The sun had barely risen over the Northern Wastes when Yan Kuangshen moved through the mist-shrouded forest that bordered the Yan estate. His small feet made no sound on the dewy grass, his movements so precise that even a seasoned Saint King would have difficulty tracking him.
His parents watched from the estate terraces, their expressions a mixture of admiration and concern. Mei Xueling's breath formed faint frost patterns in the cold morning air. "He's already approaching territory controlled by minor sects," she murmured, her eyes narrowing. "At this age…"
Yan Tianhuo's face remained calm, but his hand unconsciously tightened around the railing. "He will not make mistakes," he said softly. "He does not see the world as we do. He sees patterns, flows of energy, and opportunities. Even a toddler can surpass a lifetime of training if the mind moves faster than the body."
---
Kuangshen paused at the ridge overlooking a minor sect, the Cloudfall Pavilion, known for its expert Saint King cultivators who specialized in elemental manipulation. Their patrols had been unusually active in recent days, clearly investigating the Yan estate. To them, the sudden appearance of a child heir capable of extraordinary feats was unsettling.
He observed them quietly, calculating: movement speed, cultivation level, formation patterns, even their potential reaction to unexpected anomalies. He had already predicted their patrol routes, the strength of their techniques, and the probability of reinforcements arriving. All of it was data to be stored, analyzed, and refined.
A single step forward, and the first patrol crossed paths with him. Their leader, a Saint King named He Qingshan, frowned at the child before him. "Reports were true… this is impossible," he muttered, his hands already weaving a formation.
Kuangshen tilted his head, his abyssal eyes assessing the incoming attacks. "You are strong," he said softly. "But you have not yet learned to observe fully. Watch."
Before the patrol could react, Kuangshen's body blurred, disappearing from their perception. In an instant, the formation they had prepared disintegrated. Their attacks struck empty air, redirected harmlessly into the surrounding environment. One of the cultivators attempted to corner him, only to find their own positioning reversed, as if the space itself had subtly warped around the child.
---
He Qingshan's face paled. "What… what technique is this?!"
Kuangshen simply crouched, resting one small hand on the grass, feeling the flow of elemental qi around him. He let the energy of the forest, the residual aura of the minor sect, and even the fluctuations of his own bloodline merge into a single continuum. With a thought, he channeled the Void Dragon power subtly, not to destroy, but to control the battlefield.
A vine sprang from the ground, moving with precision to block the patrol's retreat. Rocks lifted into the air, spinning as shields and barriers, creating a controlled labyrinth designed to test their instincts. Kuangshen observed, calculating, noting each weakness in their coordination and the inefficiencies in their reaction speed.
"Strength without understanding is fragile," he thought. "Even a Saint King can be dismantled with proper insight and control."
By the time he moved again, the patrol was disarmed, confused, and exhausted. Their cultivation remained intact, but their formation had been unraveled. Kuangshen had not physically attacked, yet he had already demonstrated mastery over manipulation, strategy, and control beyond what most Saint Kings could comprehend in a lifetime.
---
Returning to the estate later that day, Kuangshen approached his parents, carrying no physical trophies, only the results of his observation and refinement. "They are strong," he said plainly. "But predictable. Each has potential that can be redirected. Marcus always thought that understanding an opponent was more important than brute force. I agree."
Mei Xueling looked down at her child, her lips pressed together. "You are two years old… and yet you think like a Saint Emperor. You do not simply grow stronger; you grow wiser, faster, sharper."
Yan Tianhuo's gaze softened slightly. "This is only the first lesson. The world outside will grow more dangerous, and these small sects are only the beginning. You must always be aware: cultivation is not just about power, but about timing, perception, and restraint."
Kuangshen nodded. "I understand. I will continue refining my body, my dantian, and my perception. The next encounter… I will not simply observe. I will integrate, and I will advance."
---
That night, as the moon rose over the Yan estate, Kuangshen sat cross-legged in his meditation chamber. Tiny hands tracing intricate patterns in the air, he accessed the hidden potential of the Void Dragon bloodline for the first time in a controlled manner. A low hum filled the room as the latent energy stirred, responding to his command.
This was not a show of power. It was practice. Mastery over the bloodline, control over dimensional perception, and integration of ambient qi into his dantian—each step carefully executed, each outcome logged in his mind for future application.
By the time he opened his eyes, the chamber was still, the air heavy with energy that even the walls themselves seemed to hum with. Kuangshen looked out the window at the distant mountains, already plotting his next movement in the chessboard of the world.
He was still a toddler. Yet every step he took reshaped the understanding of power for those who might one day challenge him.