His sixth birthday came fast. The village prepared spirit stone, old elder ready to awaken children. Parents crowded nervously. When Leng Zhi's turn arrived, excitement buzzed—everyone wanted to see what frost this unusual child would summon.
He placed hand on crystal. It glowed violently. Cold burst outward higher than elder ever felt. Entire hall glazed white as frost spread across walls, ornament carvings turned icy sculptures in seconds. Villagers screamed in awe, rubbing cold arms.
Above his palm, instead of a simple ice shard or snowflake like many, floated a heart-shaped crystal sphere. It pulsed alive, beats slow, sending ripples of blue-white mist.
Gasps rose. "What spirit is that?"
Elder muttered trembling: "Never have I seen… This is not ordinary frost spirit. This is… something beyond."
Results followed: "Innate Soul Power, Rank Five!"
Cheers erupted. Mothers clapped their hands. Children cried in awe. Leng Zhi bowed quietly. Inside, Leng Xue's soul whispered: At last. I am not weak, not average. Frost gave me chance from start.
With proper ceremony, he was recognized as clan jewel. Teachers lined to train him basics. But already he outpaced drills—forming veil smoother, condensing frost spheres stronger than entire group combined. By age eight, he casually sculpted ice walls that grown men failed to break.
What set him apart, however, was patience. Where prodigies of his age often grew arrogant, he recalled two entire lifetimes of struggle. He taught himself humility, practiced in forests long hours, writing frost inscriptions anew even in dirt. Villagers often found him whispering to himself by riverside: "Clan above self. Frost above flame. Roots eternal." They did not know he was repeating creed inherited through cycles.
This awakening established Leng Zhi as destined leader. And Everfrost Core beat inside, whispering: You are more than wall. You are glacier mountain shaping worlds.