The next morning, Danial woke up with a heavy mind. The previous day's events, the revelations about his father, the mesmerising jade ring, and the message from the projection weighed heavily on his thoughts. As he lay in bed, he stared at the ceiling, lost in contemplation. His father's words echoed in his mind: "Embrace your destiny, and always remember that I am with you in spirit. You carry the legacy of this world, and I am proud to call you my son."
The weight of those words tugged at Danial's heart, igniting a fire of determination within him. For the first time in a long while, Danial felt a sense of purpose, a path to follow that was uniquely his own. He had spent so much time feeling lost and adrift, but now, with the legacy of his father and the Golden Emperor Dragon and the power within the ring, he had found his calling.
He always thought he would have to follow the path that the System gave him. Although he followed the path and tried to complete it, he followed it in fear of death and injury to his cultivation if he didn't complete the System's tasks in the required time. Now he has found a path of his own he path he can walk on alongside the Systems.
As Danial picked up his ringing phone, he noticed the caller ID displaying Pavan's name. It was a surprise to hear from him, especially after the events of the past few days. He answered the call, "Hey Pavan, it's been a while. How have you been?"
Pavan's voice came through the line with a mix of excitement and curiosity, "Hey Danial, I've been good. I was just wondering where you've been for the last few days. You sort of vanished from the scene."
Danial hesitated momentarily before responding, "Yeah, I've been caught up with some things, personal stuff. But I'm back now."
Pavan chuckled on the other end, "Ah, the mysterious 'personal stuff,' huh? Well, no worries. I called to invite you to something. I wanna invite you to a reunion party with some of my friends."
Danial raised his eyebrows and said, " A reunion party, Pavan? If it's a reunion party for your friends, is it okay for me to join? I mean, I might not know them yet."
Danial's uncertainty was evident in his voice as he questioned Pavan's invitation. He wasn't sure if he would fit in with a group of people he didn't know, especially since this was Pavan's circle of friends.
Pavan, sensing Danial's hesitation, replied reassuringly, "Don't worry, Danial. My friends are a friendly bunch, and they won't mind having you there. It's a casual get-together, and you're more than welcome to join us."
Danial felt a bit more at ease with Pavan's assurance. The idea of socializing with new people still made him slightly nervous, but he trusted Pavan's judgment. After all, Pavan had always been a good friend who looked out for him.
"Alright, Pavan, I'll give it a shot," Danial agreed. "But just a heads up, I might be a bit out of my element."
Pavan laughed on the other end, "Nonsense! You're a likeable guy, and you'll fit right in. Plus, you'll get to meet some interesting people."
Danial smiled despite his lingering apprehension. "Alright, Pavan. Send me the details, and I'll see you there."
Pavan's voice held a note of excitement, "Sounds good, Danial. The reunion party will be held at the Golden Leaf Hotel. I'll text you the address and all the information."
Before Danial could hang, he heard Pavan sayin,g " Ohh yeah just in case, Maria will also be attending, thought I give you a heads-up, see you tomorrow !"
Danial stared at his phone for a while. Maria, the one whom he encountered in the Bright Light Academy, definitely stirred up his emotions. The first time he met Maria, she tried inspecting his body and his cultivation, if isn't for the System's help, she would have known his cultivation level.
Although he mostly figured out that she didn't have any malicious intentions, it doesn't reveal the reason behind her actions. With that mental note, he would be wary of her in the future. Danial checked out the details of the party. He was surprised to find out that the location of the party was the Golden Leaf Hotel, which he currently owned. He thought to himself, " If that's the case, I should secretly give them a treat, or I shouldn't....... or should I?" Danial couldn't decide, so he kept his thoughts to himself.
As he got dressed and prepared for the day, his mother's voice called out from the kitchen, "Danial, are you up? Breakfast is ready."
Danial walked into the cosy kitchen, where his mother had laid out a delicious spread. She looked up with a warm smile as he entered. "Good morning, dear. How did you sleep?"
Danial returned her smile, taking a seat at the table. "Morning, Mom. I actually slept pretty well. Got a lot on my mind, you know." His mother poured him a cup of tea and sat across from him. "I can imagine. You've been through quite a lot recently. Is everything okay?" Danial took a sip of the tea and nodded, "Yeah, Mom, I'm fine. Just a lot of things to think about. Speaking of which, I wanted to let you know that I'll be heading out later today."
His mother raised an eyebrow curiously. "Heading out? Is there something important you need to do?" Danial decided to keep things simple and didn't go into the details of the party just yet. "Well, I've been invited to a party by a friend. It's a sort of reunion, and I thought I'd go."
His mother smiled knowingly, "A party, huh? Well, it's good to see you getting out and socializing. Just remember to have a good time and be yourself. " Danial chuckled, his mother's intuition always managing to shine through. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll do my best to have a good time."
His mother's eyes twinkled mischievously, and she teased, "Oh, is this friend someone special? A girlfriend, perhaps?" Danial rolled his eyes playfully, "Mom, you're incorrigible. No, it's just a friend's party, nothing like that. His mother laughed warmly, a maternal glint in her eyes. "Alright, alright. Have fun and don't be too much of an introvert. And remember, if there's a pretty girl, don't hesitate to strike up a conversation."
Danial looked at his mother and said, " Mom, I am still 17!"
Danial's mother burst into laughter at his response. "Oh, come on, Danial. You're never too young to start practising your social skills."
Danial grinned, shaking his head. "Alright, Mom. I'll keep that in mind, but no promises about striking up conversations with pretty girls." His mother winked at him, her playful mood infectious. "You never know what might happen. Now, go on and have a great time. Just remember, I'll be waiting for all the juicy details when you get back."
With a final chuckle, Danial finished his breakfast and headed out of the house. He went straight to the Bright Light Academy, wanting to know what he missed.
As he entered, he decided to go to the next floor, as he had seen enough from the combat halls. He walked straight up to the trainer and said " I want to advance to the next level. What are the requirements?" The trainer looked at Danial, a bit puzzled, and answered him.
" For that, you have to fight with me. If I decide that you are worthy, then you will have to go to the Skill halls and select a skill, practice it and master it. Until then, you will remain on the 2nd floor." Danial then said, " Okay, then I am ready for the test."
Danial's straightforward request seemed to catch the trainer off guard, and a murmur of surprise swept through the surrounding students. Whispers filled the air as they exchanged incredulous glances, amused smirks forming on their faces.
"Did he just challenge the trainer?"
"Who does he think he is?"
"He's in for a rude awakening."
The students' mockery began to intensify, their taunts and jeers taking on a conversational tone. "Oh, look at this guy. Thinks he can just waltz in and challenge the trainer."
"Arrogant much?"
"He'll learn his lesson soon enough."
Amid the growing mockery, a voice from the crowd spoke up, cutting through the ridicule. "Hey, hold on a minute. Give the guy a break. Maybe he's got some skills up his sleeve."
The students turned to see a young woman stepping forward, her expression earnest. She locked eyes with Danial and offered a small, encouraging smile. "It's not every day someone asks for a challenge like that. Maybe he's just got the confidence to back it up."
" Hey, wait, isn't that the guy whom Adren fought and lost?" "On a side note, he is, well then we have a great show to watch"
"Wait, hold on, he also fought Leonard, the personal disciple of Master Bowan?"
Another student joined the discussion. " Holy... shit, he is the one, I almost forgot. He fought with Leonard and almost won if Master Bowan had not intervened."
"If that's the case, he might actually win against the Combat Hall trainer."
"Hell no, he won't, he is still a student, even if he defeated Leonard, it doesn't necessarily mean he will defeat a combat hall trainer."
The trainer, now intrigued by the unexpected turn of events, studied Danial more closely. "You sure about this? You know what you're getting into?"
Danial nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yeah, I'm sure. Let's do this."
The trainer's lips twitched into a hint of a smile, impressed by Danial's determination. "Alright then. Get ready."
As the surrounding students watched, some with scepticism and others with a growing sense of curiosity, the trainer and Danial assumed their positions. The arena fell into a charged silence, all eyes on the impending clash.
The trainer started stretching while Danial stood there motionless.
The trainer suddenly made a move and rushed in front of Danial, in a second, he reached Danial and reached out his hand to punch his face.
The trainer's sudden burst of speed was impressive, but Danial's instincts kicked in just in time. With a grace that belied his appearance, he sidestepped the trainer's punch effortlessly. In one fluid motion, Danial pivoted on his heel and unleashed a palm strike that carried an unexpected force.
The gap in cultivation between Danial and the trainer was wide and it didn't matter how fast the trainer was; he would always be slow in front of Danial
The impact of Danial's strike hit the trainer's chest with surprising intensity. A look of shock and disbelief crossed the trainer's face as his body was lifted off the ground by the force of the blow. In a matter of seconds, he was sent flying through the air, crashing into the padded walls of the combat hall with a resounding thud.
The arena fell into stunned silence. The students who had been taunting and jeering moments ago were now wide-eyed and speechless. It was as if time had frozen, the air heavy with the aftermath of Danial's display of raw power.
The trainer's body slowly slid down the padded wall, his form crumpled and defeated. He pushed himself up with visible effort, his face flushed with humiliation, and a fierce determination in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he managed to stand, albeit shakily. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his gaze locked onto Danial with a mix of astonishment and begrudging respect.
With a voice that carried a hint of strain, the trainer growled, "You... you passed. You can go to the skill halls."
Danial's chest heaved with exertion, but he maintained a composed demeanour. He nodded to the trainer, acknowledging his words. The surrounding students, who had once been sceptical and derisive, now regarded Danial with a newfound sense of awe.
"Did you see that?"
"He made it look so easy!"
"I can't believe he defeated the trainer."
"He's not just skilled—he's extraordinary."
Danial bowed and then walked through the crowd and exited the combat hall while some of the students helped the trainer, and the others gossiped as they watched Danial exit the hall.
After that, Danial went straight to the Skill hall, where he had to master a skill of his choice and then move to the third floor.
As he entered the Skill Hall, he was met with a bustling atmosphere. The hall was divided into sections, each dedicated to a different category of skills. Students were scattered throughout the hall, practising and honing their abilities. Some were perfecting precise martial arts techniques, while others focused on mastering elemental magic. It was a mesmerizing sight, a tapestry of diverse talents woven together in pursuit of self-improvement.
Danial was stunned when he saw some of the students create sparks of fire out of nowhere. Although they were just sparks, they were celebrating like no other. He saw someone move a bottle filled with water with a wave of his hands.
He then saw a group of people standing together, like in a formation and loudly reciting something in an unknown language.
Danial's eyes widened as he took in the incredible displays of skill around him. It was clear that the students in the Skill Hall were dedicated and accomplished practitioners, each honing their abilities in different areas of expertise.
As he stood there, somewhat overwhelmed by the array of options, a figure approached him. The man had an air of authority about him, his eyes sharp and observant. He extended a hand toward Danial with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Skill Hall. I'm Trainer Eamon.
Danial shook Trainer Eamon's hand, his respect for the man evident. Trainer Eamon, I am Danial. I'm here to choose a skill to master."
Eamon waved his hand and said follow me. Danial followed Eamon into the library, where there were books each with a different topic and a different perspective. Each book had its own unique knowledge. Some were written on elements such as fire, water, air, earth, ice, and space. Some books were written on skills that were performed by Martial art giants from history, some books were about perspective and how to perceive other energies and much more.
Eamon gestured toward the rows of books and said, "Danial, each of these books holds the key to a different skill or ability. They cover a wide range of disciplines, from elemental manipulation to combat techniques, meditation practices, and much more. You have the freedom to choose the path that resonates with you the most."
Danial looked at the books placed across the shelves and fell into thought. Trainer Eamon noticed this and said, " Take your time, Danial. Students take whatever they see is the strongest and start practising it. They don't take their time and understand each book, which leaves them with guilt afterwards. However, very few take their time choosing a specific skill and almost all the time it pays off. I will leave you alone. Make sure you select a skill fit for yourself.
Before Eamon could leave, Danial suddenlyasked him a question, "Trainer Eamon, I couldn't help but notice those students celebrating over there. What exactly are they celebrating?"
Trainer Eamon followed Danial's gaze and smiled knowingly. "Ah, those students. They've managed to achieve a significant milestone in their training. Creating a spark of elemental energy might seem simple, but it's a remarkable accomplishment."
Danial furrowed his brows, intrigued by the explanation. "A spark of elemental energy? Can you elaborate?"
Trainer Eamon's gaze turned thoughtful. "You see, manipulating elemental energy is no small feat. Each element is a force of nature with its own chaotic energy. Condensing and controlling that energy requires great focus, skill, and dedication. The students you see over there have managed to tap into the elemental flow and manifest a spark, even if it's a small one. It's a step toward mastering elemental magic."
Danial's admiration for the students grew as he understood the significance of their achievement. "So, even creating a small spark is a big accomplishment?"
Trainer Eamon nodded. "Absolutely. Some students spend years practising and never achieve this level of control. It's a testament to their perseverance and determination."
Then Eamon waved his hand and said, " Take your time"
Danial was left alone in the library.
Danial found himself standing in the heart of a library that felt like a treasure trove of knowledge accumulated over countless generations. The room was vast, its shelves stretching into the distance, each laden with ancient tomes that seemed to pulse with the weight of their accumulated wisdom. The air held a scent that was both musty and rich, a fragrance that spoke of countless hours spent poring over these texts, seeking enlightenment and mastery.
The shelves themselves were made of a dark, polished wood that gleamed softly in the ambient light. The room was illuminated by the warm, golden light that emanated from ornate chandeliers hanging at regular intervals from the ceiling. The light cast a soft glow over the spines of the books, creating an inviting ambience that beckoned Danial to explore further.
As Danial walked between the shelves, he felt a sense of reverence and awe. It was as if the accumulated wisdom of generations whispered to him, inviting him to partake in its secrets. He reached out and touched the spine of one of the books, feeling the texture of the aged leather beneath his fingers. It was like touching a piece of history, a connection to the past
The silence in the library was profound, broken only by the occasional rustle of pages as other students delved into their chosen texts. Danial closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the ambience of the library—the scent, the texture, the hushed sounds of knowledge being sought and absorbed.
As he held his hand out and took out a book. He opened the book and saw the words " Harmony of the Nine Elements"
Danial felt puzzled, " Harmony of the Nine Elements? Since when were there nine elements?" as he was in thought, the Systems Interface appeared, and it read " Harmony of the Nine Elements, a skill that is used to heighten the skills of a person to sense the Nine Elements and increase their cultivation. Each breakthrough in cultivation increases the skill's effect by nine times."
Learn the Harmony of the Nine Elements [Yes][No]."
Danial stood in shock. The skill increased by nine times with each breakthrough. This is a priceless skill; why is it not practised by all of the students? And a sudden thought hit him, mastering elemental magic is astonishingly hard, as it is to increase one's cultivation. People would spend their whole life reaching the First Stage of Mortal Level Cultivation so it's considered a useless skill, considering that making a breakthrough in all these sections is considered a sign of a protege.
Danial looked at the System's Interface and, with his mind, selected the option [Yes].
Danial's vision blurred for a moment, and he felt an intense surge of energy course through his body. The information from the book flooded his mind as if the knowledge itself was assimilating into his consciousness. It was a sensation unlike any he had ever experienced before—like waves of light and sound merging to form a symphony of understanding.
As the process unfolded, Danial's headache intensified, and he instinctively reached up to his temples, his fingers gripping his hair. It was as if his mind was being stretched and expanded to accommodate the influx of new information. The words of the book became more than just words; they were threads of knowledge weaving themselves into the fabric of his being.
Images flashed before his mind's eye—a dance of fire and water, a gust of wind carrying the scent of earth, and the sensation of standing on solid ground while feeling the essence of space all around. The nine elements revealed themselves to him, not just as abstract concepts, but as living forces that intertwined with the very fabric of existence.
Danial endured the pain, although in reality, only seconds pass while Danial felt hours pass. He put down the book and sat on the floor of the library, condensing and going through the information that he received. Before that, he took the same book and placed it on the ground, pretending to read to not to arouse any suspicion.
After a while, Danial stood up and put the book back in its place. He was astounded. The Harmony of the Nine Elements was a powerful skill, and yet it was left alone, collecting dust in the library. He decided to make the most out of it and went through the library learning everything he could through the System.
He went through all kinds of books, some with knowledge of the past, some skills, some with detailed information on the five elements.
Suddenly, he held a book called " Sword Drawing Technique."
The System, this time displayed " The Sword Drawing Technique, a simple sword technique if practised diligently can make any sword into the Sharpest sword in the universe. It was once used by..................."
Danial looked ahead and saw words blurred out as if the System was not letting him read any further.
Puzzeled Danial asked the System." Why can't I read any further, System?"
The System gave a cold reply, " The Host's Cultivation is insufficient"