Stephen had never felt exhaustion like this before.
It was as if the world itself were dimming, colors draining as darkness pressed in from the edges of his vision. His steps faltered, and he let out a slow, unsteady breath.
Seems like I got carried away, he thought grimly. Went too far this time.
He sat down cross-legged without hesitation and retrieved an energy stone from his storage bag. Cradling it in his palm, he closed his eyes and stilled his mind.
A thin stream of qi began to flow.
It seeped from the stone into his palm, then poured into his soul sea. There, faint cracks marred its surface, and even his two Aspect Souls appeared dim and weakened.
His soul sea felt like a dried riverbed welcoming rain.
He remained still for an unknown span of time. The energy stone gradually dulled, then crumbled into fine dust. When Stephen finally opened his eyes, he sensed the change immediately.
The qi within his soul sea had grown purer, denser.
His cultivation had reached the peak of mid-stage Apprentice Realm.
Warmth spread through his body as the injuries from his last battle faded away. Torn flesh knit together. Bruises vanished. Even his physique felt tougher, more resilient, as though tempered by invisible fire.
Stephen nodded quietly.
"Father was right," he murmured. "True experts are forged on the edge of life and death."
He exhaled a breath of turbid air, then rose to his feet, sword in hand. Without hesitation, he turned toward the gate leading to the eighth level and walked forward with steady, resolute steps.
The world shifted the moment he crossed through.
Stephen found himself in a verdant forest bathed in muted green light. Towering trees stretched upward, their dense canopies blotting out most of the sky. The air was eerily still.
Too still.
There was no birdsong. No insects. Only the faint rustle of leaves stirred by a passing breeze.
Stephen tightened his grip on his sword.
His senses stretched taut as a drawn bowstring as he moved deeper into the forest. The trees grew denser, sunlight thinning to pale threads that barely reached the forest floor. Dried leaves carpeted the ground, crunching softly beneath his boots.
With each step, the surroundings darkened as the canopy thickened overhead.
Then—
A massive shadow lunged from the darkness.
Stephen's guard wavered for a fraction of a second.
CLANG!
The impact sent him skidding backward, leaves exploding into the air as his feet carved a trail through the forest floor. He caught only a glimpse of two crimson eyes burning in the shadows.
For an instant, terror rooted him in place.
His mind blanked.
He bit down hard on his tongue.
Pain snapped him back to clarity just as a massive, steel-like claw loomed before his eyes.
Stephen activated the first stance of The Twelve Supreme Swords.
Phoenix Shakes Its Plume.
An azure aura flared along his blade. He ducked sharply to the side and slashed with all his strength.
CLANG!
The sound rang through the forest as he was hurled into the air and smashed into a tree behind him. Bark exploded outward. A metallic taste filled his mouth.
He spat out blood and focused his gaze.
In the dim light stood a colossal black panther. Silver armor plated its joints and spine. Spike-like protrusions crowned its head and lined the length of its tail.
Black Armored Panther.
The name surfaced instantly from the books he had read in the outpost library.
Only adult beasts possessed spiked tails, each spike hard and sharp enough to threaten even Master Realm experts. As their realm increased, so did the number of spikes. A Master Realm beast bore three full pairs.
Even seasoned experts required a team to bring one down.
And beasts were stronger than humans of the same realm.
Stephen's eyes narrowed.
This one was only early-stage Master Realm.
Yet when he looked at its foreleg, all he saw was a thin white line where his sword had struck.
No real injury.
The gap between them was absolute.
Still, Stephen tightened his grip and charged.
Again and again, he attacked.
Again and again, he was sent flying.
Each clash battered his body further, but deep within his soul sea, his qi churned violently. A familiar pressure built, heavy and urgent.
A sign of imminent breakthrough.
Stephen fought like a madman.
Blood soaked his clothes. His armor hung in tatters. Deep wounds carved into his flesh, and his consciousness wavered again and again. By the end, he was no longer fighting with reason, only instinct.
Though he could not deal serious damage, the panther's body was now marked with countless shallow cuts.
Then his qi finally ran dry.
A faint cracking sound echoed within his soul sea.
In the next instant, it surged back, fuller than before. More clouds formed within, thick and abundant.
But it was too late.
The panther's claws flashed.
Stephen felt a cold sensation at his waist—
Then nothing.
The world went dark.
When awareness returned, Stephen found himself standing at the entrance of the tower.
His legs nearly gave out, but a hand caught his shoulder and steadied him. He was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding as though it might burst from his chest.
The memory of being split in half still lingered, vivid and horrifying. He knew he had not truly died, yet the sensation sent chills through his spine.
He took several deep breaths to calm himself.
The man beside him spoke. He introduced himself as an assistant examiner and instructed Stephen to gather with the others before departing.
Stephen followed the direction indicated.
Ahead, representatives from various academies and institutes stood in clusters. Though there were over a dozen in total, none carried the weight or presence of the top three.
Royal Academy.Grand Sword Mountain.The Artificers' Manor.
Their representatives sat at the forefront.
To the left of them stood those who had cleared the tower.
Stephen walked forward, eyes steady.