Li Shen lay on the bamboo mat in the small guest room the sect had provided. Though the morning breeze filtered through the open window, bringing a faint scent of pine and dew, he felt no comfort. The events of the past days—humiliation during the Spirit Root testing, Zhao Feng's jeers, Mei Lin's conflicted gaze—still gnawed at his heart.
Yet, there was a new sensation now, subtle but undeniable: a faint pulse, like a heartbeat within his Sea of Ocean. It was soft, elusive, but it brought a spark of warmth he hadn't felt since arriving at the Sea of Stars Sect.
"Could it be…?" he whispered to himself. His heart thumped not with fear, but a strange mix of anticipation and awe.
Closing his eyes, Li Shen focused inward. The courtyard noises faded, the chatter of disciples and clang of training weapons reduced to distant echoes. And then… a voice.
Soft, ethereal, resonating from within his mind.
"Shen'er… can you hear me?"
He froze, eyes widening. Was he dreaming?
"No… this is real. Who are you?" he asked cautiously.
"I am the one sealed within your Sea of Ocean—the dragon your father left for you. I am the Azure Dragon. Fear not, child, for your path has only just begun."
Li Shen's mind raced. The Azure Dragon? Summoner? Sealed by his father? Questions tumbled through his thoughts, but the dragon's voice was calm, patient.
"You have talent, but your spirit root is bound. Your first layer will awaken only when you master your inner flow. Today, we begin to sense its stirrings."
The dragon's instructions were cryptic but precise.
Feel the pulse of fire in your right hand, the soil of earth in your left.
Merge their essences without rushing. Do not force the current; coax it.
Every breath, every heartbeat, is part of the Sea of Ocean.
Li Shen followed, closing his eyes, hands hovering over the mat. Slowly, he felt heat gathering in his right palm and a grounding heaviness in his left. They did not surge into full power—far from it—but a tiny current flickered, responsive to his concentration.
It was exhausting. Every muscle tense, every nerve alert. Yet each flicker felt like a small victory.
"Good," the dragon whispered. "You sense more than most, but patience is required. The first layer cannot be forced."
Li Shen's mind drifted. Memories of his mother in the village, her sacrifices, her quiet pride in him despite hardships, reminded him why he endured.
"I cannot fail… not for her," he muttered. The warmth of his mother's love reinforced his determination. This was not merely about power; it was about protecting those he cherished.
Yet even as he focused on growth, thoughts of Mei Lin surfaced unbidden. Though her gaze had turned cold during the testing, he could not forget the bond they had shared. Was she truly lost to Zhao Feng? Or had she simply been confused?
These thoughts intertwined with his training. Emotional balance became as crucial as physical cultivation. Strength without control was useless, the dragon reminded him.
Suddenly, the soft sound of footsteps outside his room made him tense. Someone was coming—careful, almost stealthy.
He opened his eyes to find a girl standing at the doorway: Xian Yue, a disciple from the same courtyard, known for her gentle yet tenacious spirit. Her emerald eyes held curiosity, maybe even admiration.
"Li Shen," she said softly, "I… heard about the ceremony. Are you alright?"
Li Shen froze. She was the first to approach him without mockery or judgment. There was an unmistakable warmth in her gaze.
"I… I'm fine," he said, voice tight. "Just… training."
Xian Yue stepped closer, lowering her voice. "I want to help you. I know what it's like to be underestimated."
For a moment, Li Shen hesitated. His heart, still tangled with thoughts of Mei Lin, felt a strange pull. But he did not reject her outright.
"I appreciate it… but this is something I must do alone," he replied, though the words lacked conviction.
Her lips curved into a faint, understanding smile. "I'll be around. If you ever need guidance or… company… I'm here."
And with that, she retreated, leaving Li Shen alone again—but not quite.
Returning to his meditation, Li Shen felt the dragon's pulse more strongly now. Small ripples of elemental energy coalesced in the Sea of Ocean, hints of the fire and earth elements awakening in tandem.
"You are learning quickly, Shen'er," the dragon said. "But this is only the beginning. The first layer will test your control, your resolve, and your heart. Prepare yourself, for soon, your world will change."
Li Shen clenched his fists, determination burning anew. The path was long, the obstacles many, but he felt the first true spark of hope.
Li Shen's body trembled with a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. He returned to his secret corner in the bamboo grove, sunlight filtering softly through the leaves. Alone, he dared to push himself further.
The dragon's guidance echoed: "Feel the elements as one, not separate. The fire burns with the earth's strength; the earth grounds the fire's rage. Let them dance together."
He closed his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, a flicker of heat rose from his right hand, warm yet controlled. The left hand hummed with a grounding force, steady as the mountain. He tried to merge them. It was difficult; small sparks flared and died instantly. He stumbled back, panting.
"Again," he muttered. Each attempt left him drained, yet with every flicker, he felt a subtle pulse in his Sea of Ocean, as if something deep inside recognized his effort. It was not full awakening—but it was the first taste of power that might one day make him legendary.
Days passed, and Xian Yue began appearing more often. Sometimes it was a coincidental meeting in the courtyard; sometimes a note slipped under his door. She never intruded forcefully—always gentle, always patient—but her attention was unmistakable.
Li Shen's heart, however, remained tied to Mei Lin. Though Mei Lin's expression often betrayed uncertainty, he could not forget the shared moments of trust and companionship. And yet, Xian Yue's presence was a comfort in his loneliness, a quiet reminder that not all eyes judged him harshly.
During one encounter, she handed him a small, carved talisman. "For protection… and focus. When you train in your Sea, it may help guide your energy."
He accepted it silently, impressed not only by her thoughtfulness but by the rare confidence she carried. His heart wavered—just slightly—but he did not betray Mei Lin. His loyalty remained firm, even as curiosity grew.
The Azure Dragon began assigning subtle trials within his mind, exercises that pushed Li Shen to test his focus, endurance, and elemental control.
Small illusions of fire and earth appeared in his Sea of Ocean; he had to merge them without letting one overpower the other.
Tiny gusts of wind and earth tremors simulated by the dragon forced him to stabilize both physically and mentally.
Shadows of beasts appeared, testing his reaction speed and decision-making, foreshadowing his eventual role as a summoner.
Each trial left him exhausted yet invigorated. He began to notice that even a slight loss of concentration caused small sparks of energy to flare uncontrollably—proof that the first layer's pulse was growing stronger.
"Patience," the dragon whispered. "The first layer awakens not in haste, but when mind, body, and Sea are aligned. You are on the cusp, Shen'er."
While his Sea of Ocean simmered with growth, Li Shen's heart experienced its own trials. Zhao Feng remained the public prodigy of the sect, flaunting his violet-tier spirit root and drawing admiration from peers and even elders.
Mei Lin's gaze occasionally met his in fleeting moments—regret, concern, or perhaps confusion—and each glance sent a pang through his chest.
Xian Yue's quiet attentions added another layer of complexity. She did not demand his loyalty, but her presence reminded him that affection could be given freely, without expectation.
Li Shen wrestled with these feelings. "My heart belongs to Mei Lin… yet I cannot ignore her or this path," he murmured. The dragon's voice offered counsel: "Affection is a strength when balanced, not a weakness. Do not let attachment blind you, but neither suppress it entirely."
During his training, Li Shen discovered subtle new sensations in his Sea
Small nodes of elemental energy responded to concentration and visualization.
He sensed distant herbs and rare minerals in the surrounding mountains that might one day aid in the first layer's awakening.
Tiny flares of fire and tremors of earth pulsed stronger when he focused on emotion—anger, determination, love, or loyalty.
The dragon whispered of a coming challenge that would test not just his skill, but his heart. "When your first layer awakens, others will notice. Power will attract envy, admiration, and danger alike. Prepare yourself now, in secret."
Li Shen clenched his fists, determination blazing. Each exercise, each moment of reflection, each encounter with Xian Yue or fleeting glance from Mei Lin, became part of his preparation.
The evening sun dipped behind the mountains, painting the bamboo grove in orange and gold. Li Shen, exhausted, sat cross-legged, hands hovering above the ground.
The first real pulse of his Sea of Ocean stirred faintly, a whisper of potential that promised the day of his first layer awakening was approaching—but not yet.
"Soon," the dragon murmured, "but not yet. Continue to prepare. Every trial you endure now will save you later."
Li Shen nodded, his jaw set. Though the path ahead was uncertain and his heart still wavered between Mei Lin and Xian Yue, one truth burned within him: he would grow strong, awaken his first layer, and claim his place in the Sea of Stars Sect—not just for himself, but for those he loved and those he would protect.