A guttural roar, primal and raw, erupted from Atticus' throat, echoing through the cavernous chamber. It was a sound ripped from the depths of his very being, a violent counterpoint to the crimson energy swirling around him. The true spectral form of the Devourer came to being, a monstrosity of condensed demonic power that resembled a grotesque amalgamation of fangs, claws, and burning eyes, writhed in response. It had expected a willing vessel, a blank canvas upon which to etch its malevolent will. Instead, it encountered a raging inferno, a soul unwilling to be subdued.Within Atticus, a desperate struggle unfolded on a metaphysical plane. The spectral essence of the Devourer, fueled by an insatiable hunger that had devoured countless souls across countless worlds, lashed out. Tendrils of inky darkness, reeking of sulfur and decay, snaked towards his very soul, seeking to ensnare it in an eternal prison. But Atticus, fueled by a potent cocktail of defiance and the system's timely in
Atticus flowed his spirit qi into the talisman to activate it. The familiar feeling of space warping enveloped him and he found himself right back at the academy, in front of the several pillars and portal which was the entrance to the Myriad spirit plane.As Atticus appeared he was surprised to see Xu Hua here, her eyes lit up when she noticed him and she could see the concern that was present in her expression."I'm starting to think you really care about me princess." Atticus couldn't resist taking a jab at the icy fairy Xu Hua.Immediately her expression morphed into its signature cold stare. Then without even replying she turned and walked away."Hold on! Wait for me!" Atticus jogged to her side with a smile."Don't follow me, and I think you should wait here as all students that came back would probably be checked." Xu Hua replied."Uhn? I wasn't told anything." Atticus said, as he feigned confusion. It was obvious that they were going to be checked in someway, after all this ma
The walk to the healing faculty was a somber one. Atticus replayed the scene with the Professor in his head, a sliver of unease settling in his gut. Was the demonic energy leak really that suspicious enough to be linked with him though?He suddenly felt that they let him off too easily, though from the vice dean's reaction to his words, he clearly knew something. Atticus reached the grand entrance, a two-story building adorned with vibrant murals depicting mythical creatures being healed by benevolent light.Pushing open the heavy oak doors, he found himself in a brightly lit reception area. A gentle melody filled the air, emanating from a nearby harp played by a serene woman with eyes closed in concentration. He approached the receptionist's desk, a friendly-looking woman with warm brown eyes and a gentle smile."Hello, I'm Atticus Bloodhound," he greeted, placing his student ID badge on the counter. "Professor Ragnar sent me for a mandatory check-up after returning from the Myriad
They reached the bustling food court, a cacophony of chatter and sizzling oil filling the air. Rows upon rows of vendors offered an enticing array of dishes, ranging from basic grain meals to exotic concoctions made with spirit plants and the meat of powerful beasts. These latter dishes, highly prized for their ability to nourish the body and enhance cultivation, were displayed with particular pride.Atticus, feeling a pang of hunger, pulled Xu Hua towards a vendor whose stall boasted a steaming pot of braised Cloud Serpent meat. "What would you like to try?" he asked, already reaching for his purse.Xu Hua, who had regained her composure, surveyed the stalls with a playful glint in her eyes. Then, turning to the cook with a smirk, she declared, "I'll have one order of the Five Treasures of Mt. Kunlun, and make sure the Roc's heart is properly roasted!"Atticus' eyes widened comically. The Five Treasures of Mt. Kunlun was a legendary dish, a culinary extravaganza featuring the rarest
The first rays of dawn peeked through the blinds, rousing Atticus from sleep. He stretched, the exhaustion of the previous day replaced by a nervous anticipation. Today was the main event of the Skyfall Trial, and the stakes were high. A mid-tier Earth Grade weapon was within reach, a prize that could significantly bolster his cultivation. After a quick breakfast and a light meditation session, Atticus made his way towards the venue for the event – the Skyreach Arena, a vast outdoor arena managed by the Beast Taming Faculty. As he approached, the bustling energy of the event washed over him. The arena was a marvel of engineering, an open-air coliseum built around a colossal circular track that soared high into the sky. The track, dotted with various obstacles and shimmering speed boosts, resembled a giant serpent coiling upwards.The atmosphere crackled with excitement. A throng of students milled about, their voices a cacophony of cheers, nervous chatter, and excited banter. Around
Atticus could not say that he was totally satisfied with 3rd as place as that made him miss out on a mid tier earth grade weapon. On the other hand professor Ragnar already informed him that each member of the task force would be given a low teir earth grade weapon.So that wasn't so bad afterall as he would get an earth grade weapon with no sweat. Besides it wasn't as if the other participants here were pushovers so getting 3rd place really showed the height of his skills.All three top rankers were given contribution points, with Atticus getting 10,000 contribution points! Which was a very large amount to Atticus. But when he thought about some of the Artifacts he was planning to get... He realized that human wants are every increasing with income .The arena was slowly emptying, the post-event buzz fading into a murmur of departing conversations. As the last students trickled out, a sleek metallic vessel descended from the sky, drawing gasps of admiration from the remaining spectat
The prickling sensation intensified, sharpening into a distinct sense of malice. Atticus stopped short, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger concealed beneath his cloak. He didn't need to turn around to know who was approaching - the acrid scent of cheap liquor and arrogance announced their arrival before they did.Emerging from a shadowy alleyway were three figures, their clothes disheveled and faces etched with a sneer. Their ragged movements and sloppy postures marked them not as students, but as petty thugs scraping by on the fringes of the town. A quick scan revealed their energy signatures – all three pulsated with the faint glow of the early Spirit Gathering realm.Atticus narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. He could easily overpower these ruffians, but resorting to violence in the heart of a neutral zone wouldn't be ideal. Still, a lesson needed to be learned."Looking for trouble, boys?" Atticus inquired, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.The lead thug, a hulki
A wave of tension seemed to linger in the atmosphere. The air crackled with hostility, and Atticus instinctively placed himself a half-step in front of Rin, his own posture straightening in response to the young man's arrogant demeanor. He didn't recognize the insignia of House Serpentis but now he remembered where he had seen the carriage.Rin, however, seemed to regain her composure quickly. She met the young man's gaze head-on, her eyes hardening with defiance. "Serpentis," she spat out the name like a bad taste in her mouth "What brings you to this fine part of town?""Don't play coy, Rin," the young man sneered. "We know you were here. And we know what you've been up to." His eyes flickered to the groaning figures scattered on the ground, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Looks like you've been causing trouble again for people under the protection of our clan, are you tired of life!""Just defending myself from some lowlifes who were picking on a couple of kids, didn't realize th