Even the weakest among them now carried themselves like someone who had tasted power—and refused to let go.

In these seven days, Michael had quietly tracked their progress through spiritual imprints he'd placed in their rooms. He had seen their pain, their doubt, their breakthroughs.

He had witnessed one of them practicing until blood pooled from their palms.

Another had silently endured qi deviation twice—and crawled back to meditation without complaint.

He had even watched two of them spar, fiercely and without mercy, driven by pride they never knew they had.

Michael leaned forward slightly, breaking the silence at last, his eyes gleaming with quiet authority.

"All the spirit beasts have already been prepared," he said calmly. "They're now sealed in the back courtyard of the manor. Each of them matches your current level—aged between 500 to 600 years. Just enough to test you… but still killable."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

"You will go—one by one—and defeat the beast assigned to you. Kill it, absorb its ring, and make that power yours."

The five of them straightened, fists tightening, the air thick with tension.

Michael's gaze sharpened slightly. "Let me be clear. No help will be given. No interference. This is your battle. If you can't overcome a beast at this level… you're not worth bringing further."

Then he gave a faint smirk.

"The one who performs the best—whether by speed, technique, or resolve—will receive a personal reward from me. Something… meaningful."

Their expressions shifted—some excited, some determined, all serious.

Michael sat back in his chair and waved a hand.

"Now go. The courtyard awaits."

Without a word, the five youths turned and strode toward the training grounds behind the manor—not as slaves, but as cultivators walking into their first life-or-death battle.

The five newly empowered cultivators arrived at the manor's back courtyard, their steps steady, eyes brimming with tension and anticipation. The wide, stone-paved grounds were shrouded in a faint mist, but at the center stood five reinforced cages—each containing a spirit beast of roughly equal strength, restrained by thick spirit-lock chains and heavy spiritual seals.

The beasts stirred the moment the youths drew closer.

A Bladed Wind Wolf snarled within one cage, its fur bristling with green edges like blades of wind. Beside it, a Frost-Horned Boar slammed its tusks against the bars, letting out a hoarse bellow that cracked the nearby ground with frost.

In another cage, a Golden-Spined Lizard hissed, its sharp metallic scales gleaming in the morning light. The fourth beast, a Thunderstruck Owl, glared from above with crackling feathers and glowing yellow eyes.

And finally—in the last cage—a Duskgloom Panther, dark and silent, paced with a predator's patience, its tail flicking like a whip.

The five cultivators stopped before the cages, exchanging glances. Their nerves were taut—not with fear, but from the weight of the moment. This was the fight that would mark their entry into true cultivation.

One of the boys—the youngest, a lean figure with reddish eyes and a trembling jaw—clenched his fists and looked toward Michael, who stood calmly at the balcony overlooking the field.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came.

Michael gave a faint wave of his hand.

"The seals will unlock when each of you steps forward. Choose your target. Enter the cage. Fight—and win. Or die."

That final word hung like a blade in the air.

The first to move was the oldest girl—the one with sharp silver hair and eyes that flickered with a hint of bestial instinct. She walked straight to the Duskgloom Panther's cage. Without hesitation, she stepped forward. The seals around the cage lit up, then shattered like glass.

The gate creaked open.

And the beast lunged.

The others also chose their own beast as the battles began.

Lian — Twin-Tailed Moonshadow LynxOpponent: Shadowmane Panther (Approx. 550 years old)A feline spirit beast born of the moonlit jungle, cloaked in natural stealth and phantom speed. Its coat shimmered with shadow, blending into the light around it.

The moment the cage opened, it vanished.

Lian's mismatched eyes narrowed. Her ears twitched. She crouched low, her own shadow lengthening behind her.

"Lunar Echo — Step One."

She blurred sideways, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the invisible predator. Her spirit flickered behind her, synchronizing with every move.

The panther came again—this time from above. Lian rolled, claws forming on her fingers.

"Moonshadow Rend!"

She struck with a double slash, imbued with dark energy. The beast yowled, briefly visible as it stumbled.

"Step Two — Phantom Split."

A mirage of Lian darted past the panther, slashing its flank. The beast, now bleeding from two sides, snarled and lunged blindly—only to find Lian gone again.

She struck from behind, this time with a sharp palm to the neck.

The panther dropped, unconscious.

Ren — Infernal EmberheartOpponent: Flame-Tusk Boar (Approx. 580 years old)A beast known for short fuses and explosive charges. Its tusks glowed molten red, steam rising from its flanks.

Ren cracked his neck and stepped forward.

The boar charged—and Ren smiled.

"Ember Compression — Core Drive."

His body glowed crimson. The ground beneath his feet charred as flames wrapped around his arms. He stepped into the charge.

"Infernal Counterburst!"

A punch met tusk—fire against fire. The blast sent shockwaves outward, knocking dirt and sparks into the air. The boar staggered, dazed.

Ren spun, knee igniting midair.

"Flame-Spike Knee!"

It hit the boar under the chin, sending it rearing. Then both his palms lit up.

He unleashed a dual-flame thrust into the beast's chest.

The boar collapsed in a steaming heap.

Mei — Glacial Vein LotusOpponent: Frost-Spine Python (Approx. 600 years old)Long and serpentine, the python slithered from its cage, its body covered in icy scales. Cold mist surrounded it like a blizzard.

Mei took a deep breath and stepped barefoot onto the frost-coated ground.

"Frozen Bloom."

A lotus of ice bloomed beneath her, freezing the ground as it expanded. The python hissed and lunged.

She spun lightly, her sleeves flowing.

"Vein Pulse — Ice Thread Bind!"

Dozens of frozen vines shot from beneath her, coiling around the serpent. It thrashed, frost flying in all directions.

The beast broke free partially and came again.

Mei didn't flinch. She extended one palm calmly.

"Lotus Fang Strike."

A burst of sharp-edged frost erupted point-blank, driving deep into the beast's maw.

It hissed, coiled once… and went still.

*******

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