Three years passed in the blink of an eye within the mist-shrouded peaks of Mount Haguro.
In the Ryuzaki Clan, the name Haruto was spoken of in hushed, reverent tones. Every disciple knew that his birth had stirred the Eighteenth Ancestor from his slumber and that he had been officially bestowed the title of Divine Son. However, his true rank as Sequence Zero remained a closely guarded secret. Kenshin, the clan patriarch, intended to keep this trump card hidden until Haruto's tenth birthday—the Genpuku (coming of age) banquet—where he would invite all the Great Houses of the Yamato Empire and announce Haruto's supremacy to the world.
For Haruto, these three years were not spent in play, but in a state of constant, high-pressure cultivation.
"Listen well, Haruto," Kenshin said one afternoon inside the Ten-no-Kura. "After mastering the five realms of the physical body, a warrior must unlock the Gojin-zo—the Five Divine Treasuries. These are the gates of the Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys. They correspond to the five elements: Fire, Wood, Earth, Metal, and Water."
"Once these five gates are open," Kenshin continued, "you can gather a Sea of Spirit, condense a Divine Palace, and finally transform your soul into a True Spirit."
Haruto sat in a perfect seiza position, his small body radiating a faint golden light. For three years, he had been fed holy medicines and divine pills as if they were common vegetables. While the Kongo-Seitai consumed resources like a bottomless abyss, the Ryuzaki Clan's treasury was deep enough to sustain him.
"Grandpa," Haruto asked calmly, "how long does it take a true genius to master all five gates?"
Kenshin stroked his white beard. "An ordinary prodigy needs five years. A peerless 'Ten-Rank' genius might do it in two. Given your Sacred Body, perhaps you can achieve it in a year."
'A year?' Haruto closed his eyes.
Within his chest, the Tai Xuan Scripture—the clan's supreme mantra—began to circulate. Suddenly, a sound like divine thunder erupted from his veins. Golden blood surged with the force of a tidal wave.
Boom!
The Gate of the Heart (Fire) was blasted open instantly. Haruto felt his physical strength increase tenfold.
"This... no way..." Kenshin stood frozen. He had just finished his explanation, and his grandson had already demolished the first wall.
But Haruto didn't stop. Half an hour later—Boom! The Gate of the Liver (Wood) shattered. Before the incense stick could burn out, the Spleen (Earth) and Lungs (Metal) were conquered. Finally, as the sun began to set over the mountains, a final explosion of energy rocked the hall. The Gate of the Kidneys (Water) was blown wide open.
Haruto stood up, feeling like a young God of War capable of suppressing the firmament.
Kenshin was trembling, muttering to himself in a daze. "It took me two years... and this brat did it between lunch and dinner..." He felt like a piece of "trash" compared to this three-year-old monster.
"Grandpa," Haruto frowned, checking his internal state. "Something is wrong. Why does the Kidney Treasury feel vastly more powerful than the other four?"
Kenshin rushed over to inspect him. After a moment, he let out a long, complex sigh filled with envy. "It is a side effect of the Kongo-Seitai's 'Water' vitality, Haruto. It means... you must ensure our lineage continues. When you are ten, I shall betroth the most beautiful daughter of the Jiang Clan to you."
Haruto coughed, quickly changing the subject. "By the way, Grandpa, do you know where the Taiyue Ancient Stele is?"
"The Taiyue Stele?" Kenshin blinked. "It was an ancient monolith used to test the physical strength of the gods. Our clan ancestors found it in the wild and... well, we 'relocated' it to our martial arts arena for our disciples to use."
'They literally dug up a divine monument and brought it home,' Haruto thought, sweating slightly at his clan's audacity. 'But it saves me a trip.'
"I want to test my strength there," Haruto declared.
Kenshin hesitated. Usually, only disciples over the age of ten were allowed near the Stele. But seeing the determination in the boy's jade-clear eyes, he nodded. "Very well. But do not be discouraged if the results are low. You are still only three."
Haruto walked out of the Ten-no-Kura, tasting the fresh mountain air for the first time in years. Though only three, he possessed the height and presence of a six-year-old. His jet-black hair shone like polished obsidian, and his skin was as flawless as the finest porcelain.
He looked like a young immortal stepped out of a scroll.
'System,' Haruto thought as he approached the bustling martial arts arena, 'let's see what kind of reward a Divine Monument provides.'