The air quivered with its arrival.
"A... A... She summoned a level ten magical beast!!!"
Every summoner gasped...
Even the instructor was astonished... she wasn't supposed to be able to pull this off at such a level.
Amara threw forward her hands and spoke two final words of command.
The beast's pupils of molten gold snapped toward her. In that mont, the massive creature let out a roar, causing the air to vibrate thunderously.
If it wasn't bound by the glowing summoning chains, it would have already caused a level of destruction.
"Imprint! Seal the bond now, Amara!" The instructor cried out.
Sweat glistened her brow as Amara closed her eyes and placed her hands on the beast's head.
She pressed the silver Mandala Seal at her neck against its scaly horn with her heart pounding. Magic flared in a whorl of silver and sapphire light. When she withdrew her hands, both summoner and creature glowed with a shared aura of triumph.
The yard erupted into cheers that shook lattice and stone. Students rushed forward, clapping Amara on the shoulders and voicing out praiseworthy remarks.
Amara's chest heaved with relief and pride. She glanced over her shoulder toward the corridor expecting to see Victor standing there.
Much to her disappointnt, the corridor was empty.
Victor was already long gone.
Although, Victor couldn't deny that it was a fresh perspective to see other classes training, he didn't have ti to stick around.
He still had his work cut out for him. Content first released on M_VLEM_PYR.
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...
As Victor walked by the Berserker wing, his attention was suddenly drawn to loud cheers and enthusiastic shouting.
With a curious look, he turned his head just in ti to see a heavily muscled Berserker student straining to lift a massive boulder the size of a small vehicle.
Several other berserkers stood around, chanting and goading him on. Among them, Victor noticed Danny, who stood grinning with amusent.
In a desperate burst of strength, the berserker heaved, lost control of the giant rock, and it rolled uncontrollably down a short incline directly toward the walkway where Victor was passing.
"Look out!" several voices shouted simultaneously.
Instinctively, Victor pivoted toward the incoming danger. Without hesitation, he planted one foot solidly, drew back his other leg, and delivered a powerful kick reinforced subtly with his qi.
His foot collided with the rolling boulder, causing a loud crack and a subsequent explosion of debris and dust as the giant rock shattered instantly into hundreds of tiny fragnts.
Silence fell instantly across the training grounds as every berserker stared in stunned disbelief.
"Victor?!" Danny yelled joyous surprise upon spotting the familiar figure at the bottom of the inclined slope.
"How's it going, dude!" Danny shouted, breaking the awkward silence as he laughed uncontrollably. "That's my best friend, everybody! Stronger than you muscle-heads!"
"Fuck you Danny," so of the Berserkers voiced in annoyance.
"Yo, Victor man, my bad, didn't see you there," the one who had lifted the boulder apologised from up ahead.
"Nah it's all good,"
Victor irritation dissolved quickly into laughter as Danny jogged up to him, still chuckling. "Didn't an to interrupt your little workout," Victor joked while patting his friend's shoulder.
Danny shook his head with a look of amusent.
"Not at all, man. You've gotta teach that soti. You know berserkers live for ridiculous feats of strength like that."
Victor snorted softly. "I'm technically on punishnt duty right now. Cleaning floors, to be exact."
Danny winced dramatically with a look of sympathy. "I heard dude. Sounds awful. I'm guessing that's for beating Derek and his cronies senseless?"
"Yeah," Victor admitted with a shrug. "Not that I regret it. The academy's got so questionable discipline thods, so I figured I might as well deliver so of my own justice."
Danny laughed heartily, slapping Victor lightly on the back. "You never change, Vic. Hang in there, buddy. Don't let the punishnt get to you."
Victor nodded, smiling lightly. "Thanks, Danny. I'll survive sohow."
Danny waved goodbye, returning to the berserker group, who now looked at Victor with newfound respect and awe.
Victor proceeded onward, completing his remaining tasks with remarkable efficiency, aided by his careful use of void Qi to control the mana-infused equipnt.
When he was finally done, he returned the equipnt, reported completion to Mrs Smith and began walking slowly back toward his lectures.
On his way, he overheard snippets of conversation between groups of students gathered along the hallways.
"Did you hear about the thefts?" one mage whispered urgently to another. "Several students have reported getting their credits stolen."
"Yeah," a summoner replied anxiously. "The Academy probably won't even investigate properly. You know how it goes around here."
Victor sighed inwardly, shaking his head at yet another concerning developnt. "Just great," he muttered sarcastically under his breath. "Another ss the Academy will conveniently overlook."
Since lectures had concluded for the day, Victor hurried back to his dormitory. Entering his quiet room, he imdiately shut the door behind him, set aside his things, and swiftly climbed beneath his sheets. He quickly donned his VR helt, a determined look on his face.
"Ti to return to Ascendant Realms," he murmured while tapping the side of the helt.
As Victor opened his eyes, he found himself back within the busy yet sowhat oppressive atmosphere of Lingyun Town.
The streets were already teeming with activity as the early morning sun cast a golden haze over the tiled roofs and stone-paved roads. Six days had passed in-ga, and now it was finally ti for the recruitnt test into the formidable annexed Qin and Bai family.
Victor wasted no ti. He quickly retrieved another masking pill from his storage ring.
He promptly swallowed it, imdiately feeling his powerful Nascent Soul Realm cultivation being restrained, masked down into the Qi Refining Realm.
This precaution was crucial if his infiltration was to succeed without raising suspicion.
With his preparations complete, Victor set off toward the Qin-Bai family mountain estate. He joined a steady stream of promising youngsters flowing toward Bai Qing Mountain.
The atmosphere was charged with a mixture of excitent, arrogance, nervousness, and even a hint of fear.
As he ascended the steep stone path that wound upward, Victor felt eyes upon him. Turning slightly, he saw a youth around his age, slightly taller and well-built, with short raven-black hair and confident, bright amber eyes. The young man gave him a friendly nod.
"You don't look familiar," the youth remarked casually, matching Victor's pace. "First ti participating?"
Victor smiled faintly and gave a nod. "Indeed. My family lives on the outskirts of town. You?"
The young man chuckled lightly. "I'm Bai Heng, from the lesser family branch. My father insisted I join the main family to secure a better future. Can't disappoint, can I?"
Victor nodded thoughtfully. "Fang Chen," he introduced himself briefly, offering nothing more.
"Good to et you, Fang Chen," Bai Heng said amiably. "You're just at the third stage Qi Refining Realm? Not bad, considering you look younger than most of us. You must have exceptional talent."
Victor suppressed a laugh and simply responding with a humble nod.
By the ti the participants reached the top of Bai Qing Mountain, the anticipation had reached it peak.
Before them was a wide open stone platform, etched with countless intricate designs. Huge banners emblazoned with the new emblem of the annexed Qin-Bai family fluttered proudly in the wind, intimidating many of the participants.
Several of the Qin and Bai family youngsters were already present, openly eyeing the newcors with varying expressions of disdain or curiosity.
At this mont, an elderly figure with striking silver-white hair and an authoritative bearing stepped forward. He wore robes embroidered with golden threads, symbolizing high status within the annexed family. His sharp gaze swept over the assembled youths, quieting their chatter imdiately.
"I am Elder Qin Mu," his voice echoed powerfully across the platform, silencing every murmur. "Today marks the first step of your potential entry into our prestigious Qin-Bai family. So of you co from our branch families; others, entirely new faces, seeking fortune and prestige. No matter your origin, you will be judged solely by talent, skill, and potential."
Victor watched Elder Qin Mu closely, noting the elder's fierce deanor and powerful Qi presence. Despite masking his own cultivation, Victor could clearly sense that Elder Qin Mu had surpassed at least the early Core Formation Realm.
Elder Qin Mu waved his hand, and imdiately, several disciples rushed forth, placing strange crystal obelisks evenly across the platform.
Each crystal obelisk emitted a translucent blue hue.
"For your first test," Elder Qin Mu announced, raising his voice. "You will demonstrate your Qi control. Each of you must channel your Qi into these Qi Resonance Obelisks. The intensity, precision, and purity of your Qi will be asured. Fail this, and you will be sent ho."
The announcent was t with anxious whispers. However, Victor felt calm.
Soon, the test began, and participants stepped forward one by one, palms pressed firmly against the obelisks with looks of concentration while channeling their qi.
The obelisks responded with varying intensities, ranging from faint, flickering glows for diocre talent to vibrant, steady radiance for promising prodigies.
Bai Heng soon approached an obelisk and placed his hand confidently upon it. A radiant azure brilliance surged forth, bathing the platform in its glow, causing whispers of admiration and jealousy alike.
Elder Qin Mu nodded approvingly. "Good. Your Qi control is formidable. You pass."
Bai Heng smiled smugly while stepping back with satisfaction. Victor observed quietly, genuinely impressed by Bai Heng's talent.
Soon it was Victor's turn. As he stepped up to the crystal obelisk, he maintained an indifferent expression, ignoring the skeptical gazes of the crowd.
Carefully, he placed his palm against the cool, smooth surface of the obelisk and imdiately channeled a thread of restrained Qi into it.
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