As he reached for his discarded shirt with the thoughts of going out to get some food, the door creaked open, revealing Xu Hua. Her usual stoic expression was etched with a hint of surprise, a rare sight. Following closely behind was a whirlwind of activity in the form of a girl with vibrant pink hair fashioned into two high buns. "Woah, you have a roommate? And it's a guy!" the girl exclaimed, her voice a bubbly chirp. "Xu Hua never mentioned that!" Xu Hua simply swept past them both, heading straight for her desk, her silence a clear message to let the topic die. Atticus recognized the tactic – a well-honed defense mechanism against her potential pestering and fostering awkwardness. Sure enough, the girl, seemingly oblivious to the silent plea, bounced towards Atticus, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hi there! I'm Lu Xiaoyan, Xu Hua's best friend! You must be the new roommate, right?" she chirped, extending a hand in greeting.Atticus took her hand, a wry smile playing on
Atticus wandered out of the student dorms and made his way to the nearby town. He knew a restaurant there that served amazing food, and his stomach was rumbling in protest.The air buzzed with the delicious aroma of sizzling meat and spices as Atticus weaved through the bustling streets. He spotted a small eatery, decorated with paper lanterns and wooden benches, that looked perfect for a hearty meal. Stepping inside, he was greeted by a warm, friendly atmosphere. Laughter mingled with the clatter of dishes and the rhythmic sizzle of food being cooked in the open kitchen. He spotted a few students from his Arcane faculty class enjoying a meal in a corner. One of them, a young man named Wei Chen with a mop of black hair, waved him over."Hey! Didn't expect to see you here," Wei Chen called out, barely audible over the lively chatter. Atticus himself wasn't expecting to see someone he recognized here but either way returned the greeting with a nod and a smile, scanning the room for
The walk back to the academy with Wei Chen was shrouded in a tense silence. The gruesome scene at the restaurant replayed in Atticus' mind, the chilling image of the decaying bodies a constant reminder of the brutal encounter. Wei Chen, usually brimming with nervous chatter, remained uncharacteristically subdued, his face etched with a mixture of fear and confusion. As they approached their separate dorms, a flicker of concern crossed Wei Chen's usually jovial expression. "Atticus," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "that... that figure...I have a feeling it is related to a spectral demon.."Atticus, his own thoughts a tangled mess, simply offered a grim nod.Even though he did really know anything about spectral demons, he did know a bit about demons based on the demonic energy he himself possessed.The evidence spoke for itself – the inhuman agility, the dark energy, the chilling aura – it all pointed towards something far more sinister than a mere cultivator. Especially
Atticus sighed as he closed the ancient tome, the last vestiges of his contribution points reducing its two figures to just one. He'd burned through them faster than anticipated, his relentless pursuit of knowledge proving to be an expensive endeavor. Yet, a satisfied smile played on his lips after all this was one of his shortcomings since he came to this world and now he was eliminating that blatant weakness. He had also reached the pinnacle of the Perfected Stage in Foundation Establishment, his body and spirit primed for the next crucial step – breaking through to the Spirit Gathering Realm.Unlike the previous realms, where sheer absorption of qi sufficed for a breakthrough, the Spirit Gathering Realm demanded a deeper connection. As the name implied, cultivators sought to assimilate the essence of spirits, forming a symbiotic bond that enhanced their own power. This process required patience, empathy, and a genuine understanding of the spirit in question. Through carefully con
A hush fell over the gathered crowd as the supervisor, a wizened old man with eyes like polished obsidian, addressed the aspiring participants. His voice, though aged, resonated with a quiet power that demanded attention."Welcome, young cultivators," he boomed, his voice echoing across the precipice. "Today, you stand at the threshold of the Skyfall Trial, a test not only of your strength, but also of your control and adaptability."He surveyed the faces before him, a mix of eager anticipation and nervous apprehension. "This preliminary stage," he continued, "requires you to descend from the peak. However, a formidable barrier of spirit qi awaits you. Your task is to navigate this resistance and reach the ground with the utmost speed."A collective intake of breath filled the air as the supervisor raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. He then produced a series of intricately carved talismans, each glowing with a soft ethereal light. "These," he explained, gesturing towards the tali
As the resonating boom of the drum reverberated through the air, seventy figures, a mix of seasoned veterans and eager freshmen, took the plunge. Gravity seized them, pulling them towards the seemingly bottomless chasm below. At this point all the descending cultivators unleashed several of their styles and techniques.Fen Yifan, the son of the northern barbarian with fiery red hair, gruff beard and eyes that mirrored burning embers, launched himself forward with a confident smirk. His palms crackled with lightning, the very air around him charged with an electric aura. He wasn't merely descending; he was a blazing comet, his body wreathed in vibrant flames that served as a shield against the onslaught of spirit qi, he looked like a human torch.Xu Hua on the other hand, ever the stoic beauty with her raven hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, approached the challenge with a practiced grace. Her movements were precise, economical. A faint luminescence surrounded her, a swir
Even the seasoned seniors observing the situation couldn't help but acknowledge the impressive display Atticus had just delivered. His swift reflexes, decisive counterattack, and the potent lightning spell left them surprised. Bai Feng, on the other hand, presented a stark contrast. He knelt on the ground, his face contorted in a mixture of pain and humiliation. The once arrogant demeanor had completely vanished, replaced by a deep scowl that burned with unspoken threats. If death stares could kill, Atticus would have been a goner. But the intensity of Bai Feng's glare did little to faze him. Atticus stood tall, his expression resolute, the playful banter completely erased.The awkward silence stretched for a moment before Bai Feng, wincing slightly as the aftereffects of the electrical assault lingered, slowly pushed himself to his feet. He cast one final venomous look at Atticus, a silent promise of retribution hanging heavy in the air. Then, without another word, he turned a
A cold sweat beaded on Supervisor Wang's forehead as he stared at the crumbled portal. Panic gnawed at his insides as he fumbled for his spirit transmission disc. With a trembling hand, he activated it, a holographic image flickering to life above his palm."Vice Dean Zi Lingzi," he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. "It's Supervisor Wang. We have a situation."The image of the silver-haired Vice Dean materialized, her usually stoic expression etched with concern. "Supervisor Wang, report," she commanded, her voice crisp and authoritative.Supervisor Wang recounted the events in a frantic rush – the portal's sudden shift in color, the students' disappearance, and the chilling silence that followed. As the gravity of his report sunk in, a heavy silence descended. The implications were dire. The Myriad Spirit Plane, designed for students at the Foundation Establishment Realm, was supposed to be a relatively safe environment. Now, it has become a potential death trap.The news of the