Bell Tower

In the ethereal glow, the ambient light suddenly diminished, and the Martial Spirit Sky of Truth wavered before ceasing its invisible ripples. Transforming into a luminous beam, it surged into Anping's forehead.

Within the confines of consciousness, Anping patiently awaited the contraction of magical light, anticipating the crystallization of the magic source. However, the abrupt manifestation of the Sky of Truth startled him. Unforeseen circumstances unfolded in his mental realm.

The hazy radiance condensed into magical droplets, leaving Anping sensing a profound shift in his magical essence. Contrary to the ordinary progression, the ensuing step involved further communion with the energies of heaven and earth to stabilize the magic source and undergo physical metamorphosis.

The suspended Sky of Truth, embedded in the mental power model, radiated a resplendent white light, enshrouding the nascent magic source. Within this luminous cocoon, the droplet-shaped magic source gracefully transformed into the semblance of a book.

This rapid metamorphosis, almost fleeting, didn't disconcert Anping; instead, an unexplained serenity enveloped him. It was as if his soul had undergone purification, shedding all burdens, leaving only peace and tranquility.

Puzzled by the premature sublimation of his soul, Anping's contemplation was interrupted by an unexpected sensation—a gnawing hunger. Not a physical hunger, but the scarcity of magic power post-transformation.

Quickly initiating meditation, Anping noticed a heightened efficiency in the mental power model, possibly due to the soul's qualitative advancement. A potent vortex of celestial energy materialized, addressing the scarcity of magic power.

The Sky of Truth departed from Anping's consciousness, seemingly completing its task. As the Martial Spirit reappeared externally, the cover's pattern distorted, and a graceful white bird emerged.

As the currents of magic power gradually surged, the vortex spun by the mingling energies of heaven and earth persisted. A portion flowed into Anping's body, while the remainder was absorbed by his soul.

Simultaneously, the white bird, absorbing the celestial energy, underwent a metamorphic process. Its form expanded, feathers plumped, and tail feathers extended, gradually transforming into the majestic figure of a phoenix.

Anping's frame quivered, a manifestation of the profound pain coursing through him. It felt as though his body was undergoing a relentless upheaval, torn apart and meticulously restructured.

Meanwhile, within Tang Wulin's mind, Tang San sensed the energy fluctuations but hesitated to explore, his concern fixated on Tang Wulin breaking through the seal.

As the vortex of celestial energy dissipated, Anping's physical and soul transformations reached their culmination.

The evolved white phoenix emitted a resonant cry, circling Anping before soaring into the Sky of Truth. As the soul melded, the white pattern on the cover extended, intricate and resplendent.

Anping, opening his eyes, silently absorbed the changes from his advancement, a subtle joy swelling in his heart. Despite the twists and turns, he had finally achieved the status of a formal wizard.

Unbeknownst to Anping, outside, dark clouds amassed in the sky, coalescing into a vortex resembling a colossal eye. If scrutinized closely, it seemed fixated on Eastsea Academy's direction.

Amidst Anping's contemplation of his newfound advancement, he sensed a gentle breeze caressing his skin. Perplexed, he wondered about the closed dormitory windows and doors—how could there be wind?

Within the confines of his closed abode, Anping sensed an inexplicable density in the air, adding another layer of peculiarity to the already unusual circumstances. In a hushed tone, he pondered, "Could this strangeness be a consequence of my advancement? But I don't possess extraordinary talents."

As he cautiously gauged the subtle breeze on his skin, Anping discerned an unusual undulation, not a mere gust of wind.

The origin of this disturbance traced back to the ebony clouds overhead. Strangely, this resonance harmonized with Anping's soul, unfolding a mesmerizing tableau in his mind—a resplendent clock tower standing in the void, its second hand ticking across the markers.

Unbeknownst to Anping, while he resonated with this ethereal wave, the outside sky underwent seismic transformations. A bell tower's shadow slowly materialized at the vortex's core.

Centrally embroiled in these changes, Anping remained oblivious, immersed in the resonance. Yet, miles away, other soul masters grappled with an unexplainable sense of despondency. The higher their soul level, the more profound the melancholy.

Tang San's lingering spiritual consciousness within Tang Wulin's mind struggled to fathom the anomaly. "What's with this fluctuation? It's akin to the plane's will, yet paradoxical." Having orchestrated Tang Hao's ascendancy to plane mastery, Tang San was well-versed in the plane's will. However, this particular undulation, though limited in scope, evoked an overwhelming vastness.

As moments drifted by, Anping shut his eyes, delving into the undulating scenes with focused introspection. In his tranquility, the Sky of Truth's cover and the bell tower image coalesced into solid forms within his consciousness.

Simultaneously, a simple yet intricate pattern etched itself on Anping's right hand, resembling an abstract bell tower. After an indeterminate span, Anping opened his eyes, greeted by the visage of Gu Yuena. Startled, he exclaimed, "Oh, why are you in my dormitory? Wait, this is a boys' dormitory right?"

Gu Yuena retorted indignantly, "Why am I still here? Do you have any idea how much time has passed?"

Perplexed, Anping questioned, "How long? Has it been two or three days?" Uncertain, he felt that the duration was not as extended as suggested.

At that moment, Xie Xie approached, his voice carrying a mix of concern and urgency. "Two or three days? It's been seven days. The typhoon has subsided, and classes resumed today. You, Tang Wulin, and even Tang Wulin couldn't be reached. Teacher Wu sent us to check on you."

"Seven days?" Anping muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. Time had slipped away unnoticed.

Gu Yuena interjected, "Now that you're awake, would you like something to eat?" With that, she took out a bag of buns from a storage soul tool, handing it to Anping. Hungry and appreciative, he accepted the offering. Despite a wizard's ability to draw energy from the air, nutritional replenishment remained necessary. As they ate, the trio hastened towards the teaching building.

The typhoon's abrupt arrival caught Eastsea Academy off guard, leaving a lasting impact. Despite the aftermath, the air seemed revitalized and unusually crisp. The week-long tempest disrupted not only the academy but also the entire city, halting daily life, closing shops, and interrupting education. Traffic came to a standstill, keeping various departments in the General Administration Department tirelessly engaged.

In the wake of the typhoon's departure, a peculiar legend lingered—the descent of the bell tower's shadow into the East Sea.