Night Falls on the Branch Sect
Astra sat alone beneath the ancient spirit tree, eyes half-closed, letting the quiet flow through him.
The air felt… wrong.
Heavy.
Dense.
Like something watching.
He placed a hand over his abdomen, where the Spirit Egg rested.
"You're restless tonight," he whispered.
The egg trembled—softly.
Thump…
Astra blinked.
Then—
Thump… thump…
His breath stopped.
This wasn't danger.
This was…
Awakening.
A Voice Whispered
Soft.
Faint.
Like the breath of a sleeping queen.
"…you…"
Astra's heart lurched.
A voice.
Inside his mind.
"…you… are… loud…"
Astra froze.
"Can you hear me?"
The voice sighed softly, annoyed but elegant.
"…do not shout… mortal… your thoughts quake like thunder…"
Astra exhaled slowly.
So she's really awakening.
The presence felt:
Feminine
Proud
Ancient
Beautiful
Half-asleep
Wrapped in impossible power
"…you are noisy…" she murmured again.
Astra actually smiled.
"You've been protecting me."
A pause.
Then—
"…I did not do it for you.
Instinct. Habit."
Liar, Astra thought.
The egg pulsed hot once, as if offended.
"…stop thinking nonsense…"
Astra laughed quietly.
For the first time, he wasn't alone.
System Activates
A sudden ringing:
DING!
[Spirit Queen Partial Awakening Detected]
[Emotional Bond: Forming]
[Spirit Resonance Thread Created]
[Host's Spirit Power +12%]
[Warning: Host's condition attracting hostile entities]
Astra's eyes narrowed.
So danger was approaching.
Chu Feng Approaches — Feeling the Pressure
Chu Feng walked into the courtyard, drawn by a strange pull.
"Astra… are you awake?"
He stopped, eyes widening.
Astra looked… different.
Calmer.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
"Astra… your aura… it's…"
He didn't know the word.
Astra glanced at him.
"It's nothing. Your lightning is sharper tonight."
Chu Feng flushed slightly.
"Because I trained harder! I don't want to fall behind you."
Astra nodded approvingly.
The Spirit Queen's faint voice echoed:
"…this lightning child… not bad… stubborn… reckless… interesting…"
Astra coughed lightly.
She was already evaluating people.
Gold Rank Assassins Arrive
Suddenly—
CRACK—!!!
The protective formation around the branch sect shattered silently.
Not loudly.
Silently.
The sign of professionals.
A cold shadow drifted across the courtyard wall.
A masked figure appeared
Gold mask.
Gold-rank aura.
Killing intent beyond anything Astra had felt before.
"Astra Long."
His voice was icy.
"Your existence has been deemed… unacceptable."
Astra stepped forward, calm.
Chu Feng's breath shook.
"That man… he's terrifying…"
Astra gently pushed Chu Feng back.
"Stay behind me."
Chu Feng clenched his fists.
"But—"
"No arguing."
Another three gold-rank assassins landed around them.
Four in total.
Bai Ruyin rushed into the courtyard—
"Astra—!"
Too late.
They were surrounded.
Spirit Queen Reacts
Astra's abdomen warmed.
The Spirit Queen spoke again—
voice sharper.
"…foolish child… danger…"
Astra felt her power stir behind the seal.
"Don't force yourself," he whispered internally.
"…I am sealed… not weak… sealed…"
Her pride was unmistakable.
"…survive… and I will awaken you properly…"
Astra's heart tightened.
He nodded once.
"Then watch me."
She hummed softly.
"…I am watching…"
Battle Begins — Astra Unleashes Real Power
One gold assassin rushed forward at impossible speed.
Astra's system triggered instantly.
DING!
[Combat Instinct Amplification → Maximum Output]
[Heaven Vein Reconstruction → 170% surge]
[Martial Comprehension Boost → Fully Active]
Astra vanished.
Not teleported—
flickered.
"Phantom Star Step."
He appeared behind the assassin.
CRACK—!!
His kick sent the assassin flying into a stone pillar.
The two other assassins attacked together.
Astra ducked.
Spun.
Countered.
Moved like a shadow king.
Bai Ruyin gasped.
"This… this is not a child!"
Chu Feng couldn't breathe.
Astra wasn't human—
he was something else.
Chu Feng Joins Again
One assassin aimed for Chu Feng.
Before Astra could intercept—
Chu Feng roared:
"I won't be protected forever!"
Lightning burst around him.
He blocked the blade with a wooden sword that should've shattered—
—but it didn't.
Lightning reinforced it.
Astra smiled slightly.
Good.
Chu Feng wasn't the novel's legend yet,
but the real Chu Feng had the same heart.
Astra's Bloodline Flashes
Cornered by all four assassins, Astra's sealed bloodline pulsed.
Just leaked.
A taboo whisper tore through the night—
The assassins froze in terror.
"What… what is this pressure…!?"
"This is not anything from mortal world—!!"
"Kill him NOW—before he fully awakens—!"
Their fear betrayed their discipline.
Astra stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly.
"You came to kill the wrong person."
Destruction
Astra used Phantom Star Step to appear behind one assassin—
Palm strike to the spine.
CRACK.
Elbow to the jaw.
CRUNCH.
Kick to the throat.
SPLIT.
The second collapsed.
The third tried to flee—
Astra appeared above him—
and slammed him into the earth.
The Fourth Uses Forbidden Technique
The last assassin screamed:
"Bloodshadow Burst!"
His body ignited with cursed flames.
Astra felt real danger.
The Spirit Queen's voice snapped sharply:
"…you cannot take that head-on!"
Astra moved.
Phantom Star Step activated.
He grabbed Chu Feng, shielded Bai Ruyin—
BOOOOM—!!!
The explosion shook the entire sect.
Astra stood at the center, panting, protecting both of them.
Bai Ruyin stared, stunned speechless.
Chu Feng was shaking.
"Y-You saved us again…"
Astra simply nodded.
"It's what we do for each other."
Chu Feng's eyes softened—
Bai Ruyin bit her lip.
Emotions swirling uncontrollably.
The Spirit Queen whispered:
"…hmph… you are gathering quite a crowd, mortal…"
Astra smirked.
"You jealous ?"
"…shut up…"
Elders Arrive — Shock and Fear
Elder Jian arrived with others.
They saw the dead Gold-Rank assassins.
Silence.
Deep, suffocating silence.
One elder whispered:
"A… child… did this?"
Another trembled.
"No.
Not a child.
A monster…"
Jian said nothing.
But his mind screamed:
This child…
is going to change the world.