The next morning dawned bright and cold. Thin veils of mist coiled between the peaks surrounding the Heavenly Blade Sect Academy, and the clang of steel echoed across the courtyards as students assembled for the day's trials.
The air was thick with anticipation. Today would mark the first official test for the newly admitted disciples—a chance to prove their worth and determine their ranks within their respective divisions.
Instructor Liang Yuren stood before the gathered disciples, his crimson robes lined with faint energy. His presence radiated authority, the kind born not from words but from sheer strength.
"Listen well," he began. "Your first trial will test both your combat skill and teamwork. In the real world, victory does not belong to those who fight alone, but to those who adapt and survive."
He gestured toward the sprawling mountain forest behind the academy—a sea of green and silver mist. "Within these woods lies the Spirit Formation Grounds. You will enter in teams of three. Your task: retrieve a fragment of the Star Crystal hidden within. Beware—the forest is alive, and the formations within it will test your heart as much as your strength."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. The Spirit Formation Grounds were infamous. It was said that they were built upon ancient ley lines, where the very flow of qi distorted reality itself.
Chen Ruo leaned close to Zeref, whispering, "Sounds fun, right?"
Lin Yuexi rolled her eyes. "Fun? You realize that people get injured in these things, don't you?"
Zeref, standing between them, simply said, "Let's go."
Teams were quickly formed. As fate—or perhaps design—would have it, Zeref, Chen Ruo, and Lin Yuexi were placed together.
Instructor Liang's gaze swept over the group before them. "Remember—success in the trial will determine your position in the Crimson Dawn Division rankings. Failure… will be noted."
He raised his hand, and a faint pulse of qi expanded from his palm. The air shimmered, forming a translucent barrier that flickered with ancient runes.
"Enter."
One by one, the teams stepped through the barrier, vanishing into the forest beyond.
The world on the other side was… different.
Mist drifted between ancient trees whose roots pulsed faintly with qi. Shafts of light pierced the canopy in beams of silver and gold, illuminating moss-covered stones carved with strange symbols. The air hummed softly, alive with unseen energy.
"This place…" Lin Yuexi whispered, eyes wide. "It feels like it's breathing."
Chen grinned. "Guess we're the first to say hello."
Zeref scanned the surroundings. "Stay close. The formations here shift based on our presence. If we lose focus, we'll wander in circles."
"How do you know that?" Yuexi asked.
He didn't answer. Instead, he knelt, pressing his palm against the ground. Faint blue lines of energy glowed beneath his touch, spiraling outward like veins of light.
"The qi flow beneath the soil is disordered. The formation reacts to spirit energy—it's designed to confuse weaker cultivators."
Chen scratched his head. "You're saying this whole forest is a giant illusion?"
"Not entirely," Zeref said, standing. "But not all that you see is real."
Before they could continue, a sudden rustle swept through the undergrowth. Three figures emerged from the mist—students from the Azure Fang Division. Their leader, a muscular youth with cropped hair and a heavy broadsword strapped to his back, smirked.
"Well, look who we have here," he said. "The famous Zeref Ying. Thought we'd run into you."
Zeref's expression didn't change. "If you're here for the same objective, stay out of our way."
The youth laughed. "Stay out of your way? Don't make me laugh. The Star Crystal fragment will belong to us."
He stepped forward, the ground cracking beneath his boots as qi surged around him.
"Guess we'll settle it here," Chen muttered.
Before Instructor Liang's rules could be broken, Lin Yuexi stepped between them. "Enough. We'll find another path. Wasting energy on pride won't win this trial."
Zeref met her gaze, then gave a slight nod. They turned away, continuing deeper into the woods, the laughter of the other team echoing behind them.
Hours passed. The mist thickened, the forest growing stranger with each step. The path ahead split and twisted in impossible directions, trees shifting subtly when they weren't looking.
"This formation is playing tricks," Yuexi murmured, gripping her blade.
Zeref's eyes narrowed. He could feel something—a current of energy far older than any formation, hidden deep beneath the mountain. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat buried under stone.
"Not the formation," he said quietly. "Something else is interfering."
Chen frowned. "Something else?"
Zeref didn't answer. Instead, he raised his sword. The blade hummed softly, its edge glowing faintly as he channeled qi into it.
A moment later, the air split with a snarl. A spirit beast burst from the trees—a wolf-like creature made of mist and lightning. Its eyes blazed blue, and its fangs crackled with energy.
"Get ready!" Yuexi shouted.
The creature lunged. Chen met it head-on, his fist wrapped in glowing qi as he struck its flank. The impact exploded with a burst of light, scattering fragments of mist.
Yuexi followed, her twin daggers flashing as she darted around the beast, striking from blind angles.
Zeref moved last. His blade cut through the air in a single, clean motion—no wasted effort, no hesitation.
The spirit beast froze mid-lunge, its body dissolving into shimmering vapor before collapsing into nothingness.
Chen blinked. "You could've at least let us finish it!"
"You were too slow," Zeref said simply, sheathing his blade.
Yuexi laughed softly. "I'll give you that one. Still, nice teamwork."
As the mist cleared, something glimmered on the ground where the beast had fallen—a small, crystal shard pulsing with faint light.
"The Star Crystal fragment," Yuexi breathed. "We found it."
Zeref bent and picked it up. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, a pulse of energy rippled outward, faint but ancient. His eyes narrowed slightly.
That same buried heartbeat… stronger this time.
"Something's wrong," he murmured.
The air shimmered suddenly. The forest groaned. Trees twisted violently as the ground beneath them trembled.
"What's happening?!" Chen shouted.
The world split open in a surge of light—runes flaring across the earth like veins of fire. The formation's control had been disrupted.
Zeref threw up a barrier of qi, shielding his teammates from the backlash. The energy struck like a wave, searing and wild, before fading into silence.
When the light finally dimmed, they found themselves standing in a clearing that hadn't been there before.
At its center stood an ancient stone monolith, half-buried and covered in runes. Its surface glowed faintly with the same light as the Star Crystal.
"What… is that?" Yuexi whispered.
Zeref stepped closer, his expression unreadable. The aura radiating from the monolith wasn't normal qi. It was something deeper—older.
Before he could speak, a voice echoed faintly in the air, like a whisper carried on the wind.
> "The stars remember… even when men forget."
All three froze.
The forest went silent. Even the wind held its breath.
Zeref turned slowly, scanning the treeline.
Nothing.
But far above, unseen by any of them, a figure stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the formation.
The moonlight framed her silhouette—robes white as starlight, hair cascading like midnight silk. Her gaze was fixed upon Zeref, calm and sharp, as if she'd been waiting for this very moment.
The faintest breeze stirred her sleeve as she whispered,
> "So it begins again…"
Then she was gone, melting into the mist.
---
To be continued...