The stone arena fell into a heavy, expectant silence as Proctor Meng's eyes bored into Zhao Chen. The Level 52 Soul King's aura was a physical weight, pressing against Zhao Chen's skin like the depths of the ocean.
"A merchant's son with such stability," Meng murmured, his voice carrying a dangerous edge of curiosity. "Very well. Your performance was... adequate. But the Heavenly Pattern Academy does not just look for survival; we look for the potential to dominate."
As the Proctor turned back toward Senior Sister Liu, a familiar chime echoed in the depths of Zhao Chen's mind, distinct and clearer than ever before.
[Ding! Objective: 'The Controlled Performance' — COMPLETED.]
[Evaluation: S-Rank. Suppression of the Nine-Headed Hydra was maintained at 99.2% during combat stress. No spiritual leakage detected.]
[Distributing Rewards...]
Zhao Chen felt a sudden, cool sensation wash over his spiritual sea. It wasn't a surge of raw power like a soul ring; instead, it felt as though a thin, invisible film was being wrapped around his very essence.
[Ding! Reward Granted: Hidden Attribute 'Spiritual Masking' Level 2.]
Zhao Chen exhaled slowly, focusing inward to analyze the new reward. The System interface flickered to life, detailing the upgrade:
[Spiritual Masking (Level 2): A passive attribute that fundamentally alters how the host's spiritual signature is perceived by others.
Effect 1: Density Camouflage. The host can now project a "false density." Even if Zhao Chen reaches higher cultivation levels, he can make his soul power feel hollow or shallow to those investigating him.
Effect 2: Dual-Sea Isolation. The "bridge" or resonance between the Nine-Headed Hydra and the Thorny Crawling Vine is now completely invisible to external probes. Even a Soul Douluo would struggle to detect the existence of a second martial spirit unless it is actively summoned.
Effect 3: Automatic Pulse Dampening. Any sudden spikes in spiritual energy caused by emotional distress or physical pain are automatically smoothed out before they reach the host's skin, maintaining the "boringly normal" facade even in crisis.]
Zhao Chen felt the tension in his shoulders vanish. Previously, he had to manually guide his soul energy to avoid "pooling" or reacting too strongly to the environment. Now, the Level 2 Masking handled it as naturally as breathing.
"Young Master Zhao," Senior Sister Liu called out, walking over as the Academy carriage was prepared. "The Proctor's word is final. You have three days to settle your affairs in Xian City. We leave for the Capital at dawn on the fourth day."
She paused, her Moonveil Crane spirit flickering for a micro-second as she tried one last, subtle probe. This time, however, she didn't even sense a "candle". Zhao Chen felt like a void—smooth, unremarkable, and completely devoid of the "artificial perfection" that had piqued her interest before.
She frowned, looking confused, and then shook her head. "Perhaps I was overthinking it," she muttered to herself before walking away.
Zhao Chen bowed politely to her retreating back. "I shall be ready, Senior Sister."
Walking back toward the Zhao Family Manor, Zhao Chen communicated with the System. "System, with Spiritual Masking at Level 2, can I safely cultivate the Hydra's second head while at the Academy?"
[Ding! Analysis: Probability of detection by a Soul King while Masking Level 2 is active: 0.04%. However, the host is advised to prioritize the evolution of the Thorny Crawling Vine to provide a 'legitimate' explanation for your rising status.]
"The Capital," Zhao Chen murmured, looking toward the horizon. "A bigger pond, with bigger fish."
He looked down at his hand, where a faint, dark green vine flickered for a second before vanishing. The Life-Seizing Bloom had tasted the spirit of a Gale Falcon today. It was hungry for more, and in the Capital, he would find no shortage of "geniuses" to feed his growth—all while they looked at him and saw nothing but a lucky merchant's son.
The trap was set, and for the first time, Zhao Chen felt he wasn't just hiding from the world—he was prepared to consume it.
***
The carriage ride to the Imperial Capital was not the leisurely journey Zhao Chen had expected. Instead, it was an exercise in sustained mental fortitude. For three days, he sat cross-legged in the cramped interior, the Level 2 Spiritual Masking working overtime to dampen the rhythmic pulses of his twin martial spirits.
Beside him, Senior Sister Liu remained silent, but her presence was a constant probe. Every few hours, she would release a faint ripple of her Moonveil Crane's spiritual intent—a subtle test to see if Zhao Chen's "density" would crack under the fatigue of travel.
Zhao Chen met every ripple with the same flat, unremarkable surface.
[Ding! Passive cultivation check...]
[Current Level: 12 (Soul Apprentice)]
[Progress to Level 13: 45%]
[Note: The Hydra's second head requires Level 21 (Soul Master) for partial manifestation.]
Zhao Chen looked out the window as the sprawling walls of the Imperial Capital finally pierced the horizon. Unlike the rustic stone of Xian City, these walls were crafted from Spirit-Refining Basalt, glowing with ancient protective arrays that hummed at a frequency only a high-level cultivator could hear.
"We are entering the Heavenly Pattern Academy's primary jurisdiction," Liu said, her voice finally breaking the silence. "In Xian City, you were a big fish in a small pond. Here, even the gate guards are likely Level 15 Soul Apprentices. Do not let your 'high-grade' ring make you arrogant."
"I am a merchant's son, Senior Sister," Zhao Chen replied, his voice humble. "I know the value of staying in the shadows when the sun is too bright."
As they passed through the massive gates, the System's interface flickered rapidly, scanning the environment.
[Warning: Multiple High-Level signatures detected.]
[Soul King (Level 51-60) count: 12]
[Soul Emperor (Level 61-70) count: 3]
[Recommendation: Maintain 'Spiritual Masking' at maximum output. Do not cycle the Hydra's energy.]
The carriage came to a halt in the heart of the Academy district. Proctor Meng awaited them, standing atop a marble staircase that led to the Hall of Records. He looked down at Zhao Chen, his hawk-like eyes scanning the boy's stagnant Level 12 aura.
"You have stabilized well," Meng noted, though there was a hint of disappointment in his voice. "I expected a talent of your caliber to hit Level 13 during the journey. Perhaps your 'density' is simply a matter of a sturdy foundation rather than rapid growth."
"My apologies, Proctor," Zhao Chen bowed. "I prioritized stability over speed, as my father taught me."
"A wise, if uninspired, choice," Meng waved him forward. "Come. Before you are officially enrolled, you must undergo the Crystal Pillar Resonance. It is one thing to spar; it is another to see what the Heavens have truly carved into your soul."
Zhao Chen felt a slight chill. The Crystal Pillar was a Tier-4 artifact designed to bypass most concealment techniques. If he failed to manage the output, the Nine-Headed Hydra would be exposed in the heart of the enemy's stronghold.
[Ding! New Objective: 'The Silent Pillar.']
[Task: Undergo the Resonance Test without triggering the 'God-Tier' alarm.]
[Strategy: Redirect 90% of the Pillar's probe into the Thorny Crawling Vine's crimson veins. Use the 'Life-Seizing Bloom' logic to 'eat' the scanning energy.]
Zhao Chen stepped into the Hall of Records. In the center stood a pillar of pure, translucent quartz, twenty feet high.
"Place your hand on the surface," Meng commanded. "The pillar will measure your Soul Capacity, Stability, and Compatibility. The color will dictate your ranking among the new initiates."
Senior Sister Liu watched closely, her breath hitched. She still couldn't shake the feeling that Zhao Chen was a book written in a language she couldn't translate.
Zhao Chen walked forward. His palm touched the cold quartz.
Instantly, a violent surge of white light shot from the pillar into his arm, racing toward his spiritual sea. It felt like a hot needle searching for a vein. It bypassed the Thorny Crawling Vine and headed straight for the dark, swirling abyss where the Hydra lay in wait.
Not today, Zhao Chen thought.
He activated the Spiritual Masking at full throttle. Simultaneously, he commanded the Thorny Crawling Vine to erupt—not outwardly, but inwardly. The vines wrapped around the Pillar's probe, their crimson veins glowing as they "fed" on the scanning energy.
The Pillar groaned. The quartz began to vibrate, shifting from white to a steady, solid yellow. Then, a few flecks of purple appeared at the base, indicating the high-grade soul ring he had already shown them.
"Level 12 Soul Apprentice. Soul Capacity: High-Tier. Stability: Exceptional. Compatibility: Standard," the Pillar's voice echoed through the hall.
Proctor Meng exhaled, a tension he didn't know he was holding finally dissipating. "High-Tier capacity with Standard compatibility. You are a 'Hard-Worker' talent, Zhao Chen. You have a large bucket, but the tap flows slowly. You will make a fine scholar-cultivator."
Zhao Chen pulled his hand back, his palm slightly scorched. Behind his eyes, the System signaled success.
[Ding! Mission 'The Silent Pillar' COMPLETED.]
[Reward: 500 System Points, +1 to 'Soul Stability' attribute.]
[Note: The Hydra has successfully consumed a portion of the Pillar's resonance. Level 13 breakthrough imminent.]
"Thank you, Proctor," Zhao Chen said, bowing low.
As he followed a servant to his new quarters, Zhao Chen allowed a small, cold smile to touch his lips. They saw a "Hard-Worker" with a slow tap. They didn't realize that the "bucket" wasn't full of water—it was full of venom, and the tap was only closed because he hadn't decided whose throat to open it over yet.
He was finally inside the Heavenly Pattern Academy. The hunt had officially moved into the heart of the empire.
***
The dormitories of the Heavenly Pattern Academy were carved directly into the white-stone cliffs overlooking the Great Jade Plaza. Each room was a natural cultivation chamber, lined with Spirit-Attracting Stone and etched with basic gathering arrays. For a common student, this was an unimaginable luxury. For Zhao Chen, it was a convenient shroud.
Sitting cross-legged on the cool stone floor, Zhao Chen felt the stolen energy from the Crystal Pillar churning within his spiritual sea. It was cold, sharp, and tasted of ancient quartz—a refined essence that his Nine-Headed Hydra was currently dismantling with predatory efficiency.
"System," he whispered into the silence of the room. "The Crystal Pillar's energy is too volatile to leave sitting in my meridians. Process it immediately."
[Ding! Conversion sequence initiated...]
[Resonance Energy: 100% absorbed.]
[Converting to Soul Power...]
[Level 12... Level 13!]
[Warning: Soul Stability is fluctuating due to rapid advancement. Activating 'Spiritual Masking' Level 2 to suppress the breakthrough tremor.]
A soft, golden-purple light flared briefly in the center of Zhao Chen's chest before being sucked back into his soul. He felt his marrow itch as his bones densified, a physical manifestation of his jump from Level 12 to 13. While a standard Soul Apprentice might take months of meditation to achieve this, Zhao Chen had simply siphoned the Academy's own testing equipment to fuel his growth.
"Status," Zhao Chen commanded.
[Name: Zhao Chen]
[Cultivation: Level 13 Soul Apprentice]
[Current Points: 500]
[Martial Spirit 1: Nine-Headed Hydra (1/9 Heads Active)]
[Martial Spirit 2: Thorny Crawling Vine (Mutated: Crimson-Veined)]
[Hidden Attribute: Spiritual Masking Level 2]
Zhao Chen looked at the 500 System Points displayed on the screen. He knew these weren't just a score; they were the currency of his survival. In the "Yellow Class," he was surrounded by eyes, and he needed more than just a hidden rank to survive.
"System, what are my options for these 500 points?"
[Ding! Suggested uses for 500 System Points:]
Skill Evolution (400 pts): Upgrade 'Miasma of the Abyss' to 'Corrosive Veil,' increasing its range and allowing for selective targeting. Physical Tempering (300 pts): Permanent 10% increase to 'Soul Stability,' reducing the risk of a backlash when using the Hydra's power. Database Expansion (100 pts): Unlock the 'Heavenly Pattern Academy Faculty Directory,' providing levels and spirit types for all instructors within a 1-mile radius. Instant Mastery (500 pts): Immediately learn any basic Academy cultivation technique without needing to attend lectures.
"The faculty directory is tempting, but I need to be a 'monster' underneath the mask," Zhao Chen mused. "Save 400 for a skill evolution once I see what the students here are capable of. Spend 100 on the Faculty Database. Knowledge is the best concealment."
[Ding! 100 Points deducted. 'Heavenly Pattern Faculty Database' unlocked.]
A sharp knock at the door broke his concentration.
"Zhao Chen? It's Senior Sister Liu." Her voice was muffled by the thick stone door. "Proctor Meng has assigned you to the 'Yellow Class.' Your first lecture on Spirit Beast Ecology begins at dawn. Also... I've brought your uniform."
Zhao Chen stood up, his movements now more fluid. He opened the door to find Liu holding a set of white robes trimmed with silver thread.
She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. She paused, sniffing the air as her Moonveil Crane spirit flickered. "The spiritual density in this room... it feels different. Did you just have a minor breakthrough?"
Zhao Chen maintained his "Masking" with practiced ease. He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck like an overwhelmed country boy. "The Spirit-Attracting Stones in the walls are incredible, Senior Sister. I think I finally pushed past the bottleneck for Level 12. I feel... much more solid."
Liu stared at him for a long moment. Even with her spirit's sensitivity, she saw only a Level 13 Soul Apprentice with a common vine. "Solid. Right." She handed him the robes. "Don't be late. The Yellow Class is for those with 'Hard-Worker' foundations, but the instructors are not patient."
As she walked away, the System's voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Detection avoidance successful. Senior Sister Liu's suspicion level has dropped by 12%.]
Zhao Chen looked at the silver-trimmed robes. Tomorrow, he would join a class of students who believed they were at the bottom of the food chain. It was the perfect vantage point. From the Yellow Class, he could watch the "Geniuses" in the Gold Class, learn their secrets, and identify who would be the first to "feed" the Hydra when he finally reached the Soul Master (Level 21) stage.
He closed the door and began to change. The merchant's son was gone; the student had arrived. But beneath the white silk, the predator was already calculating how to earn his next 500 points.