Progress
The revelation of the Divine Foundation Alloy Formula hung in Yao Xuan's mind like a constellation of immense possibility. The theoretical metal—a perfect fusion of nine elements—was more than a forging goal; it was a paradigm shift, a key to realms of power currently locked away. The sheer scale of its implication—the potential for divine artifacts, for battle armor that could ascend beyond mortal limits—was a humbling and electrifying responsibility.
'This is not just a formula. It's a legacy. And it must be earned.'
The path was clear. Master Fusion Forging. Advance to Level 6 Blacksmith. The three-year timeframe was generous, but Yao Xuan's discipline was absolute. His progress would be built step by step, foundation upon foundation.
The seasons turned, measured in the steady rhythm of cultivation, the ring of hammer on metal, and the quiet, constant presence of a certain silver-haired girl. Two years flowed past East Sea Academy, smoothing childhood edges into the leaner lines of early adolescence.
Yao Xuan, at fourteen, stood with a poised stillness that spoke of contained power. His advancements were not explosive leaps, but the deep, sure currents of a river carving its bed.
The numbers told a story of deliberate, consolidated growth. The
The Ancestral Dragon Bloodline's progress had slowed to a crawl, each fractional percentage demanding astronomical resources of evolution points that the relatively peaceful environment of East Sea City could not provide. He felt no frustration, only anticipation. Shrek Academy loomed on the horizon—a nexus of talent, challenge, and opportunity. The points would come.
His spiritual power, however, had seen a substantial climb. The heightened control it granted was subtle but profound; his soul skills felt more like extensions of his will than activated abilities. The elusive realm of true multi-tasking—dividing his consciousness to perform independent, complex actions simultaneously—remained a distant peak, but he had mapped the first foothills.
Physically, the triple bloodline circulation worked its silent, potent magic. His strength had grown to sixty thousand kilograms, a terrifying baseline that underpinned every movement. Speed, defense, regeneration—all had scaled accordingly, making his body a finely tuned instrument honed for the future's symphony of conflict.
In the forge, progress was most tangible. Under Mu Chen's exacting tutelage, he had moved beyond Spirit Forging single metals. He had learned to speak the language of alloys, to persuade stubborn, disparate metals to shed their individuality and birth something new and greater. Ten different alloy formulae were now under his belt, their creation a complex dance of soul power, temperature, and rhythmic force. Second-grade Spirit-Forged metal answered his call. The threshold of Level 6 was not a barrier, but a door he stood before, hand already on the latch.
This comprehensive, grounded advancement translated to combat power. Where before he could match the weakest Soul Saint at their baseline, he now felt confident standing against an average one—still excluding the world-shattering amplification of a Martial Soul True Body, but a formidable position for a Soul Venerable.
Throughout this steady ascent, his relationships formed the bedrock of his world.
Xie Xie, Tang Wulin, Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi—they were brothers-in-arms, his sparring partners and steadfast comrades. Their camaraderie was loud, filled with friendly competition and mutual respect, utterly devoid of any complication. A clap on the back, a shouted warning during combat drills, a shared meal laughing over a tough training day—this was the texture of their bond.
And then, there was Gu Yue.
She was his constant, his resonance. Their connection had deepened not through grand declarations, but through a thousand shared moments. Studying advanced soul theory texts in the library, their heads bent close over the same page. Silent walks where the only communication was the synchrony of their steps. Sparring sessions that were less about combat and more about a breathtaking, wordless dialogue of elements—his nascent Ancestral Dragon Elemental Command brushing against her masterful Silver Dragon King control, a dance of fire and ice, light and shadow, always ending not in victory or defeat, but in a shared, breathless look of profound understanding.
Her dual identity was a melody he had learned to hear in full. The cool, analytical Gu Yue who would dissect his forging techniques or combat strategies with razor-sharp precision. And the warmer, instinctual presence that would, when she thought he wasn't looking, watch him with a softness in her violet eyes that spoke of Na'er's unconditional trust seamlessly woven into a more complex, present affection. She no longer just observed the Dragon God's reincarnation; she walked beside Yao Xuan.
He knew the mission for the Divine Foundation Alloy Formula was more than a personal milestone. As he stood on the cusp of departing for Shrek Academy, the formula represented a future capability. A thought, still in its infancy, took root: the ultimate expression of a bond, forged in something everlasting.
The final months in East Sea City were a time of quiet preparation. His strength was a coiled spring. His heart was anchored. The legacy of the Ancestral Dragon and the promise of a silver thread of destiny awaited their next crucible.