Preparation for the Training Camp

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Yo, kid, your time is up, so please step out of the gravity chamber and allow someone else to use it. Thank you," one of the security guards stationed on the third floor shouted from outside room 29 as an upperclassman stood behind him.

Who just kept quiet and patiently waited for Rin to exit so he could begin training in preparation for the selection battle soon to occur in a week. Which will determine who will be among the select few to attend Project X, following a private meeting between the leader of Project X and the country's president.

That caused the leaders of the top 10 academies to alter the curriculum and begin preparing students for this upcoming training camp. This also led to the postponement of the National I've until after the midterms, which has been pushed to January 1st, 5039.

"I'll be out in a second; give me a minute," I replied as I stood up, unsealed my cultivation, and put my clothes back on.

A few minutes later...

"I'm sorry for the wait," Rin apologized as he scratched his head, "I didn't realize it would have taken so long to clean up and get everything tidy."

"It's fine, at least I didn't have to resort to violence and drag you myself, kid." The security guard said with a chuckle.

"Luckily, you didn't, sir," I replied, even though we all knew who would have won if it came down to it, "But on a serious note, I hope you have a wonderful day and I wish you an amazing training session, man."

Rin said with a smile before leaving and heading toward the cafeteria to get something to eat.

'Weirdo... welp, at least I can finally train now and begin preparation for the mock battle.' Dray thought as he nodded toward the security guard and entered the gravity chamber. 

***

The Next Day...

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

"Yawn! Another day, another dollar... sigh, just what is the point of waking up so early, Artemis?" Rin complained as he sat up and leaned against his headboard.

[Tsk, why must the younger generation be so inquisitive? Can't you just shut up from once and go along with my plans instead of asking useless and annoying questions!]

"I was just curious, Artemis, no need to get so defensive, pal," Rin said as he shook his head before getting out of bed and heading toward the bathroom to freshen up and prepare for the day ahead.

Sometime later...

After, completing his morning routine and taking a nice cold shower, it was finally time to see why Artemis woke him up so early.

However, before that Rin had to quickly change into his school uniform, which consisted of a blue and red collared blazer with the school emblem of a cursive intertwined F & B, a matching tie, a white button-up t-shirt, black slacks, and dress shoes to finish the fit.

"So now that I'm down, Artemis, could you tell me why I had to wake up at 6 am on a Monday? The worst day out of the week," Rin said as he muttered the last part.

[...]

"Okay, fine! Don't tell me, Artemis!" Rin said with a tantrum after waiting for five minutes and receiving no response.

[Sometimes... I truly, wonder how such an annoying brat, could have made all realms tremble at the mere mention of his name and craft an entity such as myself.]

{Sometimes, I wonder as well, pal...}

"Take that up with my past self and just tell me why you've got me up so early," Rin replied snarkily as Artemis just zoned out before sighing and answering his question.

[You just don't know when to give up, huh? Well, for your info, from now until you've reached Sky Chaser, we will be waking up every day at 6 am to collect purple qi at 7 am.]

"What's purple qi?" I asked since it was the first time, I had ever heard of such an energy.

[It's a rare energy produced during the early mornings, that monks and practitioners of the Pure Yang Arts used to collect to refine their bodies and strengthen their souls. Following the Sun's rising in the East which only appears shortly before disappearing. So I'd hurry to the highest point on campus if I were you before you completely miss this opportunity and have to try and catch it again tomorrow.]

"Tsk, why must fossils always hold grudges over the smallest of instances," Rin muttered before rushing out of the dorm without regard for his enemy/roommate's heath as he made his way toward the clock tower at the center of the school.

Swoosh. Thud. Whizz.

[Because brats like you always annoy them too early in the morning and don't know how to shut up and just go along with a situation.]

"As if," Rin replied as he ran up a dorm building and evaded a nearby guard, "More like you just want to take out your anger and frustration on someone else."

[Touche, however, you only have a minute left before it begins and you have to do this all over again, Rin. So I'd speedy up if I were you, haha.]

"Just shut up and keep quiet, old geezer," Rin screamed as he dashed through the campus while trying to evade security who seemed to have increased for some reason.

[Welp, your loss.]

A couple of seconds later...

"Pant! Finally, I made it!" Rin shouted with relief before swiftly positioning himself and finding somewhere nice to sit.

[Congratulations, it seems you aren't so unless after all, Master! But anyhow on a serious note, while you meditate don't force the purple qi to enter your body, instead immerse yourself within it and try to merge with it.]

"Okay," muttered Rin after getting into a lotus position and closing his eyes, just as the first ray of the sun appeared on the horizon. Followed by a hazy purplish mist that appeared from nowhere and mixed with the sun's glow just as beasts in the nearby mountains roared and birds shot up into the sky.

All seemed to come to a standstill like a painting frozen in time as Rin sat peacefully with a serene expression while streaks of faint purplish energy lingered around him like moths drawn to a flame.

Before they were promptly absorbed into his body after a minute or so leading to the end of this spectacle, however, it also began the start of something wonderful and worth waking up for every day...