Source Soul Resonance

Ning Xiaochuan followed Su Linger through the dense Green Pine Forest, fallen leaves rustling beneath their feet. Morning sunlight filtered through gaps in the branches, casting dappled shadows across the maiden's white robes.

"Where are we going?" Ning Xiaochuan could not help asking. The Little Dragon Source Soul on his shoulder looked around excitedly, occasionally reaching out with its claws to bat at passing butterflies.

Su Linger did not turn around. "Somewhere safe. Do you think discussing the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon in Qingyun City is a wise idea?"

Ning Xiaochuan curled his lips. This Tianyuan Sect disciple always spoke with an air of superiority that made him uncomfortable.

After about half an hour of walking, the two arrived before a hidden cave. Vines concealed its entrance so thoroughly that it would have been impossible to find without Su Linger's guidance.

"Come in." Su Linger pushed aside the vines and entered first.

The cave was unexpectedly spacious. Several natural cracks in the ceiling let in light, simple survival supplies were stacked in one corner, and several Ancient Tomes lay spread across a stone table.

"Do you come here often?" Ning Xiaochuan asked as he curiously surveyed the surroundings.

With a light tap of her fingertip, several clusters of icy-blue source energy flew from Su Linger's palm and hovered beneath the ceiling as lamps. "Occasionally. This is my temporary cultivation site near Qingyun City."

She gestured for Ning Xiaochuan to sit down while she stood before the stone table, her expression turning grave. "Before we begin, there are some things you need to understand about the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon Source Soul."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. The Little Dragon Source Soul copied him, solemnly nodding its tiny head as well, drawing the faintest upward curve from Su Linger's lips.

"The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, also known as the Dragon of Origin, is one of the oldest Source Souls on Open Source Continent." Su Linger opened a yellowed Ancient Tome and pointed to an illustration. "According to Tianyuan Sect records, the last time this Source Soul appeared was a thousand years ago. It belonged to Venerable Sage Source."

Ning Xiaochuan leaned closer and saw a majestic white dragon painted on the page, utterly different from the adorable Little One perched on his shoulder.

"Are you sure they're the same kind of Source Soul?" he could not help questioning.

Su Linger gave a soft snort. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon evolves as its host's cultivation rises. What you see now is only its initial form." She pointed at another illustration. "This is a Sacred Spirit Young Dragon in its mature stage, capable of moving mountains and filling seas."

Ning Xiaochuan sucked in a breath. The dragon in the illustration soared with its wings spread wide, surrounded by rainbow light, while the mountains and rivers beneath its feet looked as small as toys.

"So... my Source Soul can become like that too?"

"In theory." Su Linger closed the Ancient Tome. "But only if you live to see that day. Hosts of the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon Source Soul rarely live past thirty."

"What?" Ning Xiaochuan sprang to his feet. Startled, the Little Dragon Source Soul flew above his head and nervously grabbed his hair.

A trace of pity flashed through Su Linger's eyes. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon needs to devour vast amounts of source energy to grow, and its host's body often cannot bear that burden. Of the seven Sacred Spirit Young Dragon hosts in history, five exploded and died, one suffered cultivation deviation, and only Venerable Sage Source reached the Source Venerable realm."

Ning Xiaochuan's face went pale. He had thought he had received an unimaginable blessing, only to discover it was a ticking bomb.

"But you do not need to worry for now," Su Linger continued. "At least before reaching the Source Master realm, your body can still endure it."

"For now?" Ning Xiaochuan gave a bitter smile. "What kind of consolation is that?"

Su Linger suddenly reached out and pressed a hand to his shoulder. It was the first time she had taken the initiative to touch Ning Xiaochuan. "That is precisely why you need my help. Tianyuan Sect's Ice Heart Art can slow a source energy rampage, and my Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul can help stabilize the flow of source energy in your body."

Ning Xiaochuan looked up into Su Linger's clear eyes, as cold and pure as an icy pool. Only then did he realize that beneath this seemingly frosty maiden's gaze lay a hint of concern.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked softly. "Is it only because your Source Soul needs the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon's aura?"

Su Linger withdrew her hand and turned toward the stone table. "We both get what we need. My Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul has become increasingly unstable lately. Without the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon's balancing influence, I probably will not last through this year."

Her back was to Ning Xiaochuan, and her voice was calm, but her faintly trembling shoulders revealed the turmoil in her heart.

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly understood. "That's why you came to a small place like Qingyun City... You were searching for a solution."

Su Linger did not deny it. "Three months ago, I found a clue in Tianyuan Sect's Ancient Tomes that the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon Source Soul might awaken here. I had planned to forcibly take the host away after finding him, but..." She turned around. "You were more... cooperative than I expected."

The Little Dragon Source Soul flew down from Ning Xiaochuan's head and curiously circled Su Linger. At last, it stopped in front of her and tilted its little head as it studied her.

"Goo Chu?"

A trace of gentleness flashed through Su Linger's eyes. She extended her index finger and lightly touched the Little Dragon's nose. To her surprise, the small puff of milky mist it breathed out was not frozen by the chill around her. Instead, it transformed into tiny specks of white light and entered her body.

"Ah..." Su Linger let out a soft cry, closed her eyes, and showed a comfortable expression. The chill surrounding her visibly weakened somewhat.

Ning Xiaochuan stared in astonishment. "Th-this... what happened?"

Su Linger opened her eyes, surprise flickering through her icy-blue pupils. "Your Source Soul... It's healing my Source Soul's injuries."

She hurried to the stone table, picked up another Ancient Tome, and rapidly flipped through it. "Just as I thought! The Ancient Tome records that the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon's Source Spirit Breath can harmonize all Source Soul disorders. So the legends were true."

Ning Xiaochuan scratched his head. "So Little One was... treating you just now?"

"You could put it that way." Su Linger put down the book and looked at the Little Dragon with a complicated expression. "Ning Xiaochuan, from today onward, we must remain inseparable."

"Huh?" Ning Xiaochuan's eyes widened. "Th-that's a little sudden, isn't it?"

Su Linger rolled her eyes. "Don't get the wrong idea. I mean that until my Source Soul stabilizes, and until you master a way to control the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, we need to stay close."

She walked to the open area in the middle of the cave. "Now, let me see your true cultivation."

Ning Xiaochuan looked a little embarrassed. "Uh... I awakened my Source Soul yesterday. I'm probably a first-stage Source Warrior?"

"Be more specific." Su Linger frowned.

"Fine, I'm not really sure either..." Ning Xiaochuan scratched his head. "Before awakening, I wasn't even a Source Warrior."

Su Linger sighed. "Release your Source Soul and circulate the Qingyun Art. I'll assess you."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, closed his eyes, and circulated his cultivation art according to the method in his memories. The Little Dragon Source Soul flew above his head and breathed out a cloud of milky mist that enveloped him.

Surprise flashed through Su Linger's eyes. "Interesting... A Source Soul assisting cultivation is an ability only Source Souls of the Mystical rank and above possess."

She formed hand seals with both hands, and several streams of icy-blue source energy flew from her fingertips, circling Ning Xiaochuan. "Do not resist. Let me inspect your meridians."

The freezing source energy entered his body, making Ning Xiaochuan shudder. But soon, the Little Dragon Source Soul breathed out more milky mist, neutralizing the cold and producing a pleasant, cool sensation.

"Strange..." Su Linger's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. "The width and resilience of your meridians far exceed those of ordinary people. This should not be the state of someone who has just awakened a Source Soul."

She suddenly increased her output of source energy. Ning Xiaochuan felt a sharp pain and could not help grunting. The Little Dragon Source Soul immediately cried out angrily, "Goo Chu!" and fired a milky-white beam at Su Linger.

"Watch out!" Ning Xiaochuan shouted.

Su Linger nimbly shifted aside, and the beam struck the cave wall, blasting apart a patch of rock.

"Not bad offensive ability," Su Linger commented without the slightest panic. "It seems your Source Soul has already developed basic combat instincts."

Ning Xiaochuan looked worriedly at the puffed-up Little Dragon. "Don't be nervous. She isn't a bad person."

The Little Dragon gave a wronged little "Goo," flew back to Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, and warily watched Su Linger.

Su Linger stepped closer. "Ning Xiaochuan, your situation is highly unusual. Ordinarily, someone who has just awakened a Source Soul should only have meridians capable of enduring the source energy of a first-stage Source Warrior. But your meridians... can hold at least the amount of source energy possessed by a fifth-stage Source Warrior."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Ning Xiaochuan asked uneasily.

"For now, it's a good thing." Su Linger pondered for a moment. "It means you can improve quickly without worrying about your meridians rupturing. But in the long run..."

"In the long run, the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon will need even more source energy to grow, and I'll die sooner?" Ning Xiaochuan finished with a bitter smile.

Su Linger silently accepted that statement. She suddenly pressed a hand to Ning Xiaochuan's forehead. "Now, I will teach you the first layer of the Ice Heart Art. Follow the path of my source energy."

Before Ning Xiaochuan could respond, a stream of cool source energy entered his glabella through her palm. At the same time, an obscure chant resounded in his mind.

"Still the mind and calm the breath, embrace the origin and guard the one..."

Ning Xiaochuan instinctively recited it in silence. The source energy within him began moving along an entirely new route. Unlike the gentle Qingyun Art, the circulation path of the Ice Heart Art was far more aggressive, as though it were opening new channels throughout his meridians.

"Ah!" The intense pain made Ning Xiaochuan cry out, and cold sweat instantly covered his forehead.

The Little Dragon Source Soul flew anxiously around him, continuously breathing out milky mist, but this time it had little effect.

"Hold on!" Su Linger's voice rang beside his ear. "The first time is always the hardest. The Ice Heart Art can widen your meridians and strengthen your endurance. That is crucial to controlling the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon!"

Ning Xiaochuan clenched his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums. He felt as though countless tiny blades were scraping through his meridians, an agony beyond words.

Just as he was about to collapse, a warm force suddenly surged from his dantian. The Little Dragon Source Soul seemed to sense his limit and transformed into a ray of white light that merged into his body.

In an instant, Ning Xiaochuan felt more than half the pain vanish. The icy source energy Su Linger had sent in intertwined with the Little Dragon's warm source energy within his meridians, forming a wondrous balance.

"This is... Source Soul Resonance?" Su Linger's voice was filled with disbelief. "To reach such a level during your first cultivation session..."

Ning Xiaochuan had no time to care about her astonishment. He was immersed in an unprecedented sense of comfort. After the two streams of source energy blended, they began automatically circulating the Ice Heart Art faster and faster.

The source energy in the cave was stirred into a visible miniature vortex, spinning wildly around Ning Xiaochuan.

"This is bad! He's absorbing it too quickly!" Su Linger's expression changed. She hurriedly formed hand seals and set up an icy-blue barrier around Ning Xiaochuan to slow the influx of source energy.

But it was already too late. The source energy inside Ning Xiaochuan had reached its critical point. He felt a swelling pain in his dantian, followed by—

Boom!

A powerful wave of source energy erupted from his body and shattered Su Linger's barrier. Several pieces of crushed stone fell from the cave ceiling, and dust filled the air.

When the dust settled, Ning Xiaochuan slowly opened his eyes and found Su Linger standing three meters away. Her white robes were covered in dust, and she was staring at him as though he were a monster.

"What's wrong?" he asked blankly, only to be startled by his own voice—it had become deeper and more forceful.

Su Linger took a deep breath. "You just... broke through four minor realms in a row."

"Huh?"

"You jumped directly from the first stage of Source Warrior to the fifth stage." Su Linger walked over and reached out to check his pulse. "This defies every principle of cultivation."

Ning Xiaochuan sensed the surging source energy within him. It was indeed several times stronger than before. Even more astonishingly, the Little Dragon Source Soul seemed to have grown a little larger. It was now the size of a cat, and its scales were more translucent and crystalline.

"This is the terrifying aspect of the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon," Su Linger murmured. "Its growth speed far surpasses that of ordinary people."

She suddenly grabbed Ning Xiaochuan's wrist. "But remember this: the faster power comes, the greater the danger. From now on, you must cultivate strictly according to my guidance. You cannot make a single mistake. Do you understand?"

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. After what had just happened, he completely trusted Su Linger's judgment.

"Now it is time for you to fulfill your promise." Su Linger released his hand. "My Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul needs the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon's harmonization."

She walked to the center of the stone cave and sat cross-legged, forming hand seals with both hands. An icy-blue phoenix phantom slowly emerged behind her, but its shape was extremely unstable, shifting between clear and blurry. Several strands of ominous Black Qi clung to its feathers.

"This is..." Ning Xiaochuan's eyes widened. "Your Source Soul is injured?"

Su Linger did not answer. She merely shut her eyes tightly, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "Quickly... I can't hold on much longer..."

Ning Xiaochuan did not dare delay. He immediately sat opposite her and guided the Little Dragon Source Soul to fly between them. The Little Dragon seemed to understand what it needed to do and voluntarily breathed out a thick cloud of milky mist that enveloped them both.

"Mm..." Su Linger let out a soft moan, and her tightly furrowed brows eased slightly.

Following his instincts, Ning Xiaochuan gently placed his hands against Su Linger's palms. In an instant, bone-piercing cold traveled up his arms, nearly making him pull back. But the Little Dragon Source Soul immediately increased its output of milky mist, forming a warm barrier between them.

Ice and warmth clashed within their meridians. Ning Xiaochuan could clearly sense the chaos in Su Linger's Source Soul—violent icy source energy crashed wildly through her meridians, and cracks had already appeared in some places.

"Hold on..." Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth and increased his source energy output, while the Little Dragon Source Soul also breathed out milky mist with all its strength.

Gradually, the Mysterious Ice Phoenix stabilized, and the Black Qi on its feathers was purified bit by bit. Su Linger's breathing became steadier, and some color returned to her face.

Just when Ning Xiaochuan thought it was over, a sudden change occurred!

The Mysterious Ice Phoenix abruptly opened its eyes and let out a clear phoenix cry before charging fiercely at the Little Dragon Source Soul. The two Source Souls collided in midair, erupting with a dazzling halo of light.

"This is bad!" Su Linger cried out. "The Source Souls are out of control!"

Ning Xiaochuan tried to call back the Little Dragon Source Soul, only to find the two already tangled together and impossible to separate. Within the halo, the Mysterious Ice Phoenix and Little Dragon Source Soul chased and spun around each other faster and faster. At last, they transformed into a pillar of intertwined blue and white light that shot skyward, blasting a hole through the cave ceiling!

"This is... Source Soul Resonance?" Su Linger stared up at the pillar of light, shocked beyond measure. "How could this happen between different Source Souls...?"

The pillar of light lasted for roughly ten breaths before slowly dispersing. The two Source Souls returned to their respective hosts, but Ning Xiaochuan sharply noticed several icy-blue patterns had appeared on the Little Dragon Source Soul's scales, while a trace of milky-white Light Spots had mingled with the cold aura around Su Linger.

The two stared at each other, seeing shock and confusion in one another's eyes.

"What just happened?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

Su Linger shook her head. "I'm not sure either. Source Soul Resonance usually occurs only between Source Souls of the same origin or attribute, but our Source Souls..."

She suddenly stopped speaking and turned warily toward the cave entrance. "Someone's here!"

Ning Xiaochuan followed her gaze and saw the vines covering the entrance pushed aside. A figure in black stood there, wearing a silver mask that revealed only a pair of cold eyes.

"The host of the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon Source Soul is indeed here." The black-clad figure's voice was hoarse, as grating as metal scraping against metal.

Su Linger immediately stepped in front of Ning Xiaochuan. "Who are you?"

The black-clad figure did not answer. He merely raised his right hand, gathering a mass of pitch-black source energy in his palm. "Hand over the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, and I will spare your lives."

Ning Xiaochuan felt a chill run down his spine. That black source energy radiated a nauseating aura, and the Little Dragon Source Soul stirred uneasily within him.

"Someone from the Dark Source Soul Hall?" Su Linger said coldly. "Your reach is truly long."

The black-clad figure gave a soft laugh. "The little girl from Tianyuan Sect knows her stuff. What a pity..."

He suddenly swung his hand, and the black source energy transformed into dozens of thin needles that shot at them!

Su Linger reacted instantly. She thrust both hands forward, and an Ice Wall formed in an instant, blocking most of the black needles. Yet several still curved around the Ice Wall and flew straight for Ning Xiaochuan's throat!

At the critical moment, the Little Dragon Source Soul flew out on its own and breathed out a condensed cloud of milky mist that wrapped around the black needles. To everyone's surprise, the needles rapidly dissolved within the mist and vanished completely.

"What?" The black-clad figure was clearly stunned. "It can actually purify Soul Devouring Needles?"

Seizing the opportunity, Su Linger formed hand seals with both hands. "Ice Phoenix Soaring Heavens!"

An ice-crystal phoenix flew from her palms and lunged at the black-clad figure. Caught off guard, he was forced back several steps, and a crack appeared on his mask.

"Hmph, I will let you off for now," the black-clad figure said sinisterly. "But the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon will be ours."

With that, his body flickered and transformed into a mass of Black Qi that dispersed into the air.

The cave returned to silence, leaving only sunlight streaming through the hole in the ceiling and wreckage scattered across the ground.

Ning Xiaochuan let out a long breath, his legs giving way as he sat on the ground. "Who was that?"

Su Linger's expression was grave. "A Soul Hunter Envoy from the Dark Source Soul Hall. They specialize in hunting rare Source Souls. It seems your Sacred Spirit Young Dragon has already drawn their attention."

"How did they know about my Source Soul? I only awakened it a day ago!"

"The Dark Source Soul Hall has informants all over the continent." Su Linger walked to the cave entrance to inspect it. "There may have been one of their people at your awakening ceremony."

She turned to Ning Xiaochuan. "We must leave Qingyun City immediately. Once the Dark Source Soul Hall targets someone, they will stop at nothing to capture them."

Ning Xiaochuan frowned. "But my father and my clan..."

"Do you want to drag them into this?" Su Linger countered. "The Dark Source Soul Hall has no limits. If you remain in Qingyun City, the entire Ning Clan will become a target."

Ning Xiaochuan fell silent. Su Linger was right. With his current strength, he could not protect his clan at all.

"Give me one day," he finally said. "I need to say goodbye to my father and make some arrangements."

After considering it briefly, Su Linger nodded. "At dawn tomorrow, meet me beneath the old locust tree south of the city. Remember, do not tell anyone where you are going."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded solemnly. When he left the cave, the sun had already sunk in the west. Looking back, he saw Su Linger standing at the entrance, her white robes gently fluttering in the evening breeze like a Scroll Painting.

"Su Linger," he suddenly called out. "Thank you."

The maiden froze slightly, then gently nodded before turning and disappearing into the cave's shadows.

Ning Xiaochuan drew a deep breath and set off toward Qingyun City. He knew that from this day forward, his ordinary life would fade away. What awaited him was a journey full of unknowns and danger.

But he was not afraid. The Little Dragon Source Soul on his shoulder seemed to sense his resolve and affectionately rubbed against his cheek.

"We'll grow stronger together, Little One," Ning Xiaochuan said softly. "Then we'll come back and protect everyone important to us."

The Little Dragon let out a "Goo Chu," its eyes gleaming with intelligence.

The outline of Qingyun City gradually became clear in the twilight, while Ning Xiaochuan's new life had only just begun.