The battle with Zhao Ren left a lasting impression on everyone who witnessed it. Kairos Lin had done the unthinkable: he had beaten one of the academy's most notorious prodigies in front of the entire courtyard. Whispers of his strength and his unknown origins rippled through the ranks of disciples like wildfire.
But Kairos didn't let it get to him. He knew the Celestial Academy was far more than just one battle or rivalry. This was a place where only the strongest could survive—and the true challenges hadn't even begun.
The academy itself was a colossal fortress carved into the side of an ancient mountain, towering spires piercing the clouds and casting long shadows across the valley below. Every stone of its foundation seemed to hum with spiritual energy, ancient inscriptions glowing faintly under the midday sun. The disciples here came from the most powerful sects and clans in the world. Each one had the potential to become an immortal, but only a handful would ever ascend to such heights.
Kairos was determined to be one of them.
[System Notification: Astral Questline Initiated]
Objective: Survive and thrive within the Celestial Academy.
Stage One: Secure your position among the elite by entering the core disciple ranking within 90 days.
Reward: Access to the Hall of Ancients, Cultivation Technique: Void Dragon Steps, Skill Points +5.
Failure: Relegation to outer disciple status.
Time Limit: 90 days.
Kairos read the notification carefully, his expression tightening. The academy was divided into strict hierarchies, from the outer disciples—those with the least talent or backing—to the inner disciples, where prodigies thrived under the direct teachings of powerful elders. But at the very top were the core disciples, the cream of the crop, destined to inherit the most powerful legacies and techniques.
If he wanted to stand out, Kairos would have to reach the top—quickly.
"Core disciple in 90 days," Kairos muttered to himself. "No pressure."
Standing on the academy's massive steps, with hundreds of students bustling around him, he could feel their energy—each one brimming with potential, each one vying for supremacy. It wasn't enough to just be strong here. The academy thrived on competition. To climb, you had to step over those below you.
As Kairos walked deeper into the academy grounds, he couldn't help but feel the intensity of the place. It was like stepping into the center of a storm. Powerful cultivators passed by in groups, some eyeing him with curiosity, others with disdain. He had beaten Zhao Ren, but in the academy, that just meant he had painted a target on his back. Now, everyone will be watching.
The first challenge wasn't long in coming.
As Kairos entered the outer courtyard reserved for new disciples, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"You think beating Zhao Ren makes you something special?"
Kairos stopped, turning to see a tall, muscular figure standing with arms crossed. His hair was silver, his eyes sharp like a hawk's, and he wore the insignia of an inner disciple on his robes—a mark that set him apart from the newer recruits.
"I'm Ren Kuang, inner disciple of the Azure Sky Sect," the man continued, stepping forward with a cocky grin. "And I don't like newcomers who think they can jump to the top."
Kairos sized him up in an instant. Ren Kuang radiated power, his aura steady and fierce. This wasn't just some arrogant nobody. He was stronger than Zhao Ren—much stronger. The smirk on his face wasn't just arrogance, it was confidence, the kind that came from having crushed countless others.
Behind Ren Kuang, a small group of inner disciples watched with interest. They were testing Kairos, seeing if his victory against Zhao was just a fluke.
"You've got everyone talking," Ren Kuang said, his voice dripping with amusement. "But this academy isn't for pretenders. Why don't you show me if you're really as good as they say?"
Kairos frowned, the Eclipse System already running calculations in the background.
[System Alert: Enemy Analysis—Ren Kuang]
Spiritual Focus: Gale Tyrant Fist—an aggressive wind-based technique that overwhelms opponents with speed and brute strength.
Weakness: Weak against unpredictable counterattacks and fast-paced close combat techniques.
Recommended Strategy: Use the Lunar Void Steps to disorient his movements, then counter with precision strikes.
Kairos didn't want to fight so soon after the battle with Zhao Ren, but he knew how things worked here. Refusing a challenge would be seen as weakness. He couldn't afford that, not with his goal of becoming a core disciple. The academy respected only strength, and hesitation was punished.
He raised his hand, allowing the dark flames of his Eclipse Inferno Palm to flicker to life. The crowd that had gathered to watch whispered excitedly as Kairos calmly stepped into a fighting stance.
"Alright," Kairos said, his voice steady. "Let's see what you've got."
Ren Kuang's smirk widened. "You're going to regret this, Lin."
With a sudden burst of speed, Ren Kuang shot forward, the wind howling around him as his fists glowed with pale blue energy. His technique, the Gale Tyrant Fist, wasn't just about strength—it was about overwhelming his opponent with a flurry of fast, brutal attacks. In the blink of an eye, Ren Kuang closed the distance between them and unleashed a storm of punches, each one aimed at Kairos' vital points.
Kairos barely had time to react, but the Eclipse Battle Mode kicked in, and everything seemed to be slow.
[System Alert: Gale Tyrant Fist—Identified Pattern]
Suggestion: Counter with evasive maneuvering, target openings after each strike.
Kairos activated Lunar Void Steps, his body blurring as he phased through Ren Kuang's assault. The inner disciple's fists cut through the air where Kairos had stood a moment before, but Kairos was already behind him.
Without hesitation, Kairos struck with his Eclipse Inferno Palm, sending a burst of black-and-white flames directly into Ren Kuang's side.
But Ren Kuang wasn't so easily caught off guard. With a sharp twist, he redirected the force of the blow, sliding back with minimal damage. His grin returned, eyes glowing with excitement.
"Not bad," Ren Kuang said, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. "You've got some skill. But let's see how long you can keep up."
Ren Kuang raised his hand, the wind around him intensifying as he prepared a stronger technique. "You're not the only one with tricks, Lin. Let me show you what it means to face a real cultivator."
The wind began to swirl violently around Ren Kuang, forming a vortex of energy that whipped through the courtyard. The onlookers gasped as Ren Kuang unleashed the full force of his Sky Devouring Vortex, a powerful wind-based technique designed to tear through an opponent's defenses.
The wind roared toward Kairos like a storm, threatening to swallow him whole.
But Kairos didn't flinch.
[System Alert: Sky Devouring Vortex—Counter Detected]
- Weakness: The vortex relies on momentum. Use a precise strike to collapse the technique's core.
Kairos summoned the full power of his Eclipse Inferno Palm once more, but this time, he focused the flames into a single, concentrated point. The dark energy pulsed in his hand as he waited for the exact moment to strike.
The vortex closed in, but just as the wind seemed ready to engulf him, Kairos launched his attack.
With pinpoint precision, Kairos slammed his palm into the center of the vortex, sending a shockwave through the wind. The swirling energy faltered, then collapsed in on itself, dispersing into the air.
Ren Kuang's eyes widened in shock as his technique failed, leaving him open.
Kairos didn't waste the opportunity.
He darted forward with Lunar Void Steps, closing the distance in an instant. His palm struck Ren Kuang square in the chest, the force of the blow sending him skidding across the courtyard, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud.
The courtyard fell silent.
Ren Kuang lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his aura flickering weakly. He had been defeated.
Kairos stood tall, his breathing steady, his aura still flaring with dark energy. The crowd stared in stunned silence, unable to process what they had just witnessed.
Kairos Lin had defeated another inner disciple—this time, in mere moments.
[System Notification: Battle Complete]
Bonus: Skill Points +1, Increased Ranking within the Celestial Academy.
New Title: Vortex Breaker—Gains increased power when facing wind-based cultivators. +10% effectiveness against wind techniques.
Kairos exhaled, allowing the flames to fade from his hands. His mind was clear, his path set. The academy was filled with powerful enemies, but he was ready to face them all.
Ren Kuang struggled to his feet, clutching his side with a grimace. But instead of anger, there was a strange respect in his eyes. He gave a sharp nod. "You're strong, Lin. I'll admit that. But this is just the beginning."
Kairos met his gaze. "I know."
With the second battle won, Kairos was one step closer to his goal. But in the Celestial Academy, the battles were only going to get harder. Rivals would rise, enemies would emerge, and the true test of his power had only just begun.