Whoosh...
With a swing of his yellow energy sword, Yu Zixing instantly cut down a fairly large tree with ease.
This yellow energy sword represented that his Eternal Life Transformation had achieved the next stage from White to Yellow.
Staring at the yellow energy sword in his hands, the boy couldn't help but think: "The energy weapon is more durable now... sharper too... Not to mention it's a bit more stabler to form the energy constructs as well... This breakthrough really did give me way too many benefits."
After his breakthrough to the first ring level Yu Zixing had begun to feel his body being lighter, his mind clearer, his strength greater... even his ability to channel energy had become much easier.
This was the effect of his 12 Meridians being conditioned and his first Extraordinary Meridian being opened. Not to mention his body being tempered by tribulation lightning.
Pop!
Hao Yue then came out of his body and said: "Bro... I have some benefits I can give you now."
....
"So... what are these benefits Hao Yue?" Asked the dark haired boy after he and Hao Yue arrived at a secluded area near the back of his house.
"Watch closely bro." Said Hao Yue as he summoned their white Spirit Ring from below them.
Shiiing...
With a flash of bright light the center of the Spirit Ring began to show something mysterious as if a crack was starting to form.
"W-What's going on with the Spirit Ring?" Asked Yu Zixing in surprise at the sight.
Hao Yue: "Don't worry bro... Something good is about to come out."
Crack... Shatter!
In that moment a divide that looked to be a spatial tear appeared from the center of the Spirit Ring.
Shiiing!
Then suddenly three bright streams of light shot out of the spatial tear and quickly rushed towards Zixing.
The streams were one Gold, one Purple and one White.
"Ugh!" Without warning the three streams of lights instantly entered into Zixing's body making it glow in multi-colored energy.
Shiing!
"Haa..." Taking a deep breath the dark haired boy did not panic. Since Hao Yue stated these were benefits, there must've been a purpose for these energies to enter his body.
Upon sitting down cross-legged, Zixing quickly closed his eyes and began meditating to check the condition of his body. Due to the breakthrough of his mental cultivation, this became much easier for him to do compared to before.
The white colored energy situated itself in-between his Bridge Between Heaven and Earth taking the form of a pure white vortex continuously absorbing the energies outside his body.
Hao Yue: "This is my first gift to you bro... A Modified Yuan Vortex Spiritual Stove!... Once you have fully merged with it, it will greatly enhance your ability to absorb the energies of Heaven and Earth aiding you in your cultivation as well as amplifying your ability to recover Spirit Power at a swift pace."
Yu Zixing: "The Yuan Vortex Spiritual Stove!... But what exactly do you mean by it being modified?"
Hao Yue: "Simply put this version of the Yuan Vortex Spiritual Stove also possesses the capabilities of the Angel's Embrace skill which means it can filter and purify the energies it absorbs allowing your body to withstand the strain of continuously absorbing Spirit Energy while also slowly amplifying your innate potential."
Yu Zixing: "That's..."
But before he could finish his words, a reaction suddenly occurred within Zixing's Spiritual Sea... There was where the Golden energy entered.
When Zixing saw what the Golden energy had turned into he couldn't help but be shocked once again.
"This... Isn't this another Spiritual Stove the Saint Spiritual Stove?!!" Said the dark haired boy in surprise.
Indeed the Golden energy had transformed into the Saint Spiritual Stove from Throne of Seal.
Hao Yue: "Not exactly bro... Although it is indeed the Saint Spiritual Stove, it has been converted into something different... Can't you feel it?"
Analyzing the Saint Spiritual Stove with his Spiritual Sense for a bit, Yu Zixing began to realize something: "This is... A Martial Soul?... The Saint Spiritual Stove has become a Martial Soul?!"
Hao Yue: "That's right... The Saint Spiritual Stove has been converted and is slowly transforming into your 2nd Martial Soul bro... Unlike it's original state which can only evolve three times, this Martial Soul version of yours can evolve each time it absorbs a Spirit Ring."
Yu Zixing: "A second Martial Soul?... You're actually giving me a second Martial Soul?"
Hao Yue: "Yes... However this isn't all bro... Remember I still have my third gift."
Throb... Bzzt...
Without warning as if responding to Hao Yue's words, the dark haired boy suddenly felt his heart throb and a spark of purple electricity seemed to have ignited the moment it did.
The third stream of energy had entered his heart and began to spread a mysterious yet overbearing force throughout his entire body.
Yu Zixing: "W-What the hell is this?!!... I feel as if my body is about to burst from overwhelming power!"
Hao Yue: "This is the main reason why we strengthened your body first and foremost bro..."
Hearing Hao Yue's words Zixing immediately realized: "If it wasn't for my Innate Divine Strength, External Spiritual Energy and the Bridge Between Heaven & Earth, my body would've instantly burst from this overwhelming force!"
Hao Yue: "This is my third gift to you... It is a sliver of my Destructive Essence which is merging with your body and bloodline... After awhile it will become your variation Body Spirit... Your 3rd Martial Soul the Body of Destruction!... For the sake of these benefits you must endure the overbearing transformation process bro."
By this point Yu Zixing could no longer help but ask: "Hao Yue... Why are you doing this?... Helping so much... Giving me so much... What's more how is it that you became my Martial Soul?.... That should've been impossible right?"
Hao Yue: "...."
After a moment of silence, Hao Yue then said: "Bro... No matter the benefits I've given you... What you've achieved with them is entirely through your own efforts and hard work... As for the reason why all of this is happening... Honestly I can't tell you much... But what I can say is this... This reality has already been altered from the one you once knew... And I'm not just talking about your existence."
Yu Zixing: "So... what exactly are these things that had been altered?"
Hao Yue: "That I cannot tell you... All you need to know is that there will come a day whether good or bad... You must face these changes yourself."
Yu Zixing: "Why me though?"
Hao Yue: "Simply because... Your Martial Soul is the God of Heavenly Protection and Calamity... Austin Griffin!"
By this point Zixing ceased asking anymore questions... Since Hao Yue was his Martial Soul he could somehow sense it... That Hao Yue would no longer answer anymore of his questions regarding this matter.
....
More than two hours passed...
Shiing
The energies within Zixing stabilized as his meditating body began to glow in tri-colored light.
His lower body glowed in white, his chest glowed in bright purple and finally his head was glowing calm gold.
Once his body stopped glowing, Yu Zixing slowly began to raise his head.
At that moment the energies of Heaven and Earth began to gather around him like being sucked by a vortex.
This was the Yuan Vortex Spiritual Stove utilized by Long Kongkong one of the protagonists from Sealed Divine Throne 2.
It had firmly situated itself within the Spiritual Orifice in-between Zixing's Bridge Between Heaven & Earth. This allows it to quickly and easily distribute the purified energies of Heaven and Earth to both the Eternal Life Technique and the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Using the Yuan Vortex Spiritual Stove, the dark haired boy quickly replenished the energy he used to withstand the overbearing force from earlier.
After the energy vortex vanished, Zixing slowly opened his eyes and from his body came out the golden Saint Spiritual Stove.
Since a spiritual stove is a treasure born of nature, gaining the Saint Spiritual Stove as a Martial Soul has allowed Yu Zixing to harmonize with nature to a small extent.
"So this is my new Martial Soul." Said the boy as the Saint Spiritual Stove floated above his palm as he felt the faint whispers of the wind, the flow of the nearby grass and even the relaxing intent of the nearby trees.
It was all very faint but he could sense it to a small degree. As if the world around him had become more 'accepting'.
After taking back the Saint Spiritual Stove, Zixing took a deep breath as his expression turned serious and thought: "Now time to try the last one."
The dark haired boy then stood up and with another deep breath, released the overbearing destructive force from earlier.
"Guh!!" It was here that Zixing's body began to change. Golden purple patterns started appearing throughout his body like circuits as his height grew by more than a foot.
It was then that a dense overwhelming purple aura surrounded his body to the point where one could barely see it.
This is Yu Zixing's 3rd Martial Soul... The variation body spirit... The Body of Destruction!
Since it was achieved through Austin Griffin's own sliver of destructive essence, one could only imagine the overbearing force flowing within Zixing's bloodline at this moment.
"Graaaah!" The dark haired boy unleashed a beast like roar as his eyes began to glow in deep purple.
Hao Yue then shouted from within him: "Bro hurry and retract the Body of Destruction... Your current body simply cannot withstand it's overbearing power... What's more it's begun to influence your mind with destructive impulses... Hurry and take it back!"
"Ugh.." Sounded the boy as he deactivated his Body of Destruction and returned to his normal state.
Pop!
Hao Yue then appeared from within his body once more and said: "As I suspected... Your current self is insufficient to use this Martial Soul."
"Then why did you give me this power in the first place?" Grumbled Zixing as he sat on the ground looking spiritually exhausted. The Body of Destruction was indeed extremely overbearing to the point where he felt as if his body would burst at any moment while he was using it. And as Hao Yue said he did indeed have a strong urge to destroy everything around him while in that state.
Hao Yue: "To test your limits bro... What's more cultivating a body and mind that can utilize this Martial Soul will be one of our primary goals."
Before Zixing could reply, they suddenly sensed people approaching and so Hao Yue re-entered back into Zixing's body.
When he saw the two people descending from the trees, the boy couldn't help but thought: "It's the Clan Master and.... Is that Liu Erlong?!"
Yu Yuanzhen: "Zixing where have you been we've been looking all over for you."
Yu Zixing performed a slight bow then replied: "Greetings clan master... I just went out to get a bit of Morning exercise."
"Is that so?" Said the Clan Master as he tapped his glasses in suspicion.
"Haa..." With a sigh Yu Yuanzhen then turned towards the one beside him and said: "Child this is the person I told you about a few months ago... The one who will take you to an Elementary Spirit Master Academy."
With soft but serious eyes Liu Erlong took a step forward and introduced herself: "Hello I'm Liu Erlong it's nice to meet you little Zixing... You may call me aunt Erlong from now on."
"Um... It's nice to meet you too... Lady Erlong." Replied Yu Zixing with a bit of an awkward tone. He honestly wasn't sure how to properly speak to Liu Erlong especially knowing her true temper.
Yu Yuanzhen: "Erlong here will take you to Rising Sun City where you can choose which among the Six Rising Academies you wish to attend."
Yu Zixing: "The Six Rising Academies?"
Liu Erlong: "They are a group of Elementary Spirit Master Academies situated near Rising Sun City. The clan master has decided that it would be best for you to enroll in one of these six Academies."
Yu Yuanzhen: "You'll at least be able to practice there without any form of pressures from the clan."
Hearing this Yu Zixing nodded and said: "If that's what the clan master thinks is best, then I will do so."
Yu Yuanzhen: "Very well then in two days you and Erlong will travel east of Heaven Dou towards Rising Sun City... Make proper preparations until then."
....
Two days later Yu Zixing and Liu Erlong could be seen riding a carriage traveling towards east of Heaven Dou Empire.
"Hawawa~~" Lying on top of the boy's head was Hao Yue enjoying a delicious pastry.
"Although it's species is different, it does resemble Sanpao's behaviour by quite a bit." Thought Liu Erlong who was observing Hao Yue.
As for Zixing he was staring at a lightning bolt shaped blue dragon ring around his finger. He could still remember what Yu Yuanzhen's words were when he handed him this ring.
[Yu Yuanzhen: "This is a spatial storage essence tool utilized through Spirit Power... Make good use of it... It might be the last gift we can give you for awhile."]
"Thank you... Granduncle." Thought the boy as he truly felt grateful towards the Clan Master. First he gave him a Mystic Water Pill and now a Storage Essence Tool.
"Little Zixing... Is this your first time away from the clan's territory?" Asked Liu Erlong with a calm expression.
"Um... Yes... It is." Replied the boy scratching his head. This was indeed his first time outside the clan's territory upon reincarnating in this world.
Liu Erlong: "You were quite in a hurry to leave... I didn't even see you say goodbye to your parents."
Yu Zixing: "I don't really see my father much cause of his work outside the clan... As for my mother, I don't even know who she is... all I've been told is that she's someone from outside the clan and that she isn't my father's official wife."
Liu Erlong shuddered upon hearing this. Her circumstances in terms of family were a bit similar to Zixing's.
As Yu Luomian's illegitimate daughter born to a prostitute, she never had a proper childhood as part of the clan either.
Liu Erlong asked: "Are there no adults living with you?"
Yu Zixing: "I see the Clan Head from time to time... That's about it."
Liu Erlong clenched her fists hearing this as she tried her best to hold back her temper in front of the boy as she thought: "How could the clan be so heartless... To leave a small child like this alone with no proper guardian... Is it simply because of his lacking talent?"
The more she thought about it the more it angered her.
Trying her best to calm herself down, Liu Erlong spoke: "Little Zixing... What do you say after you graduate from one of the Rising Academies, you stay with me instead of going back to the clan?"
Yu Zixing: "With you Lady Erlong?"
Liu Erlong: "That's right... You see I've recently founded a Spirit Master Academy of my own called Blue Tyrant Academy... Since it is an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy, you can start attending it after you've graduated from one of the Rising Academies."
"Blue Tyrant Academy..." Muttered the boy as he remembered: "That's right in the future that place will become the new Shrek Academy!"
Yu Zixing: "Lady Erlong I..."
But before he could finish his words, the desperate cries of the carriage driver sounded behind him.
"B-B-BANDITS... There are bandits in front of the carriage!"
"Perfect timing... I needed something to vent my frustrations on... Come little Zixing. I'll show you how a proper Spirit Master fights." Said Liu Erlong with a dark smirk on her face as her violent tendencies had been stimulated.
Having seen the violent spark within Erlong's eyes as well as the flash of blue flames around her fist, Yu Zixing couldn't help but swallow hard as he thought: "I don't know who these bandits are... but they sure did pick the wrong carriage to target."
....
Back within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan a middle aged man with dark hair and a lightning bolt shaped scar on his cheek could be seen standing outside Yu Zixing's house.
Yu Yuanzhen then approached and said: "You sure you don't regret not saying goodbye?... After all he is still your son."
Indeed this middle aged man standing outside Zixing's house is his father Yu Qianfan.
Yu Qianfan: "Doesn't matter... He must walk his own path if he wants to change how the clan sees him... Awakening with just half a Spirit Rank level of potential isn't something he can change with just effort... Yu Xiaogang is a prime example of that."
Yu Yuanzhen: "Couldn't you have at least told him that the storage essence tool actually came from you and not from me?"
Yu Qianfan: "..."
Yu Yuanzhen's expression then turned serious as he said: "Then... How about telling him the truth about his mother?"
"Absolutely not Clan Master... That is not even up for discussion!" Said Yu Qianfan as he began walking away from the house.
With a deep sigh, Yu Yuanzhen muttered: "Haa... We really have to change this stubbornness within our clan."