Autumn arrived quietly at the academy.
Cool winds swept through the mountain pathways, carrying fallen leaves across the stone courtyards. Students hurried between training halls and classrooms, completely unaware that the world around them was slowly beginning to change.
But inside the Special Student Pavilion, the atmosphere remained tense.
Krishak stood before the large cultivation map projected by the Stellar Compass. Several faint lights had grown brighter over the past few weeks.
That was not a coincidence.
Dormant spiritual zones across Earth were gradually awakening.
And others had begun noticing.
Lunafang rested nearby, though the silver wolf's ears twitched constantly as if sensing the unease in Krishak's mind.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Enter."
Headmaster Rudra stepped inside.
His expression was calm as always, but Krishak immediately sensed seriousness beneath the surface.
"We received reports this morning," Rudra said.
Krishak turned toward him.
"About awakened zones?"
Rudra nodded slowly.
"Three incidents in the past ten days."
He placed several files onto the table.
"The first occurred in northern India. A mining company accidentally uncovered an underground cavern filled with spirit crystals."
Krishak remained silent.
"The second involved a beast outbreak near a remote forest reserve. Witnesses reported unusually intelligent creatures coordinating their attacks."
That caused Lunafang to lift his head slightly.
"The third," Rudra continued, "is the most concerning."
He opened the final file.
"A private organization discovered ruins beneath an abandoned desert settlement."
Krishak's eyes narrowed slightly.
The desert location on the Stellar Compass.
Someone had found it already.
Rudra studied his reaction carefully.
"You expected this."
"Yes," Krishak admitted. "The world's spiritual activity is increasing. Hidden zones will continue emerging.
The Headmaster folded his arms.
"The academy council is divided. Some believe these incidents should remain secret. Others argue that humanity must prepare openly."
Krishak understood both perspectives.
Revealing too much could create panic and conflict.
But hiding the truth entirely would leave humanity unprepared for what was coming.
"The timing matters," Krishak said calmly. "If the world learns the truth before strong foundations exist, chaos will follow."
Rudra nodded slowly.
"That was my conclusion as well."
Later that afternoon, Krishak gathered with his companions in the training arena.
Dev immediately noticed his serious expression.
"What happened?"
Krishak explained the recent incidents briefly.
The mood changed instantly.
Raghav frowned. "So other ruins are already being discovered."
"And spirit beasts are becoming more active," Ananya added quietly.
Ishita crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"That means the balance of power is shifting."
"Yes," Krishak said. "And eventually, organizations, governments, and powerful individuals will compete for these " resources.
Dev spun his spear once before planting it into the ground.
"Then we just need to stay ahead."
Krishak smiled faintly.
Simple thinking.
But not entirely wrong.
Over the following weeks, subtle changes spread across society.
News reports began mentioning strange environmental phenomena.
Animals displaying abnormal intelligence.
Unexplained storms.
Rare mineral discoveries.
Mysterious disappearances near isolated regions.
Most ordinary people dismissed them as exaggerations or coincidences.
But cultivators and awakened individuals understood the truth.
Something was changing.
And fast.
Within the academy, training intensity increased dramatically.
Headmaster Rudra introduced specialized combat exercises focused on coordinated team battles and survival in unstable environments.
The students quickly realized the academy was preparing them for something larger than ordinary competitions.
Krishak also intensified his private training.
Using the Stellar Body Refinement Art and the Starheart Seed, his cultivation advanced steadily toward the next major breakthrough.
At the same time, he began experimenting with the Nine Star Soul Formation Manual.
One night, he completed his first large-scale formation within the hidden courtyard behind the pavilion.
Silver runes lit up across the ground.
The surrounding spiritual energy condensed rapidly toward the center.
Even the air felt heavier.
Ishita stared in amazement.
"This formation gathers energy at least three times more efficiently than modern arrays."
Krishak nodded.
"Ancient formations were designed for sustainability and harmony, not brute force."
The academy eventually allowed him to establish the formation permanently beneath the Special Student Pavilion.
As a result, cultivation speed within the building increased noticeably for everyone living there.
Dev called it cheating.
Ananya called it incredible.
Raghav simply started spending more time there.
Meanwhile, Lunafang continued evolving rapidly.
The Moonstar Bloodline Method
transformed not only his strength, but also his intelligence.
The silver wolf now understood complex instructions with ease and could communicate basic thoughts clearly through their bond.
One evening during training, Dev blocked a claw strike from Lunafang and stumbled backward with a shocked expression.
"He's getting stronger too quickly."
Lunafang barked proudly.
Krishak rested a hand on his companion's head.
"Spirit beasts with strong bloodlines grow rapidly once their potential awakens."
Raghav looked thoughtful as he watched Skyrend.
"Then spirit beast evolution may become just as important as human cultivation."
Krishak nodded.
"In the future, powerful beast companions will influence entire battlefields."
Several days later, the academy received unexpected visitors.
A convoy of black vehicles arrived at the mountain gates under heavy security.
Students gathered at a distance, whispering curiously.
From one of the vehicles stepped a tall middle-aged man wearing a dark formal coat marked with a silver insignia.
Behind him followed several armed awakened guards.
Headmaster Rudra personally came to greet them.
From a rooftop above, Krishak observed silently.
His eyes sharpened slightly when he recognized the insignia.
It belonged to the National Spiritual Research Bureau.
A government organization.
Which meant one thing.
The authorities had finally begun taking the awakening seriously.
And if the government was moving now
Then other hidden forces across the world were likely doing the same.
The calm before the storm was ending.