The cave felt chilly, yet wet - nothing like the sticky woodland breeze carrying traces of iron. Moisture clung to stone surfaces, while patches of soft-glowing moss cast ghostly green flickers across cracks and corners.
Kaelen stepped slow, eyes glowing with the power to see through lies. Though the beast called Shadow Stalker Panther lay still on the ground, he figured threats liked sneaking up when things seemed safe. Quiet spots? They usually meant something worse was waiting.
The sticky-sweet smell, almost like medicine, got sharper each time he moved forward. Not quite honey but close - mixed with something sharp like storm air - it rushed into his chest, shaking off the fog in his head.
"System, analyze the air composition," Kaelen whispered.
Check shows strong Yang energy here. It's coming from up ahead - about twenty meters away
Kaelen turned a tight corner in the passage then paused.
The cave widened into a round room, tiny and quiet. At its heart stood a short rock platform, lit only by pale moonbeams sneaking through a roof split.
A lone bright red bloom sprang from the rock. Nine petals stretched out, each lit up like it held tiny flames inside. In the middle sat a plum-sized fruit, throbbing slowly - like it was breathing.
[Found treasure: Nine-Leaf Blood Berry] [Level: Mid-tier Earth Grade] [Boosts bone density while enhancing body power through rich life-force essence inside]
Earth Rank?" Kaelen's eyes shot open.
In the Azure Dragon Empire, stuff got sorted into levels - Mortal, Earth, Sky, or Heaven. The Vance crew mostly relied on High-Mortar-level supplies. But an item from the Earth tier? That's what elders would fight dirty for.
"No wonder that panther was guarding this place," Kaelen muttered. "It was waiting for the fruit to ripen so it could evolve into a Level 6 beast."
He moved ahead to grab the apple - then his shoe hit a rock.
Clatter.
Kaelen glanced downward. There, hidden among dark patches near the pedestal's foot, rested a bony frame. Time had stained it pale gold, wrapped in ragged scraps - what once was a gray fighter's garment.
"Yet another explorer?" Kaelen dropped to a squat.
The bones were slumped like someone deep in thought - clearly not killed by a fight. Instead, death came while chasing some hidden knowledge. On his legs lay a tiny book, worn and tied shut with string.
He grabbed it. Though the sheets felt fragile, the words stayed clear.
"I am Elder Yan of the Iron Fist Sect. I found this miraculous fruit and attempted to consume it to break through my bottleneck. But I was a fool. The energy is too violent... it is burning my insides. My meridians are crumbling. Leave this place... or share my fate."
Kaelen closed the book. "He died because his body was too weak to handle the energy."
A regular practitioner had to mix an Earth Tier fruit into medicine or tablet form. Otherwise, chowing down straight felt like gulping fire.
Yet Kaelen didn't follow the usual path of a cultivator.
"System," Kaelen asked, staring at the glowing red fruit. "What are my odds of survival if I eat this?"
[Figuring things out using the Host's 'Ancient Dragon Body'...] [Chance of making it: 98%.] [Hurting like crazy.] [Heads up: dragon forms love wild power - this fruit? Just what you need to level up.]
"Ninety-eight percent," Kaelen smirked. "I like those odds."
He grabbed it, pulling off the Nine-Petaled Blood Fruit. Warmth spread through his palm as he held it.
"Cheers, Elder Yan," Kaelen said to the skeleton. "I'll finish what you started."
He took a bite of the fruit.
Sweetness burst in his mouth - then sharp heat rushed right after. Not down to the gut, but up it flared, turning to wild power as soon as it touched his throat.
"Guh!"
Kaelen sank down hard, hands locked around his neck. Fire burned inside him, like something hot melted through his chest. His face flared bright red - almost purple - and wisps of smoke curled off his arms.
[Alert: Massive energy influx detected!] [Ancient Dragon Body Tempering Art auto-activating.]
Kaelen already knew - no system required. A surge pulsed through his core, sharp and wild. Golden power flared up, fierce like fire. It slammed into the fruit's crimson force, shoving it down hard.
His bones snapped then shifted, splitting before fixing themselves fast - now tighter, weightier, tougher. Muscles ripped but quickly reconnected, losing what little fragility he had left.
Over two nights plus one day, Kaelen stayed frozen inside the cave, bundled in glowing waves - red mixed with gold. No food passed his lips, no rest touched him, not even water. Instead, he shaped raw energy, slow but steady.
Day 3: Time for the showdown.
The sun climbed above the Vance Estate, stretching dark shapes over the big arena.
The arena stood as a huge stone ring where fights happened or arguments got sorted. Right now, every seat was full. Besides the Vance kin, lords from rival families showed up - also rich traders plus folks just looking for action.
Word flew fast - Lu Tian, once called worthless, was back from the grave. He'd dared Darius, the golden prodigy, to a fight to the end. Folks flocked in crowds, hungry for bloodshed.
"Do you think Kaelen will even show up?" a spectator laughed, munching on roasted nuts. "He probably ran away the moment he left the hall."
"I heard he went into the Shadow Forest," another replied. "He's probably wolf poop by now."
In the middle of the arena, Darius Vance stood, arms folded. His outfit? Fresh battle gear - toughened leather along with steel panels. To onlookers, he seemed exactly like a champion should.
"It is noon!" Darius shouted, his voice amplified by his Qi. "The sun is high! Kaelen Vance has not appeared!"
Darius glanced toward the private section - Lord Magnus was there alongside the city's top official.
"Patriarch! It is clear that Kaelen is a coward. I declare myself the winner by forfeit!"
The people shouted. "Darius! Darius! Darius!"
Lord Magnus scowled, eyes locking onto the vacant gateway. His hope that his son had turned things around now felt misplaced. Maybe he'd believed a bit too much in the kid.
"Very well," Magnus stood up, raising his hand to silence the crowd. "Since Kaelen Vance has failed to appear within the allotted time, I hereby declare Darius Vance the winner and the official Heir to the—"
BOOM.
The ground shook.
It wasn't a quake. Instead, it was a loud thud - something big had dropped right in the middle of the arena.
Dust rose in clouds, blocking what was ahead. Then, nobody said a word.
Outta the dust came a voice - steady, low, yet somehow icy in its command.
"Start the funeral without the guest of honor? How rude."
The dust settled.
Kaelen stood in the center of the crater he had created by jumping from the spectator wall.
He looked different.
His ripped clothes had vanished, swapped for a basic dark workout outfit - probably stolen or picked up somewhere. Hair pulled into a fighter's bun. Yet what hit hardest was how he carried himself now.
He no longer seemed like a kid. Skin shimmered slightly, cold-like. Muscles stayed tight, coiled - ready. Then those eyes… they burned dim gold, sharp, hunting.
Darius looked his way - just for a moment, doubt flickered across his face. "You… really showed up."
I told you," Kaelen said as he moved ahead. Each footstep split the rock under his heels. "I carried a debt here - now it's time to claim what's owed."
"System," Kaelen thought. "Show me his stats."
[Target: Darius Vance] [Cultivation: Body Tempering Stage 5 (Mid)] [Status: Nervous]
"And show me mine."
[Host: Kaelen Vance] [Cultivation: Body Tempering Stage 5 (Peak)] [Strength: 45 (Dragon Force Active)] [Agility: 40] [Skill: Shadow Step, Iron Fist, Dragon Pressure.]
Kaelen grinned. Within just seventy-two hours - fueled by the Blood Fruit - he'd shot up from Stage 4 to brushing the top of Stage 5. His power levels? Almost twice what you'd see in someone else at that stage.
Darius calmed down again. Though he felt Kaelen was stronger now, he still didn't buy that some nobody could beat him.
"You managed to clean yourself up," Darius sneered, drawing a long steel sword from his waist. "But a bath doesn't make you a warrior. Today, I will chop you into pieces!"
A sword?" Kaelen gave a short shake of his head, lifting his empty palms. "No need for some plaything to end you - just these."
The crowd sucked in their breath. Battling a sword-wielder with no weapon? That's pure madness!
"Arrogant fool! Die!"
Darius shot ahead. Using the Vance clan's secret footwork - Gliding Serpent Steps - he covered ground fast. In a blink, he was close enough to swing sideways with his blade. His goal? One clean cut to take off Kaelen's head.
"Way too slow," Kaelen muttered.
To viewers, it looked like the blade went straight through Kaelen's throat.
Yet it stayed like a shadow.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Step]
Kaelen showed up right behind Darius again.
"Huh?!" Darius jerked sideways, slashing the blade through the air.
Kaelen stood still. Instead of moving aside, he stretched his arm forward - his left one - and grabbed the edge. The steel pressed into his palm, sharp but motionless.
CLANG.
The clang of metal on metal echoed around. Yet Kaelen's palm stayed uncut. Thanks to his Dragon Body, his skin turned tough like forged iron. Holding the razor-edged sword, his fingers pressed deep into the cold steel.
You call this a strike?" Kaelen said, nose nearly touching Darius's.
A flick of Kaelen's wrist - then raw power surged through, fueled by a Strength score nobody could ignore.
SNAP.
The steel blade broke apart suddenly.
Darius stumbled back, staring at his broken weapon in horror. "My... my Steelbane Sword! That's a High-Mortal weapon! How did you break it with your bare hand?!"
I told you," Kaelen said as he moved ahead, energy flaring like a beast shaking off sleep - "we're nothing alike
He lifted his right fist. Around it, the air twisted, bent by raw force.
"Now... it's my turn."