The air in the academy's armory was thick with the scents of metal, oil, and polished stone. Light streamed through the high windows, illuminating dust motes and the neatly arranged weapon racks. These were mostly standard-issue equipment, provided free of charge to students embarking on missions or answering conscriptions. Their quality was uniform, all falling within the First Rank. For the vast majority of First Rank cultivators, these weapons were sufficient to channel their spiritual power. Higher-ranked weapons were not only difficult to wield effectively but could even backfire and cause self-injury if forced.
Silas's gaze swept over the rows of gleaming blades, finally settling on the spear rack. His previous, ordinary spear had been completely destroyed during a mission dealing with cave lurkers that spat corrosive slime. He needed a new one, also within the First Rank range, but more resilient, better able to withstand the bursts of power and prolonged combat his current strength demanded.
He ignored the ornately decorated spears, clearly well-maintained by previous owners, and focused on one that was pitch-black and utterly lacking in luster. Its shaft was made of ironwood core wrapped in black iron, feeling solid and heavy in his hand. The spearhead was a simple, armor-piercing triangular spike, radiating a cold, murderous aura. It had no superfluous decorations; its only virtue was sturdiness, extreme sturdiness, as if it could endure repeated hacking and impact without deforming or chipping. A single word was carved into the haft: "Fortitude."
"This is the one," Silas murmured to himself, lifting it from the rack. He gave it an experimental twirl, feeling its balance and flexibility, and nodded in satisfaction.
Three days later, in the academy square, the ten selected students assembled. They were led by two instructors: Mentor Dolan, who had a kindly face and was responsible for coordination, and Mentor Rorik, who had a stern expression and eyes as sharp as a hawk's; it was said he had served for many years at a border outpost.
Silas quickly scanned his teammates. Seven of the ten, including himself, carried auras that were distinct from pure human spiritual power—mingled with the characteristics of magical beasts. They followed the Path of the Beast Taming Art. The other three had more uniform auras, carrying a regimented, somewhat rigid pressure—practitioners of the Noble Bestowal Method.
At the front of the group, standing like a standard-bearer, was a young man named Karen. His posture was ramrod straight, his features cold and hard. He was ranked first on the Apex List, his strength universally acknowledged as unfathomable. Rumors said he had reached the absolute peak of the First Rank and could step into the Second Rank at any moment. He, too, had chosen the Path of the Beast Taming Art, which undoubtedly confirmed this path's advantage in the lower ranks—superior physicality and more varied, unpredictable combat methods.
Silas also noted a young man named Caleb Wood, a direct descendant of the Wood family, ranked around forty-fifth on the Apex List. Caleb's gaze occasionally swept over the group, lingering on Silas for a moment with a hint of imperceptible scrutiny. Silas didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a family member's curiosity about a suddenly rising branch family member. He maintained the silent and slightly reserved demeanor expected of "Finn Cole," keeping his eyes half-lidded to minimize his presence.
"Move out!" Instructor Rorik's command was brief and to the point. The group boarded the academy-provided carriages, drawn by four powerful draught animals, and set off towards the Scale-Split Mine.
...
The outskirts of the Scale-Split Mine had transformed. The once-desolate valley entrance was now covered with various tents and temporary encampments, flags fluttering in the wind. The Greenwood Family, the Iron Shield Mercenary Corps, the Blazing Heart Merchant Guild... nearly every influential force in Essence Grace City had established a presence here. The cacophony of voices had effectively formed a temporary forward base.
The Wood family's camp held the prime position, adjacent to the mine entrance, but they clearly could no longer monopolize the area. According to Mentor Dolan's hushed explanation, after the news of the relic leaked, and with the tacit approval—even encouragement—of the City Lord's residence, combined pressure from various factions had forced the Wood family to open exploration rights.
The mine's massive entrance, like the maw of a demon, remained open and pitch-black. The moment Silas followed the team into the entrance's shadow, he clearly felt the blood-rusted broken sword, stored deep within his Mirror Space, vibrate almost imperceptibly and emit a faint but unmistakable warmth. Near the entrance, one could still see ragged, shackled slaves under the foremen's shouts, working on peripheral tasks like clearing rubble and reinforcing supports. However, all excavation into the deeper tunnels had completely stopped.
"The earthquake damaged the deep structures," Mentor Rorik's voice was low. "Worse, many creatures that lived deeper underground have crawled out and infested the place. Sending ordinary people down now is a death sentence. Our mission is to clear a relatively safe path and make a preliminary assessment of the internal situation and the relic's authenticity."
Silas looked at the numb slaves, his expression calm and unmoved, as if he had never had any connection to them. But deep inside, the strange reaction of the broken sword made him even more wary of the true significance of this exploration.
The team lit their illumination crystals and stepped into the cold, damp mine. The tunnels were more dilapidated than he remembered, littered with collapse marks. The air was thick with dust, mold, and the heavy, musky scent left by magical beasts.
Not long after venturing deeper, they encountered their first significant resistance—a pack of about twenty "Cavern Dwellers." These were peak First Rank magical beasts, resembling giant pangolins with hard scales and sharp claws and teeth. The pack even included two or three individuals that had just stepped into the early Second Rank.
"Hold the formation!" Karen barked, charging forward first. He didn't even bother drawing the greatsword on his back. His body moved like lightning, and a single punch, accompanied by a sound-tearing sonic boom, smashed directly into the head of an early Second Rank Dweller, crushing its skull. His movements were concise, violent, and full of raw power.
"So strong! As expected of the top rank!" someone in the team whispered in awe.
"Rumors said the top-ranked geniuses like Senior Karen could already kill early Second Rank beasts.Seeing it today, it's absolutely true!" another student said, his voice filled with admiration and longing as he watched Karen effortlessly dispatch several other peak First Rank Dwellers like a tiger among sheep.
The other students also displayed their unique skills. The Beast Taming Art practitioners showed diverse abilities: some had arms covered in rock-like armor, meeting the charge head-on; others had their speed skyrocket, becoming afterimages as their sharp claws tore through scales; some spat corrosive acid, eating away at the beasts' defenses. The three Noble Bestowal Method students relied on fine weapons and specific combat techniques, their power multiplied by infused spiritual power. Sword lights flashed, combat aura surged wildly, and their efficiency was equally notable.
Silas wielded the "Fortitude" spear, performing the basic family spear techniques that "Finn" should have mastered. His movements seemed simple and unadorned, but every thrust, lift, sweep, and smash landed precisely in the gaps between the Dwellers' scales, at their joint connections, or in the openings exposed during their attacks. His figure evaded the beasts' pounces with ease, his spear striking like a venomous snake, each thrust inevitably drawing blood. He was efficient and calm. He controlled his displayed strength to around the level of the twentieth rank on the Apex List, showing the results of his "hard training" without being too conspicuous.
During the fight, Caleb Wood's gaze swept over Silas several times, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. This "Finn"'s fighting style was vastly different from the timid, clumsy branch family member from the internal assessment six months ago. That calmness, that precision, that almost instinctive combat intuition... it was like a completely different person. Moreover, he had a vague feeling that the fluctuation of "Finn"'s spiritual power when he circulated it seemed slightly different from the balanced, peaceful family heritage recorded in the clan records. There was an indescribable toughness and a hidden ferocity to it.
After clearing this group of Dwellers, the team took a short rest before pressing deeper. The tunnels became more winding, with increasing forks, and the atmosphere grew more oppressive.
Just as they passed through a relatively wide underground cavern that seemed to have once been an ore transfer station, disaster struck!
"ROAR—!"
"SCREECH—!"
Accompanied by several distinct but equally savage roars, five massive black shadows lunged from different tunnel mouths! A terrifying pressure instantly engulfed the entire cavern!
Second Rank beasts! And not just newly advanced ones!
Two"Magma Hounds" covered in dark red scales, sparks and sulphurous smoke puffing from their snouts; one "Shadow Stalker," sleek and fast as a ghost, its claws leaving ghostly blue trails in the darkness; and two "Plague-Rot Hulks" emitting a foul odor of decay, slightly corroding even the rock they passed over!
The Magma Hounds and the Shadow Stalker were mid-Second Rank,while the two Plague-Rot Hulks had reached late Second Rank!
This force far exceeded what the squad could handle!
"Retreat! Scatter and break out! Get back to camp and call for reinforcements!" Instructor Rorik's face changed dramatically. He roared, drawing his sword. Blazing combat aura erupted as he boldly charged a Magma Hound. Mentor Dolan immediately began chanting an incantation, a soft light enveloping the students near him, providing protection and enhancement.
The cavern instantly descended into chaos and carnage!
Karen's eyes were cold as iron. Facing the pouncing Shadow Stalker, the faint shadow of a giant bear appeared behind him. He let out a low growl, neither dodging nor evading, and met the Stalker's claws with a fist carrying mountain-shattering force. The shockwave from the collision sent dust flying, actually forcing the ghostly creature back momentarily.
The other stronger Beast Taming Art students, like Lina (ranked sixth, who had fused with a Wind Wolf) and Buck (ranked ninth, who had fused with a Stonehide Rhino), gritted their teeth and engaged a Magma Hound or a Plague-Rot Hulk each, but were immediately locked in desperate combat, facing constant danger.
The other students, including the three Noble Bestowal practitioners and Caleb Wood, found it almost impossible to mount an effective defense under the poison mist spat by the other Plague-Rot Hulk and the occasional slashing claws of the Shadow Stalker.
"No—!"
Screams rang out one after another.Students were already being consumed by Magma Hound flames or torn apart by Plague-Rot Hulk claws.
The moment chaos erupted, Silas didn't hesitate. He dashed towards a narrow, unattended side tunnel piled with abandoned mine carts. A mid-Second Rank Magma Hound, thinking it had found isolated prey, growled low, dug its claws into the ground, and chased after him with scorching heat.
The tunnel twisted downward, quickly cutting off the sounds of battle and screams from behind. Confirming no one else was around, Silas stopped, turned, and looked calmly at the snarling Magma Hound, drool like molten rock dripping from its jaws.
The last trace of deliberately maintained awkwardness vanished from his eyes, replaced by an icy calm and indifference.
Six months ago, he could only hold his own against a mid-Second Rank opponent, and even then, needed to catch them off-guard for a chance to kill.
The Magma Hound roared, propelled itself with its hind legs, its massive body lunging forward with burning air pressure, and unleashed a blast of searing flame breath.
Silas advanced instead of retreating. Using Drifting Leaf Step, his figure seemed to melt into the shadows, evading the main stream of fire by a hair's breadth, brushing past the scorching wave as he closed in. The "Fortitude" spear in his hand became a near-invisible black thread—Serpent's Bite!
No violent display, only extreme speed and penetrative force concentrated to a single point.
Thud!
A soft sound. The spear tip pierced precisely through the weakest point where the Magma Hound's upper jaw connected to its skull. Hidden force instantly erupted, obliterating its brain.
The Magma Hound's forward momentum ceased abruptly. The fierce light in its eyes died, and its bulky body crashed heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. From turning around to the kill, the entire process took no more than three breaths. Now, slaying a mid-Second Rank beast was as natural to him as breathing.
The moment the Magma Hound died, a mark on the nearby wall that looked like a natural mineral vein, previously completely inconspicuous, suddenly glowed with a soft, pure light. The light spread like quicksilver, instantly enveloping Silas and the spear in his hand.
Silas felt a gentle yet irresistible force wrap around his entire body. The surroundings began to twist and blur, as if he were being pulled into a vortex of light.
...
At the mine entrance, the surviving students stumbled out, battered and bruised, their faces etched with terror and the panic of a narrow escape.
Caleb Wood was among the survivors. He was lucky, only grazed by the edge of the Plague-Rot Hulk's poison gas, sustaining minor injuries and corrosion. The moment he was safe, he immediately found the Wood family's local representative, his face pale, reporting his findings in a rushed tone.
"Are you sure?" the representative asked, his expression grave.
"Sure! His spear technique is all wrong! That's not a level you reach just through hard practice! And his spiritual power... it feels strange, definitely not the heritage path of our Wood family! He is absolutely not the Finn Cole from six months ago! Someone is impersonating a member of our family!" Caleb's tone was certain, carrying both lingering fear and the anger of having been deceived.
The news was quickly rushed back to the Wood family.
The higher-ups were furious. How dare someone be so audacious as to impersonate a scion of the Greenwood Family and infiltrate the Essence Grace City Academy? This was a blatant provocation and trampling of the family's reputation! Combined with this person's abnormal rise within the academy and the timing of his appearance—almost simultaneous with the disappearance of a family squad in the Magical Beast Mountains—they strongly suspected this person was connected to that squad's disappearance, and even... the assassination of Steward Derek might be linked to him!
A few days later, an old man with an aura as deep as the ocean and an imposing, authoritative presence descended on the Wood family camp at the Scale-Split Mine, riding a giant griffin. He was a powerful elder of the Wood family, a Third Rank expert named Balor Wood. Ostensibly, he was here to oversee the family camp, deal with the increasingly complex situation, and safeguard family interests. Secretly, his primary mission was to investigate and apprehend this arrogant fool who dared impersonate a family member and deliver the most severe punishment as a warning to others.
Meanwhile, the other forces, upon learning that multiple mid- to late-Second Rank beasts had appeared deep in the mine, causing nearly fifty percent casualties in the academy's elite squad, did not retreat. Instead, they became even more convinced of the relic's value. More explorers, more mercenaries, and hidden experts from various families began converging on the Scale-Split Mine.
Outside the mine, undercurrents surged, and powerful experts gathered. However, no one knew that the "Finn Cole" who had provoked the Wood family's thunderous wrath was currently being swallowed by an ancient light, his whereabouts unknown. At the same time, in the earlier chaos, Karen, Lina, and Buck, after each managing with great difficulty to kill or grievously wound their opponents, had also been enveloped by similarly sudden lights and vanished into the mine's depths. Only a few lucky individuals, along with Caleb, had successfully escaped with their lives, bringing back terrifying news and suspicions potent enough to ignite the Wood family's fury.