The academy halls buzzed with whispers of Li Feng's unexpected success in the simulation grounds. Some were intrigued by his ability to lead despite his low CR and seemingly unimpressive power. Others dismissed his victory as luck, unwilling to believe someone with Piercing Sight could outwit Chen Yuan.
For Li Feng, the attention was a double-edged sword. While it gave him a fleeting sense of accomplishment, it also placed a spotlight on him—one he wasn't entirely comfortable with.
In the dimly lit training yard, Li Feng practiced his Abyssal Gaze in secret. The ability had grown sharper over the weeks, allowing him to glimpse not just energy trails but also faint fluctuations in a person's Celestial Screen (CS).
As he concentrated, a faint ripple of energy caught his attention. He turned toward the source and saw a figure watching him from the shadows.
"Not bad," the figure said, stepping into the light. It was a boy about his age, tall and lean, with sharp features and a mischievous grin. His CS flickered briefly, displaying his name and ability.
Name: Zhu Yan
Ability: Ember Craft
Li Feng straightened, his hand instinctively brushing against the hilt of the wooden training sword at his side. "What do you want?"
Zhu Yan chuckled. "Relax. If I wanted to fight, you'd already be on fire." He raised his hands in mock surrender, tiny sparks dancing at his fingertips. "I saw what you did during the simulation. Clever strategy, using the energy trails to track the beast. Most people would have gone in swinging and lost their heads—literally."
Li Feng's gaze didn't waver. "And?"
"And," Zhu Yan said, his grin widening, "I'm impressed. People like us—those who don't have flashy abilities or overwhelming CP—we need to stick together. What do you say?"
Li Feng hesitated. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford, especially in a place where alliances were as fragile as glass. But something about Zhu Yan's candid demeanor struck a chord.
"Fine," Li Feng said cautiously. "But if you try to double-cross me—"
"Relax, Piercing Sight," Zhu Yan interrupted. "If I wanted to betray you, I'd at least wait until you were useful."
Li Feng smirked despite himself.
The next day, Instructor Wei gathered the recruits in the central courtyard. His expression was as stern as ever, and his voice carried the weight of authority.
"For your next trial," he began, "you will face the arena."
A ripple of excitement and fear passed through the crowd. The arena was infamous—a proving ground where recruits fought simulated creatures, and sometimes each other, to demonstrate their growth.
"Your task is simple: survive and defeat your assigned opponent. Fail, and you risk expulsion. Succeed, and you will be rewarded with CP."
Li Feng's stomach tightened. He knew his low CP will definitely become a restraining factor for his future so he needed more CP and way way to Gain more CP, and he could already see the smug smirk on Chen Yuan's face from across the courtyard.
The arena was a massive circular structure, its walls lined with glowing runes that pulsed in rhythm with the energy of the Tower. The recruits were called one by one to face their challenges, their battles displayed on a hovering Celestial Screen for all to see.
When Li Feng's name was called, the murmurs began anew.
"He's going to get crushed."
"Five CR against a beast? He's doomed."
Ignoring the chatter, Li Feng stepped into the arena. The floor beneath him was cold and smooth, and the air buzzed with latent energy. Across the arena, his opponent materialized—a wolf-like creature with sleek black fur and glowing red eyes. Its name and CR appeared briefly on the screen:
Name: Shadowfang Beast
CR: 20
Li Feng's heart raced. The creature was two times stronger than him(why two times ofcourse because what everyone donot know is his initial CR was when he awakened and after that he had fused with the nexus and without even doing anything his CR got doubled but still it was lower then most peoples and even the beast more CR then him and its movements were swift and predatory.
The Shadowfang Beast lunged without warning, its claws slicing through the air. Li Feng barely dodged, rolling to the side and drawing his training sword.
"Think, Li Feng," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. "Strength alone won't win this."
Activating Abyssal Gaze, he focused on the creature. Faint energy trails appeared, highlighting its movements and weak points.
Li Feng realized the beast's attacks followed a pattern—aggressive lunges followed by brief moments of vulnerability. Using this knowledge, he baited the creature into overextending, striking at its exposed flank with his wooden sword.
The crowd gasped as the beast staggered, but it recovered quickly, its anger evident in its glowing eyes.
Li Feng knew he couldn't keep this up forever. His stamina was fading, and the beast was learning his tactics.
As the creature lunged again, he activated Abyssal Lash, the shadowy tendril snapping out to entangle its front leg. The beast roared in surprise, its movements momentarily hindered.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Feng struck the back of its neck with all his strength. The beast collapsed, its body dissipating into particles of light.
The arena fell silent before erupting into cheers and murmurs of disbelief.
Instructor Wei's expression remained unreadable as he announced Li Feng's victory.
"Well done," he said simply. "But don't let this success inflate your ego. The real challenges lie ahead."
Li Feng nodded, his chest heaving as he left the arena.
As he returned to the crowd, Zhu Yan greeted him with a grin. "Not bad, Piercing Sight. I might have to start taking you seriously."
"Don't," Li Feng replied, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
From the shadows, Chen Yuan watched with a clenched jaw. His pride had already taken a hit during the simulation trial, and now this lowly recruit had stolen the spotlight again.
"He's nothing," Chen Yuan muttered to himself. "I'll make sure of it."
That night, as Li Feng sat in his dorm, the Abyssal Nexus pulsed faintly.
"Devour," it whispered, the word echoing in his mind.
Li Feng hesitated, staring at the faint glow of his Celestial Screen. The Abyssal Nexus offered power, but at what cost?
For now, he pushed the thought aside. His focus was on the next trial and the growing storm of challenges ahead.
In the academy, strength was the only law, and Li Feng was determined to rise.