Fusion and a Fateful Choice
The system's announcement was a silent bell that rang through Yao Xuan's entire being. A profound energy, warm and ancient, stirred from the very core of his soul. It flowed through his meridians like a gentle but irresistible tide, suffusing every cell with a comforting heat. His body temperature rose, and a faint, nine-colored luminescence—invisible to the naked eye—shimmered just beneath his skin. In his sea of consciousness, a profound warmth spread, cradling his spirit in a sensation of absolute safety and belonging, like a child returning to the womb.
His body was being remade. Cells and tissues hummed with activity, absorbing the divine energy and restructuring themselves to accommodate the majesty of the Ancestral Dragon. A faint, tingling itch spread across his skin, a peripheral sensation overshadowed by the exhilarating feeling of his physical strength growing, his very essence being fortified.
"Alright, children, we should set off!"
Li Mei's voice pulled him back to the present. Ten minutes had passed. The children finished their breakfast and formed two neat lines, following her out of the Red Mountain Orphanage.
'So, this is the Douluo Continent of this era...' Even as the fusion continued internally, Yao Xuan's enhanced senses took in the world. The city was a forest of towering buildings, and sleek Soul Guidance cars whispered along the streets. It was strikingly modern, rivaling or even surpassing the world he remembered. Yet, he knew these marvels came at a cost far greater than their earthly counterparts, making them inaccessible to the common person. Their journey was on foot.
"Children, stay close to me, don't fall behind!" Li Mei called out, herding her flock.
'View,' Yao Xuan commanded silently.
A transparent screen, a manifestation of his [Eye of Observation], materialized before him.
[Name: Yao Xuan]
[Age: 6]
[Martial Soul: Ancestral Dragon]
[Soul Power: Level 5/20 (To be selected)]
[Ancestral Dragon Bloodline: 0% Unlocked]
[Mental Strength: 45 (Mid-stage Spirit Origin Realm)]
[Soul Skills: None]
[Bloodline Abilities: None]
[Golden Evolution Points: 0]
His eyes locked onto the Soul Power entry. 'Level 5/20? To be selected? Can I... choose my own innate soul power?'
As if in answer, another prompt appeared.
[Option 1: Innate Soul Power Level 20]
Consequence: Your talent will be deemed monstrous. You will be taken to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters for isolation and training, removed from Aolai City. You will lose all opportunity to meet Gu Yuena when she enters the human world. She will be found by Tang Wulin instead. Any future chance to win her trust and companionship will be lost.**
[Option 2: Innate Soul Power Level 5]
Consequence: Your soul power is compressed, increasing its purity. Your advancement speed will ultimately surpass that of Option 1. You remain in Aolai City. When Gu Yuena arrives, she will meet you. You will have the chance to live alongside her, to protect her, and to earn a place in her heart. Her future allegiance could belong to you. You will also have the opportunity to guide the chosen one, Tang Wulin, and potentially gain a loyal follower.**
The choice was staggering. One path offered immediate, overwhelming power and status. The other... offered her.
There was no hesitation.
'I choose Option 2.'
Power could be cultivated. Time could be bought. But the chance to meet the Silver Dragon King, to share a life with Gu Yuena before the weight of her destiny crushed her—that was a singular, irreplaceable opportunity. 'She is worth more than any initial advantage.'
'Yes.'
A new wave of excitement, purer than before, washed over him. 'A bloodline ability already? Unlock it!'
The nine-colored light within him bloomed. The previous modifications had been preparation; this was the true awakening. Yao Xuan felt his strength double in an instant. His stamina, speed, and regenerative abilities surged. His muscles, bones, and blood glowed with an internal, vibrant light, transforming on a fundamental level.
Most remarkably, the previously narrow and blocked meridians within him shattered their constraints, expanding and strengthening dozens of times over, creating a vessel capable of holding oceans of soul power. He could feel that not all the energy had been absorbed; a vast reservoir lay dormant within him, waiting to be unlocked as his physique grew stronger, promising endless evolution.
He was no longer just an orphan boy. He was the inheritor of the Ancestral Dragon, and he had just chosen the path that would lead him to her.