The forest opened into a narrow gorge, shadows stretching between jagged cliffs. Broken stone and remnants of an ancient wall suggested ruins long abandoned, but the air was thick with latent Spirit Energy.
Mo Xuan's eyes narrowed. "Something's off. The beasts are hiding—intelligent, cautious. Rank 5+, maybe even Rank 6."
Lin Yue's twin martial souls hovered close. "And there's more than just beasts. The ruins themselves… unstable. I can feel traps in the Spirit Energy pattern."
Elder Feng's voice broke through the tension. "Correct. These ruins have been left untouched for centuries. The energy here has drawn higher-ranked Spirit Beasts and cunning hunters alike. One misstep, and even a Rank 5 Master could die."
Mo Xuan adjusted the Spirit Spring on his chest. Its pulse blended with his Space Soul Ring, a subtle resonance that allowed him to manipulate the terrain slightly. Small stones lifted into the air, branches bent and twisted, creating minor traps for any enemy or wild creature.
"We proceed carefully," Mo Xuan said coldly. "Observation first. Control second. Strike third."
From a darkened archway, a Rank 5+ Crystal Fang Serpent slithered into view. Its scales reflected the dim light like polished ice. Its gaze was intelligent, calculating, and cruel.
"First target," Elder Feng said. "Observe its behavior—don't rush. Let it make the first mistake."
Mo Xuan crouched low, Spirit Spring humming. The ancient beast within him stirred, purring. Excellent. Environment manipulation, observation, and subtle offense. You will learn control here.
The serpent lunged suddenly. Mo Xuan bent space beneath its body, redirecting its strike into a ruined pillar, which shattered in a spray of stone shards. Lin Yue followed immediately, twin martial souls converging into a soft yet firm strike, forcing the serpent back.
From above, Wei Zhan dropped silently, landing with the grace of a shadow. "You two are efficient," he said lightly. "But let's see if you can handle a multi-target ambush."
At his words, the ruins seemed to awaken. Stones shifted subtly, and from hidden crevices, two more Rank 5 beasts emerged—a Thunderclaw Panther and a Frostmane Direwolf. Both were intelligent, coordinated, and immediately focused on Mo Xuan.
"Perfect," Mo Xuan murmured. Just like the training the ancient beast promised… chaos tests control.
He activated the Spirit Spring fully, manipulating space to create channels and barriers. The panther's leap was redirected mid-air. The wolf's charge slid off a warped stone wall. Lin Yue's twin martial souls struck in perfect synchronization, amplifying every subtle movement Mo Xuan imposed on the terrain.
The Crystal Fang Serpent twisted mid-flight, coiling around Mo Xuan's spatial distortions, snapping at him with precision. Lightning arced from the Thunderclaw Panther, snow erupting into clouds of vapor as it collided with warped terrain.
Wei Zhan's laugh rang out above the chaos. "Now this is interesting!" He lunged into the fray, moving like a silver shadow between beasts and terrain. His attacks were precise, designed to push Mo Xuan and Lin Yue, testing their reaction, not to claim victory.
Mo Xuan's cold mind raced. Observation, control, strike… combine the Spring with Space. Force the beasts to miscalculate. Use Lin Yue to amplify and direct.
The battlefield became a blur of spatial manipulation, suspended debris, and twin martial soul energy. Each strike was a calculation, each dodge pre-planned in the mind. The beasts adapted—but Mo Xuan's manipulation of space left them little choice but to move into disadvantage.
Finally, a coordinated strike: Mo Xuan warped space beneath the Thunderclaw Panther while Lin Yue struck it from above. Wei Zhan diverted the serpent's strike toward a falling boulder, guiding it safely but precisely to test Mo Xuan's counter.
The creatures staggered, their attacks halting, exhausted by the combined pressure of spatial manipulation, martial soul strikes, and environmental mastery.
Mo Xuan exhaled slowly, golden energy from the Spirit Spring flickering faintly. This… this is the growth point. Observation, battlefield control, combined strikes… the second Soul Ring is within reach.
Elder Feng clapped his hands lightly. "Well done. Coordination, control, and foresight. You've handled three intelligent Rank 5+ beasts simultaneously. That is not a minor achievement."
Wei Zhan landed beside Mo Xuan, dusting snow from his dark tunic. His amber eyes glimmered. "Impressive. Not bad at all. I can see why people are watching you." He smirked. "But don't get complacent. This was just a warm-up. Wait until you face a Rank 6+ beast that thinks faster than you do."
Mo Xuan's cold eyes met his. "Then I'll think faster."
Lin Yue's twin auras pulsed gently around him, a quiet reassurance. Together, the three of them—rival, allies, and apprentice—stood amid the ruins. The beasts retreated, wounded but alive, leaving behind a forest disturbed, snow scattered, and faint traces of rare Spirit Energy—Soul Rings waiting to be claimed.
Elder Feng exhaled. "The region's challenges have only begun. Observe, adapt, and refine. Your second Soul Ring draws closer every day. But remember… these ruins hold secrets beyond mere beasts. Pay attention, and survive. Fail, and even your first Soul Ring won't save you."
Mo Xuan's hand flexed on the Spirit Spring. "Observation. Control. Strike. Always."
Above, the wind howled through the ancient stones. Snow fell softly. And somewhere, in the high trees, a sharp-eyed amber gaze watched silently—Wei Zhan's.
Competition begins in earnest.