Ning Xiaochuan stood before the gates of the Ning residence, looking up at the four gilded words, "Qingyun Ning Clan," on the plaque above. It was already late at night. Most of the lights in the residence had gone out, with only his father's study still illuminated.
He took a deep breath and gently pushed open the side gate. The old servant on night watch saw him and was about to speak, but Ning Xiaochuan raised a finger to his lips. The old servant understood, nodded, and pretended not to see him.
As he passed through the familiar corridors, Ning Xiaochuan's heartbeat quickened. He could have left quietly, but there were some things he had to tell his father in person.
Outside the study, he raised his hand to knock, but the door opened on its own.
"Come in, Xiaochuan." His father's voice came from within, as though he had long expected him.
Ning Zhantian stood with his back to the door before the window, moonlight outlining his upright figure. Qingyun City's strongest man looked unexpectedly weary at that moment.
"Father..." Ning Xiaochuan's throat tightened. "You knew I was leaving?"
Ning Zhantian turned around, his face carrying an expression Ning Xiaochuan had never seen before. "From the moment you awakened the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, I knew this day would come sooner or later."
He walked to the desk and took out a brocade box from a drawer. "Sit. There are some things I should tell you."
Ning Xiaochuan sat down uneasily. The Little Dragon Source Soul poked its head out from his collar and looked around curiously.
Ning Zhantian looked at the Little Dragon, and a trace of nostalgia flashed through his eyes. "Your mother had a similar Source Soul back then."
"Mother?" Ning Xiaochuan leaned forward. His father rarely mentioned her. He only knew that she had left when he was three.
Ning Zhantian opened the brocade box. Inside was a crescent-shaped jade pendant, milky white throughout, with naturally formed dragon patterns on its surface. "Your mother left this behind. She told me to give it to you after you awakened your Source Soul."
Ning Xiaochuan took the jade pendant. The instant his fingertips touched it, the Little Dragon Source Soul suddenly let out an excited "Goo Chu" and pounced onto the pendant. Both began to glow with a soft white light.
"This is...?"
"Dragon Soul Jade, a heavenly treasure from the same origin as your Source Soul." Ning Zhantian's gaze was profound. "It can help the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon grow, and it can protect you in critical moments."
Ning Xiaochuan felt a warm power flow from the pendant into his meridians through his fingers, so comfortable that he nearly groaned. The Little Dragon Source Soul seemed drunk, wobbling through the air for a circle before contentedly diving back into his body.
"Father, who exactly was Mother? Why did she have such a treasure?" Ning Xiaochuan gripped the jade pendant tightly.
Ning Zhantian looked out at the moon. "She came from an ancient and mysterious family. Even I do not fully know her origins. Twenty years ago, she arrived in Qingyun City badly injured, and I saved her..." His voice lowered. "Later, she left, leaving behind only this jade pendant and one sentence."
"What sentence?"
"'When our child awakens a Source Soul, darkness will surely come seeking him.'" Ning Zhantian looked straight into Ning Xiaochuan's eyes. "Now that I think about it, she was probably referring to the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon."
Ning Xiaochuan's heart shook. "So that was why you warned me not to casually reveal my Source Soul's special abilities?"
Ning Zhantian nodded. "I thought it was merely ordinary caution, but..." He paused. "Today, someone reported that several unfamiliar faces had appeared in the city, asking about you."
Ning Xiaochuan remembered the black-clothed man in the cave, and cold sweat broke out in his palms. "People from the Dark Source Soul Hall?"
"You encountered them too?" Ning Zhantian frowned deeply. "Then the situation is worse than I imagined."
"Father, I have to leave Qingyun City." Ning Xiaochuan spoke firmly. "Su Linger said the Dark Source Soul Hall has no limits in its methods. If I stay, I will only implicate the clan."
Ning Zhantian was silent for a long time before suddenly taking an ancient map from the bookshelf. "You want to go to Tianyuan Sect?"
Surprised by his father's sharpness, Ning Xiaochuan nodded.
"This road will not be easy." Ning Zhantian unfolded the map and pointed at a winding route. "Leave through the south gate, pass Green Pine Forest, then cross the Soul Severing Mountain Range. It will take at least half a month. And the Dark Source Soul Hall will certainly set ambushes along the way."
He took out a blue-green token and handed it to Ning Xiaochuan. "This is the Ning Family Guest Token. With it, you can seek help at Ning Clan shops along the way. Remember, do not trust anyone, including Ning Clan members—except Old Zhou. He is my most trusted confidant. He runs an apothecary in Qingyan Town at the foot of the Soul Severing Mountain Range."
Ning Xiaochuan accepted the token, his throat tightening. "Father..."
Ning Zhantian suddenly pulled him into an embrace, gripping him so hard that Ning Xiaochuan's ribs hurt. The father who had always been stern in Ning Xiaochuan's memories now had a choked voice. "You must stay alive, Xiaochuan. Your mother said that when the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon reaches its Complete Form, it can reverse life and death and shatter the void... Our family may still have a day of reunion."
Ning Xiaochuan's nose stung, and he nodded heavily.
When he left the study, the sky had already begun to pale. Ning Xiaochuan took one final look at the home where he had lived for sixteen years, then turned and disappeared into the morning mist.
Under the old locust tree south of the city, Su Linger had been waiting for quite some time. When she saw Ning Xiaochuan approach, her brows furrowed slightly. "You're a quarter hour late."
"Saying goodbye to my father took some time," Ning Xiaochuan explained briefly.
Su Linger's gaze fell on the jade pendant at his waist, and surprise flashed through her eyes. "Dragon Soul Jade? Where did you get that?"
"My father gave it to me. He said my mother left it behind." Ning Xiaochuan touched the pendant. "You know it?"
"It is recorded in Tianyuan Sect's archives. It is a treasure left behind by the ancient dragon race." Su Linger gave Ning Xiaochuan a deep look. "Your mother was no ordinary person."
She did not continue questioning him and turned toward the forest path. "Let's go. We need to reach the stream valley on the other side of Green Pine Forest before dark."
The two traveled one behind the other through the forest filled with morning mist. The Little Dragon Source Soul on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder seemed far more energetic than yesterday. Its scales were more crystalline, its body had grown a full size larger, and from time to time it spat out small puffs of milky mist that refracted into colorful light beneath the morning sun.
"Your Source Soul has grown?" Su Linger glanced back.
Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "It became like this after touching the Dragon Soul Jade. By the way, I encountered another black-clothed man last night..."
He briefly told her about the attack in the cave, and Su Linger's expression grew increasingly grave.
"A Silver-masked Soul Hunter, one of the Dark Source Soul Hall's mid-level fighters." She quickened her pace. "We must leave this area as soon as possible. If a silver mask has appeared, there are at least two bronze masks nearby."
Ning Xiaochuan kept pace with her. "Why is the Dark Source Soul Hall so obsessed with the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon?"
"Legend says that the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon's Source Spirit Breath can purify all negative Source Qi, including the Soul Devouring Source Qi that the Dark Source Soul Hall relies on to survive." Su Linger pushed aside the bushes before her. "More importantly, they have been conducting Source Soul fusion experiments, trying to create a perfect Source Soul..."
She suddenly stopped and warily scanned their surroundings. "Something's wrong."
Ning Xiaochuan also sensed that the atmosphere around them was off—it was too quiet. Even the sounds of insects and birds had vanished. The Little Dragon Source Soul nervously clutched his collar, its tiny claws trembling slightly.
"Run!" Su Linger suddenly grabbed Ning Xiaochuan's wrist and lunged to the right.
Almost at the same instant, three streaks of black light swept through the place where they had just been standing, striking a tree ahead. A large hole was instantly corroded through its trunk.
"Not bad reflexes, little girl from Tianyuan Sect." A cold voice came from the treetops. Ning Xiaochuan looked up and saw three black-clothed men standing in a triangular formation on the branches. One wore a silver mask—the very man from the cave—while the other two wore bronze masks.
"Three Soul Hunter Envoys..." Su Linger's voice tightened. "It seems the Dark Source Soul Hall truly values you, Ning Xiaochuan."
The silver-masked man chuckled. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon only appears once in a thousand years. The Hall Master personally ordered us to capture it alive." He looked at Su Linger. "As for you, the Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul is also quite good. You will make excellent experimental material for the Third Hall Master."
"Dream on!" Su Linger formed hand seals with both hands, and several ice spikes materialized in the air before shooting toward the three men.
The silver-masked man did not move. The two bronze-masked men flashed in front of him, and two black chains flew from their sleeves, shattering all the ice spikes.
"Watch out, those are Soul Devouring Chains!" Su Linger pulled Ning Xiaochuan back. "Once they bind you, your Source Soul will be ripped out directly!"
Ning Xiaochuan's heart sank. He immediately summoned the Little Dragon Source Soul. This time, the Little One did not act cute. It flew straight above Ning Xiaochuan's head and spat out a huge cloud of milky mist that enveloped them both.
"Hm?" The silver-masked man looked at the mist in surprise. "It can actually resist the Soul Devouring aura? Interesting..."
He attacked personally, his five fingers curled into claws. A stream of pitch-black Source Qi shot forth like a venomous snake and instantly pierced through the milky mist's defenses!
"Ice Wall!" Su Linger hastily erected a defense, but the Black Qi was highly corrosive. The Ice Wall melted at a visible speed.
"It's useless, little girl." The silver-masked man spoke leisurely. "My Soul Devouring Source Qi specifically counters orthodox Source Qi like yours."
Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth and tried to mobilize the Source Qi within him. After yesterday's breakthrough, he was now a fifth-stage Source Warrior, but against Soul Hunter Envoys who were at least Source Masters, the gap was still enormous.
"Su Linger, is there any way to deal with them?"
"Unless we can get close," Su Linger said quietly. "Soul Devouring Source Qi excels at ranged attacks, but it is weaker in close combat. The problem is..."
"The problem is that they won't give us the chance to get close." Ning Xiaochuan finished for her, then suddenly had an idea. "Unless someone draws their attention..."
Before Su Linger could respond, he had already rushed out, shouting, "Little One, maximum power!"
The Little Dragon Source Soul let out a "Goo Chu," and its body abruptly expanded to the size of a hunting dog. It fired a thick milky-white beam straight at the silver-masked man!
"Sacred Spirit Breath?" The silver-masked man did not dare take it head-on and dodged aside. The two bronze-masked men swung their Soul Devouring Chains to intercept it, but wherever the beam passed, the black chains snapped apart inch by inch!
"Great chance!" Su Linger instantly understood Ning Xiaochuan's intention. Her figure moved like a ghostly figure as she closed in on the bronze-masked man to the left, striking toward his chest with her palm.
Mysterious Ice Palm!
The bronze-masked man hurriedly raised an arm to block, but Su Linger's palm contained frigid Source Qi. The instant it touched him, his entire arm froze!
"Ah!" The bronze-masked man screamed as he staggered back. Su Linger pressed her advantage, condensing an ice sword at her fingertips and thrusting it straight toward his throat.
Meanwhile, while the silver-masked man was evading the beam, Ning Xiaochuan had already charged in front of the other bronze-masked man. He had no systematic martial skill and could only throw a punch on instinct.
The bronze-masked man sneered and easily dodged it before striking Ning Xiaochuan's back with his palm. Intense pain shot through Ning Xiaochuan. He staggered several steps, tasted sweetness in his throat, and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"That little ability, and you dare resist?" The bronze-masked man scoffed, gathering a mass of Black Qi in his palm. "Hand over your Source Soul obediently!"
At the critical moment, the Little Dragon Source Soul suddenly abandoned its pursuit of the silver-masked man and pounced toward the bronze-masked man. The man had been prepared. A new Soul Devouring Chain flew from his sleeve and accurately wrapped around the Little Dragon!
"Goo Chu!" The Little Dragon cried out in pain, its body shrinking at a visible speed.
"Little One!" Ning Xiaochuan's eyes reddened with fury as he charged forward despite his injuries.
"Don't go over there!" Su Linger shouted, but she was tied down by the other bronze-masked man and could not get away.
The silver-masked man watched the battle with composure. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon belongs to us now."
Just as the Soul Devouring Chain was about to completely bind the Little Dragon Source Soul, the Dragon Soul Jade at Ning Xiaochuan's waist suddenly erupted with dazzling white light! The pendant flew up on its own, transforming into a streak of light that struck the bronze-masked man's forehead.
"Ah!" The bronze-masked man jolted as if struck by lightning, and the Soul Devouring Chain snapped apart instantly. The Little Dragon Source Soul seized the chance to break free and flew back into Ning Xiaochuan's body.
The silver-masked man stared at the scene in shock. "The Dragon Soul Jade recognized a master? How is that possible?!"
Ning Xiaochuan was stunned as well, but then he felt a warm current flow from the pendant into his body, rapidly healing his injuries. Even more astonishingly, he felt his connection with the Little Dragon Source Soul become closer, as though they had truly merged into one.
"Su Linger!" he shouted. "Source Soul Resonance!"
Su Linger instantly understood his meaning. She feinted to shake off her opponent, then flew back to Ning Xiaochuan's side. The two stood back-to-back and released their Source Souls at the same time.
The Little Dragon Source Soul and the Mysterious Ice Phoenix met in the air. To everyone's surprise, there was no rejection like before. Instead, they rapidly fused together, forming a strange creature that was half dragon and half phoenix!
Ice Dragon Roar! Su Linger grasped Ning Xiaochuan's hand and guided the fused Source Soul to attack.
Ice-blue Dragon Breath mixed with milky-white light swept toward the three Soul Hunter Envoys like a tidal wave. The silver-masked man's expression changed drastically, and in his panic, he dragged the two bronze-masked men in front of himself.
"No! Spare us, sir!" The two bronze-masked men cried out in horror, but it was already too late.
The Dragon Breath swept over them. They froze instantly, then turned to dust amid a burst of white light!
Although the silver-masked man escaped the direct blow, his right arm was grazed. The entire arm froze, then shattered like fragile glass.
"Ah!" He let out an inhuman scream. "You... just wait!"
A cloud of black mist exploded, and the silver-masked man vanished without a trace.
The fused Source Soul broke apart as well, each returning to its owner's body. Ning Xiaochuan's legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, gasping heavily. That strike had nearly drained all his Source Qi.
Su Linger was in slightly better condition, though her face was also pale. "I never expected us to use a Combined Source Skill on our first real cooperation..."
She helped Ning Xiaochuan up. "We can't stay long. The silver-masked man is badly injured, but he will certainly call for more pursuers."
Ning Xiaochuan nodded and forced himself to stand. The two supported each other as they headed deeper into the forest, leaving behind woodland ravaged into ruins by the battle.
By sunset, they finally reached the stream valley Su Linger had mentioned. It was a hidden mountain hollow, with a clear stream winding through it and a naturally formed cave by the bank.
"We'll rest here tonight." After checking the cave and confirming that it was safe, Su Linger took out the dried rations and water pouch she carried with her.
Ning Xiaochuan slumped beside the stream and scooped up the icy water to wash his face. The Little Dragon Source Soul flew out of his body and happily plunged into the stream to play, seeming to have completely recovered from the fierce battle.
"Your Source Soul's recovery ability is astonishing." Su Linger handed him a piece of dried meat. "An ordinary Source Soul would need at least three days of rest after such exhaustion."
Ning Xiaochuan took a bite of the dried meat. "It must be the Dragon Soul Jade's help. By the way, do you know why it suddenly acted up?"
Su Linger shook her head. "The Dragon Soul Jade is a legendary treasure. Even Tianyuan Sect's archives do not fully record its functions. But..." She hesitated. "It seems to have recognized you as its master. That is highly unusual."
"Recognized me as its master?"
"Yes. Treasures have spirits and choose their owners themselves," Su Linger explained. "Normally, a connection can only be established after long-term nurturing, but you had just received it and..."
She did not finish, but Ning Xiaochuan understood what she meant—this was another strange phenomenon connected to his mysterious mother.
Night fell, and the two took turns keeping watch. Ning Xiaochuan took the first half of the night, sitting at the cave entrance and looking at the starry sky. The Little Dragon Source Soul lay on his knees, occasionally spitting out small clouds of milky mist to play with.
"Little One, thank you for today." Ning Xiaochuan gently stroked its head. "Without you, we might already have..."
The Little Dragon let out a "Goo Chu" and affectionately rubbed against his palm.
"Who is your mother?" Su Linger's voice suddenly came from behind him. She had already awakened and was sitting beside Ning Xiaochuan with her knees drawn up. Under the moonlight, the lines of her profile looked much softer.
Ning Xiaochuan repeated what his father had told him. Su Linger fell into thought after hearing it.
"To possess the Dragon Soul Jade and foresee the Dark Source Soul Hall's pursuit..." she murmured. "Your mother likely came from 'that place.'"
"What place?"
Su Linger shook her head. "It is only a guess. Once we reach Tianyuan Sect, I will take you to see my master. He may know more."
Ning Xiaochuan nodded and did not press further. The two silently watched the starry sky, each carrying their own thoughts.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you some basic Source Skills," Su Linger suddenly said. "With the way you fight now, facing powerful enemies is far too dangerous."
Ning Xiaochuan gave her a grateful look. "Thank you. But... why did you suddenly change your mind? Didn't you say I should learn properly after reaching Tianyuan Sect?"
Su Linger looked into the distance. "Today, you charged out to save me despite the danger... I owe you one."
Ning Xiaochuan smiled. "Between partners, why talk about owing anything?"
"Partners..." Su Linger softly repeated the word, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "Sleep. We still have a long journey tomorrow."
She rose and returned to the cave. Ning Xiaochuan watched her back and suddenly felt that this seemingly cold and proud maiden might be far softer inside than she appeared.
The night wind brushed over the stream, stirring ripples across the water. Ning Xiaochuan clenched the Dragon Soul Jade against his chest, feeling the warm power flowing from it. The road ahead was still long, but at least now, he was no longer alone.
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