The morning mist clung to the rooftops of the Han Clan estate, softening the sharp edges of the bamboo groves and painting everything in pale silver. Han Li adjusted the sash of his simple robe as he walked along the stone path toward the academy. Each step felt heavier than usual, burdened with the unspoken judgment of his peers.
Around him, the estate was alive. Young disciples hurried past with wooden practice swords, elders strolled in pairs discussing cultivation matters, and the rhythmic clang of training echoed from the sparring grounds. Han Li caught fragments of conversation as he passed.
"Han Li? Still an E-rank?"
"Even his little sister is stronger. What a shame."
He ignored them. None of them had the slightest idea of the SSSS-level Vital Essence hidden in his Virtual Space, or the vast world that lay quietly inside it. To others, he was nothing more than a low-rank student.
Han Yue walked at his side, her steps soft but purposeful. Silver threads shimmered faintly on her B-rank robes. She didn't need to hide anything. Unlike Han Li, her strength and status were obvious.
"Brother," she said quietly, glancing at him with worry in her eyes, "you don't have to pretend it doesn't bother you. I hear what they say too."
Han Li gave the faintest smile. "Let them talk. Wolves don't answer the noise of dogs."
Yue frowned but said nothing. She had long since learned that his calm exterior was both a shield and a prison.
The academy gates loomed ahead, carved with runes that faintly glimmered in the morning sun. Within lay the heart of the Han Clan's pride—a place where young cultivators refined their essence, tested their skills, and formed bonds that would shape their paths.
The great hall buzzed with excitement. Disciples from all ranks filled the space, murmuring eagerly. Today was the day of spirit creature selection. Each student would step forward and bond with a creature that could define their cultivation journey.
At the center, Elder Han Xu presided. His aura radiated calm authority. Even the loudest whispers died in his presence. Behind him, shimmering cages floated in the air, containing creatures born from the clan's moon-bound inheritance—foxes with glowing tails, owls with twin-moon eyes, and serpents coiled in silver mist.
Han Li's gaze settled on one in particular—a small wolf cub. Its fur was black as midnight, streaked with pale blue like moonlight. Its eyes met his with an intelligence that seemed to pierce through the hall. Han Li felt a tug in his chest, a pulse of recognition. Not a word was spoken, yet the wolf seemed to sense the vast reservoir of Vital Essence hidden inside him.
Whispers broke around him.
"Do you think Han Li will even get anything?"
"An E-rank. He's lucky if a mouse chooses him."
Han Li ignored them. When his turn came, he stepped forward with deliberate calm. Elder Han Xu's eyes lingered on him, faint doubt flickering in their depths, before giving a slow nod.
The wolf cub stepped forward, slipping free from its light cage as though the barrier had never existed. Gasps echoed across the hall. No other creature had ever moved with such will. The wolf stopped in front of Han Li, its small body emanating a faint moonlit aura.
Han Li reached out, and the moment his fingers brushed its fur, a wave of cool energy surged through him. Inside his Virtual Space—the Aperture no one else could perceive—the wolf's image took form. It was fully contained within him now, bound to his essence and hidden from every other disciple's gaze. The bond was complete.
A faint shimmer of dark-blue moonlight flickered around him for an instant. To the others, it was subtle, almost dismissible. Only Han Li knew the truth: the wolf was safely inside his Aperture, refining and growing, its potential immense and hidden.
"I'll take this one," he said quietly, calm as ever.
The hall fell silent. Other disciples stared, disbelief and curiosity mixing in their expressions. Han Yue's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but she quickly masked it.
One by one, the remaining disciples approached their creatures. Some succeeded immediately; others faltered, struggling to form bonds as their Vital Essence wavered. Han Li watched silently, noting each student's technique, each hesitation. Knowledge from his past life allowed him to assess the creatures precisely, though he spoke no words.
A B-rank girl approached a serpent coiled in a silver orb of mist. Her hands shook, and the serpent recoiled. Panic flashed across her face, until Elder Han Xu guided her through the connection. Finally, the serpent slithered onto her shoulder. Relief washed over her expression. Han Li allowed himself the faintest smile.
When the last disciple had bonded, the hall quieted once more. The wolf cub at Han Li's side yipped softly, its faint moonlit glow adjusting to the bond it shared. Within his Virtual Space, Han Li could feel its energy, ready to be refined. A storm of potential, hidden yet immense, waiting to grow alongside him.
Elder Han Xu raised his hand, calling for attention. The hall fell silent immediately.
"You have bonded with your spirit creatures," he announced. "Now comes your first assignment."
A ripple of excitement ran through the disciples. Assignments were always a test, even a small one.
"You will each return to your residence and fully refine your spirit creature within your internal Vital Essence," the elder continued. "This process requires focus, precision, and patience. Only when the bond is perfected and the creature's potential fully awakened will you succeed."
Murmurs spread through the hall. Han Li's wolf rested quietly at his side, unaware of the challenge ahead but attuned to the quiet strength of its master.
"For those who succeed," Elder Han Xu said, "you will each earn ten Vital Essence Crystals as a reward. To assist you, each disciple will be given five Vital Essence Crystals to use during refinement, ensuring you do not lose your own Vital Essence. The process will take approximately three days."
Han Li's mind flickered to his own SSSS-level Vital Essence. Even for him, the refinement required careful attention. Synchronizing with the wolf, refining the bond inside the Aperture, allowing it to grow in strength—it was a task of precision.
Han Yue glanced at him. "Three days. That's long. But worth it."
Han Li nodded slightly. To others, they were just siblings quietly observing each other. In reality, he had already calculated the flow of Vital Essence, the exact steps to maximize the wolf's potential, and the way to remain completely hidden.
"Remember," Elder Han Xu added, "discipline is as important as strength. Those who rush or fail to maintain focus will not succeed, regardless of talent."
With the instructions delivered, the hall slowly emptied. Excited chatter and speculation about the upcoming refinement filled the corridors. Han Li and Han Yue remained together for a moment, watching the others depart.
"This will be interesting," Han Yue said softly, a hint of challenge in her voice.
Han Li's lips curved into a faint smile. "It will. And we'll both come out stronger, quietly, as always."
He looked down at the wolf, now fully bonded and resting against his leg. Inside his Aperture, the creature stirred with latent power. The three-day refinement would test both patience and skill.
And when it was done, Han Li thought, the wolf would be far more than a companion. It would be a reflection of the power he had hidden all along.
But not yet.
For now, it was only the beginning.
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