolf's skull and destroyed its consciousness before it could recover.
The four injured wolves, recognizing the battle was lost, attempted to scatter in different directions. But they were wounded, disoriented, and facing a coordinated team of cultivators who'd just demonstrated overwhelming tactical superiority.
Chen Wu's barriers herded them into a tighter formation. Axel's spatial manipulation blocked escape routes. Zhao Mei cut through their weakened defenses with brutal efficiency. Within thirty seconds, all four wolves were dead.
The entire engagement had lasted less than two minutes.
"Core extraction," Feng Yun commanded, her voice steady despite the violence they'd just participated in. "Zhao Mei, Chen Wu, you each take one Core Formation Early wolf core. Axel gets the alpha core since his spatial control was decisive. Lin Shan takes the rear wolf core for the kill. I'll take the remaining wolf core. Move quickly—blood and death Qi will attract scavengers."
They harvested the beast cores with practiced efficiency, storing them in individual preservation containers that prevented Qi degradation. Six Core Formation level cores represented significant cultivation resources—each one could support weeks of enhanced meditation or be refined into breakthrough assistance pills.
"Casualties?" Feng Yun asked, though she could see none of them were seriously injured.
"Minor Qi expenditure," Zhao Mei reported. "Nothing that won't regenerate within an hour in this environment."
"Barrier techniques at seventy percent capacity," Chen Wu added. "The alpha's corrosive element drained more energy than expected, but I'm not compromised."
"No injuries," Lin Shan confirmed. "My reconnaissance wasn't disrupted."
"Spatial manipulation reserves at eighty-five percent," Axel said. "The cage technique requires more sustained energy than barrier deflections, but I can maintain combat capability."
"Excellent." Feng Yun consulted her mental map. "Cliff formation is two hundred yards ahead. Expect it to be defended—wolf packs don't abandon good territory without leaving guards. Combat formation alpha, advance at combat speed."
They reached the cliff formation ten minutes later and found exactly what Feng Yun had predicted. Three more wolves remained—all Core Formation Early, positioned strategically to defend the cave entrance and the spiritual spring Lin Shan had detected.
But these wolves had heard their pack's death howls. They knew what was coming. When Team Seven appeared, the defenders didn't attack with confidence but with desperate ferocity of Qi beasts fighting for survival.
It wasn't enough. Zhao Mei engaged all three simultaneously, her Peak cultivation letting her suppress multiple Early stage opponents. Axel supported with spatial barriers that prevented coordinated attacks. Chen Wu maintained defensive coverage. Lin Shan and Feng Yun targeted the most aggressive wolf with ranged techniques.
The three defenders died within ninety seconds, their cores harvested and their bodies dragged aside to prevent their death Qi from contaminating the cliff formation.
"Secure the perimeter," Feng Yun ordered. "Lin Shan, full reconnaissance of the caves. Zhao Mei, patrol the cliff base for additional threats. Chen Wu, begin establishing defensive formations. Axel, with me—we're setting up the spiritual spring for cultivation use."
The cliff formation proved to be exactly what they needed. Natural stone walls provided three-sided protection with only the southern approach requiring defensive coverage. The elevated position offered clear sightlines across the surrounding forest. Multiple cave chambers provided shelter from weather and privacy for individual cultivation. And the spiritual spring—a small pool of water that bubbled with concentrated Qi—was a treasure that could support formation arrays for enhanced meditation.
"This location alone justifies the wolf pack engagement," Feng Yun assessed, examining the spring with professional interest. "Spiritual springs of this quality are contested territory in the Ascension Realm. Other teams will try to claim it once they discover its existence."
"How do we prevent that?" Axel asked, already sensing the tactical problem.
"We don't prevent it completely—we make the cost of attempting a claim prohibitively high." Feng Yun pulled out formation flags from her storage ring. "Chen Wu and I will establish layered defensive arrays around the perimeter. Multiple barriers, alarm formations, and offensive techniques that activate on intrusion. Anyone trying to take this position will face automated defenses even if we're not physically present."
"What about when we need to leave for resources or cultivation sites?"
"We rotate. Two team members remain on guard while three explore or cultivate elsewhere. Never leave the base completely undefended, never split into groups smaller than two." Feng Yun began placing formation flags with practiced precision. "This is our fortress for the next three months. We defend it accordingly."
They spent the rest of the day establishing their base camp. Chen Wu erected three layers of defensive barriers, each keyed to their spiritual signatures so team members could pass freely while intruders faced escalating resistance. Feng Yun positioned formation arrays that would alert them to approaching threats within two hundred yards. Lin Shan mapped all cave chambers and identified the best locations for individual cultivation chambers. Zhao Mei established patrol routes around the cliff perimeter. Axel placed spatial anchors at strategic points that would let him create dimensional barriers or emergency escape routes if the defenses were breached.
By nightfall, their cliff formation had transformed from contested beast territory into a defensible cultivation stronghold.
"First day summary," Feng Yun announced as the team gathered around the spiritual spring for evening meal. "Nine Qi beasts defeated—six wolves Core Formation Early, one wolf approaching Mid, one hawk Foundation Establishment Peak, one wolf Core Formation Early Peak. Zero casualties, minimal injuries, excellent coordination. We've claimed premium territory and established defensive infrastructure. This is a very successful start."
"Contribution allocation?" Zhao Mei asked, understanding that even in cooperative teams, individual contributions needed recognition.
"Kills: Zhao Mei leads with direct combat eliminations. Axel second for tactical control and alpha containment. Chen Wu third for defensive support. Lin Shan and I split reconnaissance and coordination contributions." Feng Yun pulled out a jade slate that tracked team statistics. "Beast core distribution was already handled on-site. When we eventually sell or trade cores we don't use personally, contribution ratios determine share allocation."
"What about cultivation scheduling?" Chen Wu asked. "We all felt the spiritual energy concentration. Active cultivation here will accelerate advancement significantly."
"Rotation system. Each team member gets six hours of focused cultivation daily, scheduled so we always maintain two guards. The spiritual spring is first-come-first-served for individual sessions, but limited to two hours maximum to ensure everyone gets access." Feng Yun updated the jade slate with the cultivation schedule. "Priority exceptions for breakthrough attempts—if someone is approaching realm advancement, they get extended spring access with full team protection."
"Speaking of breakthroughs," Lin Shan said, her perception apparently detecting something, "Axel's Golden Core is spinning faster than it was this morning. Is the Ascension Realm's energy concentration already affecting your cultivation?"
Axel checked his internal state and confirmed what she'd noticed. His Core Formation Mid cultivation, which had been stable at eighty-nine percent optimization, was now at ninety-one percent. Just eight hours in this environment had advanced his progress by two percent—gains that would have taken weeks in normal conditions.
"The four hundred percent spiritual energy concentration isn't just beneficial, it's transformative," Axel said. "At this rate, I could reach Core Formation Late within a month instead of the three to six months it would normally require."
"That's going to create interesting tactical dynamics," Feng Yun observed. "If you break through to Late while Zhao Mei breaks through to Golden Core, our team will have two Golden Core cultivators and one Core Formation Late. That's overwhelming power compared to most trial teams."
"It also makes us a priority target," Chen Wu countered. "Other sects will notice if our team's power level increases that dramatically. They'll try to eliminate us before we become too strong."
"Let them try," Zhao Mei said with confidence that bordered on arrogance. "We've already demonstrated we can handle coordinated Qi beast attacks. Rival cultivators won't be more challenging than that wolf pack."
"Don't underestimate human opponents," Feng Yun warned. "Qi beasts are predictable—they follow instinct and territorial imperatives. Humans are creative, deceptive, and willing to use tactics that beasts never consider. Poison, ambush, formation traps, psychological manipulation. We'll face threats that our combat prowess alone can't counter."
The conversation was interrupted by Lin Shan's sudden alert. "Movement detected. Southeast approach, two hundred yards out. Multiple signatures—human cultivators, not Qi beasts. At least four individuals, Core Formation levels, moving deliberately toward our position."
"A rival team already?" Zhao Mei stood immediately, her hand moving to her sabers.
"Possibly just passing through," Feng Yun said, though her tactical mind was clearly running threat assessments. "Or they detected our defensive formations and are investigating. Or they knew about the spiritual spring and are checking if it's still available. Everyone to positions—defensive stance, not aggressive, but ready for combat if they prove hostile."
Team Seven moved to their rehearsed defensive positions with the smooth coordination that eight weeks of preparation had instilled. Chen Wu at the center with barriers ready, Zhao Mei at the forward position as primary combatant, Lin Shan at elevated vantage for reconnaissance, Axel flanking with spatial manipulation prepared, Feng Yun at command position coordinating responses.
The approaching team emerged from the forest four minutes later. Four cultivators wearing the distinctive robes of Crimson Lotus Sect—one of Azure Peak's traditional rivals in regional competitions. Three Core Formation Early disciples and one Core Formation Mid, all appearing battle-worn and alert.
The Mid stage cultivator, a woman with a distinctive crimson lotus tattoo on her left cheek, stopped at the edge of Team Seven's defensive perimeter. Her spiritual senses probed their formations carefully before she called out: "Azure Peak Sect? We mean no aggression. We're simply looking for water sources. Mind if we refill our supplies at your spring?"
Feng Yun stepped forward as team spokesperson, maintaining diplomatic neutrality. "Crimson Lotus Sect. The spring is claimed territory, but we're willing to negotiate temporary access. What do you offer in trade?"
The Crimson Lotus leader smiled, recognizing a fellow tactical mind. "Information. We've been in the Ascension Realm for eight hours longer than you arrived, and we've mapped several key locations. We'll share our findings in exchange for water access."
"What kind of locations?" Feng Yun asked.
"Time dilation zones, Qi beast territories, resource nodes, and—most importantly—the positions of other sect teams. We've already encountered three teams, two of which were hostile. Knowing who's operating in your area could prevent unfortunate conflicts."
Feng Yun considered for approximately five seconds. "Acceptable trade. You may refill water supplies at the spring under supervision. In exchange, you provide complete tactical maps and team position data. No information withholding, no deceptive details, or we terminate the agreement immediately."
"Agreed," the Crimson Lotus leader said. "I'm Feng Mei, team leader. The irony of our shared surname isn't lost on me."
"Feng Yun. The irony is noted and appreciated." Feng Yun gestured toward the spring. "Lin Shan will supervise your water access. Chen Wu, maintain barriers but allow passage. Everyone else, remain on alert but non-aggressive."
The two teams maintained careful distance as the Crimson Lotus cultivators refilled their water containers. Professional courtesy existed even between rival sects—survival in the Ascension Realm often required cooperation that transcended normal competitive relationships.
Feng Mei fulfilled her side of the trade, pulling out a detailed jade map that showed everything her team had discovered. Time dilation zones ranging from seventy to one hundred twenty percent normal flow. Qi beast territories including a particularly dangerous tiger that exhibited Core Formation Peak cultivation. Resource nodes containing spirit herbs and mineral deposits. And most valuably, the approximate positions of three other teams they'd encountered.
"Storm Valley Sect is operating two miles northeast," Feng Mei explained, highlighting locations on the map. "Hostile on sight—they attacked us immediately, we retreated rather than engage in pointless conflict. Iron Mountain Sect is four miles east, claimed a defensible mountain cave, seem willing to trade rather than fight. Heaven's Gate Sect is southwest, unknown disposition since we only detected them from distance."
"Any deaths yet?" Feng Yun asked bluntly.
"We haven't witnessed any, but Storm Valley claimed they'd already eliminated one Azure Peak cultivator when they threatened us. Could be psychological warfare, could be truth." Feng Mei's expression suggested she believed it was truth. "The twenty percent mortality rate tends to manifest in the first week when teams are still establishing themselves and taking unnecessary risks."
"Storm Valley eliminating Azure Peak disciples is concerning," Zhao Mei said, her tone suggesting she was considering preemptive retaliation.
"It's a trial," Feng Mei said with pragmatic acceptance. "Deaths happen. Sometimes through Qi beast attacks, sometimes through rival sect conflicts, sometimes through simple miscalculation. Unless you want to spend your entire trial period hunting Storm Valley for revenge, I suggest accepting it as the unfortunate cost of participation."
The Crimson Lotus team departed twenty minutes later, their water supplies refilled and their trade obligation satisfied. Feng Yun immediately gathered Team Seven for tactical analysis.
"Storm Valley Sect is now our primary human threat," she announced, updating their jade slate with the new information. "They're hostile, they've already killed at least one Azure Peak cultivator, and they're operating close enough to potentially contest our territory. We need contingency plans for engagement, retreat, and emergency extraction if they prove overwhelming."
"Should we report the death to sect authorities?" Chen Wu asked.
"We can't—communication with outside is restricted to monthly check-ins and emergency extraction signals. The dead cultivator's life preservation token will have already notified administrators, but we can't provide additional details until our first monthly report." Feng Yun's expression was grim. "Which means Storm Valley operates without immediate consequences for killing Azure Peak disciples."
"Then we should eliminate them preemptively," Zhao Mei said, her combat instincts suggesting offensive solutions. "Strike before they can target us."
"Negative," Feng Yun said firmly. "We're not assassins hunting rival teams. We're here for cultivation advancement and resource gathering. We defend our territory, we respond to direct threats, but we don't initiate conflicts based on hypothetical dangers. That's how teams waste cultivation time and accumulate unnecessary casualties."
"So we just wait for them to attack us?" Zhao Mei challenged.
"We prepare defenses, we maintain reconnaissance, we avoid their territory, and we respond with overwhelming force if they prove stupid enough to assault a well-fortified position defended by a Core Formation Peak cultivator and excellent tactical coordination." Feng Yun's voice carried absolute conviction. "Team Seven isn't prey, but we're not predators either. We're intelligent cultivators who prioritize advancement over pointless conflict."
The rest of the evening passed in careful planning and watch rotation establishment. By midnight, their cliff formation was as secure as defensive formations and coordinated vigilance could make it.
Axel took the second watch shift, partnering with Lin Shan while the other three team members cultivated or rested. The Ascension Realm at night was remarkably beautiful—spiritual energy painted the sky with colors that didn't exist in normal space, and the enhanced Qi concentration made every star seem to pulse with cultivation potential.
"You're adapting well to team dynamics," Lin Shan observed quietly during their watch. "Feng Yun was concerned that your independent cultivation style might create coordination problems, but you've integrated smoothly."
"I've learned that cultivation advancement isn't just individual power—it's knowing when to operate as part of something larger," Axel said, watching the forest treeline for movement. "My foundation might be Mythical-grade and my bloodline might be ancient, but that doesn't mean I can ignore the strategic advantages of coordinated teamwork."
"Wise perspective." Lin Shan's reconnaissance senses swept their perimeter continuously. "Though I suspect you could operate independently if you chose to. Core Formation Mid with Nascent Soul insights and spatial manipulation capabilities—you're probably stronger than most team leaders in this trial."
"Strength without wisdom just makes you a dangerous fool," Axel quoted something Supreme Elder Jiang had told him months ago. "I'd rather be moderately powerful with excellent support than overwhelmingly powerful and isolated."
Their watch passed without incident. When morning arrived, Team Seven gathered for their first full day of coordinated cultivation in the Ascension Realm.
The trial had truly begun. Three months stretched ahead—time enough for breakthrough, advancement, resource gathering, and the countless challenges that would test everything they'd prepared.
Axel settled into his first cultivation session beside the spiritual spring, feeling his Golden Core respond eagerly to the concentrated spiritual energy. Ninety-one percent optimization, approaching ninety-two, with Core Formation Late realm visible on the horizon.
The Nascent Soul glimpse had shown him what was possible. The Ascension Realm would show him what was achievable.
His cultivation continued, advancement accelerating, potential manifesting into reality.
The trial had just begun.
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