The first month at the Verdant Dragon Academy passed by in a blur for Ichiro. Each day brought new experiences and challenges. As he woke up each morning, he felt refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.
On his way to class, he couldn't help but notice the curious stares of his fellow students. It seemed his performance at the entrance exam had not gone unnoticed. However, Ichiro paid little heed to the attention; he was here to learn and grow, not to bask in his newfound fame.
Classes proceeded smoothly, and Ichiro soaked up knowledge about cultivation like a sponge. The academy's instructors were skilled and knowledgeable, guiding the students through the intricacies of their chosen paths. Princess Kohona, his friendly classmate, sat beside him, and they often engaged in small talk during breaks, sharing their thoughts and experiences.
After the morning classes concluded, Ichiro headed to the academy's training grounds. There, he honed his martial skills, practiced his magic, and further refined his understanding of cultivation techniques. The hours passed quickly as he worked hard to improve himself.
As the afternoon sun bathed the academy in warm light, Ichiro began his journey back to the castle. Along the way, he encountered some senior students. To his surprise, the conversation was friendly and cordial. The seniors praised his performance on the entrance exam and offered words of encouragement. It was a heartening experience for Ichiro, making him feel more like a part of the academy's community.
The first month at the Verdant Dragon Academy had passed swiftly for Ichiro. Through tireless effort and unwavering dedication, he had managed to achieve a significant breakthrough. As he stood on the precipice of the Golden Core Realm's second stage, a sense of accomplishment welled up within him.
The news of the upcoming tournament buzzed through the classroom as the teacher explained the details. Ichiro listened attentively, his interest piqued by the prospect of such a grand event.
The teacher's words resonated in the room as they described the tournament's significance. It was no ordinary competition; it would bring together all the students of the academy, creating a stage for them to showcase their skills. Nobles and royalty would be in attendance, making it an event of considerable importance.
As the teacher distributed the forms for students to fill out if they wished to participate, Ichiro's determination ignited. This was an opportunity to not only test his abilities but also to gain recognition among his peers and the academy's distinguished guests. However, there was a catch: the tournament was scheduled for two years from now.
While the distant date allowed ample time for preparation, it also meant that the road ahead would be long and demanding. Ichiro understood the magnitude of the challenge that lay before him, but he was undeterred. This tournament would be a pivotal moment in his journey, and he was determined to make the most of it.
In the hallowed halls of the Verdant Dragon Academy, Ichiro walked a path of solitude. He chose not to forge friendships, for he believed they would serve as shackles on his relentless pursuit of power. But in the world of cultivation, fame had a way of finding those who excelled, and Ichiro's talents had earned him both renown and enmity.
The storm of trouble brewed when a senior student, Taiga, fueled by jealousy, issued a challenge to Ichiro. The young prodigy, mindful of his reputation, could not turn away from this duel. Word of the impending confrontation spread like wildfire, drawing spectators from all corners of the academy.
Taiga, an imposing figure reminiscent of the blood fang tiger, was a martial artist of exceptional prowess. His aura exuded confidence as he harnessed his qi, seeking to establish his dominance. Ichiro, however, was no stranger to harnessing energy. In a display that mirrored Raijin's celestial dragon form, though far from its true majesty, Ichiro too manifested his formidable power.
As the duel commenced, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation. Taiga lunged forward, his strikes fueled by years of training. But Ichiro, guided by the thunderous currents of his Thunder-qi, moved with the agility of a lightning bolt. His evasion of Taiga's attacks showcased his mastery of this potent force.
In a pivotal moment, Ichiro unsheathed the sword bestowed upon him by the enigmatic Thunder Tower Master. The blade, imbued with Raijin's electric essence, became a conduit for destruction. With a stroke of unparalleled speed, Ichiro unleashed a devastating blow that left Taiga battered and beaten.
As Taiga departed the arena, his fury was palpable, burning in his eyes like a smoldering ember. The crowd had witnessed his humiliating defeat at the hands of the enigmatic prodigy, Ichiro. With each step he took, it was evident that this loss had not quelled his thirst for vengeance. If anything, it had ignited an even more ferocious determination within him.
Although Ichiro emerged victorious in his duel with Taiga, the celebration was short-lived for him and Raijin. The Thunder God was not content, for he recognized that Ichiro's arsenal of techniques was alarmingly limited. It was time for a new phase of training, one that would push Ichiro beyond his current limits.
In preparation for this arduous endeavor, Raijin once again assumed his ethereal, spiritual form. He became a formidable, unassailable opponent for Ichiro. No matter how fervently Ichiro attacked, Raijin eluded him effortlessly, an ethereal wisp dancing through the physical realm. It was a humbling experience for the young prodigy, a stark reminder of the vast chasm that still separated him from his mentor's level of mastery.
Raijin pivoted to a new strategy, focusing on honing Ichiro's swordsmanship. Day after day, Ichiro trained diligently under Raijin's tutelage. As the weeks passed, the young prodigy absorbed the Thunder God's teachings like a sponge. He displayed a remarkable aptitude for swordplay, mastering Raijin's 2nd and 3rd Sword techniques within a mere month. These techniques were imbued with the Thunder God's own unique flair, making Ichiro a formidable swordsman in his own right.
However, as Ichiro's skills continued to flourish, the Verdant Dragon Academy presented its next challenge: the 1st-semester exam. This trial would transport students to the perilous Dead Hounds Jungle through a warp portal, a place notorious for its treacherous terrain, cunning traps, and vicious beasts. The objective was deceptively simple: survive within the jungle for an entire month. Yet, the jungle concealed many enigmatic secrets, waiting to be unraveled by those brave enough to venture into its depths.
Through the mystical portal they went, and like scattered leaves in the wind, the students of the Verdant Dragon Academy found themselves dispersed across the impenetrable enigma of the Dead Hounds Jungle. Ichiro, following his initial instincts, sought the high ground by scaling a colossal tree, yearning for a vantage point to survey the jungle's enigmatic expanse. Yet, this impulse soon turned into rueful second thoughts as a colossal white eagle, its plumage gleaming like freshly fallen snow, bore down on him with unrestrained fury. Ichiro's nimble reflexes saved him as he scuttled down the tree's towering trunk with haste, keenly aware that discretion was the better part of valor.
With his feet back on solid ground, Ichiro chose to explore the jungle's depths, driven by a primal instinct to survive. It wasn't long before he crossed paths with creatures of lesser stature, ranking between tiers one and two. A martial dance ensued, one where Ichiro emerged as the victor, absorbing their life essences to augment his own power.
a sudden alert from the system interrupted his silent contemplation. The words materialized before him like an ethereal oracle:
"New skill unlocked: Mana detection Lvl.1."
Intrigued, he delved into his system menu, the gateway to a world of enigmatic potential. His eyes, like a scholar scrutinizing a precious manuscript, traced every detail:
Ichiro Ryugen
Level: 71
Health: 42
Strength: 34
Stamina: 56
Mana/qi: 31
Intelligence: 29
Points Available: 0
Cultivation level: Golden Core Realm 2nd Stage
Contracted Beasts: None
Titles: None
His fingers danced upon the screen, leading him to the second page, where the newfound skill took its place:
Skills:
Mana Detection Level 1
Description: can sense the gathering of big mana
Ichiro felt the significance of this skill course through him; it was more than just a mere ability. It was a compass guiding him toward hidden treasures, a secret key to unlocking the jungle's arcane mysteries.
In the heart of the dense and perilous jungle, time seemed to blur as Ichiro continued his solitary journey. Four days had drifted away like leaves on a tranquil stream.
Then, amidst the endless emerald foliage, Ichiro stumbled upon a formidable creature, an ape-like behemoth of rank-4 strength. Its monstrous form and lightning-quick movements belied its size. With a swiftness that defied its bulk, it charged toward Ichiro, a primal force of nature.
Reacting with the precision of a seasoned warrior, Ichiro dodged the first ferocious onslaught. In a desperate attempt to fend off this colossal adversary, he harnessed the teachings of Raijin, unleashing the second of his master's sword techniques. The blade shimmered with a crackling, electric energy as it sliced through the air, but upon impact, it barely grazed the ape's toughened hide. The creature roared in fury, its fury manifesting in a mighty swing of its massive arm.
Ichiro, sent sprawling by the brute force of the ape's attack, tumbled away. The world spun around him as he scrambled to regain his footing, his heart pounding like a relentless drumbeat.
With relentless determination, the ape leaped into the air, its colossal form poised to crush Ichiro beneath it. In the nick of time, Ichiro rolled aside, narrowly evading the imminent disaster. Adrenaline surged through him as he darted for cover, his life hanging in a delicate balance.
Concealing himself behind a massive boulder, Ichiro hastily retrieved a health potion from his pouch, the liquid providing a soothing balm to his battered body. Through the tense moments that followed, he watched in silence as the enraged ape scoured the vicinity, its every breath a thunderous echo.
In that fleeting moment of respite, Raijin's voice whispered in Ichiro's mind. The thunderous deity intuited the very essence of the creature's menace. It was on the cusp of transcending its current rank, ascending to an even more daunting fifth rank, which explained its extraordinary strength.
Raijin tells Ichiro to tail the ape, Although Ichiro found Raijin's counsel to be unconventional, he had learned to trust in the ancient thunder deity's wisdom. With cautious determination, he shadowed the powerful ape, navigating the jungle's labyrinthine undergrowth with the skill of a seasoned tracker.
The giant ape, its every movement a testament to its impending transcendence, led Ichiro to a cavern nestled deep within the forest's heart. Here, amidst the eerie silence of this hidden enclave, a treasure trove of artifacts and relics awaited discovery. These gleaming prizes whispered promises of power and fortune.
Yet, Ichiro soon faced an insurmountable obstacle—the ape stood as an indomitable guardian, staunchly defending its precious hoard from intruders. Ichiro wrestled with the dilemma, desperate to claim the treasures that beckoned to him.
Raijin, recognizing the impasse and unwilling to yield to the creature's might, conceived a bold stratagem, a plan that would exact a toll upon his divine form. With unwavering resolve, Raijin assumed a semblance of his true dragon-like self, an awe-inspiring figure that materialized outside the cave's gaping maw.
The giant ape, stirred into a frenzy by the arrival of this formidable adversary, unleashed its fury with unmatched ferocity. In those precarious moments, Ichiro seized his chance. He slipped into the cavern's depths, driven by the intoxicating allure of untold riches.
However, within the cave's depths, the magnitude of the treasures proved overwhelming. The ape's insatiable appetite for curiosities had amassed a staggering collection. Ichiro's hands, brimming with the wealth of ages, struggled to contain the boundless riches that threatened to consume him.
In the face of such abundance, Ichiro was compelled to exercise discretion, selecting items that emanated an aura of promise and potential. He gathered these treasures into his possession, leaving behind others that would forever remain obscured within the cave's shadowed recesses.
Outside the cavern, Raijin, sensing the toll that his transformation had exacted, reverted to a less formidable form, a gesture of understanding that weighed heavily on his celestial heart. The ape, infuriated by the loss of its cherished treasures, bellowed its frustration with a thunderous roar that shook the very foundations of the jungle.
As the cataclysmic echoes of the beast's fury reverberated through the forest, Ichiro, burdened by the treasures he had salvaged, made his escape from the cave. Yet, he did not depart unnoticed, for the violent tempest of rank-4 and rank-5 titans, drawn by the ape's distress, descended upon the scene.
A savage maelstrom of colossal proportions unfurled, as the jungle's most formidable predators clashed in a primal contest of supremacy. Amidst this tumultuous struggle, Ichiro's flight continued, leading him to a secluded glade that lay bathed in the gentle embrace of dappled sunlight.
Here, as he surveyed the treasures he had claimed, one artifact gleamed with an ethereal radiance—an ancient lotus, suffused with the accumulated essence of a thousand years of cultivation. It exuded an otherworldly aura, a promise of boundless potential and newfound power.
Determined to harness this enigmatic artifact's formidable energy, Ichiro retreated to a tranquil enclave within the jungle's depths. With Raijin's unwavering guidance and his own indomitable resolve, he embarked upon the arduous journey of cultivating this age-old relic.
Yet, the lotus's power proved staggering, an overwhelming force that threatened to consume him entirely. Agony coursed through every fiber of his being, and despair whispered its siren song. In this crucible of suffering, Ichiro's will was tested as never before.
In the bleakest depths of torment, Raijin extended his divine aid, merging his formidable essence with Ichiro's in a desperate bid for survival. Together, they channeled the lotus's boundless energy, fusing it with Ichiro's very essence.
Hours stretched into an eternity of pain and suffering, yet Ichiro remained resolute. At long last, as his spirit teetered on the precipice of collapse, he emerged victorious, ascending to the Golden Core Realm 3rd Stage—an embodiment of indomitable determination.
As consciousness wavered on the cusp of oblivion, Ichiro glimpsed a message etched into the very fabric of his being:
"Congratulations! The system has been updated to V2." "New Skill Unlocked: Void Pocket."