#Conference system

[atdsc-123]

Wireless Audio Conference System A wireless audio conference system allows seamless communication without the hassle of tangled wires, providing enhanced flexibility in meeting rooms and large venues. It ensures crystal-clear audio transmission, improving the quality of discussions and presentations. With its wireless design, the system offers easy installation and mobility. ATDSC’s advanced wireless audio conference systems are perfect for corporate settings, delivering reliable performance and supporting efficient collaboration. The technology supports multiple microphones and speakers, ensuring everyone is heard clearly, enhancing overall productivity and engagement.

[translationindia1111]

Conference system 

The use of conference systems is a fundamental element to effective communication and interaction among businesses and academies. Transforming meeting places to be centres for productivity and innovation while having integrated solutions of audio, video, and control. Special audio technology provides absolutely clean sounds so that each word in all discussions could be clearly understood. Intelligent microphone arrays zero in on the active speaker leaving out inconsequential background noise. Wide-angle lenses on high definition cameras record everything in the meeting room creating a virtual appearance for far away people.

A real strength of conferencing systems is the way it combines and synergizes those disparate technologies into an organised and friendly interface. Modern meeting spaces offer modern central control units whereby the moderator can manage microphone levels, camera angles, and presentation contents as well as touch panels and remote controls for ease of use by each participant to operate his or her own audio and video settings.

The conference system possesses sophisticated features like built-in recording mechanisms, interactive whiteboards and annotation tools. Cloud-based solutions make it possible for one to collaborate easily with popular video conferencing tools across different continents hence creating an interactive and more inclusive workplace. With time, conference systems will continue leading the world towards a better communication and collaborative society in the future.

[nikonuee]

Shen Qingqiu but he's an ugly crier.

No single tear rolling down the face, immortal beauty for this transmigrator! He gets the full red, puffy-faced, swollen-eyed experience!

He's at the Immortal Alliance Conference trying to be cruel to Binghe but he's got snot running down his face and has to try and wheeze/hiccup through his Bad Guy Speech™️.

Meanwhile, Binghe's watching his usually inflappable Shizun fall apart and uses all 300 of his Protagonist IQ points to realise something's off.

System feels a sense of foreboding wash over it.

[translation1234]

Silent Conference in Paris

In Paris, the use of silent conference solutions is growing. silent conference systems, which enable numerous conferences with numerous speakers and delegates in the same hall with brief breaks. Those who need to spend money on soundproof buildings, intricate PA systems, and logistics for sizable events will particularly benefit from this. As they are brought in the day before the scheduled tests are ready, silent conferences don't need to rent exhibition halls or hotels for an extended period. They enable quick partitioning of groups using maxima, lower noise levels, and improve efficiency in terms of time and cost. The event can be enjoyed without hassle in any location in the hall because each speaker is given a set of microphones, and delegates can select the session they prefer.

[silentconference]

Silent conference in Delhi

Silent conferences are a new and innovative way to host events in Delhi, offering several advantages over traditional conferences. They allow multiple sessions to take place simultaneously in the same venue, reducing noise pollution and making logistics easier. They also offer increased flexibility, improved accessibility, enhanced engagement, and reduced costs. Silent conferences are used for various events, including conferences, trade shows, business meetings, government events, educational events, and social events. They are used for large international conferences to small, intimate gatherings, showcasing the versatility and flexibility of silent conference technology.

As silent conference technology continues to evolve, there is room for innovation and experimentation. silent conference worldwide in Delhi are now offering silent conference systems that allow for real-time translation into multiple languages, opening up the possibility of hosting truly global events. 

[anjalisiotey]

Spanish English simultaneous interpreter

A Spanish English simultaneous interpreter is a professional who specialises in interpreting spoken language from Spanish to English. Some Interpreters also specialise in other languages.Simultaneous Interpreters are essential in facilitating communication between people who do not speak the same language.Translation India has a team of experienced simultaneous interpreters who have worked with a wide range of organisations, including various International Organisations, The Board of Directors, the UNITED NATIONS, Chairman of International Corporate Organisations, Senior Management Teams of Large Corporations, Foreign Institutional Investors, and The American Embassy.

[blue-mood-blue]

I have been thinking about the blackening (as one does)…

…and it’s so interesting to me, the penalty Shen Qingqiu is faced with should he not decide to yeet his disciple into hell.

Account termination. Instant death. Sent directly home to his already-long-dead body, and that’s it for the villain of the piece who outright refuses his villainy. The protagonist needs a blackening for the story to continue, and Shen Qingqiu is going to provide it or get written out of the narrative. Either way, Luo Binghe is going to lose him. Either way, this is a turning point.

I wouldn’t claim that this is the intent of the penalty, but it fascinates me that the System has, potentially, backed the plotline into a corner - because Binghe still stands to be blackened even if Shen Qingqiu took the other choice.

Think about what that would look like, to him. He’s at the Immortal Alliance Conference, and everything is going wrong. He’s been outed as a demon, and not just a demon - the top tier of demon, as bad as it gets from the perspective of a righteous cultivator. His beloved teacher, the person who has been kindest to him and opened his home and heart to him, is standing there with his sword in hand, deciding what he’s going to do about what must look, to him, like a horrific betrayal. Binghe is apologizing. Binghe is begging for his life.

Shen Qingqiu hears him. Maybe it shows on his face, or in his voice, that he already knew; maybe there’s no hint at all, but Shen Qingqiu is suddenly talking quickly with an abrupt sense of urgency that Luo Binghe is having a hard time keeping up with. Telling him he’ll be wonderful - telling him he’s the best. Telling him the world will be his, with emotions cracking through that aloof mask that Binghe has never seen on Shizun’s face before, and it’s terrifying for reasons that Binghe cannot identify.

(He will, later. When he has time to think, he’ll realize it sounded like a goodbye.)

And then Shen Qingqiu is bleeding. And then Shen Qingqiu is on the ground. And then Shen Qingqiu is dead. There’s no countdown for Binghe - there’s no System, there’s no warning, there’s no answers.

Luo Binghe is a heavenly demon in the middle of a conference sabotaged by demons. Luo Binghe is alone. His fellow competing disciples are scattered, some dead or injured. The Peak Lord of Qing Jing Peak, the second in command of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, maybe the only person he loved and who loved him back, is dead at his feet. No one will believe him if he says it isn’t his fault.

(He can’t believe it isn’t his fault.)

What choice does he have but to run? The last heavenly demon the cultivation world went up against has been sealed under a mountain for years, and one of the people responsible for that is probably looking for Shen Qingqiu already. They’ll be looking for him, too. There isn’t anywhere to hide; there isn’t any time to mourn.

There isn’t even enough time to ask why. Why again.

There is no closure waiting for him, because there is nothing to explain what happened. It just is.

It would be a different kind of blackening, certainly - less intense, probably, less of a warping, desperate thing. But how many times can one person have all the love and safety in their world torn out from under them before it starts to show? Before they just don’t allow things like love and safety to touch them, because that’s the better option?

Interesting to consider that, simply by offering the choices it did, the System rigged the story to guarantee that Luo Binghe would end up in hell (deliberate or not).

Interesting to consider that, even if Shen Qingqiu made what might have seemed like a kinder choice, there was every chance it wouldn’t have been.

[zirasposts]

soul shards in the abyss au

So in this au during the iac when mobei jun apears he leaves sqq in no shape to get up nor throw binghe to the abyss. So the system has a great idea to get binghe jump in, which is..... A fetch guest!

Binghe gets his own system for this one. Really it's a bit traumatizing for him to see his shizun blodied on the ground and having a gently glowing pale green flame shatter into smaller pieces and go straight down the cliff (system was like hmm...visual indicator also no idea how any of this works in MXTX cannon if theres something similar (ᵕ—ᴗ—))

Thus then system apears for binghe and tells him:

Hello new user ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ ) Due to unforeseen circumstances Shen Qingquis soul has shatterd and ended up in the endless abyss! (·•᷄‎ࡇ•᷅ )

Does User accept guest "scatterd bamboo among the abyss"? Be warned the guest is only available for limited time only!

Accept

Refuse (If user doesent take part Shen Qingqius soul will forever be trapped in the abyss!)

So Binghe of course jumps to the abyss on his own. The cultivators find SQQ whos now in a coma so they dont, you know bury him.

[muzsmocsing]

Svsss headcanon: Ning Yingying has a part time job working as a waitress in Hua Cheng's gambling den.

[martyr-mayhem]

Update on Luigi Mangione's legal battle: Law enforcement and NYC mayor, ERIC ADAMS, speak about evidence against Luigi in an HBO documentary that they have NOT YET given to the defense! Wtf! 😤

Meanwhile, the DOJ seeks to drop charges against Eric Adams in his very clearly CRIMINAL bribery case 🙄 Fucking hypocrites. Fuck the government.

[silverskye13]

Odd question?

Because you obviously understand his Vibes the best. Are there any names you might suggest for a Tanguish alter? One hasn't formed for us yet but there's a high likelihood. And we may as well ask for Helsknight too, because. They're probably gonna come in a pair.

Howdy anon! I admit this is a new one for me. I have never been asked to help give names for alters before. I had to do some research before answering.

I'm not entirely sure what you're looking for in names for them! I don't know what types of names you as the source(?) prefer, or your alters might prefer. So I'm going to do a little scattering of names for both, and you can feel free to take or leave any of them. I'm mostly looking at either words that make me think of them, or names associated with those words.

Tanguish:

Random noun names:

Star, Starfall, Ascent, Rise, Thief, Taker, Giver, Pest [affectionate], Pigeon, Saint, Mirror

Names associated with his attributes:

Estelle, Soraya, Saren, Luke, Altair, Rohen, Raphael, Rishika, Lark, Finch, Nevan

A few of the systems I pestered politely asked opinions from also suggested "Tangy" and "Tangerine".

Helsknight:

Random noun names:

Knight, Helm, Blade, Ouroboros, Paladin, Hearth, Wolf, Shade, Flame, Ember, Shield

Names associated with his attributes:

Ashborne, Micah, Percival, Gawain, Farris, Zeva, Orde, Thyra, Aiden, Keagan, Aries

Paired Names for both of them [Tanguish/Helsknight]:

Polaris/Sirius, Saturn/Mars [or Chronus/Ares if you're feeling Greek], Harmonia/Cadmus, Enkidu/Gilgamesh, Guinevere/Lancelot, Romeo/Tybalt, Pythias/Damon, Freki/Geri, Coyote/Wolf, Saint/Knight

And, also, you could always keep Tanguish/Helsknight lol

I hope! This helps! Or at least gives you a jumping off point anon! Good luck and have fun.

[translation1234]

Silent Conference in London

Silent conferences are gaining popularity in London due to their advantages over traditional conferences. These include reduced noise pollution, increased engagement, enhanced accessibility, and reduced costs. Silent conferences work by using wireless headphones, which attendees receive upon arrival at the event. London is a prime location for hosting a silent conference, with various venues and a global hub for business and innovation.Silent conferences are becoming increasingly popular across a wide range of industries.This conferences are a great way to reduce noise pollution at tech conferences, where there are often multiple speakers and sessions happening simultaneously. Silent conferences can be used to create a more immersive and engaging experience for attendees at product launches. This conferences can be used to create a more fun and interactive experience for team-building events. It can be used to improve communication and collaboration at medical conferences also.

[clumsypuppy]

adhd comix

[the-indigo-symphony]

The Plural Association's conference for Plural Pride Day is coming up (July 20th)! This means that the Plural Association is hosting a virtual conference about plurality on July 20th to celebrate Plural Pride Day, with some community meetups and a presentation by Dr. Anna Rosenhauer – a plural doctor – about plural pride. Just as I did for the Plural Positivity World Conference, I have gone digging for the links to sign up for it, so that you all do not have to look for them yourself if you're interested.

Here is the link to their events page!

Here is the link to their airmeet page about this event specifically!

Here is the link to sign up for the event!

Here is the link to scholarships/vouchers for the event if you need one!

And since I got some questions about it last time, this is how signing up works:

You select a price for the ticket (add the scholarship here if you're using it)

Then you continue to the next page and fill out the information needed (note that if you go back to apply the ticket now, it will erase what you've filled out, so make sure you applied that scholarship before you write out anything!)

Once you're finished, you'll get an email with your ticket

By scrolling down the email, you'll see a link to enter the event. Right now, that link just takes you to the main page for the event, and asks if you want to set a reminder on your schedule for it.

When the event starts, just use that link to go to the page and welcome yourself into the event!

I hope this helps anyone interested in this event! And I hope all attendees have a fun time!

[thepastisalreadywritten]

AI Tool Reproduces Ancient Cuneiform Characters with High Accuracy

ProtoSnap, developed by Cornell and Tel Aviv universities, aligns prototype signs to photographed clay tablets to decode thousands of years of Mesopotamian writing.

Cornell University researchers report that scholars can now use artificial intelligence to “identify and copy over cuneiform characters from photos of tablets,” greatly easing the reading of these intricate scripts​.

The new method, called ProtoSnap, effectively “snaps” a skeletal template of a cuneiform sign onto the image of a tablet, aligning the prototype to the strokes actually impressed in the clay​.

By fitting each character’s prototype to its real-world variation, the system can produce an accurate copy of any sign and even reproduce entire tablets​.

"Cuneiform, like Egyptian hieroglyphs, is one of the oldest known writing systems and contains over 1,000 unique symbols​.

Its characters change shape dramatically across different eras, cultures and even individual scribes so that even the same character… looks different across time,” Cornell computer scientist Hadar Averbuch-Elor explains​.

This extreme variability has long made automated reading of cuneiform a very challenging problem.

The ProtoSnap technique addresses this by using a generative AI model known as a diffusion model.

It compares each pixel of a photographed tablet character to a reference prototype sign, calculating deep-feature similarities.

Once the correspondences are found, the AI aligns the prototype skeleton to the tablet’s marking and “snaps” it into place so that the template matches the actual strokes​.

In effect, the system corrects for differences in writing style or tablet wear by deforming the ideal prototype to fit the real inscription.

Crucially, the corrected (or “snapped”) character images can then train other AI tools.

The researchers used these aligned signs to train optical-character-recognition models that turn tablet photos into machine-readable text​.

They found the models trained on ProtoSnap data performed much better than previous approaches at recognizing cuneiform signs, especially the rare ones or those with highly varied forms.

In practical terms, this means the AI can read and copy symbols that earlier methods often missed.

This advance could save scholars enormous amounts of time.

Traditionally, experts painstakingly hand-copy each cuneiform sign on a tablet.

The AI method can automate that process, freeing specialists to focus on interpretation.

It also enables large-scale comparisons of handwriting across time and place, something too laborious to do by hand.

As Tel Aviv University archaeologist Yoram Cohen says, the goal is to “increase the ancient sources available to us by tenfold,” allowing big-data analysis of how ancient societies lived – from their religion and economy to their laws and social life​.

The research was led by Hadar Averbuch-Elor of Cornell Tech and carried out jointly with colleagues at Tel Aviv University.

Graduate student Rachel Mikulinsky, a co-first author, will present the work – titled “ProtoSnap: Prototype Alignment for Cuneiform Signs” – at the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR) in April.

In all, roughly 500,000 cuneiform tablets are stored in museums worldwide, but only a small fraction have ever been translated and published​.

By giving AI a way to automatically interpret the vast trove of tablet images, the ProtoSnap method could unlock centuries of untapped knowledge about the ancient world.

[hello-anchan]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60389362/chapters/160864138

One Piece x SVSSS Crossover Fic

Pairing: Portgas D. Ace/Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu

Chapter Summary: Ace had never been good at keeping his promises.

Chapter 12/15

“I’ve found ancient texts that suggest that it is possible to form dimensional rifts, but,” Shen Jiu’s expression remained carefully placid as he delivered his update. “All point to the use of one particular key—the Xin Mo sword.”

Ace’s eyes lit up, a grin tugging at his lips. “A sword? That sounds badass—”

“Stop right there,” Shen Jiu interrupted with a withering look. “Xin Mo is a cursed sword and nearly impossible to control. It corrupts whoever wields it.” A faint frown began to form on his forehead. “The sword’s exact location is unknown. Some accounts suggest it is lost deep within the Endless Abyss. Others believe it vanished from this realm entirely. Regardless, no one has dared to go after it.”

“And where is this Endless Abyss?” Ace asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

Shen Jiu’s expression shifted, his usual icy disposition giving way to concern. “The Endless Abyss is no ordinary place. It’s a chasm of pure chaos, where the boundary between realms is frayed and unstable. The energy there twists reality itself. If you go there…” He hesitated, the creases between his brows deepening. “Even someone as reckless and resilient as you might not come back the same—or at all.” 

At Ace’s still relaxed mien, Shen Jiu stepped closer. “You don’t understand the kind of danger we’re talking about. It is not something you can laugh off or fight your way through. Even the most skilled cultivators wouldn’t dare approach without a death wish.”

Noting the uncharacteristic depth of worry in the cultivator’s tone, Ace held up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’m not stupid enough to throw myself into some bottomless pit of doom. You can relax, Chu.”

Shen Jiu didn’t look entirely convinced. His fingers tightened imperceptibly around his sleeve, his gaze lingering on Ace’s ever-present smirk as if searching for cracks in his resolve. “Promise me you won’t,” he said at last, his voice quiet but firm.

Ace blinked at the unexpected demand before letting out a low chuckle. “You’re really worried about me, huh?” He gave Shen Jiu a lopsided grin, but his voice was gentle. “Alright, I promise. No Abyss-diving for this guy. I’d rather stay here and bug you, anyway.”

The faintest sigh of relief escaped Shen Jiu, though his stern mask returned quickly. “Good.”

Ace reached out, his fingers brushing against Shen Jiu’s hand, which was clenched tightly at his side. The knuckles were pale, the faint tremor betraying the anxiety he worked so hard to suppress. With a playful tug, Ace pried the fingers loose, and laced their fingers together with a reassuring squeeze. 

“Been here for, what, half a year already? What’s a little longer?” Ace joked, his tone light but his grip steady. 

Shen Jiu felt his face warm as Ace pulled him closer, their foreheads gently knocking together. The closeness, the casual touch, was so typical of Ace, but even after all this time, Shen Jiu still wasn’t entirely used to it.

“If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s finding solutions when things look impossible. And I’ve got you, right? We’ll figure this out together,” Ace continued, his tone unwaveringly warm.

Shen Jiu cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. “There is something else I’d like to take a look at.”

The dense canopy of Bai Lu Forest shimmered with dappled sunlight filtering through the jade-green leaves. The air was thick with the hum of unseen insects and the faint chirping of birds, interrupted only by the crunch of undergrowth beneath Shen Jiu’s boots. Beside him, Ace strolled with his usual carefree gait, occasionally humming a light tune under his breath. Their conversation had meandered from the wonders of beggar’s chicken (Ace had been the only one contributing to this ‘discussion’, no thanks to Luo Binghe who had recently cooked the dish for him) to the mystery of how Ace had ended up in Shen Jiu’s world in the first place.

“If I had to guess, you were caught in a fractured leyline or a weak dimensional space—places where the boundary between realms is already unstable.”

“Like a crack in reality?”

Shen Jiu nodded. “Exactly. These fractures are rare, but they tend to appear in places with high spiritual energy fluctuations or residual forces from past disturbances. You said that you were in the middle of a war at that time, so the chaotic mix of power might have acted as a catalyst, triggering a collapse in the boundary.” He cast Ace a sidelong glance. “Depending on how much force was involved, it’s possible that the rift wasn’t just a coincidence—but something that was forced open.”

Ace let out a low whistle. “Damn. So I got booted through a tear in the universe just because some battlefield got too rowdy?”

Shen Jiu held back a snort of amusement. “This means there’s a chance to reverse the process—if we can find another weak point and control it properly.” He stepped over a tangle of roots. “If the Sun-Moon Dew Mushroom can stabilise a vessel, it might stabilise a rift as well.”

Ace grinned. “So what you’re saying is, I just need to find another crack in the universe and not fall in by accident this time?” 

“...Do not put words into my mouth.”

They approached a near-hidden cavern, its entrance obscured by thick tendrils of moss and creeping vines that clung to the jagged rocks. Inside, the cavern was cool and dimly lit, the bioluminescent moss casting a faint glow over the chamber. At the far end, the Sun-Moon Dew Mushroom grew in a cluster, its pale caps shimmering faintly. Shen Jiu knelt before them, his hands steady as he carefully harvested the seeds.

“Man, you’ve got a knack for this,” Ace remarked in a low voice, crouching beside him.

“Years of practice,” Shen Jiu muttered, focusing intently on his task.

Just as they were about to leave, the faint sound of scales against stone drew their attention. An ugly snake, its mottled and bloated body blending into the shadows, slithered toward them. Its yellow eyes were fixed on the seeds in Shen Jiu’s hand.

“Looks like it wants something,” Ace murmured, eyeing the snake inquisitively. “Maybe the seeds?”

“Absolutely not,” Shen Jiu said firmly, eyeing the snake with distaste.

“Oh, come on,” Ace said, nudging him lightly. “It’s harmless. Look at it—it’s practically begging. Be nice, Chu.”

The snake hissed softly, its gaze unwavering. After a long pause, Shen Jiu let out a sigh of exasperation. “Fine. But only a few.”

He placed two seeds on the ground and stepped back. The snake slithered forward, nudging the seeds with its snout before swallowing them and retreating into the shadows.

Ace grinned. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

Shen Jiu shot him a withering glare but couldn’t hide the faint twitch of amusement at the corners of his lips. “Let’s go before you decide to make friends with every creature in this forest.”

As they left the forest, Ace’s laughter echoed behind them, a warm counterpoint to Shen Jiu’s exasperated grumbling. Meanwhile, deep within the forest, the snake disappeared into the shadows, its fate irrevocably altered by their brief encounter.

.

.

.

Months passed, yet the seeds yielded no results. 

Shen Jiu felt a sharp sting of helplessness every time Ace, ever the optimist, offered his usual cheerful smile, telling him not to worry.

—

Shen Jiu sat in his study, sifting through the stack of scrolls detailing the logistics for the upcoming Immortal Alliance Conference. The event was looming ever closer, and while it was technically an opportunity for young disciples to showcase their skills and forge connections, Shen Jiu had little enthusiasm for it. The political posturing and thinly veiled rivalries were more trouble than they were worth.

He muttered to himself as he skimmed the documents. “A waste of time. None of them are ready for this nonsense.”

Ace strolled in without knocking, as he always did. “What’s got you so worked up this time?”

Shen Jiu shot him a glare but didn’t bother chasing him out. “The Immortal Alliance Conference,” he replied tersely, setting down the scroll.

Ace flopped into a nearby chair, his posture as unrefined as ever. “Sounds fancy.”

Shen Jiu leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “It’s a gathering of cultivation sects. The disciples compete to demonstrate their skills, and sect leaders use it as an excuse to compare resources and brag. The winning disciples gain prestige, and the sects gain influence.” His tone dripped with disdain. “It’s an event built on ego and theatrics.”

Ace’s eyes lit up with interest. “Like sparring matches? Can I come?”

Shen Jiu gave him a long, exasperated look. “No. I'm not sending any of my disciples to this conference. They're too young, and I don't want them getting caught up in that kind of politics.”

Ace placed his palms on the desk as he gestured animatedly. “But you’ve got some strong disciples! Like Binghe! You’ve got to send them. Why not give them a chance to gain some real experience?”

Shen Jiu hesitated, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of his desk as Ace's words echoed in his mind. The thought of sending his disciples into such a high-stakes environment made him uneasy. Yet, as he met Ace’s encouraging gaze, he couldn’t ignore the weight of his words. His disciples had trained hard, and perhaps this was the very opportunity they needed to prove themselves, to step out from under his shadow and face challenges on their own. 

"Come on, they’ve got you as their teacher and you’re amazing. They’re going to knock it out of the park. Trust me!" Ace tilted his head with a charming grin.

Trust.

Shen Jiu trusted Ace, so of course, he couldn’t help but give in.

—

As the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect delegation arrived at the grounds of the Immortal Alliance Conference, held at Jue Di Gorge, the atmosphere shifted. Cultivators from various sects, dressed in immaculate robes and exuding an aura of refinement, glanced curiously at the arrival of one of the top sects. Shen Jiu’s carriage came to a smooth stop at the entrance, and the disciples dismounted, their horses snorting in the fresh air. However, it was Ace who immediately drew the most attention.

Striding confidently among the crowd, his top half was bare, the tanned, tattooed, and scarred expanse of his skin a stark contrast to the jade-like, unblemished forms of the other cultivators. His presence was a striking anomaly. Men whispered among themselves, their eyes narrowing at the unorthodox sight, while more than a few women’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment or fascination at the unexpected display.

Shen Jiu, his gaze unwavering, approached Ace with a sense of resigned annoyance. With a swift flick of his fan, he smacked Ace lightly across the shoulder. “Cover yourself up, at least for the duration of the event,” he muttered sharply.

Ace chuckled, unbothered by the stares but enjoying the opportunity to get under Shen Jiu’s skin. “Aw, but I’ve got nothing to hide,” he teased as he obediently pulled the top half of his robes, which had been hanging loosely around his waist, back up over his shoulders. 

Yue Qingyuan, as the sect leader, stepped forward to greet the host of the event, the Old Palace Master of Huan Hua Palace. The two exchanged formal pleasantries, their voices calm but charged with the weight of unspoken expectations. 

The Old Palace Master’s gaze swept over the assembled group with practised indifference, not even reacting to Ace’s dishevelled appearance. But as his eyes landed on Luo Binghe, there was a fleeting flicker of recognition—a faint widening of his eyes that quickly vanished under his composed mask. No one seemed to notice the subtle reaction, except Shen Jiu.

Shen Jiu’s eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp mind instantly latching onto the anomaly. Why did the Old Palace Master look at his youngest disciple like that? There was no reason for someone like Luo Binghe to have caught the attention of such a figure—or was there? Shen Jiu filed the observation away, unease prickling at the back of his mind. 

As the event began in earnest, the atmosphere shifted. A large, imposing barrier shimmered around Jue Di Gorge, isolating the participants. 

The rules were simple but brutal: after defeating a demonic creature, the participant would receive a prayer bead from its body, which they were to thread onto a golden cord around their wrist. The more difficult the creature, the more powerful the spiritual qi within the prayer bead, and the higher the score that would be displayed on the ranking charts visible to all.

Eyes glued onto the crystal mirrors that projected a view of the venue, Ace watched as Luo Binghe faced off against a particularly large demonic beast. He excitedly prodded at Shen Jiu to look as the young boy successfully gained a prayer bead. Shen Jiu’s eyes followed the action, his face impassive but with a subtle glint of approval in his gaze. Despite his reservations about sending in his disciples, seeing Luo Binghe handle the demon so well filled him with a quiet pride.

Unfortunately, what had begun as a thrilling spectacle soon devolved into chaos. The beasts, initially a manageable challenge, grew abnormally strong, their ferocity and power unlike anything the young disciples had encountered before. Massive, monstrous creatures tore through the ranks of disciples, their claws ripping into the ground, their roars deafening. Blood stained the earth, and cries of pain echoed across the gorge.

In the midst of the madness, it became evident that something had gone terribly wrong. The disciples, some fresh-faced and inexperienced, struggled to defend themselves. Many were injured, some fatally, as the creatures ravaged their defences.

The seniors outside the barrier, witnessing the carnage, made the decision to enter the gorge. Shen Jiu was among the first to react, his expression set in determination. Ace was already on his feet, his jaw tight and flames flickering faintly at his fingertips.

Mangled bodies of disciples and demonic beasts littered the ground, the air heavy with the acrid stench of blood and burnt flesh. The once-quiet gorge echoed with the roars of feral beasts and the cries of the injured. Shen Jiu, wielding his sword with cold precision, sent a blast of wind imbued with sharp spiritual energy, cleaving through a pack of beasts that lunged at a group of retreating disciples.

“Head for the exit!” Shen Jiu barked, his commanding voice cutting through the chaos. The disciples stumbled toward safety.

Ace, meanwhile, had dove headfirst into a swarm of creatures. His fists ignited in vibrant orange flames, and a single fiery punch left smouldering corpses in his wake. 

As they travelled further inwards, Ace’s sharp gaze caught sight of Luo Binghe, locked in a desperate battle with a towering beast, its jagged claws swiping dangerously close to the battered disciple. 

“Binghe!” Without hesitation, Ace sprinted toward him, flames licking up his arms.

The beast turned just as Ace launched himself into the air, delivering a fiery uppercut to its jaw. The creature’s roar turned into a strangled cry as the flames consumed it, reducing its massive form to ashes in a heartbeat. Landing in a crouch, Ace immediately turned to Luo Binghe. “Hey, you hanging in there, kid?” Ace asked as he gripped the boy’s shoulders, scanning the boy’s injuries.

Luo Binghe nodded weakly, his breath laboured. “I’m fine.”

Shen Jiu had managed to corral a handful of other disciples nearby, directing them towards the exit. Only once they were out of sight did he turn back to rejoin Ace and Luo Binghe. 

But before Shen Jiu could reach them, the air suddenly shifted, the energy around them twisting unnaturally. A deep, resonant crack echoed through the gorge, and the space before them warped, splitting open like a jagged wound. An ominous chill spread through the air as the rift yawned wider, an oppressive, malevolent energy seeping through. 

It was an entrance to the Endless Abyss, and from the depths emerged a figure cloaked in ice and shadows—Mobei Jun. The towering pure-blood demon radiated frost with every step, the ground beneath him freezing over in intricate crystalline patterns. His icy gaze settled unerringly on Luo Binghe, piercing through him as though reading his very essence. 

“You reek of demon blood,” Mobei Jun said coldly, his deep voice reverberating through the gorge.

Before anyone could react, Mobei Jun surged forward with blinding speed, his hand closing around Luo Binghe’s neck like a vice. The boy struggled, gasping, his battered form thrashing helplessly against the demon’s unyielding grip. Summoning what strength he had left, Luo Binghe threw his sword at Mobei Jun with all his might. The blade cut through the air, aiming straight for the demon’s chest. However, as it reached him, an influx of demonic qi surged uncontrollably, and with a resounding crack, the sword shattered into countless fragments, the force of the explosion sending shockwaves through the gorge.

Mobei Jun barely flinched. Raising his free hand, he unleashed a crushing wave of energy. A dark mark appeared on Luo Binghe’s forehead—the Zuiyin, a mark of his demon blood. The boy’s body convulsed, and the immense energy of his latent demon powers began to unfurl.

“Let him go!” Ace lunged forward and a column of fire erupted from his outstretched hand, slamming into Mobei Jun with explosive force.

But the damage was already done. Without another word, Mobei Jun escaped into the rift, vanishing into the depths of the Endless Abyss.

Luo Binghe collapsed to his knees, breathing raggedly. Tears streamed down his face as he looked to Shen Jiu for guidance. 

“Shizun...” His voice broke, his entire body trembling in confusion and fear.

Shen Jiu stood frozen, his body shaking as he processed the situation. His mind raced, but his feet didn’t move. He knew what needed to be done, but the weight of the decision seemed unbearable.

Ace reached out to Luo Binghe, his voice soft and comforting. “Binghe, it’s alright. Everything will be okay. We’ll figure this out together.” 

He rubbed the boy’s back, trying to reassure him. His gaze flicked to Shen Jiu, silently pleading for reassurance. But the Peak Lord did not respond. Instead, his expression remained cold, his face pale with an unreadable emotion. He stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Luo Binghe. 

Before Ace could process what was happening, Shen Jiu wordlessly pushed Luo Binghe into the rift in the Endless Abyss. 

“No!” Ace roared, his heart leaping in his chest. Without hesitation, he threw himself towards the boy, arm outstretched. His fingers barely managed to grasp Luo Binghe’s wrist, his momentum pulling him dangerously close to the edge. “Binghe!” Ace’s voice was raw, filled with desperation as he clung to the boy’s slender wrist. He stared into Luo Binghe’s tear-filled eyes. Those starry black eyes—they were just so much like—

With a loud grunt, Ace pulled Luo Binghe away from the swirling abyss below. Luo Binghe gasped and panted from where he was kneeling on the ground, only to be suddenly pulled upright by Ace, whose hand was still tightly gripping his wrist. 

Ace whirled around to look at Shen Jiu.

“What the fuck was that!”

“Calm down.”

“Calm down!? You expect me to calm down after what you–!”

“The boy is a demon.”

“So what?! Did he choose to be one?! Did he choose who the fuck his parents were?!”

The words hit Shen Jiu like a physical blow. He could see it in Ace’s eyes—the drawing comparisons between himself and Luo Binghe. “Of course not. His parents’ sins are not his to bear, remember?”

“Then why!? Why would you—?”

“Because otherwise, the entire Cang Qiong Mountain Sect would be dragged down!” Shen Jiu's voice rang out sharply, cutting through Ace’s stumbling words. He grabbed Ace’s shoulders, eyes searching the man’s grey ones with rare intensity. “Do you understand? There are countless cultivators here from other sects as witnesses. They would accuse us of raising a demon and causing this mess. These people are ruthless. They would do anything to bring others down so they can drag themselves up.”

“So you would sacrifice Binghe?” Ace’s voice was barely above a whisper, raw with disbelief.

“To protect the hundreds of other disciples in our sect? Yes!”

Ace remained silent. His grip around Luo Binghe’s wrist remained tight and bruising, while the teenager remained silent.

“Listen to me. Both of you. Luo Binghe has demon blood in him. That is a fact that cannot be denied now that his blood has been awoken. And that means—he can survive.” Shen Jiu looked at his youngest disciple. “You will survive the Endless Abyss, and you will come back to us.”

“Shizun,” Luo Binghe started, his voice quivering as tears welled up in his eyes once again.

Shen Jiu turned to look at Ace. “Do you understand now?”

Ace’s expression was uncharacteristically grim. “Got it.”

Shen Jiu sighed in relief. “Good. Then—mmph!”

Before he could finish his sentence, a rush of warmth enveloped him. He inhaled sharply, the smoky scent of Ace’s presence filling his senses, a familiar, comforting smell that had always been a little too close for Shen Jiu’s comfort. It took a heartbeat for him to realise Ace had pulled him into a hug, though the moment stretched longer in his mind than in reality.

The one-armed embrace ended as swiftly and suddenly as it started. 

Ace pulled back, his usual toothy grin back in place as he looked at the still-rigid Shen Jiu standing before him. “We’ll be back in a jiffy!” 

Without giving Shen Jiu a chance to respond, he turned and leapt into the closing entrance of the Endless Abyss, pulling Luo Binghe along with him. Luo Binghe choked back a scream as he was abruptly plunged into the void once again, the darkness swallowing them whole. The only thing anchoring him was Ace’s unyielding grip on his wrist, his pulse quickening as they made the descent into nothingness.

The rift sealed shut behind them with a deafening snap.

Shen Jiu stood frozen in place, horrified.

—

Sorry, Chu, I know I promised...  

But Ace had never been good at keeping his promises.

Omake

Luo Binghe, looking like a helpless teen caught in the middle of his parents’ heated argument: …

Ace: “What the fuck was that!”

Luo Binghe awkwardly glances at Ace. 

Shen Jiu: “Calm down.”

Luo Binghe shifts his gaze towards Shen Jiu. 

Ace: “Calm down!? You expect me to calm down after what you–!”

Luo Binghe looks into the camera: Is this what it’s like to have both parents fight for custody over you?