Li Tian's second year passed with quiet brilliance.
By now, even the least observant servants whispered, "That child is too perfect." He spoke fluently. He remembered entire scriptures after a single reading. He could mimic the voice of his tutor with eerie accuracy.
Lady Mei tried to hide his progress, but news always leaked.
And it finally reached Duke Xuan.
One morning, a summons arrived: Li Tian is to appear before the Duke in the
ancestral hall.
Lady Mei's fingers trembled as she dressed him. "Be careful, Tiantian. Your father… does not summon children lightly."
Li Tian tilted his head. "He wants to weigh me."
She paused.
He smiled faintly. "It's what gods do."
---
The ancestral hall was vast, with carved statues of generations of warriors lining the red jade floor. The air smelled of incense, age, and pressure.
At the far end, Duke Xuan sat tall, his robes embroidered with golden dragons. Beside him stood Lady Hong, with her son Xuan Fei looking smug.
Li Tian entered silently, hands behind his back. His steps were light, but his presence… shook the room.
The duke narrowed his eyes. "You're quiet."
Li Tian met his gaze. "Silence is the mark of a listener."
A pause. Then a faint smirk.
"Clever tongue." He stood and gestured toward a large stone tablet in the center of the hall. "This is the Xuan Stone. All heirs must touch it before being acknowledged."
Li Tian's eyes flicked to it. "A soul-reactive relic. Ancient. Doesn't respond to false bloodlines or weak minds."
Lady Hong scoffed, "He probably doesn't even know what it is."
Li Tian walked forward. "A test, then."
He placed his palm on the stone.
Nothing happened.
Lady Hong smirked.
Then—crack.
A ripple of golden light burst from the stone. The ancestral flames on the walls flickered. For a second, a faint image of a celestial dragon curled above his head.
The entire room fell silent.
> [System Update: Legacy Awakening Detected]
Noble Bloodline Verified
Soul Will: Grade S (Suppressed by System Lock)
Progress: 26.3%
Duke Xuan's brows lifted. Even he hadn't expected such a reaction.
"…Interesting," he muttered.
Lady Hong's smile vanished.
But Li Tian wasn't finished. He looked the Duke in the eyes and spoke clearly:
"You called me here to test my worth. I've shown it. But worth isn't proven in a single moment. I will prove myself again. And again. Until no one can deny me."
Even Xuan Fei flinched.
The room remained still.
Then—the Duke chuckled. "Sharp words. Earn your path, and I'll see it cleared."
He turned to leave.
Lady Hong glared daggers as she followed. Her voice hissed like wind through knives: "That boy… he's dangerous."
Back in her wing, Lady Mei pulled her son into a quiet hug. "I was so scared…"
Li Tian looked up. "Don't be. I'll protect you. Always."
> Bonus Unlock: Emotional Resonance
+2%
Total System Progress: 28.3%
He stared at the night sky that evening, eyes narrowed.
That was just the first step.
---