After the tour, Daksh led Mu Feng toward Aditya's residence.
The moment Mu Feng saw it, he could tell—
It was different.
Unlike the other houses in the ashram, which were simple and practical, Aditya's home stood quietly at the center, surrounded by ancient trees. It wasn't grand or luxurious, yet it carried a strange sense of weight, as if time itself had settled there.
The house was built mostly of stone and wood, its structure plain but flawless. There were no excessive decorations, no visible magic formations carved openly into the walls. And yet, Mu Feng felt it clearly—
The mana here was dense.
Not wild.
Not aggressive.
But perfectly controlled.
Every breath he took felt heavier, as though the space itself was suppressing him. It reminded him faintly of his grandfather's presence—except this felt calmer, deeper, and far older.
Daksh stopped in front of the entrance.
"This is Guru Aditya's residence," he said respectfully.
"Please go in. He's been waiting for you."
Mu Feng nodded.
The moment he stepped onto the stone steps leading inside, his heart tightened slightly. It felt as though something unseen was observing him—measuring him.
He reached out and pushed the door open.
The interior was even simpler than he expected.
A single wooden table, a few cushions, shelves lined with old books and scrolls, and at the far end of the room—
A man sat cross-legged on the floor.
He wore plain white robes, his long black hair tied loosely behind him. His eyes were closed, his breathing steady, his presence so calm that it was almost easy to forget he was there.
Almost.
The instant Mu Feng entered, his soul trembled.
Not from fear.
From pressure.
This was no ordinary summoner.
This was someone who stood at the very top of the world.
Before Mu Feng could speak, the man slowly opened his eyes.
They were deep and dark, like endless night skies.
Aditya Kumar looked at Mu Feng—and smiled faintly.
"So," he said softly, his voice gentle yet carrying indescribable authority,
"you are Fang Ning's grandson."
Mu Feng straightened instantly and bowed respectfully.
"Yes," he replied.
"My name is Mu Feng."
Aditya studied him for a long moment, his gaze calm but penetrating, as if looking straight through Mu Feng's body, his soul, and his future.
Then he nodded slowly.
"…Interesting."
That single word made Mu Feng's spine tighten.
Because for the first time since leaving the Mu Clan—
He felt like prey standing before a true apex existence.
Daksh bowed deeply.
"Guru," he said respectfully.
"You may go," Aditya replied calmly.
Daksh did not linger. He turned, exited the room, and closed the door silently behind him.
The space became still.
Aditya's gaze returned to Mu Feng.
"Ice and Summoning Elements," he said slowly.
"Both at Novice Level Two."
His eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in evaluation.
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen," Mu Feng replied honestly.
"I'll turn sixteen in two months."
For the first time, a clear trace of surprise appeared in Aditya's eyes.
"…I see."
He studied Mu Feng more carefully now.
"There are very few at your age who can compare to your cultivation," Aditya said.
"And your aura is not clean."
Mu Feng's heart tightened.
Not clean—meaning—
"You've hunted demons," Aditya continued calmly.
Mu Feng nodded. "Yes."
A faint smile appeared on Aditya's lips.
"That explains it," he said softly.
"Only those who have faced real death carry this kind of pressure in their aura."
He leaned back slightly, resting one hand on his knee.
"It seems Fang Ning trained you seriously," Aditya continued.
"Very seriously."
Mu Feng remained silent, standing straight, neither proud nor defensive.
Aditya's gaze suddenly sharpened.
"But tell me," he said, his voice still gentle,
"why did he send you to me?"
Mu Feng met his eyes directly.
"I want to master the Summoning Element," Mu Feng said without hesitation.
"My goal is to understand magic—not merely use it as a tool."
His gaze was steady.
"My grandfather told me that very few people truly understand the Summoning Element," he continued.
"Most only treat it as a shortcut to power. They summon beasts, but they don't comprehend the bond, the cost, or the meaning behind it."
Aditya watched him quietly.
Seconds passed.
Then he chuckled softly.
"…Good."
He rose to his feet in one smooth, unhurried motion.
"Most who come to me crave power," Aditya said calmly.
"Very few seek understanding."
He walked past Mu Feng and stopped near the doorway, his back facing him.
"From today onward," he continued,
"you will forget everything you think you know about Summoning."
Mu Feng's eyes lit up—not with arrogance, but with anticipation.
"This is not a place where talent alone is praised," Aditya said evenly.
"This is a place where your limits will be tested—again and again."
He turned back, his gaze sharp and penetrating.
"So tell me, Mu Feng—"
"Are you prepared to suffer?"
Mu Feng did not hesitate.
"Yes."
Aditya stared at him for a long moment.
Then he smiled—wide, sharp, and full of meaning.
"Good," he said.
"Then your real training begins tomorrow at dawn."
"You can go now," Aditya said calmly."You must be tired after all the traveling. Find Daksh—he'll explain your daily schedule. His house is the third one on the left."
Mu Feng bowed respectfully and took his leave.
He soon found Daksh, who patiently explained everything to him—the timing of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as the general routine of the ashram.
After that, Mu Feng went to the house that had been prepared for him.
The room was simple but spotless. All the necessities for daily living were already arranged neatly, from clean bedding to basic supplies. It wasn't luxurious, but it was calm, orderly, and comfortable.
Mu Feng looked around quietly.
This would be his place for the foreseeable future.
After settling in, Mu Feng spent some time exploring the ashram once again until it was time for dinner.
Dinner consisted of simple Indian vegetarian food—plain, nourishing, and prepared with care. Though it lacked extravagance, it left him feeling refreshed rather than heavy.
After the meal, Mu Feng returned to his room and sat down to meditate. His mind was calm, yet filled with anticipation.
Tomorrow, his true training would begin.
The next morning, Mu Feng woke up early.
He washed up, put on clean clothes, and after having breakfast, headed straight to the training field. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of soil and incense.
Aditya was already there, standing calmly with his hands behind his back.
"Well," Aditya said as Mu Feng approached, "you're right on time."
Mu Feng stopped a few steps away and bowed slightly.
"We'll begin your training now," Aditya continued. "First, tell me—have you tried summoning before?"
"I've entered the Summoning Plane," Mu Feng replied honestly, "but I haven't tried to summon anything yet."
Aditya nodded, as if he had expected that answer.
"Good," he said. "Then we'll start from there."
He turned and gestured toward the open field.
"Today, you will perform your first summoning."
Mu Feng's expression grew serious.
"But remember this," Aditya added calmly, his voice carrying weight."Choosing a summoned beast is not something to take lightly."
Mu Feng frowned slightly."But isn't it possible to change summoned beasts as one advances in level?"
"Yes," Aditya said, glancing at him. "That approach exists."
He paused, then continued,
"But that method only works smoothly up to the High Level. Once you reach the Super Tier, things change completely."
Mu Feng listened intently.
"At that stage," Aditya said, "you'll need Ruler-level—or even Emperor-level—summoned beasts."
He looked directly at Mu Feng.
"And whether such beings are willing to follow you is never guaranteed."
Silence settled between them.
"That's why," Aditya continued, "if you have the resources and the opportunity, it is far better to nurture your summoned beasts from an early stage."
His tone grew firm.
"Grow together. Struggle together. Build trust over time."
Mu Feng clenched his fist lightly.
"I understand," he said.
Aditya smiled faintly.
"Good. Then step forward."
He raised a hand slightly.
"Today," Aditya said, "you will open the door to your summoning path."
Aditya stared at Mu Feng for a second.
"Tell me," he said, "what kind of summoned beast do you want?"
Mu Feng answered without hesitation.
"A true dragon."
Aditya raised his hand and smacked the back of Mu Feng's head.
Thwack.
"Dream on," Aditya said flatly."Even a newly born true dragon is at Commander Level."
Mu Feng winced.
"And that's assuming you even get close," Aditya continued."Baby dragons are almost always protected by guardians. You'd be killed long before you could even see one."
He crossed his arms.
"Think properly. Choose something realistic. Something useful."
Mu Feng rubbed the back of his head and thought for a moment.
"Then… how about a flying demon beast?"
Aditya nodded slightly.
"Flying beasts are good," he admitted."But I think you should consider a terrestrial animal instead."
Mu Feng frowned.
"Why?"
Aditya answered calmly.
"At higher levels, Summoning Magic allows you to summon an entire horde, not just a single beast," he explained."If your core beast is aerial, it won't be able to fully display its strength in a large-scale ground battle."
He looked at Mu Feng meaningfully.
"Summoning is not just about one-on-one combat."
Mu Feng nodded slowly.
"Then… how about a tiger-type demon beast?" he suggested."They're powerful, adaptable, and there are resources available for their growth. They're not extremely rare either."
Aditya studied him for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly.
"That," he said, "is a good choice."
He placed a hand on Mu Feng's shoulder.
"Tiger-type beasts have balanced offense, defense, and intimidation. They're natural leaders among demon beasts and scale well into higher tiers."
His eyes sharpened.
"But remember this—"
"Once you choose your first summoned beast, you're choosing a partner, not a tool."
Mu Feng's expression turned serious.
"I understand," he said firmly.
Aditya nodded in approval.
"Good," he said."Then today, we'll begin searching for a tiger worthy of being summoned by you."
Aditya reached into his storage ring and took out a simple-looking silver ring etched with faint spatial runes. He handed it to Mu Feng.
"This is a magic tool that locks spatial coordinates in the Summoning Plane," Aditya explained.
"Once you activate it, you'll return to the exact location you marked. That way, you don't have to restart your search every time—you can explore, retreat, rest, and then continue."
Mu Feng accepted the ring carefully, feeling a subtle spatial fluctuation pulse through it.
"I've already locked the coordinates of a region," Aditya continued,
"It's an area where high-level bloodline demon beasts are active. It's dangerous—but that's where you'll find beasts worth contracting."
Mu Feng nodded seriously.
"You will explore on your own," Aditya said.
"Summoning is a personal path. Guidance helps—but the choice must be yours."
Mu Feng hesitated for a moment, then asked,
"Master Aditya… are there specific tiger-type demon beasts I should focus on?"
Aditya folded his arms and thought for a moment.
"There are several," he said calmly.
"If you're looking for raw potential and growth, the White Tiger is an excellent choice. Its bloodline is strong, and it has balanced strength, speed, and killing intent."
He continued, counting on his fingers.
"A Sabertooth Tiger excels in burst damage and close combat. Brutal, direct, and terrifying in frontal assaults."
"A Golden Tiger has strong vitality and leadership traits—very suitable if you plan to command groups in the future."
"The Giant Palmed Tiger focuses on physical power. Crushing force, overwhelming presence. Not subtle—but extremely effective."
Aditya's tone then became heavier.
"But if you're truly lucky…" he said slowly,
"And you find a Scorpion Tiger or a Dark Demon Tiger—"
Mu Feng felt his breath tighten.
"—then that would be ideal," Aditya finished.
"Those are rare variants with mutated bloodlines. Their growth ceilings are terrifying, and they possess unique abilities beyond standard elemental frameworks."
He looked Mu Feng straight in the eyes.
"But remember this," Aditya said firmly.
"Don't choose based on rarity alone."
He tapped Mu Feng's chest lightly.
"Choose the one that resonates with your soul. A summoned beast that walks with you, bleeds with you, and grows with you."
Mu Feng clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes.
"I won't rush it," he said.
"I'll choose carefully."
Aditya nodded, satisfied.
"Good," he said.
"Activate the ring when you're ready."
"And Mu Feng—"
He paused.
"In the Summoning Plane, strength decides everything. Mercy will get you killed."
Mu Feng bowed deeply.
"I understand, Master."
With the ring resting firmly in his palm, Mu Feng knew—
The most important choice of his summoning path had finally begun.