The morning in the Supreme Pontiff's secluded residence began with the gentle rhythm of domesticity, a calculated peace that belied the political earthquake looming outside and the prophetic vision still trembling in Bibi Dong's soul. She woke early, her mind already running calculations for the Martial Soul Awakening, but she performed her morning duties with an impeccable, serene facade.
Breakfast was a quiet, almost meditative affair. Renxue was bright and chatty, recounting a particularly funny dream about her doll becoming a giant winged warrior. Yorrichi listened with his characteristic quiet amusement, occasionally offering a dry, pointed remark that made Renxue pout and Bibi Dong smile genuinely. It was a brief, precious moment of normality.
Afterward, the three made their way to the private training grounds—a large, manicured clearing bordered by the thick Spirit Hall forest. The air was crisp and scented with pine, the perfect backdrop for the dual pursuit of maternal guidance and covert observation.
Bibi Dong positioned herself centrally, her eyes—now unnervingly perceptive due to her 91-level spiritual sense—watching both children simultaneously. She was currently focused on Renxue's movement drills.
"No, Renxue, that stance is too wide," Bibi Dong corrected, her voice clear and gentle. "The foot should guide the center of gravity, not oppose it. Your body is a vessel for the Angelic energy; it must be graceful, not merely forceful. Control your momentum."
Renxue, despite her eagerness, was often clumsy, her raw Angelic strength difficult to contain in her small frame. Bibi Dong used this time, however, not just for instruction, but as a deliberate distraction for any casual observer.
Meanwhile, Yorrichi practiced separately, diligently repeating basic slashes with his wooden sword near an ancient, low-hanging branch of a giant redwood.
His focus was absolute, but his mind was alight with unfamiliar sensations. He could feel it now, an intangible, pervasive force that seemed to permeate the atmosphere around him. It was a buzzing, a subtle pressure deep within his lower abdomen—a force he instinctively recognized as the Soul Energy of this world.
It's stronger every morning, he thought, his gaze momentarily fixed on the faint, purple glow of the testing apparatus set up nearby, awaiting his birthday. The ceremony is close. It's like the energy itself is vibrating in anticipation of merging with my core.
He raised his wooden sword for a familiar overhead strike, yet hesitated. The energy felt chaotic, impossible to direct. It was not a breathing style; it was a foreign, wild power that demanded submission, not control. He tried to mentally pull it into his chest, into his limbs, but it merely swirled, unresponsive.
He let out a quiet sigh, lowering the sword in frustration. Haah. I still can't guide it. It's like trying to grab smoke.
Bibi Dong's eye twitched almost imperceptibly as she noticed the sigh and the slight slump of his shoulders. She knew that intense frustration. It was the same fury she had felt on the mountain yesterday, now mirrored in her son's confusion.
He feels it, she thought, maintaining her calm expression while continuing to correct Renxue. The approach of the awakening is allowing him to sense the fundamental energy of this world. He senses his own power, but cannot control the foreign medium of Soul Power.
She somehow knew Yorrichi's power was born from a world of physical mastery, not spirit manipulation. This resistance is to be expected. I trust his intellect and his will. He will find a way to adapt.
Yorrichi quickly shook off the minor setback. It's not a big deal. The Awakening Ceremony is next week; the system will guide the energy naturally then.
He refocused, his thoughts snapping back to the practical knowledge of his previous life. He watched his mother effortlessly execute a swift, powerful demonstration drill for Renxue—a blending of movement, fist, and leg techniques that spoke of sublime physical conditioning, even without Soul Power.
The physical conditioning here is extraordinary, Yorrichi mused, flexing his small arms. Even as a five-year-old in this world, I feel significantly stronger, my bone density and muscles more resilient, compared to when I was the same age in my past life. This world's passive Soul Energy boosted human potential from birth.
He realized his strategy was flawed. He couldn't just think about Total Concentration Breathing (TCB); he had to do it. TCB was the physical foundation that unlocked immense strength and speed in his previous world.
If Soul Power here enhanced the human body, then layering TCB—the continuous maximization of the body's natural output—on top of that foundation should yield revolutionary results.
I need to start now, he decided. I can't afford to wait for Soul Power mastery. I need to maximize my current vessel.
Yorrichi turned his attention back to the massive tree branch. He began by focusing only on his breath, a deep, silent ritual that instantly separated him from the world. He drew in a huge volume of air, inhaling deeply until his lungs burned and his tiny frame expanded. He held it, the pressure behind his ribs an immediate anchor, locking his concentration.
Then, with silent ferocity, he began to slash.
The wooden sword became a blur of motion, each strike rigorous, aimed at a single spot on the thick, dense branch. He channeled his entire being into the continuous, fluid movement, his breath held captive, his body demanding oxygen with every powerful swing.
He could feel the pressure in his chest slowly, painfully release tiny, controlled amounts of air, his past life's training instinct overriding his present physiology. The sword strikes, fueled by the controlled internal pressure, became unnervingly sharp for a wooden weapon wielded by a five-year-old.
Bibi Dong was observing Renxue, but her spiritual sense was locked onto her son. She watched, motionless, her mind calculating the variables.
He is holding his breath far too long, she observed with clinical concern. It's a risky move; he could damage his respiratory system if he over-exerts. Yet, she did not intervene. She sensed the immense willpower behind the dangerous exercise. She trusted the silent intelligence in his eyes, trusting him to know his own limits.
She noticed the subtle but shocking results. As Yorrichi tracked his breathing with his movements, the wooden sword, rather than bouncing harmlessly off the ancient wood, was actually leaving very faint, shallow dent marks on the branch—proof of an almost impossible kinetic force for his age and weapon.
That is not normal, Bibi Dong realized, her internal calm cracking slightly. That level of sustained, focused physical output is beyond anything achievable without an active Spirit or a soul ring. He is forcing his physical limits to surpass the capabilities of a Soul Master.
After what seemed an impossibly long time, Yorrichi stopped. He was heaving, gulping air as if surfacing from a deep ocean dive. His lungs ached, his muscles screamed, but before he could even recover a full breath, his focus shifted again.
He began running. Not a casual jog, but a full-speed, frantic sprint. He pushed off the ground with a raw, desperate energy, circling the vast perimeter of the forest training ground. As he ran, he attempted the same technique: long, controlled inhalations followed by sustained holds, pushing his body's aerobic capacity to the breaking point.
Bibi Dong was truly surprised by this unexpected escalation. She watched the little figure fly around the loop, his pace punishing and relentless. A small, proud smile touched her lips.
Good, she thought. He is already adapting. He is challenging his body's basic capacity, increasing the volume of air he can absorb and hold. He is building the foundation for whatever power his Spirit will bring. She allowed him to continue, confident in her ability to instantly shield him should his body fail.
Yorrichi ran for nearly an hour, his pace slowly leveling out. The first few laps were torture, every breath a desperate gasp. But as his body adapted to the constant, punishing demands, he found a steady, rhythmic pattern. He realized he was now holding his breath longer, and his steady breathing intervals were more controlled than before.
Finally, utterly spent, Yorrichi slowed to a stop, his body shimmering with sweat. He stumbled slightly before collapsing onto the soft earth, leaning his back against the rough bark of a nearby tree. He took several deep, heaving breaths, savoring the cool oxygen filling his lungs.
To gauge his progress, he clenched his fist—the same fist he had used to hit the trunk yesterday. He punched the rough bark beside him, this time with less frantic fury and more calculated force.
Thump.
The pain was there, a dull ache, but it was noticeably lesser than the sharp, bone-jarring pain he felt when he punched the same tree trunk yesterday. His body was subtly, efficiently strengthening.
A thrill of pure, primal satisfaction shot through him. He suppressed the physical pain and cheered internally. First step done! The physical foundation is set. Next week, the true power will come.
It was well into noon. Renxue, who had been diligently practicing her Angelic posture drills, finally finished her session and turned to see her brother collapsed and gasping by the tree. She frowned, worried by his strange, frantic running.
"Mother, is Brother Yorrichi okay? He was running around the perimeter like a mad Spirit Beast!" Renxue asked, her brow furrowed with genuine concern.
Bibi Dong gently patted Renxue's shoulder, a gesture of calm assurance. "He is perfectly fine, my darling. He is simply exploring his own unique way of strengthening his body, something your Seraphim Spirit may not require. You go and talk to him now; it is time for your rest."
Relieved, Renxue walked over, her light steps contrasting with Yorrichi's exhaustion. She sat down gracefully, leaning her own back against the trunk beside him.
"Um, Brother, are you okay?" she asked again, her tone softer.
Yorrichi slowly turned his head, a wry, exhausted grin touching his lips. "Hm, yes. I am perfectly fine, Sister. Compared to you, I have an excess of endurance."
Renxue immediately bristled, the worry evaporating, replaced by childish indignation. "Hmph! What comparing? I am not like someone who is mindlessly running continuously, like a frantic donkey chasing a carrot! I train with divine grace!"
Yorrichi's face twitched into a subtle smirk, his eyes blinking slowly in feigned confusion. "Who is mad? I can see the one in front of me, who nearly tripped over her own feet demonstrating the Moon Shadow Step earlier."
Renxue let out a small, offended gasp. She quickly reached out and lightly pinched Yorrichi's hand—a harmless, familiar gesture of sibling annoyance. "Hmph, so rude in front of this lady. Didn't you learn anything about how to respect your elders, little brother?"
Yorrichi played along, his voice taking on a calm, humorous drone. "Oh, my wise old age elder, forgive this little one's mistake. I apologize sincerely. How may I compensate you for this profound insult to your graceful steps?"
Their chatter continued, a gentle, familiar rhythm of playful insults and affectionate teasing, a sound that Bibi Dong cherished more than any political victory. She approached them slowly, her soul settled, her heart filled with a profound sense of protection.
She carried two glasses of chilled, refreshing juice. She handed the drinks to the children, their playful argument immediately halting as they gratefully accepted the reprieve. Bibi Dong then sat down near them, leaning her back against the strong, silent trunk of the Spirit Tree, joining her children for their rest period under the noon sun.
For this hour, she was simply Mother, not Pontiff, watching the chaos of the world—both mortal and divine—recede to the background, replaced by the simple, beautiful banter of her two extraordinary children.
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Author's Note:
My dear readers, I know it's long time since i uploaded last chapter. My story again got rejected and I don't know what to. My head can't think of any ideas for the fanfic or the story. I have tried to hold for some time and I also apologize that I didn't inform u earlier for this short break.