Eastsea Academy's training grounds awakened beneath the thin winter morning mist. Sunlight simulated by soul guidance formations pierced the gray-blue sky, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the ground.
Wu Changkong stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in snow-white robes. He resembled an unsheathed sword, freezing the surrounding air into fine ice crystals.
"Testing today."
The four cold words fell like frost, yet like a stone cast into a still lake, they sent ripples through the hearts of everyone in Zero Class. Shen Yi stood half a step beside him, a healing aura flickering at her fingertips. The pale pink glow reflected her gentle features like an undying candle in a winter night.
"Soul Power, spiritual power, and strength." Wu Changkong's gaze swept across their faces one by one, the edge of the Frost Sky Sword hidden in his eyes. "After the test, you will have three days of rest. Three days later, the final exam—the Rampage-Period Ascension Platform."
The air over the training grounds tightened abruptly.
"Rampage Phase?" Xie Xie's brown-gold hair exploded in the morning breeze, excitement blazing in his dark green eyes. "The one where soul beasts go berserk and energy becomes chaotic?"
"Yes." Wu Changkong nodded slightly. "You may enter individually or as a team. Teams can have up to seven people. The Rampage-Period Ascension Platform has unstable energy, and the soul beasts there are more dangerous. Second—"
He paused. His chilly aura circulated around him, thickening the thin frost on the ground. "Soul spirit energy can be seized by other soul masters. What you need to watch out for are other soul masters, as well as other dangers."
"Although Zhiyu and Wulin are using slots from the Forging Masters Association," Shen Yi continued, a trace of concern in her voice, "you