Source Soul Resonance

Ning Xiaochuan followed Su Linger through the dense green pine forest, the fallen leaves rustling underfoot. Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, casting dappled shadows on the girl's white robes.

"Where are we going?" Ning Xiaochuan couldn't help but ask. The little dragon soul on his shoulder was looking around with great interest, occasionally batting at butterflies with its paws.

Su Linger didn't look back. "To a safe place. Did you think it was wise to discuss the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon in Qingyun City?"

Ning Xiaochuan pouted. The Tianyuan Sect disciple always spoke with a condescending tone that made him uncomfortable.

After about half an hour, the two arrived at a hidden cave. The entrance was covered by vines, and it would have been impossible to find without Su Linger's guidance.

"Come in," Su Linger said, pushing aside the vines and entering first.

The space inside the cave was surprisingly spacious. Natural cracks in the ceiling let in light, simple survival tools were piled in the corners, and a few ancient books were spread out on a stone table.

"Do you come here often?" Ning Xiaochuan asked, looking around curiously.

Su Linger tapped her fingertips, and several balls of ice-blue Source Energy flew from her palm, hovering at the cave's ceiling to act as light sources. "Occasionally. This is my temporary training spot near Qingyun City."

She gestured for Ning Xiaochuan to sit, then stood before the stone table, her expression turning serious. "Before we begin, I need you to understand some things about the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon soul."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. The little dragon soul, mimicking him, also nodded its small head with a serious look, causing Su Linger's lips to curve slightly.

"The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, also known as the 'Dragon of Origin,' is one of the oldest souls on the Open Source Continent," Su Linger said, opening a yellowed ancient book and pointing to an illustration. "According to the records of the Tianyuan Sect, this type of soul last appeared a thousand years ago and was owned by the 'Venerable Sage Source' of that era."

Ning Xiaochuan leaned in to look. The page depicted a majestic white dragon, vastly different from the cute little creature on his shoulder.

"Are you sure this is the same soul?" he couldn't help but question.

Su Linger snorted. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon evolves with its host's cultivation. What you see now is just its initial form." She pointed to another illustration. "This is a mature Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, capable of moving mountains and draining seas."

Ning Xiaochuan gasped. The dragon in the illustration soared through the sky, surrounded by colorful clouds, with the mountains and rivers below appearing as small as toys.

"So... can my soul become like that?"

"Theoretically, yes," Su Linger closed the ancient book. "But only if you can live to see that day. Hosts of the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon soul rarely live past thirty."

"What?" Ning Xiaochuan shot to his feet, startling the little dragon soul, which flew to the top of his head and nervously clutched his hair.

A flicker of pity crossed Su Linger's eyes. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon requires a massive amount of Source Energy to grow, and the host's body often cannot withstand the strain. Of the seven historical hosts of the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, five died from exploding bodies, one went mad, and only the Venerable Sage Source reached the Source Venerable realm."

Ning Xiaochuan's face turned pale. He thought he had obtained a heaven-defying cheat, but it turned out to be a ticking time bomb.

"However, you don't need to worry for now," Su Linger continued. "At least before the Source Master realm, your body can still handle it."

"For now?" Ning Xiaochuan gave a wry smile. "That's hardly comforting."

Su Linger suddenly reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, the first time she had initiated physical contact with him. "That's precisely why you need my help. The Tianyuan Sect's Ice Heart Art can slow down the rampant Source Energy, and my Mysterious Ice Phoenix soul can help stabilize the flow of Source Energy within you."

Ning Xiaochuan looked up, meeting Su Linger's clear, deep eyes. It was only then that he realized this seemingly cold and aloof girl held a trace of concern in her gaze.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked softly. "Is it just because your soul needs the aura of the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon?"

Su Linger withdrew her hand and turned towards the stone table. "We both get what we need. My Mysterious Ice Phoenix soul has been increasingly unstable lately. Without the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon's mediation, I fear I won't make it through this year."

She stood with her back to Ning Xiaochuan, her voice calm, but her slightly trembling shoulders betrayed her inner turmoil.

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly understood. "So that's why you came to a small place like Qingyun City... you were looking for a solution."

Su Linger didn't deny it. "Three months ago, I found a clue in the Tianyuan Sect's ancient texts that a Sacred Spirit Young Dragon soul might awaken here. I had intended to find the host and forcibly take it, but..." She turned around. "You were more... cooperative than I expected."

The little dragon soul flew down from Ning Xiaochuan's head and circled Su Linger curiously, finally stopping in front of her and tilting its small head to examine her.

"Goo-choo?"

A hint of gentleness flashed in Su Linger's eyes. She reached out her index finger and gently touched the little dragon's nose. Surprisingly, the small puff of milky mist the little dragon exhaled didn't freeze from the cold aura surrounding her but instead turned into specks of white light and merged into her body.

"Ah..." Su Linger let out a soft sigh and closed her eyes, a look of comfort appearing on her face. The cold aura around her visibly weakened.

Ning Xiaochuan stared in disbelief. "What... what's happening?"

Su Linger opened her eyes, a flicker of surprise in her ice-blue irises. "Your soul... it's healing the damage to my soul."

She walked quickly to the stone table, picked up another ancient book, and flipped through it rapidly. "As expected! The ancient texts state that the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon's 'Source Spirit Breath' can harmonize all soul disorders. It seems the legends are true."

Ning Xiaochuan scratched his head. "So the little guy was... healing you just now?"

"You could put it that way," Su Linger said, putting down the book and looking at the little dragon with a complex expression. "Ning Xiaochuan, from today onwards, we must stay inseparable."

"Huh?" Ning Xiaochuan's eyes widened. "That... that's too sudden!"

Su Linger rolled her eyes. "Don't get the wrong idea. I mean, until my soul stabilizes, and until you learn how to control the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, we need to stay close."

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

Ning Xiaochuan looked a bit embarrassed. "Uh... I just awakened my soul yesterday. Probably Source Warrior, first stage?"

"Be more specific," Su Linger frowned.

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

Su Linger sighed. "Release your soul and circulate the Qingyun Art. I'll assess it."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, closed his eyes, and circulated the cultivation technique according to his memory. The little dragon soul flew to the top of his head and breathed out a puff of milky mist that enveloped him.

A flicker of surprise appeared in Su Linger's eyes. "Interesting... A soul that aids in cultivation. This is an ability only possessed by Xuan-tier or higher souls."

She formed hand seals, and several ice-blue Source Energy streams flew from her fingertips, circling Ning Xiaochuan. "Don't resist. Let me scan your meridians."

The icy Source Energy invaded his body, and Ning Xiaochuan couldn't help but shiver. But soon, the little dragon soul breathed out more milky mist, neutralizing the cold and creating a comfortable, cool sensation.

"Strange..." Su Linger's brow furrowed tighter. "Your meridians are far wider and more resilient than a normal person's. This shouldn't be the state of someone who just awakened their Source Soul."

She suddenly increased her Source Qi output. Ning Xiaochuan felt a sharp pain and couldn't help but groan. The little dragon Source Soul immediately let out an angry "gu jiu" and spat a milky white beam towards Su Linger.

"Be careful!" Ning Xiaochuan shouted urgently.

Su Linger nimbly dodged to the side. The beam struck the cave wall, blasting off a small patch of rock.

"Good offensive capabilities," Su Linger commented, showing no alarm. "It seems your Source Soul has already developed basic combat instincts."

Ning Xiaochuan looked at the agitated little dragon with concern. "Don't be nervous, she's not a bad person."

The little dragon let out a wronged "gu" and flew back to Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, staring vigilantly at Su Linger.

Su Linger took a few steps closer. "Ning Xiaochuan, your situation is very unusual. Logically, someone who just awakened their Source Soul should only be able to withstand the Source Qi of a Rank 1 Source Warrior in their meridians. But your meridians... can accommodate at least the Source Qi of a Rank 5 Source Warrior."

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

"It's good for now," Su Linger mused. "This means you can rapidly increase your cultivation without worrying about your meridians bursting. But in the long run..."

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

Su Linger tacitly agreed. She suddenly reached out and pressed Ning Xiaochuan's forehead. "Now, I'll teach you the first level of the Ice Heart Art. Follow my Source Qi circulation route."

Before Ning Xiaochuan could respond, a cool stream of Source Qi entered his forehead from her palm. At the same time, a cryptic incantation echoed in his mind.

"Concentrate your spirit, calm your breath, embrace the origin and maintain unity..."

Ning Xiaochuan instinctively chanted along, and the Source Qi in his body began to circulate along a completely new path. Unlike the gentle flow of the Qingyun Art, the Ice Heart Art's circulation route was more aggressive, as if carving new channels within his meridians.

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

The little dragon Source Soul anxiously circled him, continuously spitting out milky mist, but it had little effect this time.

"Hold on!" Su Linger's voice rang in his ears. "The first time is always the hardest. The Ice Heart Art can widen your meridians and enhance your resilience, which is crucial for controlling the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon!"

Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth, his gums bleeding. He felt as if countless tiny knives were scraping his meridians, the pain indescribable.

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 white light, merging into his body.

In an instant, Ning Xiaochuan's pain lessened by more than half. The icy Source Qi from Su Linger and the warm Source Qi from the little dragon intertwined in his meridians, forming a wondrous balance.

"Is this... Source Soul Resonance?" Su Linger's voice held disbelief. "To reach this level on the first try..."

Ning Xiaochuan couldn't afford to pay attention to her surprise. He was currently immersed in an unprecedented sense of comfort. After the two streams of Source Qi merged, they began to circulate the Ice Heart Art automatically, their speed increasing rapidly.

The Source Qi in the cave was stirred, forming a small, visible vortex that spun madly around Ning Xiaochuan.

"This is bad! Absorbing too quickly!" Su Linger's expression changed. She quickly formed hand seals and cast a layer of ice-blue barrier around Ning Xiaochuan to slow down the influx of Source Qi.

But it was too late. The Source Qi within Ning Xiaochuan had already reached its critical point. He felt a swelling pain in his Dantian, followed by--

Boom!

A powerful wave of Source Qi erupted from his body, shattering the barrier Su Linger had set up. Several rocks 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 clothes covered in dust, looking at him as if he were a monster.

"What's wrong?" he asked blankly, then startled himself with his own voice—it had become deeper and more powerful.

Su Linger took a deep breath. "You just... broke through four small realms consecutively."

"Huh?"

"From Rank 1 Source Warrior directly to Rank 5 Source Warrior," Su Linger walked over and felt his pulse. "This defies all common sense in cultivation."

Ning Xiaochuan felt the surging Source Qi within him; it was indeed several times stronger than before. Even more miraculously, the little dragon Source Soul seemed to have grown by about a cat's size, its scales even more lustrous and translucent.

"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, the faster the power comes, the greater the danger. From now on, you must strictly follow my guidance in your cultivation. Not a single step can be wrong, understand?"

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

"Now, it's 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, sat down cross-legged, and formed hand seals. A phantom image of an ice-blue phoenix slowly appeared behind her, but its form was unstable, sometimes clear, sometimes blurry, with wisps of inauspicious black energy clinging to its feathers.

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

Su Linger didn't answer, only closed her eyes tightly, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "Quick... I can't hold on much longer..."

Ning Xiaochuan didn't dare to delay. He immediately sat opposite her and guided the little dragon Source Soul to fly between them. The little dragon seemed to understand what needed to be done and voluntarily sprayed a dense mist that enveloped them both.

"Mmm..." Su Linger let out a soft groan, her brow relaxing slightly.

Ning Xiaochuan, following his intuition, gently placed his hands on Su Linger's palms. Instantly, an bone-chilling coldness spread through his arms, almost making him pull back. But the little dragon Source Soul immediately intensified its mist output, forming a warm barrier between them.

A clash of ice and warmth began within their meridians. Ning Xiaochuan could clearly feel the chaos within Su Linger's Source Soul—violent, icy Source Qi was ramming chaotically through her meridians, and some areas had already developed cracks.

"Hold on..." Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth and increased his Source Qi output, while the little dragon Source Soul also sprayed mist with all its might.

Gradually, the Mysterious Ice Phoenix's form stabilized, and the black energy on its feathers was purified bit by bit. Su Linger's breathing also became steady, and some color returned to her face.

Just as Ning Xiaochuan thought the task was complete, an unexpected change occurred!

The Mysterious Ice Phoenix suddenly opened its eyes, let out a clear phoenix cry, and then lunged fiercely towards the little dragon Source Soul. The two Source Souls collided in mid-air, erupting in a dazzling halo of light.

"No!" Su Linger cried out in alarm, "The Source Soul is out of control!"

Ning Xiaochuan wanted to recall the young dragon Source Soul, but found the two had already become entangled and couldn't be separated. Within the halo, the Mysterious Ice Phoenix and the young dragon Source Soul chased and spun around each other, their speed increasing until they transformed into a blue and white intertwined beam of light that shot towards the sky, piercing a large hole in the cave ceiling!

"This is... Source Soul Resonance?" Su Linger looked up at the beam of light, utterly shocked. "How is it possible for different Source Souls to..."

The beam of light lasted for about ten breaths before slowly dissipating. The two Source Souls returned to their respective hosts, but Ning Xiaochuan keenly noticed that several ice-blue patterns had appeared on the scales of the young dragon Source Soul, and a trace of milky white light spots was now mixed within the cold air surrounding Su Linger.

The two looked at each other, seeing shock and confusion in each other's eyes.

"What just happened?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

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

She suddenly stopped speaking and turned vigilantly towards the cave entrance. "Someone's coming!"

Ning Xiaochuan followed her gaze and saw the vines at the entrance being pushed aside. A person 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, just as I thought," the person in black said, their voice hoarse and grating like metal friction.

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

The person in black didn't answer, merely raising their right hand. A mass of dark Source Energy condensed in their palm. "Hand over the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, and I'll spare your life."

Ning Xiaochuan felt a chill run down his spine. The dark Source Energy emitted a nauseating aura, and the young dragon Source Soul stirred restlessly within him.

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

The person in black chuckled. "The little girl from Tianyuan Sect has good insight. Too bad..."

With a sudden wave of their hand, the dark Source Energy transformed into dozens of fine needles that shot towards the two!

Su Linger reacted extremely quickly, pushing her hands forward. An ice wall instantly formed, blocking most of the black needles. However, a few managed to bypass the ice wall and aimed straight for Ning Xiaochuan's throat!

At the critical moment, the young dragon Source Soul flew out on its own, spewing a cloud of condensed milky mist that enveloped the black needles. Surprisingly, the needles rapidly dissolved within the mist, vanishing without a trace.

"What?" The person in black was clearly taken aback. "It can actually purify Soul Devouring Needles?"

Su Linger seized the opportunity, forming hand seals. "Ice Phoenix Soaring Heavens!"

An ice crystal phoenix flew from her palm, charging directly at the person in black. The latter responded hastily, being forced back several steps, and a crack appeared on their mask.

"Hmph, I'll let you off for today," the person in black said sinisterly. "But we are determined to get the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon."

With that, their figure flickered, transforming into a cloud of black mist and dissipating into the air.

The cave returned to silence, with only the sunlight filtering through the large hole in the ceiling and the mess on the ground.

Ning Xiaochuan let out a long sigh, his legs going weak 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, specializing in capturing rare Source Souls. It seems your Sacred Spirit Young Dragon has already been targeted by them."

"How did they know about my Source Soul? I only awakened it yesterday!"

"The Dark Source Soul Hall has informants all over the continent," Su Linger said, walking to the cave entrance to inspect it. "Perhaps they had someone at your awakening ceremony."

She turned back to Ning Xiaochuan. "We must leave Qingyun City immediately. Once you're targeted by the Dark Source Soul Hall, they'll resort to any means to capture you."

Ning Xiaochuan frowned. "But my father and the family..."

"Do you want to implicate them?" Su Linger retorted. "The Dark Source Soul Hall acts without any bottom line. If you stay in Qingyun City, the entire Ning family will become a target."

Ning Xiaochuan fell silent. Su Linger was right; with his current strength, he couldn't protect his family at all.

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

Su Linger pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Tomorrow at dawn, we'll meet under the old locust tree south of the city. Remember, don't tell anyone where you're going."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded solemnly. By the time he walked out of the cave, the sun had already set. Looking back, Su Linger stood at the cave entrance, her white clothes fluttering gently in the evening breeze, like a painting.

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

The young girl froze for a moment, then nodded slightly before turning and disappearing into the shadows of the cave.

Ning Xiaochuan took a deep breath and walked towards Qingyun City. He knew that from this day forward, his ordinary life would be behind him. Ahead lay a journey filled with the unknown and danger.

But he was not afraid. The young dragon Source Soul on his shoulder seemed to sense his resolve, affectionately nuzzling his cheek.

"We'll get stronger together, little guy," Ning Xiaochuan whispered. "And then, we'll come back to protect everyone important."

The young dragon let out a "gugu" sound, its eyes sparkling with intelligence.

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