Imperial City, Beijing, China
The Main Mu Clan estate dominated the frost-veined lake district of Imperial City. Mist drifted across the silent waterways, and the cold air shimmered faintly with protective enchantments. Within this icy kingdom stood the grand residence of Fang Ning, the Great Elder of the Mu Clan—one of the clan's two Forbidden Mages and the strongest person in their entire bloodline.
On the second floor of that residence, inside a quiet bedroom touched by a faint bluish glow, sat Mu Feng, Fang Ning's grandson. The boy's expression was serious, eyes narrowed slightly as they reflected the frozen courtyard outside.
He looked deep in thought.
'Today, I will be awakening my magic.
I wonder what element I'll obtain… will I awaken an innate talent?'
Just as that thought settled, an elderly but steady voice called from downstairs.
"Xiao Feng, are you ready? Come down—we need to go awaken your magic."
Mu Feng rose immediately.
"Coming, Grandpa!"
He descended the polished wooden stairs. In the living room, a fifty-year-old man sat calmly on the sofa, his presence both gentle and terrifying. He was dressed in a simple dark robe, yet the air around him sank a few degrees—an aura befitting a Forbidden Mage.
This was Fang Ning, Great Elder of the Mu Clan.
Mu Feng stopped in front of him.
"Grandpa, I'm ready."
Mu Hong nodded with a faint smile.
"Good. Then come to the study. We will awaken your magic there."
"Okay."
Mu Feng followed him through the quiet corridors until they entered the elder's private study room. Ancient scrolls lined the walls, and the cold air carried a faint spiritual hum.
Fang Ning lifted his hand. A flicker of light appeared as he took out a round frost-crystal sphere from his storage space.
"This," Fang Ning said, "is a special Awakening Crystal infused with high-grade Ice Element energy. I took it from the clan's central inventory. With its concentration, you should be able to awaken the Ice Element. If not, we can try again later."
Mu Feng nodded. He knew very well—in the Mu Family, Ice was the king.
"Alright," Fang Ning instructed, "place your hand on the crystal. You know the process."
Without wasting a second, Mu Feng stepped forward. The crystal was freezing cold as his fingers touched it. He exhaled once, closed his eyes, and sank his consciousness into his spiritual sea.
Everything was pitch black at first.
Then—
A faint cyan glow flickered in the distance.
He moved towards it, and soon a cyan-coloured Stardust appeared before him, floating gently in the void.
The Ice Element.
Relief washed through him.
Mu Feng withdrew from his spiritual sea and opened his eyes. His grandfather was standing before him, smiling proudly.
"Good," Fang Ning said. "Using this crystal was worth it. You've awakened the Ice Element."
Mu Feng hesitated.
"But Grandpa… I didn't awaken any innate talent."
Fang Ning's expression stayed calm.
"Having an innate talent is extremely rare. The odds are one in ten thousand—and among those, most talents are mediocre."
Mu Feng nodded, then asked quietly, "Grandpa… how does our clan's talent-transfer technique work?"
Fang Ning's expression tightened instantly. His eyes narrowed, voice turning sharp.
"Where did you hear about that?"
"I heard it when you were talking with Uncle Gong," Mu Feng replied honestly. "It was years ago, but I remembered. Can you tell me how it works?"
Mu Hong let out a slow breath.
"I didn't expect you to remember something from ten years ago. You truly have a sharp mind."
He gestured for Mu Feng to sit.
"I can tell you," Mu Hong said, "but you must never reveal this to anyone. Not even other family members. This matter can bring disaster to the clan. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Grandpa. I understand."
Fang Ning nodded.
"The technique was developed from research on a mysterious innate talent known as Element Transfer. Even the original owner didn't fully understand how their talent worked, but our researchers managed to reverse-engineer a technique from it—one that allows us to transfer innate talents from one person to another."
Mu Feng leaned forward.
"What about limitations? Can a person have multiple talents? We must've tested that."
"We did," Fang Ning said. "And after many experiments, we discovered something crucial: a person can only possess one innate talent. Whenever we transferred a second talent, the previous one disappeared."
"What about side effects?" Mu Feng asked.
"The side effects fall on the donor," Fang Ning answered. "Removing their talent damages their elemental foundation. Their future cultivation becomes severely affected."
Mu Feng frowned slightly.
"Then… why hasn't our clan created many talented people? With this technique, couldn't we create geniuses?"
Fang Ning gave a dry smile.
"You think it is that easy? People with innate talents almost always belong to powerful families, clans, or government forces. Taking their talent is nearly impossible. And you should know—beyond the top talents, most others make little difference if you have enough resources."
Mu Feng's eyes glinted silently—calculating, thinking ahead.
"So… can we use it on me?"
Fang Ning raised an eyebrow.
"You? We can. But tell me, Xiao Feng—"
He leaned closer, voice turning low and solemn.
"Where will you get the talent?"
Fang Ning's question lingered in the cold air.
Mu Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. His voice dropped to a quiet murmur, but each word was clear.
"Mu Ningxue."
For a moment, Fang Ning simply stared—taken aback by the boldness of the choice.
He sighed heavily.
"That is impossible. The elders under the Second Elder will never agree. And more importantly… Mu Feiluan. He wants to raise her as the leading genius of your generation. With her talent, he plans to secure his position as the next Clan Leader."
Mu Feng's gaze remained steady.
"Grandpa, then why not make a deal with the Second Elder?"
Fang Ning's lips twitched with reluctant amusement.
"Oh? And what deal could make him surrender such a gem?"
Mu Feng's cunning surfaced.
"Tell him you will support Mu Feiluan as Clan Leader… and that you will personally take him as your disciple."
Fang Ning raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't that too much… just for an innate talent?"
Mu Feng shook his head.
"Actually, Grandpa… I also want the bow."
Fang Ning's eyes sharpened.
"Bow? Are you referring to the Ice Crystal Bow?"
"Yes. Mu Ningxue's innate talent and the complete Ice Crystal Bow. In exchange for your full support and Feiluan becoming Clan Leader. The Second Elder will understand what to choose."
Fang Ning leaned back, frowning.
"That bow… it is surely an artifact, one of the clan's greatest treasures. And you know it carries side effects. Are you certain it's worth that much?"
Mu Feng didn't hesitate.
"Grandpa… does the Clan Leader position matter to me? In the Mu Clan, the leader is rarely the strongest.
My ambitions lie far beyond this clan… and far beyond this country."
Fang Ning stared at Mu Feng for a long, silent moment.
This boy…
Serious.
Sharp.
Cunning.
A vision far beyond the clan's walls.
A faint smile curved across the Great Elder's lips.
"Xiao Feng… you truly are my grandson."