Chapter 2
Let's rewind time a bit.
Shortly after Azure Dragon King's Roar that shook the 9 heavens.
Hundreds of miles away, in the heart of Spirit City, the vast, imposing Supreme Pontiff Palace seemed unaffected.
Bibi Dong, the Supreme Pontiff, was sitting absolutely still on her throne, reviewing reports. The spiritual resonance of the Azure Dragon hit her, but unlike others, it caused no shock—only recognition. It felt ancient, sovereign, and entirely familiar.
A warm Smile—a gesture rarely witnessed—spread across her face. Her eyes, filled with a complex mixture of expectation and predatory affection, fixed on a point far outside the palace walls.
She spoke, her voice a low, sibilant whisper that seemed to fill the vast, empty hall, yet never rose above a murmur.
"You have finally awakened. I look forward to seeing you."
Her focus shifted; she dismissed the reports and went back to her courtyard to rest.
At the same time in Star Dou Great Forest
Core area —Lake of Life
Deep beneath the crystalline surface of the Lake of Life, where an immense supply of spiritual energy gathered, a massive Silver Dragon lay coiled. Her eyes, filled with the wisdom of millennia, snapped open at the roar that shook the very foundation of her sanctuary.
The Dragon's head rose, radiating an aura of ancient, supreme majesty.
"Strange, it feels like a Martial Soul Awakening of a Dragon, but this aura didn't match any Dragon I knew of, even including Dragon God's memories," she murmured to herself, her voice a soft, echoing chime in the deep water. "And it seems to be on par with me? How absurd."
She focused her will, and two figures immediately manifested near her. The fierce, dark energy of Zi Ji and the gentle, life-affirming aura of Bi Ji appeared instantly.
The Silver Dragon looked at her two most trusted subordinates. "Keep a look out for that aura. If that person enters the Star Dou Great Forest, invite him to meet me."
With the command given, she gently closed her eyes, the vast spiritual energy of the lake settling around her as she fell into a guarded slumber. Zi Ji and Bi Ji bowed simultaneously, their differing forms vanishing as they accepted the command and took their leave
At the same time, somewhere in the God realm.
Two figures sat across from each other, deep in a game of Mahjong. One had hair the color of midnight, the other, bright green.
Suddenly, the ethereal sound of the Azure Dragon King's roar ripped through the tranquil expanse of the God Realm. The power shook the very floor beneath them, causing the arranged Mahjong pieces to clatter into disarray.
The two figures, unlike the surrounding panicking gods, simply looked at each other, a deep, knowing smile in their eyes.
"It has begun," they said at the exact same moment.
The figure with green hair immediately began to methodically rearrange the scattered Mahjong pieces. The other figure rose, moving toward the door with an easy, confident stride, preparing to calm the chaos the sound had initiated.
As chaos unfolded everywhere at Fasano Province—Holy Soul Village.
In a simple hut, five-year-old Tang San sat cross-legged. He was running the final circuits of the Mysterious Heaven technique he carried from his past life, feeling the familiar energy circulate through him.
Suddenly, the flow of that precious energy was violently disrupted as he heard a voice in his head.
Tang San's eyes snapped open. He instantly coughed up a mouthful of dark blood onto the floor. The pain was internal and spiritual, leaving him shaken and confused.
"What was that laugh, it's as if it's mocking me?" Tang San thought, the sound of a boy's delighted, mocking laughter still echoing faintly within his mind.
Bewildered and terrified, Tang San quickly cleaned the blood, drank some water, and crawled into bed, not knowing a repeat of his last act of his previous life, but at a much higher scale was in progress for him.
Back to Liang jing City—Marquis Palace
Hanrui woke to the pale light of dawn filtering through the curtains. He stretched lazily, rolling his shoulders with a satisfied crack, before calling out in a clear voice,
"Prepare hot water for my bath."
The maids outside responded quickly, their footsteps fading as they hurried to carry out his command.
Before long, he lowered himself into the steaming bath. Heat seeped into his muscles, washing away the weight of cultivation. He closed his eyes and let the silence linger—until his thoughts inevitably returned to the problem gnawing at him.
Do I tell them about the soul ring… or not?
He let the question settle, bubbles breaking faintly on the water's surface. If I'm honest, it'll shock them. A a-thousand-year first ring isn't something you can just brush aside, let alone a 9 thousand one.
His lips curved faintly, though his eyes stayed shut. But if I keep quiet, I'll be hiding it from the very people who trust me most. And that won't last forever either.
Hanrui dipped his hands beneath the surface, fingers slicing through the heat. Truth or lie? Either way, there'll be consequences.
He sank deeper, letting the water rise to his chin. I'll have to decide soon.
To distract himself from rising to a choice he summoned the System.
"System, is the Materialization Module ready?" Hanrui asked.
[Yes, Master]
"Then use Analysis on this 1000 year old whale glue" Hanrui said as he took out a piece of Whale glue from his storage soul ring.
[Materialization Module: Analysis Function Activated]
[Analyzing target: Whale Glue (Age: 9,137 years)]
[Scanning composition. . .]
[Detected components: Vast marine vitality essence, high-density bone-tempering compounds, condensed life force of a near-ancient whale.]
[Grade: High (upper-tier, nearing 10,000-year quality).]
[Primary effects: Substantially strengthens physique, greatly enhances marrow density, improves recovery speed and energy circulation.]
[Special effect: Increases soul ring absorption limit by 100–500 years.]
[Usage Restriction: Whale Glue may only be absorbed three times per age-tier. (Current tier: 1,000-year. Consuming a fourth will yield no further benefit.)]
[Potential hazards: Excessive use without sufficient physique may cause marrow overload, leading to brittle bones or meridian tearing.]
[Analysis Complete.]
Hanrui glanced at the glowing screen and nodded in approval.
"Not bad. The analysis is solid. System, archive a copy for future reference. And… if possible, convert a duplicate into liquid form for easier absorption."
[Command received.
Original item secured in Inventory.
Creating identical replica… Complete.
Initiating State Conversion: Solid → Liquid… Complete.]
A small vial materialized in Hanrui's palm, its contents swirling with a faint, ocean-blue luminescence.
Hanrui swirled the vial thoughtfully.
"Hmm. Now that's convenient. The original stays intact, and I get a usable form on demand."He leaned back slightly, a grin tugging at his lips.
Hanrui chuckled softly, then his expression dimmed."It's just a pity I've already exhausted my three chances with the thousand-year whale glue. The next step… I'll have to hunt down a ten-thousand-year one."
He quietly murmured to himself then suddenly he thought of something about his eyes back at the system interface.
"System add Upgrade Function to the 'Materialization Module'" he commanded.
[Command Received]
[Creating Upgrade Function. . . 50%. . 100%.]
[Creation complete, adding the Upgrade Function to the Materialization Module
. . .
Complete]
[Please check the new function at your leisure, Master]
"Yeah, I should check that one later,I feel like it's going to be energy consuming."he thought, as he set the vial aside and rose from the tub, water sliding off his frame. By the time he dried himself and donned fresh robes, another screen surfaced before him.
[System Note: - Replication Limit → Items below 10,000 years cultivation. - Quantity → Tied to host's available energy. - Suggestion → Create a secondary "Void Reserve" to passively accumulate ambient Void Energy.]
Hanrui rubbed his chin. "A passive energy bank, huh? That… solves a lot of problems." He smirked. "Alright, System. Enable the Void Reserve."
[Command received. Constructing… Void Reserve established. — Passive Refill: 0.1%/hr — Active Cultivation Refill: 0.5%/hr — Current Reserves: 0.0%/1000% (empty)]
Hanrui swirled the vial thoughtfully, then snapped his fingers. "Replicate this into four more liquid portions."
[Replication complete. Energy(soul power) consumption: 12%(83%).]
"I see, initial replication took 5% while further replication took only 3% each, that's a fair trade," Hanrui commented as he sensed his soul power reserves which started refilling even without active cultivation.
Four glowing vials appeared. Hanrui tucked three away and kept two at hand. A clap summoned the two maids who had prepared his bath earlier, who were also subordinates he took in.
"Each of you, take one," he instructed as he came out of the bath and started drying himself off. "Use it in your bath, absorb the liquid, then return for me to check your condition."
The girls blushed as they accepted the vials with trembling hands and hurried out. As they were leaving Hanrui commanded the system to scan them.
[System Scan initiated: — Subject 1: Su Lian. Age: 15. Martial Soul: Embroidery Needle. Rank: 14. Ring: 1 (100 yrs). Potential: ~Rank 29. — Subject 2: Li Nan. Age: 15. Martial Soul: Iron Cooking Pot. Rank: 13. Ring: 1 (120 yrs). Potential: ~Rank 29.]
Hanrui's eyes flickered with interest. "Good. Now we'll see what the liquid form can do." As Hanrui was about to dismiss the system and go to the dining hall, he stopped hearing a notification sound.
[System Suggestion: Establish a Research & Development Log. This module will automatically archive the host's experiments, test conditions, and outcomes for future reference.]
Hanrui raised a brow, then smirked. "So you'll keep track for me, hm? Very well—enable it."
[Command received. R&D Log Module activated. Function: All experiments, whether refinement, replication, or live trials, will be recorded automatically. Archival includes material details, subject data, and results. Cross-reference available upon request.]
[Initializing… Retroactive Compilation Complete. — Log Entry #1: Whale Glue Analysis & Replication. — Log Entry #2: Whale Glue Liquid, testing effects on Human Subjects (Su Lian, Li Nan).]
"Efficient," Hanrui murmured, adjusting his robe. "That saves me from keeping notes by myself."
Satisfied, Hanrui finished dressing and stepped into the dining hall, his white robe with intricate patterns of dragons swaying with each stride.
"Good morning, Father, Mother, Grandma," he greeted with a bow.
Wu Tian looked up from his plate, brows lifting faintly. His son seemed sharper, taller—but he only chuckled. "Morning, Rui'er. Take a seat and eat."
Han Mei's chopsticks paused midair, her eyes narrowing. There was a glow about her son she couldn't ignore.
"Could it be… the Blue Silver Grass in the garden?"she thought.
Xue Li's gaze was sharper still, reading the subtle changes instantly—energy flow, complexion, even the quiet confidence in his presence. Her thoughts mirrored her daughter-in-law's but she, too, dismissed them. Such changes couldn't come from just absorbing a soul ring, she thought.
They shared a brief glance but said nothing. Trust weighed heavier than curiosity.
Hanrui noticed. Their silence wasn't ignorance—it was faith. That warmed him more than the food.
Breakfast passed with quiet chatter and the clatter of dishes, Wu Tian blissfully oblivious, while Han Mei and Xue Li's watchful eyes lingered.
When the last dishes were cleared, Hanrui set his chopsticks down, back straightening. His young voice carried unusual weight as he addressed them.
"Father. Mother. Grandma. There's something I need to show you."
He waved the attendants away and, when the doors closed, pressed his palm to the air. Chakra flared as he etched a sealing array across the room. No sound would escape. A final sweep with Kagura's Mind's Eye confirmed they were alone.
Then, smiling faintly, he raised his hand. Azure Dragon King manifested in its chibi form and climbed on to his back. Around it, a rich purple soul ring pulsed with a hint of black, casting a radiant glow across the hall.
The dining room fell into stunned silence.
Wu Tian froze, breath caught halfway in his chest.
Han Mei's lips parted, disbelief flashing in her eyes.
Even Xue Li, composed as ever, felt her heart skip a beat.
None of them spoke—the sight of a six-year-old boy bearing a thousand-year soul ring left them beyond words.
They had seen Hanrui's research in action before, but this—a soul ring of such age as a first ring? It shattered their expectations and dared them not to speak.
The purple glow of the soul ring, tinged with black, painted shifting patterns on their faces.
Han Mei was the first to find her voice, her hand trembling slightly against the table.
"Rui'er… how did you get a soul ring? And a thousand-year one at that? You only awakened your martial soul recently."
Hanrui grinned, recalling the secret he kept close since his awakening.
"The last surprise I mentioned about my martial soul ties directly to the soul ring. As long as I can provide enough soul power, my Azure Dragon King can forge a soul ring by itself. And the best part—it's a growth-type soul ring, which means it matures and grows alongside me."
He let his words hang, watching their astonished expressions.
"My soul ring's age is 9,300 years, and I unlocked the soul skill 'Dragon King's Grace,'" Hanrui explained with a proud smile.
"It's essentially a life-bestowal skill—extremely effective in nurturing plants and herbs. Just last night, I used it in the garden, in a certain range the plants and herbs grow wildly, especially one of the stack of Blue Silver Grass, accelerated its growth by 200 years."
He glanced around, gauging their reactions, then added, "I haven't tried this skill on anyone else yet, but its effect on plants is phenomenal."The room was filled with awe and disbelief.
The idea of a six-year-old wielding such powerful nurturing magic was almost unimaginable.
Han Mei was the first to respond as a gentle warmth filled her. Her voice trembled softly.
"It's amazing, Rui'er. I feel cleansed, like my soul power has been refreshed. Honestly, it feels like I could take on two of your father's full-strength strikes without faltering."
She glanced teasingly at Wu Tian, a mixture of admiration and affection in her eyes.Wu Tian's brows lifted in surprise as his soul power seemed to surge.
"Unbelievable… I expected to reach level 66 only after another month's training, but this feels like an infusion of new strength all at once."
Ignoring Han Mei's teasing, he looked at his son with pride undiminished by the shock.
Xue Li, usually composed, felt the healing vitality pulse through her bones, soothing old wounds as if infused with the pure essence of life itself.
Her voice, calm but reflective, broke the silence.
"This skill is more than just cultivation—it's a blessing to life itself. Such power is rare and precious. Use it wisely. You might be able to achieve even more if you use your second martial soul's mimic abilities in tandem with this skill," Xue Li said, her voice calm yet sharp.
Wu Tian and Han Mei jolted at her last comment and exchanged bewildered looks. Hanrui, however, smiled deeply, satisfied by their reactions, feeling the full weight and warmth of his newfound abilities.
As he looked at them, he suddenly recalled the warmth he lacked in his previous life—warmth he was fortunate to have found in this one.
After a moment's thought, he decided to share one of his biggest secrets.
"Father, Mother, Grandmother… Actually, I'm not originally from this world. I reincarnated into this one and awakened memories of my previous life two years ago," he said, his voice steady but filled with a hint of vulnerability.
He caught his grandmother's teasing smile as his parents' eyes widened in surprise."Wait, something's wrong, nainai,you know about my second martial soul and its abilities? So, you've known my secret all along?" Hanrui exclaimed, half-shriek, half-laughing in disbelief at his grandmother's knowing look.