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
The next morning, anticipation buzzed through Atticus as he made his way towards the combat faculty. Unlike the serene atmosphere of the library, a vibrant energy thrummed in the air here. The building itself was imposing, constructed from dark gray stone with towering pillars that seemed to pierce the sky. Students milled about, clad in their designated combat gear – leather armor worn over loose-fitting pants and shirts, all reinforced with defensive enchantments. Atticus navigated the bustling corridors, his steps echoing on the polished stone floors. He exchanged brief greetings with passing students, some familiar faces from his classes, others unknown but radiating an air of focused intensity. Finally, following the directions Professor Ragnar had provided, he arrived at a large training hall.The scene within was a testament to the magnitude of the upcoming mission. Students, roughly thirty in number, were already gathered, their voices raised in animated conversation. In the
The students were back and Master Wei led them to a hall for further briefings and lessons on the spectral demons.The tension in the training hall crackled with anticipation. The thirty-two students chosen for the special task force, including Atticus, Xu Hua, Fen Yifan, and the Zu twins, sat poised with eager eyes fixed on Master Wei. Today marked the commencement of their intensive training – a crash course in the nature and combat of Spectra Demons."Alright, everyone," Master Wei boomed, his voice echoing through the room. "I trust you've all heard whispers about the Spectral threat plaguing our borders?" A chorus of murmurs filled the room, confirming his assumption."Knowing you've heard the term," Master Wei continued, his tone turning serious, "doesn't equate to truly understanding these creatures. Today, we delve into the theoretical aspects of Spectra Demons – their origins, their powers, and the weaknesses we can exploit."He paused, letting the weight of his words settle
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the enchanting process was complete. Master Wei led them to a large, circular training hall. The walls were constructed from polished obsidian, reflecting the flickering light emanating from magical orbs suspended from the high ceiling. In the center of the chamber, a shimmering portal pulsated with an ethereal light, its energy twisting and distorting the air around it.Master Wei stood before them, a solemn expression etched on his face. "Today's final training session will take place within an illusionary world," he explained. "This world has been specifically designed to mimic the environments where Spectral Demons are most likely to manifest."He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his students. "Within this illusion, you will encounter a variety of spectral entities. Your objective is to defeat them as efficiently as possible."A low murmur rippled through the crowd. The prospect of facing Spectra Demons, albeit in a simulat