Graduation, Heading to Donghai Academy!
"However, the only drawback is the immense Qi and Blood consumption of spatial traversal!" Yao Xuan mused, sensing the significant drain after his single teleportation. "It seems that before my Qi and Blood reach a higher level, I cannot rely on the spatial traversal aspect of the Ancestral Dragon Shattering Void Step as a regular move."
A single blink through space had consumed nearly twenty percent of his Qi and Blood reserves. In his current state, he could only manage five such traversals before being completely drained.
Even with this limitation, Yao Xuan was profoundly satisfied. Even without the teleportation, the sheer boost to his speed and agility made it an invaluable asset, allowing him to evade attacks and close distances with lethal efficiency. The spatial traversal, while costly, was a glimpse of a future where he could truly step through the voids. As his power grew, so too would the utility of this ability. It was only a matter of time and persistence.
Time flowed like a river, and another three months passed in the blink of an eye.
August 30th, Aolai City, Soul Guidance Train Station.
The air was thick with the sounds of hissing steam and murmured goodbyes. Yao Xuan stood on the platform, a travel bag slung over his shoulder, facing Lin Ximeng.
"Mom, I'm leaving!" he said, his voice firm yet filled with emotion. "Thank you for taking care of me these past three years. I am deeply grateful."
He bowed deeply, a gesture of sincere respect. Though she was his adoptive mother, Lin Ximeng had cared for him with a tenderness and dedication that had truly made her his family. Her kindness was a cornerstone in his life.
"Yes, be careful on your journey," Lin Ximeng replied, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of love and reluctance. "Once you arrive at the academy, you must cultivate diligently. Your mother will be here, blessing you every day."
"Thank you, Mom! I promise I will not slack off at Donghai Academy. I will make you proud." Yao Xuan's promise was a vow to himself as much as to her.
Beside them, Tang Wulin was also saying his farewells to his parents. Half an hour later, with a final wave from the platform, the soul-guided train carrying Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin slowly pulled out of the station, its metallic form gradually shrinking into the distance as it carried them toward the bustling port city of Donghai.
Two months prior, Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin had successfully graduated from Red Mountain Junior Academy. Having broken through to the Soul Master realm, they had both received recommendation letters to continue their education at an intermediate Soul Master academy, embarking on a six-year journey to hone their skills further.
Small cities like Aolai had no such advanced institutions. Thus, their destination was the renowned Donghai Intermediate Academy, located in the major metropolitan port of Donghai City.
Donghai City was a jewel of the Sun Moon Federation, a crucial hub for maritime trade and resource development on the eastern coast. With a permanent population of three million, swelling to nearly five with migrant workers, it was a vibrant, sprawling metropolis, a world away from their quiet hometown.
"Brother Xuan, we're really going to study at the intermediate academy! I'm so excited!" Tang Wulin whispered, his eyes wide as he cautiously scanned their new surroundings on the train.
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it too," Yao Xuan nodded, a calm smile on his face. "We need to keep working hard." As he spoke, the image of a silver-haired girl flashed in his mind. Gu Yuena would likely appear soon. He had to ensure he was strong enough, and worthy enough, to win her trust when that time came.
"Yes! I must work hard! I want to break through within six years and get into an advanced soul master academy!" Tang Wulin declared, his small fists clenching with determination. "By the way, Brother Xuan, what level is your soul power now?"
"My soul power? I'm already at Level 18," Yao Xuan replied easily. "With about another week of training, I should break through to Level 19."
"Level 19? Wow, Brother Xuan, you're amazing!" Tang Wulin's admiration was plain on his face. "So, in just a few months, you'll break through to Great Soul Master, right?"
"Great Soul Master? It should be soon," Yao Xuan said, his mind already elsewhere. He accessed his system interface, his personal data unfolding silently in his consciousness.
[Name: Yao Xuan]
[Age: 9]
[System Abilities: Eye of Observation, Enhanced Charm, Enhanced Comprehension, Spatial Storage (5m³), Enhanced Meditation]
[Martial Soul: Ancestral Dragon]
[Soul Power: Level 18 (91.5%) (Soul Master)]
[Cultivation Technique: Creation Soul Forging Technique]
[Ancestral Dragon Bloodline Unlocking Level: 10.2%]
[Mental Strength: 195 (11.7%) (Early Spirit Connection Realm)]
[Soul Spirit: Ancestral Dragon (100 years)]
[Soul Skill: Ancestral Dragon Sky-Splitting Strike]
[Bloodline Ability (Passive): Primary Ancestral Dragon Body, Right Claw Dragon Transformation]
[Bloodline Ability (Active): Ancestral Dragon Shattering Void Step]
[Battle Armor: None]
[Mecha: None]
[Evolution Points: 7205]
[Golden Evolution Points: 9]
[Skills: Forging (Level 3), Mecha Design (Level 0), Mecha Manufacturing (Level 0), Mecha Repair (Level 0)]
Since his eighth birthday, through relentless cultivation, Yao Xuan's soul power had surged four levels, from 14 to 18, now on the very cusp of 19. Advancing five levels in a single year was a miraculous speed for any soul master, but the true marvel was that despite this rapid growth, the purity and density of his soul power, thanks to the Creation Soul Forging Technique, remained several times greater than that of his peers. He had only cultivated the first layer of the technique, yet its effects were already staggering.
As for his Ancestral Dragon bloodline, breaking through the 10% threshold three months ago had been a monumental leap. However, in the subsequent three months, it had only inched forward by 0.2%. The reason was simple: the cost for each percentage point after 10% had increased exponentially, now requiring 100, 200, and eventually 1,000 Golden Evolution Points per increment.
With his current progress, he could condense one Golden Evolution Point roughly every two and a half days through cultivation alone. But this rate was a mere trickle against the ocean of points his bloodline now demanded.
Yet, Yao Xuan was not disheartened. He knew very well that the primary source of Golden Evolution Points was not peaceful cultivation, but combat.
At the junior academy, the focus had been on foundation and theory, with little practical combat. The intermediate academy would be different. It would be a crucible of sparring, competition, and real challenges. There, with his formidable strength, he would have ample opportunity to test his limits and reap the rewards. A determined glint shone in his eyes as he looked out the train window at the passing landscape. Donghai City wasn't just a new school; it was a new battlefield, and the key to the power he so desperately needed.