Danial sat on his bed, staring at the intricate design of his Jade ring. The soft glow of the moonlight filtered through the window, casting a gentle radiance over the room. His mind was filled with questions, swirling like a storm in his consciousness."Where are you, father?" he muttered softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "And what is going on with me?"He turned the ring over in his hands, feeling its smooth surface against his fingertips. It had been his father's, a cherished memento that held a connection to a past he barely understood. Danial often found himself lost in thought, wondering about the mysteries that surrounded his family and his own destiny.As he pondered, his thoughts gradually faded into the realm of sleep. His eyelids grew heavy, and his breathing slowed as he succumbed to the embrace of slumber.Outside the newfound ruins of Cyrus West, two figures stood amidst the darkness of the night. Grandmaster Quintan stood beside a woman clad in golden armor. Her
Danial stood up, his mind still filled with questions. "I have some questions I hope that you can enlighten me," he said, looking earnestly at the three Masters."Abhaya, with his serene demeanor, put his palms together and said, "We will help you, Amitabha."Danial gathered his thoughts and asked, "Do you know someone by the name of Prince Egon or Cyrus West?"The three masters exchanged puzzled glances before shaking their heads. "No, I haven't heard of anyone by those names," Balthazar admitted, his voice tinged with curiosity. "What happened, Danial?"Danial sighed deeply, recounting the events of the past few days. "There is an opening of ancient ruins, and my friends and I are expected to enter and explore them. These ruins are linked to someone named Cyrus West, and there’s talk of Prince Egon. We’re dealing with an arcane barrier that prevents anyone above the Mortal level of cultivation from entering. We are selected with other individuals whose cultivation is under the Morta
Master Eamon, Leonard, Kuro, Maria, Pavan, and Danial had agreed to meet near the academy, where a sleek, black bus stood waiting. Master Eamon was on a call, his voice low and serious, while Pavan, Maria, and Leonard were engaged in a conversation nearby. Despite the group's overall camaraderie, Maria seemed somewhat distant from Leonard, maintaining a subtle but noticeable gap between them. Kuro, meanwhile, was leaning against the bus, lost in thought.As Danial approached Kuro, he called out, "Hello, Kuro. Earth to Kuro?"Kuro snapped out of his thoughts and looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Hey, Danial. You finally made it."Danial scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I was stuck in traffic."Kuro nodded. "Well, come on. Everyone is waiting for us."Before Kuro could move, Danial noticed the tension in his friend's expression. "You're afraid, aren't you?" he said softly.Kuro froze, a stunned look crossing his face. "Is it something related to your family?" Danial as
Danial woke to the piercing sound of an alarm blaring throughout the academy. Groggy, he struggled to make sense of the noise until a cold electronic voice cut through the din, "All students and cultivators must gather in Training Hall Alpha. All students and cultivators must gather in Training Hall Alpha." The message repeated on a loop, heightening the urgency.Danial rubbed the sleep from his eyes, sprang out of bed, and hurriedly freshened up. Not knowing what the clothing criteria might be, he decided to wear his sports clothes. As he prepared, he noticed Pavan sitting on the edge of his bed, dark circles under his eyes but an enthusiastic expression on his face."What's up? Didn't sleep well?" Danial asked, placing a hand on Pavan's shoulder.Pavan's reply was unusually enthusiastic despite his weary appearance. "Dude, I couldn't calm down from the excitement. I didn't get any sleep. Right now, I'm more excited than ever This is going to be epic."Danial chuckled and nodded. "Le
Oliver Brown stepped onto the stage, his presence commanding immediate attention. His gaze swept over the assembled students like a cold wind, penetrating deep into their souls, making them feel as if their darkest secrets were being laid bare. The remaining students felt that they couldn't hide anything from Oliver no matter what they did.Each time his eyes landed on an individual, they felt their vision darken and blur, an overwhelming testament to the immense power he wielded. Although these moments were brief, they were enough to instill a sense of awe and fear among the students, a clear indication of Oliver's unmatched prowess.When his gaze landed on Kuro, Oliver's eyes widened slightly in recognition. He recalled the boy's lineage and the formidable reputation of his family. It was rare for Oliver to be caught off guard, but the sight of Kuro sparked a memory. Kuro, too, felt the intensity of the scrutiny, but his expression remained composed. He knew that his identity would
His exclamation echoed through the silent hall, drawing the attention of everyone present. All heads turned and looked at Danial with confused and curious gazes. Feeling the weight of their stares, Danial shook his head in embarrassment, trying to dismiss the outburst. He could feel his cheeks burning as he avoided eye contact, focusing instead on the System panel.Elysia's sharp gaze shifted to him, her eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "Is there something you would like to share with the rest of us?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of challenge.Danial swallowed hard, realizing he needed to think quickly. "No, Miss Elysia," he said, his voice steadying as he spoke. "I was just surprised by the reality of our mission. It's a lot to take in."Elysia studied him for a moment longer before giving a curt nod. "Good. Let that surprise fuel your determination. You'll need every bit of it."With the focus shifted back to Elysia, Danial let out a silent sigh of relief. He glanced arou
Danial took a deep breath and assumed a fighting posture, his eyes locked on Elysia. Up above and across the hall, behind the large, ornate windows, Grandmaster Quintan observed the sparring sessions with keen interest. His disappointment was evident as he watched the performance of the cultivators."They are not ready," Quintan muttered to himself, his voice tinged with frustration. "Their journey into the Ancient Ruins will be fraught with peril if this is the best they can offer."Behind him, a shadowy figure shifted slightly, stepping forward into the dim light. Ottoman, Quintan's trusted advisor and master of espionage spoke with a calm, measured tone. "Grandmaster, they are still young. Most of them come from the branch families of the great Houses, and they are considered weak even within their own families. The circumstances have forced us to make this decision."Quintan nodded, acknowledging the Ottoman's point. "I know, Ottoman. But that doesn't make their lack of readiness
After everyone had finished sparring with Elysia, they were given a fifteen-minute break. The participants, worn out but determined, took the time to rest and reflect on their experiences. Elysia, ever the diligent instructor, was already planning the next phase of their training.She gathered those who needed to refine their techniques and led them to the Combat Training Hall. Others, whose physical bodies required further strengthening, were directed to the Body Hardening Hall. The halls were filled with specialized equipment designed to target and enhance various parts of the body under the watchful eyes of their instructors.Danial, Maria, a green-robed student named Aric, a bald monk named Jin with prayer beads around his neck, and a few others were selected to visit the Martial Library, a place where ancient texts and manuals held the secrets of advanced martial arts. Elysia accompanied them, leading the way through the long, echoing halls of the academy. After a walk through t