It was a rainy morning at the Celestial Beast Academy.
Thunder and lightning clashed again and again, rain hammering against every surface as if the heavens themselves were restless. Yet Ningyan merely sat there, absentmindedly twirling his flute between his fingers, lost in thought.
Too many things had happened in just a few days.
The dragon battle. The festival.
Being poisoned. Being shot.
Reaching the fourth stage of cultivation. Sunland.
And finally… that other night.
"Ningyan." Rong Chao tapped his arm, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Only then did Ningyan realize he was still trapped in the dull confinement of lectures inside the Lotus Hall, the teacher droning on while several students stole glances in his direction. He couldn't tell if it was because they could sense his spiritual energy now or simply because staring at him had become a habit.
He glanced at Rong Chao and blinked. "Huh?"
