Tang San crouched in a shallow stream, washing the dried blood and dust from his arms. The forest around him remained quiet, save for the distant chirping of birds and the occasional crack of leaves. His hands trembled faintly—not from fatigue, but from restraint.
His power was growing.
The Black Stone, still silent within his dantian, was beginning to thrum softly during moments of stress or danger. It no longer whispered like before, but instead acted as an invisible reservoir—shielding, filtering, and quietly altering the flow of his Spirit Energy. The increase wasn't explosive, but steady and profound. With each passing day, Tang San could feel his cultivation stabilizing, becoming more refined than others of his level.
But the world did not slow down to let him adjust.
Today, Grandmaster had taken him deeper into the forest—far beyond the usual hunting grounds, into a wild and darker region where even common Spirit Masters feared to tread. Xiao Wu had stayed behind in Nuoding City on Grandmaster's orders. This was to be Tang San's solo test.
"Combat," Grandmaster had said, "is not only about reflexes or technique. It's about resolve. Today, you'll face danger alone. And only you will decide the outcome."
Tang San now stood alone.
The trees thickened as he moved forward, sunlight barely piercing through the dense canopy. He wore a grey cloak that masked his presence, his steps light, barely rustling the undergrowth. His Blue Silver Grass was already extended beneath his feet, ready to spring forth at a moment's notice.
A low growl broke the silence.
Tang San crouched and peered through the foliage. A Steelback Wolf, nearly two meters tall, stood near a watering hole, lapping at the stream. The beast's body gleamed with black metallic fur, and its spirit pressure—though lower than his—radiated fierce battle intent.
"A thousand-year beast," Tang San judged. "A bit stronger than the Wind Shadow Fox. Not by much, but… enough to hurt me."
He took a slow breath.
There was no Grandmaster to step in this time.
No one to protect him.
Tang San moved.
His first spirit ring ignited quietly, Blue Silver Grass – Binding, launching forth from the bushes and wrapping around the wolf's hind legs. The beast roared and snapped its jaws, lunging forward with surprising strength. Tang San spun sideways, narrowly dodging, and used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to weave behind the creature.
From his sleeve, three needles flew out—hidden weapons honed to perfection. They struck the wolf's shoulder, neck, and one ear.
But the wolf didn't collapse.
Instead, its body glowed red as it activated a Berserk skill, its claws extending and its blood boiling with fury. Tang San's pupils shrank.
"So even Spirit Beasts have methods to strengthen themselves beyond limits…"
The wolf charged.
Tang San's second technique, not a spirit skill but a physical mastery, kicked in—he used terrain, trees, and footwork to dance around the beast, keeping it chasing him while slowly whittling it down with throws and strikes. Still, his left arm was grazed once—deep and hot with pain.
He didn't scream. He didn't retreat.
The stone pulsed once in his body.
Spirit energy flooded his meridians slightly faster than before. He didn't know why—but in the heat of battle, the stone aided him, regulating his stamina and allowing him to push his body beyond what Rank 19 should handle.
Twenty minutes passed.
Then thirty.
At last, with one final twist of his Blue Silver Grass, the Steelback Wolf fell to the ground, convulsing and defeated.
Tang San didn't relax. He waited until the beast stopped breathing, then approached cautiously.
"I'm not ready to absorb this yet," he murmured. "Still Rank 19… but if I survive long enough…"
He collected the beast's core materials, wrapped his arm, and began his walk back. The burn in his muscles was deep. The scratch on his arm had gone numb. Yet his eyes remained sharp.
Back at Nuoding Academy, Grandmaster stood at the highest tower, arms behind his back.
"He lasted longer than I expected," he muttered, sensing Tang San's faint energy signature returning.
But his mind wandered elsewhere. The rate of Tang San's spiritual cultivation had begun to deviate. Too stable. Too efficient. No signs of impurities or fatigue.
And his foundation… it was unnaturally solid for a Spirit Master without even a second ring.
"What exactly are you hiding, Tang San?"
That night, Tang San returned, bruised, hungry, and silent. He didn't explain his battle. He didn't boast or complain. He simply ate, meditated, and fell asleep in silence.
The next morning, he woke before sunrise.
The black stone pulsed once more—this time releasing a thin black mist that quickly vanished into his veins.
Tang San sat in his courtyard, eyes closed, cultivating.
Within the sea of consciousness, an image had begun to form.
A wheel of black and blue light.
Half mysterious, half hidden.
It didn't belong to this world.
And slowly, it began to spin.
End of Chapter 12