Darian's gaze remained steady, his eyes fixed ahead as if the voice behind him belonged only to the wind. Ten years in the Valeblue family had forged a heart immune to ridicule, tempered by mockery far sharper than mere words.
The scorn in Selene's tone was nothing new. Darian had endured such contempt for so long that it barely touched him. Unless he allowed it, few in his generation could disturb the still waters of his mind.
Seraphina's eyes glimmered with knowing light. His reaction surprised her not at all. Two days ago, she had witnessed him challenge Jaren, a peer of terrifying renown. That battle had shown her that Darian now walked a path most would not even dare to imagine.
Selene might be exceptional among the young elites, but compared to Jaren, his brilliance dimmed like a candle against the sun.
Standing behind Darian, Selene realized his words had been dismissed by a man who hadn't even condensed his Spirit Core. Pride and irritation stirred in his chest, but with Seraphina present—the woman he admired—he forced his temper into submission, unwilling to lose face before her.
Ahead of them, Valtor walked with hands clasped behind his back, his martial robe rippling in the wind as they soared through the skies. His eyes, sharp despite his age, took in every nuance between the three youths following him.
He knew Selene's dissatisfaction was inevitable. Seraphina, however, was a different matter—keen-eyed and perceptive beyond her years.
Over the next month, Valtor intended to pour all his resources into honing these three before the Hundred Cities War began.
Especially Darian. To defeat Lucian, a cultivator of the Mortal Purification Soul Stage, while still at the Great Perfection of Body Forging stage, meant the boy's foundation was extraordinary. If Darian could condense his Spirit Core within a month and step into the Mortal Purification Stage, he would become Drakeflare Main City's hidden blade.
This time, I will fight for my own glory, Valtor thought, a cold edge flashing in his eyes. Malrik… we will see who truly stands above.
A ripple of elemental light shimmered around them. Darian studied it for a long moment before breaking the silence.
"City Lord Qi," he said respectfully, "I have attained the Great Perfection of Body Forging, yet I have many doubts about condensing my Spirit Core and stepping into the Mortal Purification Stage. I ask for your guidance."
Selene folded his arms, a faint curl on his lips betraying his disdain.
Valtor gave a faint smile. "Good. We still have some distance to travel, so listen carefully. Seraphina, Selene, though you have already condensed your Spirit Cores, what I'm about to say will still be valuable to you."
At his words, Seraphina inclined her head, and Selene's eyes narrowed in focus.
"Cultivation begins with the Body Forging Stage," Valtor began, his voice steady and deep. "It is the refining of skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and marrow—tempering the body, condensing blood and qi, fusing them with elemental force until the body is as one. That is the stage you have attained, Darian. The next step… is the Mortal Purification Stage.
The hallmark of that stage is the Spirit Core. Man, the spirit of all creation, is born with seven souls: Valor, Vital, Force, Origin, Qi, Wisdom, and Heavenly. Ordinary folk remain blind to their souls. But when a cultivator attains the Great Perfection of Body Forging, they begin to perceive these seven and commence condensing them.
"The Spirit Core is their visible form. Its color changes with each soul condensed—the Seven Stages of Mortal Purification."
His gaze moved between them as he spoke, his words ringing like the tolling of a bell.
"The Valor and Vital Souls are light silver and deep silver. The Force and Origin Souls are light purple and deep purple. The final three—Qi, Wisdom, and Heavenly—are violet-gold, light gold, and pure gold. A glance at a Spirit Core's color can tell you exactly where a cultivator stands within the Mortal Purification stage.
"For example, you two," he nodded toward Seraphina and Selene, "bear light silver Spirit Cores, nearing deep silver. That means you stand at the peak of the Valor Soul Stage."
At his words, the air behind them shimmered as two luminous, light silver moons appeared, radiating strong fluctuations.
"In the month ahead, strive to step into the early Vital Soul Stage. The gap between stages is vast; without strong battle arts, a cultivator one stage above you can drain you dry of elemental force with ease.
"And you, Darian," Valtor's eyes sharpened, "you have half a month. Condense your Spirit Core, step into the Valor Soul Stage. Only then will you have the right to seize what you desire in the Hundred Cities War."
Silent resolve burned in Darian's gaze.
The Hundred Cities War was not for the ordinary. Every contestant was a prodigy representing their city, and even these two beside him could defeat Lucian with ease.
In such a crucible, only overwhelming strength could carve a place for him. His Warborn Covenant allowed him to challenge stages above his own, but that alone would not suffice. Within the War, many would stand in the early or mid Vital Soul Stage, some even beyond.
I am still too weak. The urgency in his heart solidified. He needed to condense his Spirit Core now.
And when he did, the Warborn Covenant in his Core would unfurl its hidden might. He also held another trump card: Uncle Felric's Blood Dragon Jade. Lucian coveted it for good reason. Uncle Felric had sworn that for one in the Mortal Purification Stage, it held fortune beyond imagining.
Valtor's gaze swept over them once more. "This year's Hundred Cities War has been brought forward. The hidden blades of the last decade will now be bared. This will be the most brutal, most dazzling competition in decades. Whether you three can ascend… we shall see."
His eyes lingered on Darian, sword case strapped to his back. "Perhaps… only he has the chance."
The air hummed. Without warning, the world around them trembled, and they plummeted toward the earth.
"To fly unaided… that is beyond the Mortal Purification Stage," Darian thought, awe sparking in his heart. My path is only beginning.
The elemental light around them faded under Valtor's will, and they landed with a solid thud.
The rush of water filled the air.
Ahead, a small mountain glowed faintly, pulsing with energy. The sound of flowing water came with waves of heat that quickened Darian's Holy Path battle qi.
Seraphina and Selene felt it too.
Shock flickered in Seraphina's cold eyes. She glanced at Valtor, who answered her unspoken thought with a nod.
"That," he said, "is a river of elemental force."
Darian's brow furrowed as the words sank in, but before he could speak, Seraphina and Selene's expressions had already shifted to disbelief.