The Divine Isolation Formation pulsed in gentle waves, golden and silver runes spiraling through the air like living rivers of light. The forest seemed to breathe with him, each leaf, root, and blade of grass vibrating softly, recognizing the boy who now stood at its center as its true master.
Xuan Mo opened his eyes, dark abyssal light flickering faintly within them, reflecting the stars of the runes overhead. His small fists clenched as he pushed himself to his feet. The first unsteady steps of his life were tentative, measured, but even in their wavering, there was a quiet command that made the surrounding mist shiver.
"Good… steady, Xuan Mo," Yuan Liuyue murmured, her voice calm yet filled with warmth. She knelt a few feet away, watching him like a hawk guarding her young. Even though he was only five, she could feel the depth of the storm within him. Her golden hair glowed in the early morning light, catching the subtle aura of her son.
The moment Xuan Mo moved forward, the formation responded. Roots shifted beneath his feet, creating gentle paths to guide him, while vines swirled in protective arcs, ready to deflect any unseen threat. Light bent around him, highlighting his tiny silhouette as though the forest itself wanted to announce his presence to the world.
With each step, he observed. Birds froze mid-flight and tilted their heads, spirit beasts bowed respectfully, and even the faint river ripple mirrored his movements. He was learning instinctively, not just about the forest but about the pulse of energy within it—how every entity, every plant, every stone had a rhythm, and how to align himself with it.
A chime rang inside his mind—the system.
DING!
[Minor Sign-In Reward Available: Age 5 Milestone]
A translucent interface hovered before him:
1. Spirit Beast Egg — Early Companion
2. Minor Celestial Pill — Accelerates Body Tempering
3. Formation Enhancement Scroll — Increases responsiveness to master's aura
His tiny hands reached forward, instinctively touching the shimmering forms. The Spirit Beast Egg glowed warmly as a faint pulse of life connected to him. A tiny shadow fox blinked into existence inside the shell, its nine tails wrapping around its body, as if already recognizing him as master.
The Minor Celestial Pill dissolved on his tongue. Qi surged through his veins, filling the small vessel of his body with energy and vigor. The formation responded again, this time pulsing in harmony with his aura, roots and branches bending subtly to form a perfect, living training ground.
Finally, he touched the Formation Enhancement Scroll. The runes in the air flared brighter, coiling around him in a protective spiral. The entire forest seemed to bow slightly as the formation whispered to him, resonating in waves of understanding:
You are mine. You are the true master.
Yuan Liuyue smiled, hiding her astonishment at the synchronization. She spoke softly, brushing a hand through his hair.
"Little one… you take your first steps, yet your mind moves faster than most men twice your age. Remember, power is meaningless without control."
Xuan Mo's gaze swept over the forest. Though the mist curled, the trees bowed, and the wind whispered, he was already calculating—paths, tactics, responses. He had seen his father's battles in memory flashes, understood the histories of clans and sects, and now began connecting the patterns of power in the world beyond the forest.
The boy's shadow stretched long across the mossy ground as he advanced. Each movement carried purpose, a quiet demonstration of growing mastery over himself, the system, and the forest. He was learning not just to walk, but to command space, to sense life, to manipulate qi instinctively—even as a child.
A faint ripple vibrated through the far edges of the formation. Xuan Mo paused, eyes narrowing. The forest pulsed nervously. Something was moving beyond the protective barrier, beyond the reach of even the ancient formation his father had built.
He did not speak, did not panic. He merely clenched his small fists, feeling the echo of power within him respond to the distant threat.
"Do you feel that?" Yuan Liuyue asked softly, her voice a whisper almost lost in the wind. "The world… it is reaching for you. But you are safe here. For now."
Xuan Mo's lips curved in a faint, cold smile—an expression almost too sharp for a child.
Safe for now… but one day, the world will bow or burn.
He took another step, faster, surer. The forest pulsed, the system confirmed his progress, and the Spirit Beast Egg shivered in acknowledgment.
The formation had chosen its master. And Xuan Mo had taken the first step into the path that would one day eclipse even the heavens.