Soul-Linked Techniques.
These weren't just combinations of their old powers. No—these were evolutions, spiritual fusions that mirrored their personalities, their burdens, and their unbreakable loyalty to one another.
Zhang Xin, the wounded leader, now possessed the Blade of Unity, a sword that could only be summoned when his allies were near. Each strike channeled a portion of their collective essence—Mei Lan's healing, Wei Luo's might, Xiaobo's fire—making every swing a miracle forged from friendship.
Lian Hua's petals no longer floated alone. Now, her "Crimson Bloom" carried Soul Echoes—each petal mirrored a teammate's energy. They could seek, protect, and even reflect attacks, depending on who they mirrored. She was no longer just a solo sword; she was a blooming garden of their bond.
Xiaobo's flames gained a mind of their own—Soulfire Sentries. They would protect wounded allies, hover defensively, and burn brighter when hope was at its thinnest. "Guess my fire's got a heart now," he muttered with a rare smile.
Mei Lan, always the healer, could now cast Shared Vitalis. A single healing spell could ripple through the soul link, simultaneously mending all wounds in the group. Her hands glowed with a calm yet fierce light.
Yuxin, guilt still fresh in her heart, received the Echo Step. Through the soul link, she could briefly step into another's perspective—seeing what they saw, feeling what they felt. In battle, it made her reflexes divine. In spirit, it made her more connected than ever.
Chen Bo could now inscribe Runes of Remembrance directly into the air, forging spells that stored not just magic but memory—letting the team access each other's knowledge mid-battle. The scrolls fluttered even without wind. "Our thoughts… are a library now," he whispered.
Wei Luo, the shield, could conjure Guardian Echo, a ghostly image of himself that defended another team member in his place. He laughed as he tested it—"Great. Now I can punch AND protect twice as much."
The Cauldron of Souls, now dormant but ever-present, sat in the heart of the Stone Realm. It shimmered with every breath they took, a quiet reminder that their destinies were no longer separate threads—but a woven tapestry.
As Zhang Xin and Lian Hua slowly sat up, the group stood in silence, watching the gentle pulsing of the cauldron.
"It's not just about the Orb anymore," Lian Hua said softly.
"No," Zhang Xin agreed. "It's about what we can become… together."
And though the Shadow Reaper was gone, the Shadow Ruins still whispered with ancient hunger. The Orb remained untouched.
But now, the seven weren't just warriors.
They were a soul-forged covenant, bound by sacrifice, awakened by love, and reborn through fire.
The battle ahead would be unlike any before.
And they were ready.
The Cauldron of Souls pulsed, glowing with the rhythm of seven hearts beating as one. No longer fractured, no longer just individuals—each of them now carried a fragment of the other within.
The Orb of Eternal Dusk floated just above the cauldron's lip, suspended in light and shadow—half-night, half-day. It was waiting for them to be ready, not just in strength, but in unity.
Zhang Xin stepped forward, the Blade of Unity glowing softly in his grip. The others flanked him, their soul-linked abilities humming in harmony—fire flickering, petals swirling, light weaving through the air.
Lian Hua raised her hand. "We're not taking it as individuals. We're taking it as one."
As if in response, the orb shimmered—and the cauldron lowered, allowing them to reach it.
Together, they placed their hands over it. A surge of warmth swept through them—memories, dreams, scars, and promises merging in an instant. The orb dimmed, then sparked, as if accepting them. And then it became still.
The Orb was theirs.
But the cost… was transformation.
Not in body, but in soul.
Return to Ascension Hall
The journey back was strange. The Shadow Ruins did not resist their departure—it watched. As if the ancient hunger had been sated by their bond, or perhaps… humbled.
When the gates of the Ascension Hall creaked open once more, every gaze turned toward them—shock, awe, and disbelief painting every face. Whispers rushed like wildfire:
"They came back…"
"No one ever returned from the Shadow Ruins…"
"And the Orb… it's real?"
At the high dais, Host Dugu An, the ancient and impassive master of the Hall, rose slowly from his obsidian throne. His long silver beard shifted as he narrowed his eyes at the glowing orb and the seven warriors, their bodies humming with quiet power.
"You did not perish," he finally said, voice heavy with layered meaning.
"We lived," Zhang Xin replied, "but we are not who we were."
The host descended the steps. His gaze stopped at each of them—lingering longest on Yuxin, then Chen Bo, then the orb itself.
"Iron Slips," he muttered, motioning to a nearby attendant. "Bring them forth."
The attendant rushed forward with the dark metal cards that once marked them as novices. Host Dugu took them—then, with a single flash of his palm, they shattered into dust.
He then summoned seven Copper Slips, each engraved with a personal sigil formed from their soul signatures—flames, petals, swords, scrolls, echoes, unity, and hope.
"You are no longer mere initiates. You have stepped into legend. From this day onward, you are Copper-ranked Ascendants."
The hall erupted into silence. Not applause. Not disbelief.
Reverence.
Only a few ever reached Copper Rank this early. None had done it by conquering the Shadow Ruins. None… had returned with the Orb of Eternal Dusk.
The Next Step
Later that night, beneath the quiet moon, the seven sat on the balcony overlooking the Ascension Gardens. Their new Copper Slips rested in their palms—heavier than before, etched with memory and meaning.
"It's funny," Xiaobo said, flame sentries lazily circling above him, "I thought we'd be dead by now."
"You nearly were," Mei Lan teased gently.
"But we lived," Wei Luo said, "and more than that—we changed."
Lian Hua looked up at the stars. "So… what's next?"
Chen Bo unrolled a scroll, revealing a list of Copper-ranked trials—each more dangerous than the last. "There's talk of the Mirror Lake of Forgotten Fates, or the Wind Prison of the Fallen Sky."
Yuxin closed her eyes. "Wherever we go… we go together."
Zhang Xin nodded. "The orb was never the end. It was a beginning. From now on, we don't fight for rewards."
He stood, the others rising with him.
"We fight for each other."
The wind rustled through the trees like an unseen blessing.
And somewhere, far across the continent, something ancient stirred—watching their ascension.
The next trial would come.
But they were ready.