A mysterious, smiling figure stood within the shadows.
As the dust slowly settled, his features became clear—a young boy with sharp facial features, blue eyes, and black hair.
He wore a deep purple robe and calmly observed the devastated land around him.
He muttered softly,
"Looks like a massive battle happened here… I wonder what kind of beast caused this destruction."
Suddenly, a flash of light burst from the ring on his right index finger. An old man's spirit emerged from it, floating calmly in the air.
The old man spoke with a sigh,
"That's why I always say—you lack experience, Luo Chen."
Luo Chen frowned in confusion.
"What do you mean by that, Master?"
The old spirit replied gravely,
"This destruction wasn't caused by any beast. This level of devastation was done by a single human. I can sense it clearly."
Luo Chen's eyes widened.
"What?! A single human did all this? In this wasteland? If this had happened in the Central Continent, I might believe it—but here?"
The old spirit nodded slowly.
"Yes, my boy. Even I find it hard to believe, but it's true. A human did this. I can clearly sense the lingering aura."
Luo Chen swallowed.
"Can you track the person? He must be a great master!"
The old spirit replied,
"Yes, I can follow the aura. And trust me—even in my prime, I would've needed to use my full power to cause damage like this."
He turned in a certain direction and said firmly,
"Follow my lead."
Luo Chen nodded.
The scene shifted to the Sanatan Flame Sect's main hall.
Shaurya stood silently, staring at his system interface.
97 / 100 Disciples
25 hours remaining
I only need three more disciples… he thought. But how?
He walked out of the main hall and stopped near the fountain outside.
A short distance away, Wang Tian stood quietly, watching him with interest.
The scene shifted to Xiao Rui, Xiao Lian, and Muo Qian. All three gazed at Shaurya with curiosity.
A disciple approached Wang Tian and asked respectfully,
"Senior, what is Master doing?"
Wang Tian replied calmly,
"Who knows what Master thinks or does?"
Shaurya standing there calmly. Hands in pocket
Shaurya spoke to the system,
"Hey, System. When are you going to give me my Primordial Dragon? I can't wait anymore."
The system replied,
[Yes, Host. Raise your hand to the sky and speak the words.]
The system whispered the incantation directly into Shaurya's ear.
For a moment, Shaurya froze.
Then his pupils widened.
Ancient words—heavy and majestic—echoed inside his mind like the memory of a forgotten age.
His lips curled into a jagged smile.
The disciples didn't just stop breathing; the oxygen in their lungs turned to lead.
Gravity forgot its purpose, and for a heartbeat, the entire mountain felt lighter than a feather before the crushing pressure of the Dragon's name slammed them back into the earth."
Shaurya stood in the center of that silence, a fracture in the world.
He didn't just chant. He spoke to the foundation of reality.
"By the breath that cooled the molten world...
By the marrow of mountains that broke the sky...
By the spark that lived when the Void exhaled..."
The shadows at his feet began to boil. The stone beneath him groaned as if the mountain itself recognized the command
"From the silence before the first word was spoken...
From the era of Iron Wings, when dragons darkened the sun...
From the blood of the Tyrant who devoured the heavens..."
A crack of obsidian light split the clouds.
Wang Tian recoiled, his white-knuckled grip trembling against his hilt.
Shaurya's voice was no mere thunder; it was the tectonic grind of colliding continents, a sound that bypassed the ears to grate directly against their souls.
"Break the seal of the Nine Deaths...
Unbind the soul that outlasted the gods...
Behold the blood of the sovereign sky!
Kneel before the throne of the First Dragon!"
The firmament didn't just break; it unmade itself, the blue of the atmosphere peeling away like scorched parchment to reveal the starving gold beneath.
The heartbeat of the world faltered, then stopped.
In the absolute silence of a dying storm, Shaurya whispered—a command that carried the weight of an era:
"Primordial Dragon—ARISE!"
The last word of the incantation had barely left Shaurya's lips when the world went silent.
Not quiet.
Silent.
The wind vanished. Leaves stopped moving. Even the distant cries of demonic beasts from the valley died in their throats as if something ancient had pressed a hand over the mouth of the world.
For one suspended heartbeat—
nothing existed.
Then the mountain trembled.
A deep vibration rolled through the earth, not violent but immense, like the slow turning of something older than continents.
Xiao Rui felt his knees weaken.
"W-what… is happening…?" he whispered.
Beside him, Xiao Lian gripped her sword tighter, her Ice Phoenix aura flickering uncertainly around her shoulders.
Even Muo Qian—who had faced death only hours before—felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Wang Tian did not speak.
The reincarnated emperor stood frozen, his usually calm expression completely shattered. His eyes were locked on the heavens above Shaurya, pupils trembling as if staring into something impossible.
"This… pressure…" he murmured under his breath.
"This isn't a spirit beast… this is something else."
Far outside the sect grounds—
Luo Chen had just reached the outer forest.
He stopped mid-step.
The ground beneath his feet shuddered faintly, sending loose pebbles bouncing across the dirt.
"M-Master…?" he asked slowly.
The old spirit floating beside him had gone pale.
The ancient cultivator stared toward the sect with eyes that had witnessed centuries of history—and yet now held unmistakable fear.
"That aura…" the old man whispered.
"That is not the birth of a beast…"
His voice lowered.
"That is the awakening of a sovereign."
Back at the sect—
A shadow moved.
Not across the ground.
Across the sky itself.
Something vast passed overhead, blocking the sunlight for an instant.
Then came the roar.
It was not simply loud.
It was ancient.
A sound that seemed to carry the weight of forgotten eras—of battles fought before the first human kingdom was ever carved from the wilderness.
The disciples flinched.
Some dropped to their knees instinctively.
The air rippled.
Then the sky opened.
From the vastness above, a colossal form emerged.
First came the claws—each talon longer than a sword.
Then the armored scales, deep blue and gleaming like forged steel beneath sunlight.
Wings followed—massive, endless, stretching across the sky like moving mountains.
And finally—
the head.
A dragon.
Not a spirit beast imitation.
Not a demonic creature twisted by cultivation.
A true dragon.
Its eyes burned with ancient intelligence as it descended slowly toward the mountain peak where Shaurya stood.
The ground shook when it landed.
Stone cracked outward beneath its claws.
Dust and loose rock scattered in all directions as the enormous creature lowered its head, releasing a slow breath that carried the heat of something primordial.
No one moved.
No one dared.
Even Wang Tian felt his heart pound.
"In my previous life…" he muttered faintly,
"…I have never seen a creature like this."
Shaurya, however—
was grinning like a child.
He stepped forward without hesitation.
The dragon's enormous golden eye followed him closely.
For a moment the two simply looked at each other.
Then the dragon bowed.
Its massive head lowered until its horned snout touched the ground before Shaurya.
The message was unmistakable.
Recognition.
Shaurya burst into laughter.
"HAHAHA! So you finally showed up!"
He ran forward and wrapped his arms around the dragon's enormous snout.
To everyone else it looked insane—
a human hugging a creature capable of destroying cities.
But the dragon didn't resist.
Instead it rumbled softly, a deep sound that almost resembled amusement.
A glow began to spread across its body.
The immense form shimmered with golden light, its scales dissolving into streams of energy that spiraled inward.
The giant wings folded into radiance.
The colossal body shrank rapidly.
Within seconds—
the mountain-sized dragon had become something no larger than a snake.
The tiny blue creature curled happily around Shaurya's arm.
Its bright eyes blinked curiously as it rubbed its head against his cheek.
Shaurya beamed.
"System," he said excitedly, "what's the information on this little guy?"
The interface appeared instantly.
[ Species: Primordial Dragon
Level: Golden Vein Level 6
Name: Not assigned ]
Shaurya's grin widened.
"Golden Vein Level Six already?!"
He looked down at the small dragon curled around his wrist.
"Well then…"
He tapped its nose lightly.
"From today onward, your name is Dragzard."
The tiny dragon chirped happily and nuzzled against his cheek again.
Around them—
the entire sect stood frozen in disbelief.
A moment ago they had witnessed the descent of an ancient sovereign.
Now their sect master was cuddling it like a pet.
Wang Tian slowly covered his face with one hand.
"…This sect is insane."
Shaurya had just finished calming the dragon when movement stirred near the edge of the courtyard.
A figure approached slowly.
Dust shifted under the newcomer's boots.
Before he could step closer—
SHING.
Steel flashed.
Wang Tian moved first.
His sword slid from its sheath in a single fluid motion as he stepped forward, blocking the stranger's path.
The blade stopped inches from the boy's throat.
His eyes were cold.
"Who the hell are you?" Wang Tian asked.
The air around him tightened.
The newcomer froze.
Shaurya turned from the dragon and glanced over.
"What's going on?" he asked casually.
Wang Tian didn't lower the sword.
"Master," he said without looking back, "this person was approaching you."
The boy quickly raised both hands.
"I'm not here to cause trouble," he said.
His voice carried urgency—but not fear.
Wang Tian's eyes narrowed.
"Oh really?"
His gaze drifted slowly toward the ring on Luo Chen's finger.
"Then explain the spirit hiding inside your ring."
The courtyard fell silent.
Luo Chen's breath caught.
"What?!"
His hand instinctively moved toward the ring.
"How do you know about that?"
Even Shaurya blinked in surprise.
"A spirit inside a ring?" he muttered. "Isn't that the classic chosen-one starter pack?"
A translucent panel flickered before his eyes.
The system appeared.
"As expected of you, Host. Your guess is correct."
A second window opened.
Information flowed across it like glowing script.
[ Luo Chen — Qi Initiate Level 4
Spirit Companion — Wu Luo
Remaining Soul Strength — Foundation Builder Level 4 ]
Shaurya raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad," he murmured.
Then he walked forward.
The tension didn't disappear—but it bent around him.
He placed a hand on Wang Tian's shoulder.
"Relax, Tian."
The emperor reincarnate hesitated for a moment… then lowered his blade.
Shaurya's gaze shifted to the ring.
"And you," he said calmly, "Mr. Spirit."
The air rippled.
"Maintaining Foundation Builder Level power even after death… that's impressive."
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then the ring glowed.
Light gathered like mist spilling from a broken seal.
A translucent figure slowly emerged.
An old man floated above the ground, robes fluttering despite the still air.
His eyes widened the moment he looked at Shaurya.
"How…?"
His voice trembled.
"How do you know my level?"
Shaurya adjusted his black sunglasses.
A grin spread across his face.
"Hehehe…"
He spread his arms slightly.
"I am Shaurya."
A gust of wind swept across the courtyard.
Behind him—
Xiao Rui stepped forward.
Xiao Lian appeared beside him, frost gathering faintly around her hands.
Wang Tian folded his arms, standing like an unmoving mountain.
Muo Qian moved quietly to Shaurya's side.
For a moment the group stood together.
An entire sect forming a wall behind one man.
Shaurya's smile widened.
"Sect Master of the Sanatan Flame Sect."
He pointed straight at Luo Chen.
"And you."
Luo Chen blinked.
"Boy."
Shaurya tilted his head.
"Join my sect."
The words landed like a stone in still water.
Luo Chen froze.
His mind raced.
Before he could even speak—
SMACK.
The old spirit grabbed the back of his head.
His body bent forward instantly.
"He accepts!"
Wu Luo declared loudly.
"And so do I!"
Luo Chen struggled to straighten himself.
"Master!"
He whispered furiously.
"What are you doing?!"
The old spirit only laughed.
"You fool."
His eyes gleamed.
"You don't recognize opportunity when it stands in front of you."
He glanced at Shaurya.
"This man is not ordinary."
His voice dropped slightly.
"If you follow him… your future will reach heights you cannot imagine."
Luo Chen hesitated.
His gaze slowly lifted toward Shaurya.
The dragon coiled lazily beside him.
An emperor reincarnate stood in his ranks.
An Ice Phoenix prodigy breathed cold mist nearby.
And the sect master himself looked like he already knew everything.
After a long moment—
Luo Chen sighed.
"…Fine."
He bowed slightly.
"I accept."
Shaurya instantly produced a sect registration form.
Luo Chen stared at it.
"…You carry these everywhere?"
Shaurya grinned.
"Preparation."
After the form was signed, Shaurya turned toward the old spirit.
"And you."
Wu Luo raised an eyebrow.
Shaurya spoke calmly.
"You have experience."
"Knowledge."
"And enough power to guide the young."
He folded his arms.
"So I'm appointing you as the first elder of my sect."
The courtyard went quiet again.
"Any objections?"
Wu Luo stared at him for several seconds.
Then he laughed.
A deep, satisfied laugh.
"No objections."
"I accept."
At that exact moment—
[DING.]
A notification window appeared before Shaurya.
[Congratulations, Host.]
Shaurya looked at it.
Then slowly smiled.
To Be Continued....