A Foundation for the Future
A thrilling sense of power thrummed through Yao Xuan's veins, a constant, humming awareness of the strength now woven into his six-year-old frame. 'This feeling is incredible! And this is only the beginning... the Primary Ancestral Dragon Body. What would the intermediate or advanced stages even feel like?' The potential was dizzying.
Though his body was still that of a child, his raw physical power now surpassed that of an average, untrained adult. He was a fledgling dragon hidden in human skin.
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Next bloodline ability unlock available at 10% Ancestral Dragon Bloodline concentration. Strive to obtain Golden Evolution Points.>
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Unlocked Abilities:>
< - Ancestral Dragon Shattering Step (Active)>
< - Right Claw Dragon Transformation (Passive)>
The system notification shimmered before him, a map to greater power. 'An active and a passive skill... excellent. But reaching 10%...' His excitement was tempered by a dose of reality. Golden Evolution Points were the key, and they were notoriously difficult to acquire.
Cultivation alone would only yield a trickle—perhaps four Golden Evolution Points a year through the conversion of ordinary evolution points. It was a safe, steady path, but it was the path of mediocrity. To truly awaken his bloodline, he needed to seek out challenges, to earn fame, to complete tasks. He would have to walk a road filled with battle and danger.
'A ordinary Soul Master? That's not why I'm here.' His gaze turned inward, sharp and determined. 'My path leads to the peak of godhood. I will embrace any challenge.'
'Accept.'
The task panel materialized in his mind's eye.
[Task Name: Breakthrough to Soul Master]
[Task Description: A Soul Warrior possesses soul power but remains mortal. Reach level 10, fuse with a soul spirit, break through to Soul Master, and acquire your first soul skill. Take your first, definitive step on the path of transcendence.]
[Time Limit: 2 years]
[Failure Penalty: None]
[Mission Rewards: 100 Golden Evolution Points, Creation Soul Forging Technique (First 3 Levels), System Ability: Spatial Storage, System Ability: Enhanced Meditation, Infinite Growth Soul Spirit x1]
'Two years to advance five levels... with my innate soul power, my Martial Soul, and my enhanced comprehension, it should be more than achievable.' He felt a surge of confidence. The goal was clear and within reach.
Then, his focus shifted to the rewards, and his breath nearly caught. 'These are... phenomenal.'
Spatial Storage was a treasure beyond price in this world, a convenience and strategic advantage most Soul Masters could only dream of. The Creation Soul Forging Technique and Enhanced Meditation ability promised a cultivation speed that would leave his peers in the dust.
But it was the final reward that truly captivated him: an Infinite Growth Soul Spirit. Unlike the limited soul spirits of this era, this one held the potential for boundless evolution. A million-year soul spirit... the very concept was heresy to the current understanding of soul masters. It was a cornerstone for a legacy that could shake the world.
"Alright, children, we've arrived at Red Mountain Academy!"
Aunt Li Mei's voice pulled him from his contemplations. They stood before a modest school building.
"I'll lead you to wait outside. When the teacher calls your name, you will go inside to test your martial souls," she instructed, her tone stern but laced with a rare warmth for this important day. "Remember, be polite to the Soul Master from the Spirit Pagoda. Obey his instructions without question!"
Yao Xuan nodded with the others, but his mind was already leagues away. He wasn't just here to awaken a martial soul; he had already undergone a awakening far grander. Today was merely a formality, a first, quiet step onto a stage he was destined to dominate. Every action from now on was a thread being woven into a tapestry that would, one day, include her.