'And then there's Na'er... the future Silver Dragon King,' Yao Xuan's thoughts continued, a more personal and determined thread weaving through his plans. 'If the timeline holds, she will soon take human form and enter society. Now that I am here, the duty to protect her—to ensure she is not alone—falls to me.' It was a mission that felt more vital than any quest for power.
"Yao Xuan, come and eat."
Lin Ximeng's voice called him from his reverie. She brought out a simple but hearty meal from the kitchen. Though a Soul Master, she took care in her cooking, and the food was far better than anything at the orphanage. After dinner, she prepared a bedroom for him—a clean, quiet space that would be his for the next three years.
"Yao Xuan, get up, it's time for school."
At six the next morning, with the dawn light just coloring the sky, Lin Ximeng woke him. Today marked the official start of his life at Red Mountain Academy and his three-year journey in the Soul Master class.
Following Federation regulations, elementary academy lasted three years. For those in the Soul Master track, it was a probationary period; they had to break through to the Soul Master level within those three years to continue their specialized education. The bar was set high, designed to filter out all but the most dedicated or talented.
After a quick breakfast, Yao Xuan followed Lin Ximeng to his new classroom. While the regular first-year classes numbered in the thousands, the Soul Master class was a small, exclusive group of only sixteen students, making the room feel spacious and quiet. In a city like Aolai City, without major Soul Master clans, sixteen was considered a promising cohort.
"Good morning, everyone. I am your homeroom teacher, Lin Ximeng. For the next three years, I will be guiding you through the fundamentals of being a Soul Master. Now, let's begin with introductions. Please state your name, martial soul, and innate soul power level. Yao Xuan, you may begin."
Stepping forward, Yao Xuan spoke with practiced ease. "Hello everyone, my name is Yao Xuan. My martial soul is a Lizard Dragon, and my innate soul power is level five."
A murmur of admiration rippled through the small class.
"Wow, a Lizard Dragon! Anything with 'dragon' in it must be powerful!"
"I've heard that too! It's a top-tier beast spirit!"
"Since everyone is so curious, Yao Xuan, why don't you demonstrate your martial soul?" Lin Ximeng suggested with a smile.
"Of course, Teacher Lin." He had agreed to use this formal address at school. Concentrating, he extended his right hand. A faint, nine-colored light shimmered into existence, coalescing into the form of his Ancestral Dragon martial soul, carefully restrained to appear as a unassuming, lizard-like creature.
The children's excitement visibly waned at the modest display. But one boy among them—with short black hair and bright, earnest eyes—suddenly shuddered. It was Tang Wulin. Upon seeing Yao Xuan's martial soul, Tang Wulin felt a strange surge in his blood, a slight flush on his skin, and a dizzying warmth. A faint, golden glimmer flickered around him for an instant before fading.
"Very good, Yao Xuan. You may retract it. Next student, please," Lin Ximeng said, moving things along. Yao Xuan complied, and Tang Wulin's strange condition subsitated as quickly as it had come.
The introductions continued smoothly until it was Tang Wulin's turn. "M-my name is Tang Wulin... My martial soul is... Blue Silver Grass. Innate soul power... level three."
A wave of snickers and suppressed laughter immediately spread through the classroom. Tang Wulin's face flushed a deep, mortified red, his fists clenching slightly at his sides.
Yao Xuan did not laugh. Instead, he spoke up, his voice calm but clear enough to cut through the ridicule. "Everyone, that's enough. There's no need to laugh. Have you forgotten? The legendary Sea God's martial soul, 20,000 years ago, was also Blue Silver Grass. Moreover, Wulin will be our classmate for the next three years. If his martial soul is not as strong, we should help him, not mock him."
The laughter died down. Tang Wulin looked up, his eyes wide with surprise, then filling with a profound gratitude as they met Yao Xuan's. In that moment, he didn't see a rival, but a potential ally.
The system's notification was music to Yao Xuan's ears. 'Excellent. Just a few words of calculated defense, and I've gained what would have taken months of cultivation. The Chosen One truly is a fertile source of points.'
He watched as Tang Wulin gave him a small, thankful nod. 'This is perfect. A subordinate, a loyal follower who is tied to the world's destiny... that is what I need. By guiding him, protecting him, and positioning myself as his benefactor, I can seamlessly integrate into his story and reap the rewards from the challenges he inevitably faces.'
It was not friendship he was offering Tang Wulin. It was a partnership, with Yao Xuan holding the leash. And it was the most efficient way to build the power he needed to secure his own future, and the future of the one he was destined to meet.