The morning sun painted the palace walls in gold, but the halls felt colder than ever. I walked with the Lion at my side, its presence both comforting and intimidating. The guards gave us wide berth, whispering behind their hands.
General Han Wu met me in the central courtyard. His eyes were steel. "Liang Shen, your awakening has upset the entire balance of Xianzhou. Princes, nobles, and even the priests see you as a threat. You must learn control quickly."
I nodded. Control. The Lion pulsed at my side, golden fur bristling. Its growl vibrated in my chest like thunder.
"You will be tested," Han Wu continued. "Not with rituals, but with the world itself. The council will observe your every move. Fail, and they will strike. You have allies… and enemies. Do not trust appearances."
I clenched my fists. I had survived humiliation, the law, and exile. I would survive this too.
The palace council gathered in the Hall of Mirrors, a massive chamber of reflective marble and gilded carvings. Every noble, minister, and high-ranking general was present. Their eyes followed my every step. Zhao Rui, my eldest rival, sat at the far end, a smug smile masking his fury.
"The boy claims the Lion," he sneered. "Yet he is untested, untamed, and unworthy of the throne. My father, the Emperor, must see reason. A spiritless boy cannot rule."
I met his gaze calmly. "The Lion chose me," I said. My voice echoed off the walls. "And its loyalty is mine alone."
A murmur ran through the council. Some whispered fearfully, others with envy.
The Emperor's voice cut through the tension. "We shall observe Liang Shen. Let him demonstrate his mastery of the Lion, and if he falters… we shall decide his fate."
I nodded silently, my eyes never leaving Zhao Rui. The war for influence had begun.
The courtyard was transformed into an arena. Flames roared from braziers, and spirits of lesser animals danced in circles of energy. My first trial would be against one of the Empire's spirit beasts, a test of power, agility, and control.
I took a deep breath. The Lion growled, brushing against my legs. Its roar sent sparks into the air. I focused, letting its energy flow into me.
A massive fox spirit leapt from the flames, tail ablaze, eyes like molten gold. I braced myself. The crowd gasped as I moved. My body and the Lion moved as one, paw striking, claw swiping, energy flowing.
By the end, the fox spirit bowed, defeated, not destroyed. The courtyard erupted in applause. Even Zhao Rui's face tightened, betraying anger.
"You may survive this test," the High Priest murmured. "But survival does not equal rule."
Back in my chambers, the Lion paced, restless. It was not content with restraint. I had learned control, but only partially. Its golden eyes glimmered, a silent demand for more.
A sudden alert from the palace gates shattered the calm. Raiders, clad in black armor, masked, stormed the palace outskirts. They were Spirit Tamers, elite mercenaries who hunted extraordinary spirits.
The Lion growled, louder than any cannon. Without thinking, I stepped forward. A roar exploded from my chest, merging with the Lion's. The courtyard trembled, gates splintered, and the attackers faltered.
When the dust settled, the Spirit Tamers were retreating. Soldiers stared, awe and fear in their eyes. I had not just survived; I had dominated.
The Emperor's council whispered among themselves. Some feared me. Some coveted me. And Zhao Rui's eyes burned with silent fury.
The next morning, the Emperor summoned me to the throne room. His eyes, sharp and calculating, met mine.
"Liang Shen," he said, voice calm yet commanding. "You have awakened the Lion, mastered its power, and survived the tamers. You are… extraordinary."
I bowed, unsure if this was praise or a trap.
He continued: "From this day forward, you shall be a Royal Disciple. You will train in secret, observe the empire, and prepare. But be warned: every move you make will be watched. Loyalty must be proven. The Lion has chosen you, but destiny is a dangerous path."
I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. My rise had begun, but the palace was a nest of vipers. One wrong step, and the Lion could be taken from me, my mother imprisoned, and my life ended.
The Lion growled softly at my side. I felt its presence, fierce and protective.
Somewhere in the shadows, Zhao Rui plotted. The game had begun. And I was ready.
****
The early morning fog clung to the palace courtyards as General Han Wu led me to the training grounds. Rows of sparring dummies glinted in the sunlight, their designs intricate, each a test for a specific spirit ability.
"Control, focus, and presence," he barked. "The Lion is your power, not your master. Fail to control it, and the Council will see a monster instead of a disciple."
I nodded, feeling the Lion's weight behind me. Its golden mane shimmered under the sun, the air around it charged with energy. Every movement I made was mirrored by the Lion, paw, tail, roar.
Han Wu demonstrated a technique, fluid and precise, a dance of martial discipline and spirit energy. I followed, clumsy at first, sparks flying from my hands. Sweat ran down my face as I pushed myself beyond fear.
"You must become one with it," he growled, "or the empire will devour you alive."
By sundown, bruised and exhausted, I had learned the first rules of Lion mastery: power without control is death.
That evening, the palace corridors were alive with whispers. The nobles gathered in private chambers, masks of civility hiding blades of ambition. I attended under strict orders from the Emperor. Zhao Rui, the eldest prince, smiled as I passed.
"Royal Disciple," he said, his voice syrupy, "don't let the Lion devour you before it devours them."
I met his gaze steadily. He had allies everywhere, spies in the kitchens, priests in the council, and soldiers loyal only to him. The palace itself was a battlefield of whispers.
An old minister approached me, leaning on a staff carved with dragon scales. "The Lion chooses the king, yes," he said quietly. "But the throne… is never won by strength alone. Observe carefully. Listen carefully. Your enemies wear smiles, and your allies may not even know their loyalty."
I clenched my fists. My journey had moved from survival to strategy.
Word arrived that the Spirit Tamers, elite mercenaries who captured and enslaved rare beasts, had been spotted near the northern border. Their objective was clear: seize the Lion.
The Emperor ordered me to stay hidden, but I refused. With General Han Wu at my side, we rode to the northern plains. Smoke hung low over the horizon. Villagers fled at our approach, terrified of what they called "the boy of the Lion."
The Spirit Tamers were waiting. Black-armored, their weapons infused with dark spirit energy. They attacked without hesitation.
I stepped forward. The Lion roared, a sound like the breaking of mountains. Sparks erupted from its mane, striking the tamers' weapons, shattering them. I struck as one, Lion and human, moving faster than any eye could follow.
When it ended, only smoke and scorched earth remained. Survivors fled, and word of my power spread across the northern provinces like wildfire.
Upon returning, the Emperor summoned me again. This time, it was a test of strategy, not strength. Zhao Rui had staged a rebellion among the southern districts, claiming loyalty to the crown while plotting his coup.
I was sent to quell the rebellion—but intelligence suggested a trap.
The Lion and I approached the district at dawn. Smoke curled from the burning walls, and the sound of clashing steel filled the air. Zhao Rui's spies had lied. The villagers were terrified pawns, and the soldiers were loyal to no one but him.
I struck first, but restrained my power. Civilians were spared, yet soldiers fell in controlled waves. The Lion's roar echoed through the valleys, a warning and a display of power.
Zhao Rui's trap had failed. The test was passed. The Emperor's council whispered of my cunning, but Zhao Rui's glare followed me like a shadow.
The next target was the fortress on the northern cliffs, where Spirit Tamers had captured rare beasts for the black market. I led a small squad of loyal soldiers, Han Wu at my side, and the Lion prowling behind.
The fortress was nearly impregnable: stone walls enchanted with spirit energy, spikes of dark magic jutting from the battlements. Tamers leapt from towers, their energy crackling.
The Lion roared. I felt every sinew in its body, every pulse of energy, and moved as one. Walls crumbled under the roar. Soldiers moved in perfect coordination, striking with precision. Within hours, the fortress fell.
Inside, I discovered prisoners: young apprentices and rare beasts, all enslaved for power and profit. I freed them, promising safety. The Lion's roar echoed once more, this time, not as a warning, but as a declaration.
The empire was beginning to notice. Liang Shen, the boy once thought cursed, was becoming a force impossible to ignore.