Whispers of Night, Thresholds of Dawn
In the quiet heart of the cultivation chamber, Yao Xuan's focus was a needle threading the eye of a storm. The evolutionary energy, a gift from the spent Gold Points, coursed through him—a river of stars seeking confluence with the nine-colored sea of his Ancestral Dragon blood. He guided it with a will tempered in simulated battles and real peril, each pulse of energy seamlessly woven into the expanding tapestry of his lineage.
A slow breath escaped him, misting in the cool, energy-rich air. Satisfaction was a quiet warmth. 'Another step. If I can leverage this environment, pushing past 25% before the break ends is possible. That would lay the foundation for the third circulation…' The path was clear, demanding only time and relentless dedication.
The profound stillness of post-cultivation settled upon him. 'Rest is also a discipline,' he reminded himself. His eyes drifted toward the adjoining bathing chamber, from which a gentle heat and the calming scent of Soul-Nourishing Wood beckoned.
The bath was an experience in sublime restoration. Sinking into the large, sunken pool, the warm, faintly aromatic liquid embraced him. It was no ordinary water; his senses detected a sophisticated blend of herbal essences—Moonlit Silvergrass, Century-Old Bloodvine Sap, Spiritspring Lotus extract—each a rare spiritual ingredient. Their combined properties seeped into his pores, a gentle, penetrating warmth that soothed tired muscles, subtly stoked the embers of his blood energy, and washed away the residual mental fatigue of intense cultivation. For half an hour, he simply existed, allowing the tension to melt away, the energies to harmonize.
Emerging, he felt renewed, his body humming with a quiet vitality. A fresh towel in hand, he caught his reflection in a full-length mirror of polished obsidian.
The figure gazing back was the embodiment of his journey. His physique was not brute mass, but a sculpture of efficient power—lean, defined muscles flowing in streamlined harmony, promising explosive force contained within graceful form. His skin, tempered by the Ancestral Dragon Body, held a healthy, faint luminescence, like sunlight seen through pale jade. His features, sharpened by trials and inherent charm, were balanced by a calm, approachable demeanor—a combination of the system's enhanced allure and the natural, gentle authority beginning to emanate from his deepened bloodline.
A faint, self-aware smile touched his lips. 'The tools are being refined.' His thoughts, however, did not linger on vanity, but on the purpose it served—to be a worthy partner, a steady presence.
A final task remained before sleep. Crossing the silent corridor, he knocked softly on Gu Yue's door.
"Yao Xuan, is that you?" Her voice floated through the wood, a melody that softened the castle's ancient silence.
"It's me."
"Okay, wait a moment." There was a soft rustle, a pause. About two minutes later, the door opened.
Yao Xuan's breath caught, not with lust, but with a wave of pure, awe-struck admiration.
Gu Yue stood framed in the doorway, having clearly just emerged from her own bath. A robe of soft, silvery fabric was tied loosely around her. Her face was delicately flushed from the warmth, and droplets of water still sparkled like captured starlight in her long, damp silver hair, which cascaded over her shoulders. The robe hinted at the graceful lines of her form without revealing, and the clean, fresh scent of night-blooming flowers and rainwater clung to her. She was beauty incarnate—not a beauty of mere appearance, but of essence, a serene moon just risen from a misty lake.
"What brings you here so late?" she asked, her silver eyes soft in the dim hallway light.
"Nothing important," he said, his voice gentle. "Just wanted to say goodnight." His gaze held hers, full of an affection so deep it felt like peace.
A pleased smile bloomed on her lips. "Oh, I see. I was just preparing for bed." She leaned her damp head slightly against the doorframe, a gesture of comfortable intimacy. "Yao Xuan… do you like me like this?"
The question was whispered, vulnerable, seeking confirmation not of her beauty, but of his heart's constant sight.
"Of course I like you, Gu Yue," he answered, his voice firm and tender. "You're… you're the most beautiful sight in any world. Goodnight." He didn't reach out, didn't cross the threshold. The moment was perfect in its respectful, shared quiet.
Her smile deepened, reaching her eyes. "Okay. Goodnight. See you in the morning."
With a final, warm look, he turned and retreated to his room, the image of her—fresh, serene, and trusting—etched into his mind, a talisman against any darkness.
Morning arrived, bathing the ancient castle in pale gold light. Breakfast was another testament to extravagant care—spirit-grain porridge that thickened soul power, fruits that clarified the mind, roasted fowl that fortified the body. Yao Xuan ate gratefully, his senses sharp, his spirit calm.
After the meal, Di Tian led the way. They descended deep into the castle's roots, down a spiral staircase of ancient stone, arriving at a secluded basement chamber. The air here was still and carried the ozone-tang of potent energy.
The floor was a masterpiece of soul engineering—a vast, intricate array carved from a single slab of spirit-conductive azure stone. Lines of silver and gold traced complex, interlocking geometric patterns that seemed to shift when stared at directly, humming with a low, powerful frequency.
"Yao Xuan," Di Tian said, his voice echoing slightly in the chamber. He gestured to the center of the array where the patterns were most dense. "We will use spatial translocation to take you to the testing grounds. There, we will examine the nature and potential of your martial soul in a controlled environment. Are you prepared?"
Gu Yue stood beside him, her expression composed but her eyes holding a silent message of encouragement and shared anticipation.
Yao Xuan met Di Tian's golden gaze, then looked at Gu Yue, Zi Ji, Bi Ji, and the watchful Xiong Jun. He gave a single, confident nod. "I am ready."
"Then let us begin." Di Tian raised a hand. Soul power, dark and profound as a starless night, flowed from him into the edge of the array. Zi Ji, Bi Ji, and Xiong Jun followed suit, each adding their unique signature—purple demonic energy, verdant healing light, fierce golden power. The arrays blazed to life, lines of light climbing into the air, weaving a cage of brilliant energy around Yao Xuan.
The world dissolved into a vortex of shimmering color and the sound of tearing silk. The last thing he saw was Gu Yue's silver eyes, fixed on him with unwavering focus.
The spatial transfer engaged, pulling him from the ancient castle into the unknown heart of the test.