The dawn crept in slowly, painting the eastern sky in golden hues. Before their departure, they were once again summoned to Headmaster Mo Xuan's office. Mo Xuan studied the four students before him carefully. After a brief pause, he handed a small scroll to Lu Xingchen.
"This is a list of spirit species I recommend for you. I can't guarantee you'll find them, but it will serve as a reference so you don't choose recklessly."
Lu Xingchen unfurled the scroll slowly. Inside were several names and descriptions:
Galactic Mist Deer (860–980 years) Possesses the ability to create starlight illusions, which can enhance Constellation Light techniques. Dawn Sky Eagle (850 years)Specializes in high-speed movement and long-range perception. Ideal for users of movement techniques like Silent Night Steps. Three-Tailed Star Cat (890 years)Has minor healing abilities and night vision, highly useful for nighttime operations and survival.
Mo Xuan pointed to one entry. "If you want to strengthen your primary technique, Xingchen, the Galactic Mist Deer is the ideal choice. But if you wish to expand your combat style and unlock new possibilities, the Eagle or Star Cat could be invaluable. Choose carefully, based on your long-term goals."
Xingchen nodded respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Headmaster. I'll consider everything carefully."
Mo Xuan then turned to the other three students, giving them brief recommendations tailored to their martial spirits, but he emphasized one thing: "Don't be greedy, don't rush. A spirit too powerful will be uncontrollable. Focus on compatibility, not just strength."
After this short but crucial session, they bid farewell and left the headmaster's office, carrying supplies, backup weapons, and a heavy sense of responsibility.
In the rear courtyard of North Star Academy, Lu Xingchen stood silently, watching the sunlight touch the treetops. Beside him, Zhan Wu, Mei Yun, and Lin Yao were checking their gear. Today marked the beginning of their important journey—a trip to the Yama Forest to seek their second spirit rings.
"Ready?" Lu Xingchen asked, his sharp gaze fixed on the distant northern forest.
"Of course!" Zhan Wu replied, gripping his spear with enthusiasm.
"Part of me wants this over with quickly," Mei Yun murmured, then smiled faintly. "But another part... feels strange. Like everything will change after this."
Lin Yao patted her shoulder. "And that change might be good. We'll grow stronger."
Lu Xingchen nodded. "This journey won't be easy. But we're not alone."
With that, they stepped beyond the academy gates. Behind them, Headmaster Mo Xuan watched from a distance, whispering to himself: *"May you all return safely, my students."*
Their journey took them through varied terrain—rolling grasslands, dense forests, and rushing rivers. The map Mo Xuan provided marked a safe route to the outer reaches of the Yama Forest, where students typically hunted for spirit rings.
On their first night, they rested by a small river. A campfire burned warmly, illuminating their tired but determined faces.
"Are you sure we'll find suitable spirit rings there, Xingchen?" Mei Yun asked, sipping warm broth.
Lu Xingchen nodded. "Most likely. I've read reports—spirit creatures often roam the outskirts of Yama Forest during this season. And I have a feeling... I'll find the right one."
"And I'll find a wind-attributed spirit ring," Lin Yao added hopefully.
Zhan Wu laughed. "If nothing fits, we'll keep searching until we do!"
That night, they took turns keeping watch. The surroundings were relatively calm, but Lu Xingchen couldn't shake a strange tension in the air—as if something was watching them from afar.
Three days later, they arrived at the edge of the Yama Forest. It was unlike any ordinary woodland. Towering trees stretched skyward, their dense canopies allowing only slivers of sunlight to pierce through. The air was thick with humidity and the scent of ancient moss.
"This... feels different," Lin Yao whispered.
"The spiritual energy here is dense," Lu Xingchen murmured, sensing the environment. "Stay alert. Don't be reckless."
Within half a day of venturing deeper, the sounds of spirit beasts grew frequent—sometimes distant rumbles, sometimes sharp cries from within the mist.
At dusk, they reached a small clearing with a moss-covered boulder at its center. The area seemed peaceful, safe enough to rest.
"This spot is good for the night," Zhan Wu said, dropping his pack.
Lu Xingchen closed his eyes briefly. He sensed no immediate danger but still arranged a watch rotation—he, Zhan Wu, and Mei Yun would take shifts. Lin Yao, the most exhausted, was allowed to sleep first.
As night fell, a thin mist crept over the ground. The sounds of insects and nocturnal creatures filled the air—until suddenly, everything went silent.
Zhan Wu, on watch, frowned and tightened his grip on his spear. "Xingchen... Do you feel that?"
Lu Xingchen was already sitting upright. He nodded, his expression serious. "Something's approaching."
They woke the other two quietly. Moments later, four pairs of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness. Four Shadowfang Black Wolves stepped into view.
"Wolf-type spirits, around 690 years old!" Mei Yun exclaimed. "And... they're attacking in unison!"
The wolves charged with perfect coordination. Two lunged at Lu Xingchen and Zhan Wu, while the other two flanked Lin Yao and Mei Yun.
Zhan Wu leaped forward. "Spirit, activate!" His spear glowed as yellow energy enveloped him. "Earthwave Spear!" A swift spin deflected both attacks.
Meanwhile, Mei Yun spread a thin mist of frost, slowing their enemies. "Protect Lin Yao!"
Lu Xingchen darted like a shadow, his Silent Night Steps making him nearly soundless. With starlight gathering in his palm, he hurled a radiant javelin. "Constellation Light!"
One wolf was thrown back, snarling, but another pounced from behind—only to be blocked by Mei Yun's "Dewfrost Shield," a barrier of ice that briefly froze the beast.
Lin Yao finally stood, eyes blazing. "I can fight too!" The wind around her swirled. "Gentle Wind Dance!" Razor-thin gusts sliced at two wolves, forcing them back.
The battle raged for nearly ten minutes. The wolves were tough, but teamwork prevailed. Zhan Wu shattered defenses with brute force, Mei Yun slowed and shielded, Lin Yao provided mid-range support, and Lu Xingchen—strategic and precise—led them all.
Finally, after hard effort and minor wounds, the wolves were subdued. Two fled wounded; two lay unconscious.
Panting, Mei Yun knelt. "That... was harder than I expected."
"But we did it," Zhan Wu grinned. "Good work, everyone."
Lu Xingchen stood by the rekindled fire, gazing deeper into the forest. "If this was just the beginning," he said softly, "then our second spirit rings... must lie further in."
Lin Yao met his eyes. "Then we go deeper. Together."
Lu Xingchen gave a faint smile. "At dawn. We continue."
That night, despite their wounds and exhaustion, their hearts burned with determination. For the first time, they felt like a true team—protecting, supporting, and united in one goal: to grow stronger.
---
After tending to their wounds, the four sat around the campfire in silence. Only the crackling flames and the night wind filled the air. Yet beneath the quiet, warmth lingered—not just from the fire, but from their shared triumph.
Mei Yun gazed at the sky, trying to glimpse stars through the canopy. "I thought... we might die earlier."
Zhan Wu chuckled. "If I had, at least I'd have died fighting."
Lin Yao bowed her head. "But we didn't. We saved each other."
Lu Xingchen looked at each of them. "And that's why we'll keep surviving. We fight not alone... but as one."
The night mist thickened again. But far beyond their sight, something glinted behind an ancient tree—a pair of deep violet eyes, watching in silence.
As the wind carried a chill from the forest depths, one thing became clear: their journey had only just begun.
Xingchen glanced at them, his face calm but his eyes alight with hope. "That's why we'll succeed," he said. "Because we fight not just for ourselves... but for each other."
Silence returned, but this time, it was filled not with fear—but with trust.
After a while, Zhan Wu stood. "Alright, whose watch is it now?"
"Mine," Lu Xingchen said, rising. "Rest. Tomorrow will be harder."
Zhan Wu looked like he wanted to argue but nodded. "Wake me in two hours."
Lu Xingchen sat at the clearing's edge, staring into the dark forest. The mist swirled slowly, as if swallowing the world into silence.
Yet he didn't feel alone. Not this time. Behind him, three friends slept soundly—friends he protected, and who now protected him in return.
His hand brushed the scroll from Headmaster Mo Xuan. He unrolled it again, rereading the descriptions of the Galactic Mist Deer, Dawn Sky Eagle, and Three-Tailed Star Cat.
*They're all intriguing,* he thought. *But I want more than just strengthening my techniques. I want to grow... as someone who can fight anywhere, anytime, for anyone.*
He carefully folded the scroll away.
The night wind whispered, carrying the scent of damp earth and timeworn moss. In the distance, a faint howl echoed—perhaps another spirit beast hunting in the dark.
Lu Xingchen wasn't afraid.
He knew their trials weren't over. But for the first time, he truly believed: *They would face them together.*
Tomorrow, they would venture deeper into the Yama Forest. Closer to their second spirit rings. And closer to their destinies.
---
The next morning, they awoke before sunrise. The mist still clung low, shrouding the forest in mystery. Their wounds were bandaged, and though their bodies ached, their spirits were unbroken.
Lu Xingchen stood before the others, holding Mo Xuan's scroll as he looked north—deeper into the Yama Forest.
"Our next path leads to the misty valley. That's where we'll most likely find the Galactic Mist Deer... if we're lucky."
Lin Yao took a deep breath. "And if not?"
"We face whatever awaits." His answer was short but meaningful.
That day's journey was harder—muddy terrain, tangled roots, and nearly invisible trails. The spiritual energy grew heavier, pressing down as if the forest itself watched them.
They spoke little, communicating in glances and gestures. Their vigilance was at its peak.
By midday, the mist thickened further. Finally, they reached a small valley veiled in shimmering fog.
Their steps slowed.
"This place... is different," Mei Yun whispered.
Lu Xingchen closed his eyes, sensing the flow of spiritual energy. "The light here... it's mixed with illusions. Just like the Galactic Mist Deer's description."
Zhan Wu tightened his grip on his spear. "If it's really here, we must be careful. That spirit isn't just strong—it's cunning."
They spread out cautiously. Then, a soft chime echoed through the mist—like distant bells. A flicker of light darted past.
They tensed.
"What was that?" Lin Yao asked.
Lu Xingchen didn't answer. He stepped forward slowly. The mist parted slightly, revealing a slender silhouette with branching antlers. Starlight shimmered faintly around it. Its fur was silver-white, almost like the mist itself. Its eyes glowed pale blue.
"Galactic Mist Deer..." Lu Xingchen breathed, barely believing it.
The creature stood still, watching them. It didn't seem hostile, but neither did it welcome them. It simply observed.
"Don't make sudden moves," Lu Xingchen whispered. "This spirit senses intent."
But before they could act, a deafening roar shook the valley.
From the bushes burst a Veinstone Tiger, a mid-tier spirit beast with rock-hard skin and brutal strength. Its eyes burned red with fury as it charged straight for the deer.
"No!" Lu Xingchen shouted.
The deer leaped back, weaving illusions to mislead the tiger. But the beast relied on brute force, attacking blindly.
Without hesitation, Lu Xingchen moved. "We have to help it! If it dies, we lose our only chance!"
His friends nodded. They lunged into battle.
The second fight began.
Zhan Wu intercepted first, blocking the tiger with his spear. "Earthwave Spear!"
Mei Yun summoned a frost mist to slow the beast.
Lu Xingchen used Silent Night Steps, flanking the tiger and striking from a distance. "Constellation Light!"
The attack scorched the tiger's side, but its hide was too tough—only a shallow burn remained.
Lin Yao gathered wind energy. "Gentle Wind Dance!"
The swirling gusts pushed the tiger back slightly, but not enough.
"Aim for its ankles and joints!" Lu Xingchen commanded. "That's its weakness!"
They adjusted tactics, moving as one. Lin Yao and Mei Yun slowed it, Zhan Wu broke its guard, and Lu Xingchen sought openings.
Finally, after relentless strikes and flawless teamwork, the Veinstone Tiger collapsed with a final roar.
The Galactic Mist Deer still stood where it had been, watching. Then, slowly... it approached Lu Xingchen. No fear. No hostility. Just... acceptance.
Lu Xingchen knelt, feeling the creature's breath before him.
"Will you... become part of me?"
The deer lowered its head, touching his forehead with its antlers. Soft light enveloped them as the second spirit ring began to form—a fusion of radiance, mist, and illusion. Graceful... yet brimming with hidden power.
His friends watched in awe. No words were needed.
When the fusion ended, Lu Xingchen opened his eyes. They gleamed softly, like distant stars.
"I did it..." he whispered, grateful.