The pain had been unbearable.
The moment the Soul Flames ignited — a fusion of Yin and Yang fire using the technique the Demon Whale taught him — Polyfalls felt as if his flesh and soul were being burned into nothingness. Yet, he endured.
When the final strand of flame stabilized within his palm, his body trembled, drenched in sweat.
"You did well," came the deep voice of the Whale. "To endure such agony… I thought you wouldn't."
Polyfalls wiped the sweat from his face and, panting, asked, "Whale… what is your name? Do you even have one?"
"Why should I?" the beast snorted proudly.
Polyfalls's lips curved faintly. "Then I'll give you one — Ming."
The moment the name left his mouth, the entire space shuddered. A blue light burst from the Whale's form, flooding the chamber. Polyfalls's expression changed as he felt his spiritual energy being devoured, drawn violently toward the creature. His veins bulged; his body convulsed. Within seconds, he was completely drained — his vision fading into black as his body collapsed.
Naming a spiritual beast was no small matter. The higher its cultivation, the more spiritual essence it demanded in return. To name one stronger than yourself was suicide.
Polyfalls survived only because of the blood pact that bound him and the Whale together.
A week later, within the Yen Manor, soft sobs filled the air.
Madam Yen sat by her son's bed, her eyes swollen. Polyfalls's face was pale and his frame frail, his breathing shallow.
A Level Four Alchemist entered the room beside his father. His mother stood quickly, bowing deeply in respect.
The Alchemist examined the boy, his expression grim.
"Almost all of his spiritual energy has been drained," he said quietly.
"Will my son wake again?" Madam Yen asked, her voice trembling.
"He's fortunate that his essence wasn't completely exhausted. I'll prepare an elixir to restore him. He needs rest."
The elixir shimmered with faint gold light as it was poured down his throat.
Days passed before Polyfalls's eyes fluttered open. His little sister, playing nearby, gasped in surprise and shouted for their mother. Soon, both were at his bedside.
"Mother…" his voice was hoarse. "How long…?"
"Three weeks," she said softly.
His eyes widened in disbelief. Memories surged — the naming, the light, and the Whale… Ming.
He entered his spiritual realm and found Ming's form wrapped in layers of blue, water-like essence.
"Ming?" he called. No answer. The whale was in a state of evolution, slumbering beneath the waves of energy.
---
When Polyfalls finally returned to Dao Xuanzhen Academy, whispers followed him like shadows.
"Isn't that the boy who fainted for weeks?"
"I heard he exhausted his entire spiritual core."
"He still looks cold as ever."
Many girls greeted him shyly, some boldly. But Polyfalls ignored them all. His gaze was distant, cold — his mind occupied only by one question: How do I awaken Ming?
A familiar voice broke his silence.
"Polyfalls!" Meilin Xue ran up to him, her delicate hands brushing across his arms and shoulders as she checked for injuries.
He frowned and pushed her hands away. "I hate being touched."
Meilin blinked in surprise, then smiled faintly. Others might've been offended, but she wasn't. His indifference fascinated her more than any praise.
She followed him to class, sitting beside him. Dozens of students glared, filled with jealousy. The instructor lectured on the Yellow Emperor's Path and the ways to identify one's elemental nature. When Meilin tested hers, the crystal glowed faintly blue — water element. The class erupted in admiration.
Then a loud voice echoed through the classroom door.
"Yo! You're that Polyfalls Yen, right?"
Everyone turned as a tall youth with mischievous eyes strode in. His robe was half undone, his grin shameless.
"The match you had last month was amazing," the newcomer said. "Can I be your friend? I'm Wutong Shen — the academy's most charming man!" He winked at several girls, who rolled their eyes in disgust.
Polyfalls merely stared, silent.
Meilin's expression darkened instantly. "Polyfalls doesn't need friends like you," she snapped. "Go flirt somewhere else."
Wutong Shen placed a hand on his chest dramatically. "Ah, jealousy! You must be his secret lover, then?"
Meilin's cheeks flushed with anger. "You—!"
Their voices grew sharp, students watching the argument unfold with amusement. Polyfalls said nothing, his eyes half-lidded.
So noisy… he thought. If I used their souls to forge a refining artifact, perhaps they'd finally be quiet.
A faint demonic aura flickered behind his pupils, vanishing just as quickly.
Polyfalls exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable as Meilin and Wutong continued bickering in front of him — completely unaware of the shadow that had begun to stir within his heart.