[Chapter 4]
The crimson hue of the Blood Moon faded from the sky, leaving a cool silver light in its wake. Castiel stood in the clearing, his chest rising and falling steadily, his mind racing with everything that had just happened. The weight of the trial still lingered in his body—heavy, but empowering.
Trial of the Moon's Eye Complete
Power Granted: Moon's Blessing
New Skill Acquired: Moon's Gaze (Lv. 1)
Attribute Points Gained: +2 STR, +2 AGI, +3 INT
New Title Unlocked: Seeker of the Moon
A subtle warmth spread through his body, like cool moonlight washing over his skin. His senses felt sharper, his mind clearer. It was as if the world around him had shifted ever so slightly, revealing new depths that had been hidden before.
"Moon's Gaze…" Castiel muttered, opening his status screen to inspect the new ability.
Moon's Gaze (Lv. 1)
Description: Allows the user to perceive hidden truths, enemy weaknesses, and latent energy flows. Higher levels reveal greater insight into the world and enemies.
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Duration: 10 seconds
"Not bad at all," he said with a satisfied grin. "Looks like all that pain was worth it."
Mu Qinglan approached him, her sharp eyes scanning his condition. Though her usual guarded demeanor remained, there was a softness in her gaze—a flicker of relief she rarely showed.
"You passed," she said quietly. "I wasn't sure you would… but you did."
Castiel let out a breathy chuckle. "Not much choice when the alternative is getting erased from existence."
Her lips twitched slightly, almost forming a smile before her expression shifted back to its usual calm. "You've gained something valuable, but trials like that are never without consequence. You'll need to be cautious from now on."
"Yeah…" Castiel's gaze drifted toward the sky, where the faint afterglow of the Blood Moon shimmered before finally fading into the deep blue of night. "I can feel it. Things are going to get more complicated."
Eldrin's presence had vanished, leaving no trace of the strange, powerful entity that had orchestrated the trial. But Castiel knew that whatever path he was on now, it was something far beyond simple leveling and survival.
He glanced back at Mu Qinglan. "So… what's next? You said you're from the Jade Frost Pavilion, right? Do I get an invitation to your fancy sect now?" he teased.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You just survived a life-or-death trial, and you're already making jokes?"
"Hey, if I don't laugh about it, I'll probably pass out."
She shook her head but couldn't hide the faint amusement that crossed her face. "You're reckless. But… perhaps that's why you survived."
Castiel's grin faded slightly as he sheathed his sword and stretched his sore muscles. "Honestly, I still feel like I'm just winging it. But I can't stay here forever. I need to get stronger… and figure out what this Pact really means."
Mu Qinglan nodded thoughtfully. "The Jade Frost Pavilion might have some answers for you. It's one of the more prominent sects in this region, though not without its own share of internal politics."
"Politics?" Castiel groaned. "Great. Just what I need—fighting monsters and getting caught in sect drama."
"It's unavoidable," she replied matter-of-factly. "Power attracts attention. And now that you've formed a Pact with the Moon's Eye… you'll draw far more attention than you realize."
Before Castiel could respond, a faint rustling from the nearby trees caught his attention. His hand instinctively moved toward his sword, but something felt different. He narrowed his eyes, focusing his senses as he activated his newly acquired skill.
"Moon's Gaze."
The world shifted.
For a moment, everything seemed to slow, colors fading into muted tones of silver and blue. Faint trails of energy flowed through the air, and Castiel's vision sharpened, allowing him to see through the shadows.
Hidden in the treeline were several figures—silent, masked, and cloaked in dark robes. Their movements were subtle, almost imperceptible, but under the effect of Moon's Gaze, their presence was clear as day.
Hidden Enemies Detected:
Shadowblade Assassins – Level 10
Affiliation: Black Lotus Sect
Status: Lurking / Targeting Host
Castiel's eyes widened. "We've got company."
Mu Qinglan tensed immediately, her hand moving to her sword. "How many?"
"Three that I can see—maybe more hiding deeper."
Her expression darkened. "Black Lotus Sect. They're mercenaries… assassins who sell their blades to the highest bidder."
"And I'm guessing we're the highest-value targets around?" Castiel quipped, his tone shifting as adrenaline coursed through his veins.
"They must've sensed the power of your trial," she muttered. "We need to move."
The shadows around them shifted, and in an instant, the assassins revealed themselves—slipping from the trees with unnatural grace, blades glinting faintly under the moonlight.
Their leader, a tall figure draped in obsidian armor with a serpent-like mask, stepped forward.
"Castiel," the masked man's voice was cold and detached, "the Black Lotus Sect has taken an interest in you. You've gained something our employer desires."
"Let me guess," Castiel said, drawing his sword, "you're not here to congratulate me on my leveling progress, right?"
The assassin tilted his head slightly. "Hand over what you've gained from the Moon's Eye, and your death will be swift."
Castiel let out a dry laugh. "Yeah… that's not happening."
The air thickened with killing intent. The assassins moved in perfect unison—silent, deadly, and precise.
But Castiel was ready.
His eyes glowed faintly under the lingering effect of Moon's Gaze, and for the first time, he could see the flow of their energy, the weak points hidden beneath their movements.
"Looks like the next round starts now," he muttered, tightening his grip on his sword.
Mu Qinglan's icy aura flared, her sword gleaming under the moonlight. "Stay close. These aren't like the beasts you've fought before."
Castiel smirked, his heart pounding with anticipation.
"Good," he said, eyes locked on the approaching assassins. "I've been waiting for a real challenge."
-----------------------------------------
The assassins struck like shadows born from death itself—silent, fast, precise. But Castiel was faster.
His sword met the first assassin's dagger with a sharp clang, sparks flying as the impact pushed him back a step. Yet he didn't falter. The training he'd picked up, the instinctive reactions honed through years of gaming and recent life-or-death fights, all kicked in like second nature.
Behind him, Mu Qinglan's sword slashed in a graceful arc, freezing the air as a thin blade of ice shot forward and pierced through the second assassin's shoulder. Blood splashed across the grass, dark in the moonlight.
One down.
The masked leader raised his hand, murmuring something in a strange, guttural dialect. A dark fog erupted around them, swallowing the light, distorting sound, thick like poison and reeking of decay.
"Shadow Mist!" Mu Qinglan shouted. "Don't breathe it in!"
Castiel coughed, pulling up the edge of his tunic over his nose. The status screen blinked in front of him.
Status Effect: Shadow Mist (Minor Poison)
Duration: 30 seconds
HP Drain: 1%/5s
Vision: -50%
"Tch… cheap tricks." He activated Moon's Gaze again, forcing his eyes to adjust. Silver energy outlined the enemy positions—like silhouettes of death dancing in smoke.
One came from his blind side, blade aimed straight for his spine. Without turning, Castiel ducked low and rolled to the side, slicing upward as he moved. The edge of his sword caught flesh, and a scream echoed faintly through the mist.
"Two down," he muttered under his breath.
Suddenly, a deep, guttural laugh echoed in the mist.
"You fight well, boy," the masked leader's voice rang out. "But you're not ready."
Castiel turned. The leader emerged from the mist like a phantom, his blade glowing with dark Qi, swirling in his hand like a living curse. The pressure from him was suffocating.
Enemy Identified: Shadowblade Captain – Lv. 15
Special Trait: Shadow Qi Mastery
Weak Point: Flow Disruption Node (Left Collar)
Danger Level: High
"Thanks for the data," Castiel muttered, stepping into a ready stance.
The captain vanished. Teleportation? No—high-speed movement. Castiel's eyes flicked to the left, just in time to pivot. The enemy's blade grazed his ribs, cutting through cloth and flesh.
[-38 HP]
He gritted his teeth. "Okay. You want hard mode? Let's do hard mode."
He reached into his inventory.
Item Used: Minor HP Potion
+40 HP Recovered
Then he activated his special technique.
Skill Activated: Flow Breaker Slash (Lv. 2)
Type: Physical / Disruption
Cooldown: 30 seconds
With a sudden burst of speed, Castiel shot forward. His blade shimmered with raw energy, aimed not at the enemy's heart—but at the Flow Disruption Node.
The sword connected.
The masked captain's body convulsed mid-air, black Qi erupting like a geyser from his wound. The feedback from the hit sent tremors up Castiel's arms, but he held his grip.
"Impossible!" the captain roared, falling to one knee. "A mere novice—!"
Mu Qinglan's sword pierced through his chest from behind.
"I warned you," she said coldly, "never underestimate someone blessed by the Moon's Eye."
The shadow mist dissipated. The assassins were gone. What remained were faint trails of black smoke, disappearing into the wind.
Castiel slumped onto a nearby rock, panting hard.
"That was insane," he said, wiping blood off his face. "How did we even win that?"
Mu Qinglan sat beside him, not looking at him. "Because you didn't hesitate. Most people freeze when facing death. You don't."
"I… kind of treat it like a game," he admitted. "Like a raid boss with mechanics to learn."
She gave him a sidelong glance. "That mentality might be the thing that keeps you alive."
Battle Results:
Enemies Defeated: 4
EXP Gained: +2,100
Level Up!
Current Level: 9
Attribute Points +5
New Passive Unlocked: Battle Instinct (Lv. 1)
Castiel opened his status with a tired smile. "Well, at least I leveled up. Guess I earned that nap."
But before he could rest, a strange pulse echoed through the forest. A vibration—not through the ground, but through the air, like the sky itself had shivered.
Mu Qinglan stood abruptly. "No… Not now."
"What is it?" Castiel asked, alarmed.
She looked at him with a seriousness he hadn't seen before.
"A Sect War just broke out. The Jade Frost Pavilion is under attack."
Castiel blinked. "And let me guess… we're heading straight into it?"
"You wanted a challenge, didn't you?"
He sighed, standing slowly, sword back in his hand. "I swear, I just wanted to farm monsters quietly. Now I'm heading into a war."
Mu Qinglan's eyes gleamed as she began moving toward the rising glow on the horizon.
"Welcome to the cultivation world, Castiel. There's no such thing as peace."
He stared at the moon one last time before following her into the shadows.
"Game on."