The open training field stretched far beyond the academy walls — a vast expanse of white jade and silver stone. Faint Qi runes pulsed beneath the surface, flowing like living veins that connected the entire plain. At the horizon, spiritual mist shimmered under the sunlight, shifting with an almost otherworldly rhythm. In the distance, echoes of clashing formations from other classes rippled through the air, making the ground hum with restrained power.
Shen Liang stood atop the central platform, his robe stirring faintly in the rising breeze."This," he said, voice steady and crisp, "is the Formation Field — where theory meets reality."
He raised his hand, and the runes across the field flared to life. A deep hum rolled through the air as five circular Qi portals bloomed into existence — swirling gates of mist and light, each reflecting glimpses of trees, mountains, and flowing streams beyond.
"Beyond these gates lies the Illusory Combat Forest," Shen Liang continued, his voice calm yet carrying across the field. "Inside, you will encounter spirit beasts and shifting terrain designed to test your cooperation. Here, you will put the formations you've just learned into practice."
The mist rippled again, revealing fleeting silhouettes — beasts prowling through the fog, flashes of spirit light cutting between trees.
"Your task is simple," Shen Liang said. "Each group must form a five-man formation and subdue a summoned spirit beast. Raw strength alone will not secure victory — teamwork, coordination, and leadership are key. The team that completes the task fastest will earn commendation. The team that slays the most beasts will earn a special reward."
His gaze swept across the gathered students. "You may form your own teams — choose wisely."
A ripple of excitement spread through the ranks. Nie Fan's smirk returned, sharp and confident."Instructor Shen," he said smoothly, voice carrying across the field, "surely a little competition would make the lesson more… memorable. Let us see which team proves stronger — the one that slays the most beasts shall claim victory. Don't you agree, Han Xing?"
Han Xing's lips curved faintly, eyes glinting with quiet challenge."Why wouldn't I dare? Let's see if your skill lives up to your confidence… or if it's all bark and no bite."
Shen Liang's brow arched slightly, then he nodded. "Very well. Choose your teams."
Nie Fan's group assembled instantly — sons of merchants and minor nobles, fine robes pristine, every motion steeped in arrogance. Han Xing, in contrast, found himself paired with Sun Ren and three others. Though less polished, their eyes burned with determination, ready to follow his lead.
Sun Ren flashed Han a grin. "Guess we're up against the young master himself. This won't be easy, right, Han?"
Han chuckled softly. "We'll manage. Did you forget what I used to be — or why your father took me in? Just stay calm and follow the rhythm."
Sun Ren laughed, slapping her knee. "How could I ever forget!"
At Shen Liang's signal, the two teams stepped into their designated rings. Golden barriers flared to life, sealing the space as Qi gathered above them, humming like the prelude to a storm.
The world twisted the moment Han Xing and his team stepped through the gate.Light fractured — then reformed into a vast forest veiled in silver mist. Towering trees rose around them, their leaves glowing faintly with residual spirit energy. The air buzzed with tension, alive with the hum of unseen danger.
"Stay close," Han said quietly, scanning their surroundings. A faint spark crackled at his fingertips as he released a thread of Lightning Qi into the ground.The current spread outward, branching like veins of light across the soil. Each pulse returned to him — soft, calm, no hostility nearby."This place is safe for now," he murmured.
But the forest answered with a sudden roar.
A spirit wolf, its fur wreathed in blue lightning, burst from the shadows — fangs bared, eyes burning with primal fury.
"Formation! Now!" Han's voice cut through the mist like thunder.
The five students moved instantly, boots striking the ground in rhythm. Qi flared between them, weaving into a glowing pentagram of gold — shaky, but linked.
"Sun Ren, draw its attention!" Han commanded."On it!" she shouted, her spear flashing as she charged forward.
Her strike met the beast's hide in a crackle of energy. The wolf howled, its power surging — the formation wavered, flickering."Breathe," Han called, his voice steady amid the chaos. "Flow with it, not against it."
Their energy aligned. The scattered light stabilized, pulsing in harmony. When the wolf lunged again, their formation met it — redirecting its force into the ground with a burst of golden Qi. The forest shook. Then, silence.
The beast fell, dissolving into faint motes of light.
Far across the forest, Nie Fan's team advanced with practiced precision."Spread out," Nie Fan ordered. "Channel your Qi through me."
Golden light burst from their formation — elegant, powerful. Spirit beasts fell one after another beneath their coordinated strikes.But as their victories grew, the air began to shift. The mist thickened, tinged with red. The trees' runes pulsed erratically.
On the control platform, Shen Liang's eyes narrowed. "The array's reacting… too much Qi," he murmured.
Inside the illusion, Han stiffened. The ground trembled beneath his feet.From deep within the mist, a roar unlike any before split the air — deeper, older, heavy enough to rattle the heavens.
Branches cracked. The air itself seemed to shatter under the weight of the Qi pressure.
Sun Ren's face paled. "That… that's not a normal spirit beast."
Han's expression hardened, lightning flickering across his arms. "No. They've drawn out something stronger — something they can't control."
From the depths of the mist, an enormous shadow emerged — a serpent with scales of molten gold and wings of flickering light. Its eyes burned like twin suns, and every breath it took made the forest quake.
Nie Fan's formation broke instantly, panic spreading through his group.
Han took a single step forward, his aura crackling like a storm ready to break."Change of plan," he said quietly. "We're saving them — whether they like it or not."
The air trembled