The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the scent of blood and fresh spirit energy.
Ye Wuchen lay flat on the forest floor, sweat rolling down his face. His breath came in shallow bursts. Around him, the clearing still shimmered faintly from the soul fusion's aftermath.
But inside…
Inside, something had changed.
He no longer felt empty.
He felt full—not with pride, not with emotion, but with power. A living energy pulsed in his chest, steady and warm.
His hand lifted slowly. A faint black ring shimmered just above the back of his wrist.
> [Soul Ring: Active]
[Soul Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step – Level 1]
[Effect: Instantly shift your body within a 6-meter radius. Cooldown: 9 seconds.]
He blinked. "Teleportation…?"
> [Not true teleportation. Extreme burst of directional speed, enhanced by shadow affinity.]
Wuchen sat up slowly.
Even sitting hurt. His muscles were stiff, his left arm bleeding, and his legs shaky. But his soul felt… clearer.
Like a locked gate had finally been pushed open.
He clenched his fist, and the black ring shimmered again in response.
---
Within the Soul Sea
In the mental space inside him, the Shadow Dragon Wolf prowled near the edges of the glowing ring embedded in the spiritual floor.
Its red eyes met his.
There was no voice. No words.
Just recognition.
They had fought together now.
They were bound.
---
Wilderness – An Hour Later
Wuchen staggered along a narrow ridge, one arm pressed to his side. The bleeding had stopped, but he needed shelter.
> "System," he muttered. "Are there any caves or safe zones nearby?"
> [Searching…]
[Nearest terrain shelter: Stone hollow – 420 meters northeast]
He followed the direction slowly. The stars above were fading; the first light of dawn touched the horizon.
He found the cave hidden behind a low brush wall. It was dry, shaded, and just large enough for one person to lie down inside.
Wuchen crawled in, dropped his bag, and collapsed against the back wall.
> "One ring… I did it…"
> [Warning: Threat proximity increasing.]
His eyes snapped open.
---
Meanwhile – Spirit Tower Mobile Command
In the skies above Qingye's outer border, a hovering Spirit Tower surveillance craft hummed silently.
Inside, a woman in a long silver coat stood before a holographic map, her eyes fixed on a blinking red dot.
"Unregistered twin awakening… confirmed," she murmured. "Signature identified as… Ye Wuchen, no known lineage."
A man behind her frowned. "Orders, Officer Jin?"
She smiled slightly. "Observe for now. Do not engage."
"Why?"
"Because anything that awakens two martial souls… and survives a first hunt within six hours…" She turned, eyes glowing faintly, "…is not ordinary. And we don't waste pawns until we know if they're kings."
---
Back in the Cave
Wuchen's mind drifted between alertness and sleep. The system's voice echoed softly:
> [You have unlocked your first step. Strength will follow. But you are not safe yet.]
> [Hidden Quest Triggered: Survival]
• Avoid detection by Spirit Tower for 72 hours
• Remain within Wild Zone
• Do not enter cities or registered zones
Reward: +1.0 Soul Power, System Upgrade Tier I, Hidden Soul Storage unlocked
> "They're already tracking me," he muttered. "Why 72 hours?"
> [Because after that, your soul pattern will stabilize and self-conceal. Until then… you are exposed.]
He rubbed his eyes.
> "Fine. I'll hide. Heal. And then… I'll grow stronger."
---
Skill Test: Shadow Step
By mid-morning, his body felt slightly better. The cuts had crusted, and his energy—while low—was regenerating.
He stood near the entrance of the cave and focused.
> "Shadow Step."
In a blink, his form shimmered—and he reappeared behind a tree six meters away.
He gasped, a little dizzy, but amazed.
> [Cooldown: 9 seconds… 8… 7…]
> "This could save my life."
> [Note: Overuse may damage nerves until Spirit Root matures.]
> "…Of course it will."
---
As The Sun Rose
Ye Wuchen sat under the tree, the forest silent around him.
He had taken his first step.
But far beyond, forces stirred—some watching him with curiosity, some with fear, and some with hunger.
For now, he was alone.
But not weak.