The Unexpected Activation of Cycle 2!

Six Iron-Back Dragons roared in unison, their voices rolling across the sky like thunder, making even the pure white space tremble.

They were not charging blindly.

Three ran side by side in the front, with another three close behind.

Their pace was perfectly synchronized, their hooves pounding like drums.

They looked like a well-trained cavalry unit clad in iron armor.

Their gray-black scales reflected a cold gleam as they charged.

Their absurdly thick arms swung at their sides, each motion producing a sharp whistle through the air.

The instant their feet struck the ground, web-like cracks burst across the pure white floor.

Their massive bodies dragged six black afterimages behind them, tearing through the air.

The Thousand Year Soul Ring around Bai Yuan blazed with purple light. The dazzling purple halo spun at high speed, casting him like a sword freshly drawn from its sheath.

Stride to Deliverance, Action Shall Arrive—full enhancement activated.

A flash of golden light flickered deep within his pupils.

The speed beneath his feet, the force behind his sword, the sensitivity of his reflexes.

Everything surged to its absolute limit at that moment.

Fire and light, embodiments of good and evil.

Within the Spirit Ascension Platform, he had slain countless Soul Beasts.

Every one of them had stacked Eidolon's enhancements onto him.

Speed increased, strength increased, destructive power increased.

Those enhancements had not vanished when he left the Spirit Ascension Platform. Like brands carved into his bones, they had remained within him all along.

Now, within the True Illusion Realm, every one of those brands had been ignited.

He felt as though he could cleave the heavens apart at any moment.

The Iron-Back Dragons had already charged right in front of him.

The largest one in the lead raised both arms high, then smashed them down toward Bai Yuan's head with terrifying force capable of shattering boulders.

Bai Yuan did not retreat.

His wrist turned lightly, and Dawnmaker drew a silver-white arc through the air. Its tip struck precisely at the joint of the Iron-Back Dragon's descending right arm.

Using little force to redirect great strength.

The blade slipped into the gap in the joint, deflecting most of that terrifying force.

Then, before the Iron-Back Dragon could react, his wrist suddenly twisted.

The sword turned sideways, flinging the massive creature into the air.

The Iron-Back Dragon's enormous body spun through the air as it let out a roar of shock and fury.

It could not understand.

How could such a tiny human send an Iron-Back Dragon, a creature renowned for its strength, flying with a single sword?

In an instant, heaven and earth flipped upside down. The Iron-Back Dragon's vision spun wildly as ground and sky alternated before its eyes. Carried off balance by that force, its huge body tumbled through the air before crashing heavily to the ground, smashing out a massive crater.

Its gray-black scales shattered from the impact, blood seeping through the cracks amid crisp sounds of breaking bone.

Its right arm, where the sword tip had struck, twisted at a grotesque angle. It was clearly broken.

Bai Yuan landed, Dawnmaker held across his body. Not even a drop of blood stained its blade.

He turned to Gu Yuena, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Junior Sister, you're up."

Gu Yuena said nothing, but her eyes lit up.

Six Elemental Lights exploded around her—fire, ice, wind, earth, light, and darkness.

Six giant dragons of different colors roared as they lunged toward the remaining five Iron-Back Dragons.

Her silver hair flew amid the elemental storm, while a competitive blaze burned in her violet eyes.

Han Tianyi watched from above.

He gave a soft "Mm," a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.

Gu Yuena did not answer, but her actions were the best response.

Her first Soul Ring lit up.

Purple light erupted beneath her feet, dyeing the surrounding pure white space in a dazzling violet glow.

At that moment, the six Elemental Lights were no longer mere ornaments around her.

They transformed into six roaring dragons, pouring down frenzied attacks upon the remaining four Iron-Back Dragons.

The flames of the fire element descended like molten lava from the heavens, swallowing an Iron-Back Dragon whole.

The massive creature let out a miserable shriek amid the flames. Its gray-black scales burned red, then white, before finally melting into a bubbling pool of magma.

A freezing tide of ice followed close behind. Before another Iron-Back Dragon could recover from its terror of the flames, it was frozen into an ice sculpture.

It remained locked in its charging stance before wind blades sliced it into several pieces, scattering them across the ground.

The blades of wind shrieked sharply through the air, cutting through the Iron-Back Dragons' scales, flesh, and bones, shaving them bit by bit into fragments.

Gu Yuena stood in place, her silver hair flying in the elemental storm. A nearly crazed light burned in her violet eyes.

She did not know what she was venting, nor did she know what grievance she was carrying.

Was it her unwillingness to accept losing to Bai Yuan? The frustration of being angered speechless by him every time?

Was it the humiliation of being stronger than him yet having to pretend she was not? Or were they those indescribable emotions that even she herself did not know where had come from?

What did it matter?

What did it matter whether they were Soul Beasts?

They were virtual. It was fine. She could vent all her grievances, all her resentment, all her anger on these virtual Iron-Back Dragons.

Gu Yuena spread her arms, raised her head, and closed her eyes.

Six Elemental Lights slowly swirled around her, as though responding to her emotions.

Her silver hair drifted gently in the breeze, while the remains of the fading Iron-Back Dragons reflected in her violet eyes.

The corner of her mouth curved up ever so slightly.

Bai Yuan stood not far away, Dawnmaker angled toward the ground. Watching Gu Yuena's appearance, the corner of his mouth twitched.

This girl must have been holding it in for a long time.

The last Iron-Back Dragon roared as it pounced. Bai Yuan did not dodge. Dawnmaker swept out horizontally, its sword light like a silver-white ribbon flashing across the Iron-Back Dragon's neck.

Its huge head flew into the air. Its enormous body stumbled forward a few steps from inertia before crashing to the ground, kicking up white dust.

The space began to collapse.

The pure white ground fractured from its edges, turning into countless drifting specks of light.

The specks grew more numerous and denser, drowning the entire space in brilliant radiance.

Bai Yuan closed his eyes.

The moment the helmet lifted, his consciousness withdrew from the Sea of Consciousness, and his body regained control.

He opened his eyes, and the ceiling of the Illusion Space came into view.

Han Tianyi sat cross-legged atop the platform, his white hair flowing.

His bright eyes watched Bai Yuan and Gu Yuena, with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

"Today's training is over."

The old man's voice was calm.

"Three rounds of simulation tomorrow. Be prepared."

Bai Yuan sat up and rolled his somewhat stiff neck.

"Three rounds?

Will there be Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts?"

Han Tianyi glanced at him without answering directly. The curve of his lips only deepened. "Guess."

The corner of Bai Yuan's mouth twitched.

This old man really knew how to keep people in suspense.

Gu Yuena had already risen to her feet. Her violet eyes calmly swept over Bai Yuan before she turned to Han Tianyi and gave a slight bow.

"Thank you for your hard work, Elder Han."

Han Tianyi waved a hand without speaking.

Gu Yuena turned and headed for the door. Bai Yuan followed behind her, and the two left the Illusion Space one after the other.

The corridor was silent, filled only with the echo of their footsteps. Gu Yuena walked ahead, her silver ponytail swaying gently behind her, without saying a word.

Bai Yuan did not speak either. The battle from earlier was still replaying in his mind.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened.

Gu Yuena stepped inside, pressed her floor, then glanced at Bai Yuan.

"See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Bai Yuan nodded as the elevator doors slowly closed.

Bai Yuan returned to his room, shut the door, and leaned against it as he let out a long breath.

He walked over to the bed and sat down, extending his left hand.

The Core Flame appeared in his palm.

Golden and black flames burned quietly, and the mark of "1" flickered in the firelight.

Then he froze.

The "1" had changed.

That "1," which had originally only been lightly engraved on the surface of the Core Flame.

Now seemed to have been filled by something.

It had become a complete, glowing number, as though cast from golden powder.

And beside it, the second mark had already become clearly visible.

It was no longer the faint outline that appeared and disappeared before, but a tangible mark that was already more than halfway complete.

Bai Yuan stared at the number, his heartbeat accelerating.

2.

The cycle had begun!