The long-awaited moment finally arrived just as the last few rays of the sun disappeared behind the forested mountains. The sound of wind stirred the air as something approached from above. Yang Feng, standing with Miss Xu, looked toward the sky, eyes narrowing as he saw the figure flying down on the back of a majestic beast. The entire village was already gathered in the square, their murmurs hushed as they gazed in awe at the sight.
The flying horse was unlike any creature Yang Feng had ever seen. It had shimmering, emerald green hair that flowed down its mane like rivers of jade. Its eyes were a deep, burning orange, full of life and power. The creature's wings spread wide, easily spanning the width of a small house, as it gracefully descended toward the village.
Upon the horse's back sat the guest of the hour, the great counselor from the Spiritual Academy. The man wore finely tailored, silvery grey robes that shimmered under the fading sunlight. His expression was cold, distant, and calculating. His hair was neatly tied back, and his eyes, a sharp shade of grey, scanned the village with a gaze that held little warmth.
The villagers gathered nervously as the counselor landed. The village elder, along with several others, hurried forward to greet him. "Great Counselor, welcome to our humble village!" the elder said, bowing deeply in respect. The other villagers mimicked his gesture, heads down, not daring to make eye contact with the esteemed visitor.
The counselor remained on his steed for a moment, surveying the village with a scrutinizing eye. A look of mild disgust crossed his face, though he quickly masked it with a more neutral expression. After a pause, he finally dismounted, standing tall and imposing before the villagers.
"Village elder," he greeted, his voice low and authoritative. He gave a brief nod to the other villagers, but there was no warmth in the gesture.
The elder beamed with pride despite the counselor's cold demeanor. "We've prepared a feast in your honor, Great Counselor, and a guest house has been arranged for your stay," he said, gesturing toward the modest wooden house that had been prepared for the occasion.
The counselor, however, waved his hand dismissively. "I'm a busy man," he said curtly, his eyes sweeping over the village with faint disdain. "There's no need for a feast or a prolonged stay. I have other important matters to attend to. Let's proceed with the test and be done with it."
There was a collective murmur of disappointment among the villagers, but none dared voice their complaints. The elder bowed once more. "As you wish, Great Counselor."
The villagers quickly began rounding up the children, ushering them to the center of the village where the test would take place. As they did, a small boy, no older than ten, ran toward Miss Xu's house. His name was Zhao, and he was one of the youngest in the village, too young to take part in the test himself. He was panting when he arrived, knocking hurriedly on Miss Xu's door.
"Miss Xu! Yang Feng! The village elder sent me! The test is about to begin!" Zhao said, nearly out of breath.
Miss Xu wiped her hands on her apron and looked at Yang Feng. "Looks like we'll have to leave the food for now," she said with a sigh, lowering the fire under the pot to ensure the meal didn't burn while they were gone.
Yang Feng nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. The mention of a "spiritual master" still weighed heavily on his thoughts. Could the counselor be a Qi Zun? Or perhaps even a Qi Huang? If so, this could be the opportunity he had been waiting for—to finally find out where he was and whether his immortal powers could be fully restored.
As they made their way toward the village square, Yang Feng's thoughts swirled with possibilities. He kept thinking about the many paths his future could take, the obstacles he still needed to overcome. Would this be the turning point in his journey? Or was it just another distraction on the long road to reclaiming his true power?
When they arrived, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. The villagers stood in near silence, their faces pale with disappointment. The children who had taken the test stood in a small group, heads hung low in shame and frustration. Even the counselor looked dissatisfied, letting out an audible sigh as he gazed upon the dejected crowd.
Yang Feng scanned the group, recognizing several of the children from the village—boys and girls around his age, their hands calloused and scarred from years of hard work. Many of them had likely spent years training, hoping for this moment to prove themselves. Yet, as Yang Feng observed them, he could see the truth in their eyes—none had been chosen. None of them had manifested a spiritual beast, which meant none of them could become spiritual masters.
The village elder's face was somber, his hope for a different outcome crushed. "It's been five decades," the elder said softly to the counselor, his voice trembling with disappointment. "Five decades since our village has produced a single spiritual master. And this year... this year is no different." His eyes filled with unshed tears as he glanced at the hopeful children, who had worked so hard only to be met with failure once again.
Yang Feng looked at the children and felt a deep pang of understanding. Their hands were rough and rugged, a testament to the hard work they had put in over the years. Yet, despite all their efforts, they had been passed over. He thought back to Ling Bing, his old friend who had betrayed him in his previous life. This must be how it felt, Yang Feng realized. The bitterness of trying so hard only to be rejected by fate.
For the first time in his life, Yang Feng truly understood the cruelty of the world. Life was never fair. It favored some and crushed others, often without reason or mercy. But those who sought to control their own destiny... they were the ones who fought against the storms of fate. And if Yang Feng wanted to regain control over his own life, he would have to fight harder than ever before.
The counselor prepared to leave, clearly uninterested in the village's plight. "My work here is done," he said, mounting his horse once more. "I must return to the Academy."
But before he could fly away, the village elder suddenly stepped forward, his old hand reaching out toward the counselor. "Wait! Please, Great Counselor... there's one more boy who hasn't been tested."
The counselor narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed. "I've already completed the tests. There's no need for more."
"Please," the elder begged, dropping to his knees. "I ask you to test just one more—an old man's request."
The counselor's expression softened just a little, and with a sigh, he dismounted again. "Very well," he said with a hint of impatience. "But only one more."
Yang Feng's heart raced as the elder turned toward him, eyes filled with hope. "Yang Feng," the elder said softly, "will you take the test?"
Yang Feng hesitated for only a moment. This was his chance—not just to be tested, but to get closer to the counselor. If the man was truly powerful, Yang Feng might be able to find out his cultivation level and where he was in the realm. He nodded. "I'll do it."
The counselor pulled out a small crystal from his robe, walking toward Yang Feng. He placed the crystal gently on Yang Feng's forehead, his eyes narrowing as he concentrated.
Yang Feng closed his eyes, trying to focus. This was his chance. **Seize the moment**, he told himself. He activated his double pupils, hoping to glimpse into the counselor's power. But instead, he felt a strange sensation wash over him—like he was being pulled inward, into his own mind.
When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the village. He stood in a vast, endless expanse of blue. His **spiritual sea**. It was calm, tranquil, but filled with a deep sense of power that seemed to pulse from the very air itself.
In the center of the sea, he saw it—a massive wolf, its fur sleek and shimmering like silver. It lay curled up, sleeping peacefully. But there was something else, something dark beside the wolf. A black emblem with an eerie, black logo of a wolf, glowing faintly in the stillness.
"What... what is this?" Yang Feng whispered to himself, utterly confused by the sight.
Before he could explore further, he was ripped back to reality, his consciousness snapping back to the village square. The villagers were all around him, their faces filled with awe and excitement. They lifted him into the air, cheering wildly.
"Yang Feng! Yang Feng!" they shouted, their voices filled with joy.
Yang Feng was bewildered. He had no idea what had just happened, but clearly, something had. He tried to shout over the crowd, his mind spinning with questions.
"What the hell is going on?" he thought to himself, as the villagers continued to celebrate around him.