The Grand Tournament's final whistle had barely faded, but the Imperial City was already abuzz with the legend of Valerius Ren. The Valerius family, once a whispered pity, was now the subject of fervent discussion. Lord Alaric, his face perpetually flushed with pride, received congratulations from every corner, his once-bowed shoulders now held high. He hosted a small, celebratory banquet in their temporary residence in the Imperial City, inviting a few minor noble families and some of the more respectful sect elders.
"My son! The champion!" Alaric boomed, raising a goblet of local spirit wine. "To Valerius Ren, who has restored our family's honor!"
Ren, seated beside his parents, offered a polite smile, accepting the praise with the practiced humility of a seasoned politician. He saw the genuine joy in his father's eyes, the relief in his mother's. It was a strange sensation, this familial warmth. In his past life, such displays were rare, replaced by the cold calculus of power and loyalty. He felt a flicker of something akin to contentment, a fleeting moment of peace amidst the storm of his ambition.
Yet, even as he participated in the festivities, his mind was elsewhere. The Shadow Orb, nestled securely in his robes, pulsed with a subtle, insistent thrum. The Source. It calls. The path is clear. The whispers were becoming more frequent, more demanding. And then, a new sensation, a strange, almost ethereal pressure behind his eyes, as if an unseen scroll was unfurling in his mind.
Later that night, in the quiet solitude of his chamber, Ren held the Shadow Orb. Its glow was more pronounced now, a deep, resonant dark light that seemed to pulse in sync with his heartbeat. He closed his eyes, focusing on the new sensation, the 'unseen scroll.' It was a mental interface, a window into the spiritual essence of others, a power he had never possessed even as the Demonic Sovereign. It was a gift from the Abyssal Heart, perhaps, or a latent ability unlocked by the Orb's growing power.
He focused his will, and a translucent, ethereal screen materialized in his mind's eye. It was blank, waiting. He thought of his father.
Immediately, the screen populated with text:
[Target: Valerius Alaric]
• Age: 45
• Cultivation Base: Qi Condensation
(3rd Layer - Stagnant)
• Spiritual Roots: Average (Earth
Affinity)
• Strength: Below Average (Physically
weak for his cultivation)
• Techniques:
• Valerius Family Sword Art (Basic -
Mastered)
• Valerius Family Qi Circulation (Basic
- Mastered)
• Valerius Family Spirit Sense (Basic -
Proficient)
Special Notes: Deeply devoted to family honor. Carries immense burden of family decline. Secretly fears his own inadequacy. Possesses strong paternal love.
Ren's eyes, though closed, processed the information. Qi Condensation, 3rd Layer. Stagnant. It confirmed his earlier assessment. His father was indeed weak by his own standards, but the 'Special Notes' section provided a new layer of understanding. Deeply devoted to family honor... paternal love. It was a sentiment Kaelen had rarely encountered in his past life, certainly not from those in power. It made Alaric, in his own way, a more complex, almost sympathetic figure.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. "Ren? Are you still awake?" It was Lady Seraphina.
He quickly dismissed the mental screen and hid the Orb. "Yes, Mother. Come in."
Seraphina entered, carrying a small plate of sweet pastries. Her eyes were still tired, but a gentle smile touched her lips. "I thought you might be hungry after all the excitement. You've been so quiet." She sat on the edge of his bed, placing the plate beside him. "Your father is overjoyed. He truly believes you will bring the family back to its former glory."
Ren took a pastry, its sweetness a pleasant contrast to his usual austere diet. "I will do my best, Mother."
"I know you will," she said, her voice soft. She reached out, gently stroking his hair. "But remember, Ren, true glory is not just in power. It is in kindness, in compassion. Your father, he sometimes forgets that in his ambition. Don't you forget it."
Ren looked at her, truly looked at her. He thought of his own past, the ruthless path he had walked. Kindness, compassion – these were weaknesses in the Upper Realm, exploited by enemies. Yet, his mother embodied them. He felt a strange, unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest. He reached out, taking her hand. "I won't, Mother."
As she left, Ren reactivated the status screen, focusing on his mother.
[Target: Valerius Seraphina]
• Age: 42
• Cultivation Base: Mortal Stage
(Spiritual Root Awakened - Dormant)
• Spiritual Roots: Average (Wood Affinity)
• Strength: Below Average (Physically
frail)
•Techniques: None (No formal cultivation)
•Special Notes: Possesses a naturally
calming spiritual aura. Deeply
compassionate and nurturing. Secretly
worries for her son's well-being and the
family's future. Her spiritual roots were
awakened but never cultivated due to
family's declining resources.
Dormant spiritual roots... naturally calming aura. Kaelen processed this. His mother had potential, albeit unfulfilled. It was a common tragedy in declining families. He could, perhaps, help her. Not out of compassion, he told himself, but because a stronger, healthier mother would be less of a distraction, and her calming aura might even be subtly beneficial to his own cultivation. A pragmatic thought, yet tinged with that unfamiliar warmth.
A sudden, sharp knock on the door startled him. "Young Master Ren! It's me, Lyra!" a cheerful, slightly boisterous voice called out.
Ren's breath hitched. Lyra. The name, the voice, sent a jolt through him. Not his Lyra, of course. This was Lyra, a distant cousin, a girl of his own age, who had been assigned as his personal attendant after his tournament victory. She was a recent addition to the Valerius manor, her family having fallen on even harder times than his own.
He opened the door. Lyra stood there, a bright, eager smile on her face. Her hair was a messy braid, and her clothes, though clean, were clearly patched. Her eyes, however, sparkled with an irrepressible energy.
"Young Master! I just wanted to congratulate you again! You were amazing! Even my brother, who never says anything good about anyone, said you were like a ghost!" she chattered, her enthusiasm infectious. "Can I help you with anything? Do you need water? Or... or maybe a story? I know lots of stories!"
Ren looked at her, a strange mix of his past and present warring within him. This Lyra was so different from his Lyra, the one who had suffered so much. This Lyra was innocent, full of life, untainted by the cruelties of the Upper Realm. Yet, the name, the sheer earnestness in her eyes, stirred something deep within him.
He activated the status screen, focusing on her.
[Target: Valerius Lyra]
• Age: 12
• Cultivation Base: Mortal Stage
(Spiritual Root Awakened - Dormant)
• Spiritual Roots: Above Average (Wind
Affinity - Latent)
• Strength: Average (Physically agile)
• Techniques: None (No formal
cultivation)
• Special Notes: Innately optimistic and loyal. Possesses keen observation skills. Dreams of restoring her own branch of the Valerius family. Her wind affinity spiritual roots are exceptionally pure but completely uncultivated.
Above Average spiritual roots... Wind Affinity... exceptionally pure. Ren's mind immediately went to the 'Swift Serpent' techniques of the Blackwood House. With her wind affinity, she could be a true master of speed, perhaps even surpassing Jaron. And her loyalty... that was a quality he valued above all else.
A plan began to form in his mind. A way to strengthen his new family, to create loyal allies, and perhaps, a way to test the limits of his own teaching abilities in this new realm. He would cultivate them, subtly, using his ancient knowledge to unlock their dormant potential. Not for their sakes, he reminded himself, but for his own. A stronger Valerius family meant a more stable base, more resources, and fewer distractions. And Lyra... Lyra could be a valuable asset, a loyal shadow in his ascent.
"Lyra," Ren said, a faint, almost imperceptible glint in his eyes. "Tell me one of your stories. And then... perhaps I can tell you something about cultivation."
Lyra's eyes lit up. "Really, Young Master?! Oh, I know a good one! It's about a hidden treasure in the Whispering Woods, guarded by ancient spirits!"
As Lyra launched into her tale, her voice filling the quiet chamber, Ren listened, his mind already calculating. The Shadow Orb pulsed, a silent agreement. The path to the Source was clear, but perhaps, a few loyal shadows would make the journey less... lonely. Or at least, more efficient. The unseen scroll had revealed not just stats, but potential, and the Demonic Sovereign, now Valerius Ren, was beginning to see the pieces fall into place for a far grander game. What would happen when the Lower Realm's 'dormant' talents were awakened by the touch of a Demonic Sovereign? And what new echoes would that awakening send across the cosmos?