Chapter 5: Shadows, Dragons, and Deepening Bonds
The following days within the verdant embrace of the Beast Mountain Range became a relentless crucible for Lu Yuan's burgeoning powers. He and Xiao Yixian moved with purpose, her keen eyes unerringly spotting rare medicinal herbs, while his sharpened senses, honed by the system, detected the subtle disturbances of lurking beasts. He focused primarily on refining his Shadow Blade Technique, a lethal art that soon revealed its deeper intricacies. He discovered it was divided into three forms: the First Form, which boosted his strength by 1.5 times; the Second Form, doubling his power; and the devastating Third Form, which increased both strength and speed threefold. This technique, relying on blinding velocity and pinpoint strikes like a fleeting shadow, was truly the hallmark of an assassin, emphasizing accurate attacks over brute force. Lu Yuan, still at the Warrior level, found he could only proficiently wield the First Form, yet even this initial mastery turned him into a deadly hunter.
He effortlessly dispatched more than ten Level Three beasts, their forms falling silently under his precise, almost surgical, strikes. The practice sharpened his reactions, making his movements fluid and deadly. Beyond the lesser creatures, he also successfully engaged and killed three more formidable Level Four beasts: a magnificent Golden Eagle whose piercing cries echoed through the peaks, a slithering, venomous Black Demon Snake, and a cunning Purple Demon Spider.
The Purple Demon Spider, in particular, proved a challenging adversary. It made its lair within a network of underground caves, constantly retreating into the labyrinthine tunnels whenever Lu Yuan pressed his attack. It was a frustrating dance of defense and evasion. But Lu Yuan's persistent focus on his Spirit Mastery proved crucial. He had already come to understand that while he could physically control up to nine blades with precision, allowing them to exert his full force, manipulating more blades simultaneously diminished his individual blade power. However, the First Form of the Nine Dragons Technique circumvented this limitation; it not only allowed him to control hundreds of smaller blades but channeled them into a cohesive formation that amplified their collective strength by two or even three times. This revelation was game-changing. Utilizing this newfound understanding, he finally ambushed the elusive spider, ending the arduous battle with a decisive strike.
His triumph against the Purple Demon Spider wasn't just another kill; it was a breakthrough. The notification from his system confirmed his progress: Lu Yuan was now an Advanced Level Spirit Master. His control over his blades, and their inherent strength, had increased dramatically, expanding his capabilities even further.
Xiao Yixian, meanwhile, benefited immensely from Lu Yuan's prowess. The dens of the high-level beasts he vanquished often held rare and potent medicinal herbs, which she eagerly collected, adding significantly to her growing inventory.
As evening descended, they found a secluded clearing for their dinner. Xiao Yixian, her movements now unreserved and intimate, sat close beside him, roasting fresh beast meat over a crackling fire. The delicious aroma filled the air. She meticulously barbequed the choicest cuts, tenderly feeding him piece after piece, her actions speaking volumes of the deepening affection between them, especially after the shared vulnerability in the cave.
After their satisfying meal, they rested for a few moments, bathed in the soft glow of the campfire. Lu Yuan took this quiet time to check his system's mission log.
Mission Completed: Four out of ten Warlord-level beasts killed.
A surge of satisfaction filled him. The progress was steady, his growth undeniable. He extinguished the fire and settled down, resting comfortably beside Xiao Yixian, who had fallen asleep, her head gently nestled on his shoulder.
The pattern continued for the next few days. Lu Yuan continued to hone his Shadow Blade Technique, using its increased strength and precision to fell more beasts. His growing proficiency in Spirit Mastery allowed him to easily defeat a Level Four Earth Giant Ape, a creature known for its formidable raw power.
He then encountered a notoriously cunning White Spirit Fox, a Level Four beast renowned for its intricate illusions. The fox wove complex mirages, attempting to disorient and deceive Lu Yuan, but his heightened spiritual senses, sharpened by his Advanced Spirit Master level, perceived the subtle distortions within a hundred-meter radius. He attacked furiously, his Shifter Blade lashing out with a speed that left afterimages. The White Spirit Fox, despite its formidable illusionary arts, possessed a remarkably frail physical body, and a single, precise blow from Lu Yuan proved fatal. The encounter also reinforced a critical understanding of his Spirit Mastery: while he could extend his blade control beyond a hundred meters, the further they traveled, the more their strength diminished. A vital tactical lesson for future battles.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar ripped through the forest, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. A colossal Giant Black Rhino, standing a towering five meters tall, burst into view. Its single, massive horn gleamed menacingly as it charged, a blur of immense speed and raw power, directly at Lu Yuan. His spiritual energy reacted instinctively, a surge of adrenaline sharpening his senses. He dodged, a near-imperceptible shift of his body, just as the rhino's horn, aimed with terrifying precision, smashed into the ancient tree behind him. The impact was cataclysmic, a deafening crack of splintering wood, followed by a shower of dust and fragmented rock.
"Lu Yuan! It's a Level Five Beast!" Xiao Yixian cried out, her voice laced with alarm, recognizing the immense threat. "And incredibly strong!"
Lu Yuan's spirit flared. This was a true challenge. He channeled his energy, the Shifter Blade splitting into hundreds, then reforming into the majestic Dragon's Embrace. They clashed, a symphony of brute force against ethereal precision. The blade-dragon, despite the rhino's overwhelming power, constantly maintained the advantage, its fluid movements and piercing strikes steadily wearing down the beast.
No one, however, could have anticipated the rhino's final, desperate gambit. With a guttural bellow, it unleashed a potent energy ball, not at Lu Yuan, but suddenly veering towards Xiao Yixian. Lu Yuan reacted instantly, throwing his full spiritual force into the Nine Dragons Technique to intercept it. But the energy ball was fast, its trajectory true, and even his peak speed seemed insufficient. Just as despair threatened to grip him, a profound shift occurred within his spiritual sea. A surge of boundless energy, as if drawn from the very depths of his soul, flooded him. His perception sharpened, his spiritual energy becoming clearer, more potent than ever before.
In that critical moment, the Dragon's Embrace, pushed to its absolute peak, seemed to transcend its previous form. With a silent, yet momentous, roar, the single blade-dragon split into two magnificent dragons, each now thirty meters tall, their forms crackling with an intensified power. They surged forward, intercepting the energy ball with devastating force, deflecting it away from Xiao Yixian. The deflected energy missile soared through the air, impacting a small hill in the distance with an earth-shattering explosion. The hill, once a solid landmark, was reduced to nearly one-third of its original mass, crumbling into a cloud of dust and debris.
Xiao Yixian, who had braced for impact, slowly opened her eyes. Before her, two majestic, thirty-meter-tall dragons, woven from countless shimmering blades, stood sentinel. Then, Lu Yuan's worried face appeared beside them. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice raw with concern. She could only nod, tears welling in her eyes, a silent testament to the terror and relief she felt.
Lu Yuan took a deep, shuddering breath. The battle was over. He quickly found a small, sheltered cave near the decimated hill, a quiet refuge where they could rest for the night. They shared a meal of Black Rhino meat soup, its rich, high-energy nutrients replenishing their spent strength. As they ate, Xiao Yixian, utterly exhausted but filled with a profound sense of peace, drifted off to sleep, her head resting on Lu Yuan's shoulder. He didn't mind. He was simply content that she was safe. And as he gazed into the dancing firelight, a quiet satisfaction settled over him: his Spirit Mastery had leveled up to Warlord level. Now, he could access the Second Form of the Nine Dragons Formation, capable of summoning two thirty-meter giant dragons. His system mission was almost complete. He closed his eyes, allowing the exhaustion of the battles to claim him, dreaming of the immense power that now surged within his very being.
The next morning dawned bright and clear. With his increased strength and mastery, Lu Yuan swiftly completed the remaining mission objectives, dispatching the last few Warlord-level beasts with ease. Xiao Yixian, too, finished collecting all the necessary medicinal ingredients. As evening cast long shadows, they returned to Green Mountain Town, to the familiar sanctuary of their courtyard.
"You rest," Xiao Yixian said, her eyes sparkling with affection, "I'll cook a good dinner for you."
Lu Yuan gratefully accepted, taking a long, refreshing bath. He emerged feeling invigorated, joining Xiao Yixian for a peaceful dinner. They talked, their conversation easy and joyful, before retiring for the night.
Lying in bed, Lu Yuan suddenly remembered. "I almost forgot to claim my mission rewards!" he muttered to himself. He opened his system interface. Two glowing orbs, representing his rewards, hovered in his inventory. He tapped the 'use' button, and instantly, a powerful, unseen force surged into his body and soul. He felt himself growing stronger, his very essence evolving, the transformation profound and continuous for several minutes.
When he finally opened his eyes, a faint gust of wind swirled around him in a circular motion, a subconscious manifestation of his heightened power. He was now an Advanced Warrior in physical cultivation, and his Spirit Level had soared to Warlord Intermediate. He felt a boundless wellspring of strength within him, a potent energy that hummed beneath his skin. After a few experimental stretches and internal checks of his newly integrated power, a wide, satisfied smile spread across his face. That night, he slept soundly, utterly content.
Meanwhile, in Green Mountain Town, hushed whispers and wide-eyed tales began to spread. Some villagers, those same few who had witnessed Lu Yuan's first display of power, now recounted an even more incredible sight. They swore they had seen two colossal dragons, each easily fifty meters in the sky, shimmering under the moonlight, and standing atop one of them, a lone, unfathomable figure whose face remained shrouded in shadow. But the majority dismissed it as fanciful rumor, the ramblings of overactive imaginations.
"You must have been dreaming, child," a mother would tell her wide-eyed son. "There are no dragons in this town. You're starting to dream with open eyes now, aren't you?"
The irony, of course, was that Lu Yuan, the catalyst of this budding legend, remained blissfully unaware of the rumors he had unwittingly sparked. He had merely been honing his craft, and in doing so, had etched himself into the burgeoning folklore of Green Mountain Town, a hidden dragon warrior, a legend in the making. And as he slept peacefully, the legend continued to grow.