[Congratulations to the Host for reaching the Spirit Warrior realm within a day, you have achieved an incredible feat Host!] Nora congratulated him.
"Nora, it's all thanks to you! Without you by my side, I wouldn't have been able to achieve this feat and my mother might have died," Yuan expressed his gratitude humbly. He understood the importance of humility, recognizing that without Nora, he might have been a helpless individual in this world of talents.
[Host! You're being too modest; it's your talent that led to your accomplishment. Don't give me all the credit, as I'm just a tool to assist you!] Nora retorted, finding Yuan's humility a bit excessive.
"But Nora, you're more than just a tool to me. You're a person, a friend who helps me!" Yuan insisted.
"Thank you for considering me a friend, Host. And speaking of which, why don't you check your system storage? You haven't looked at the other rewards you received or some of the system pop-ups," Nora reminded him of the rewards he had received as part of the starter gift pack. Besides the cultivation technique, there were other items he hadn't explored.
"Since you brought it up, I nearly forgot about those rewards because I was so engrossed in the cultivation process," he admitted. Even though he was aware of the earlier rewards, he had put off examining them due to his eagerness to experience actual cultivation after reading about the greatness of cultivators.
"First, Nora, show me the details of those notifications!"
[Of course!] Nora responded.
< Dominating Sword Strike>
"Hmm... 'Dominating Sword Strike'... It has a nice ring to it. I like it!" Yuan's excitement was evident as he read the name of the newly acquired sword technique.
[The significance of this sword technique lies in its power. Despite being a middle-grade Spirit rank technique, it's on par with a low-grade Heaven rank technique. It's an extraordinary technique that suits your current cultivation level.] Nora elucidated, explaining why this Middle-Grade Spirit technique was so remarkable.
Yuan absorbed her explanation and simply nodded. Even without Nora's input, he could deduce from the name of the technique that it was potent.
"Nora, could you please display all the rewards I've received so far?"
"Of course, Host!" Nora complied and displayed the rewards stored in the system.
(A/N: I have changed the "inventory" to" storage" because I feel like I am writing a typical Japanese isekai novel if I use the "inventory" word and I don't like it.)
«System Storage»
—
— —
—
< Dominating Sword Strike>
"Even though most of these rewards are probably from the beginner's gift pack, there are some interesting items. But what's up with this mysterious box?" Yuan voiced his confusion as he examined the box adorned with question marks on all sides.
[I believe it's a gacha! Why not give it a try? You never know, you might find something valuable.] Nora suggested, glancing at the puzzled Yuan.
"Sure!" Yuan agreed.
[Ding! Would you like to open the mysterious box? Yes/No]
"Yes."
[Congratulations! You have opened the mystery box, and as a reward, you received a dragon egg!]
—
"What!... A dragon egg?... Is this for real?" Yuan's astonishment was evident as he looked at the egg adorned with crimson and black scales, accompanied by golden lines. The egg, with a diameter of five feet, appeared out of nowhere before him. The most mind-boggling aspect was that it was a dragon egg, and not just any, but a rare and precious one.
Dragons were a familiar concept to Yuan due to their prevalence in cultivation stories. Often depicted as mystical, powerful beings with intelligence surpassing many sentient creatures, including humans, dragons were characterized by their serpent-like bodies, sharp claws, scale-covered bodies that conferred protection, and sometimes wings. So, seeing a dragon egg left Yuan completely flabbergasted.
[Host, you should establish a master-servant contract with this dragon egg! It could become an invaluable asset in the future. Keep in mind, dragons are at the peak of the world's hierarchy!] Nora advised.
"Do I have to cut my finger and make a blood pact, like those cultivation novels from my past life?"
[Precisely, just mix a few drops of your blood with your Qi and offer it to the egg. If the egg accepts your blood and Qi, the contract will be formed, and the dragon will become your servant!] Nora explained. She understood Yuan's reference because she had access to his memories from his previous life.
"So, the same procedure as in those novels. Is this some kind of coincidence?"
[Host, perhaps your former world hides some hidden truths—there's more to it than just coincidence! Who knows, maybe there's a way for you to return to your former world in the future.] Nora speculated, contemplating the situation.
The fact that Earth's inhabitants had such in-depth knowledge about cultivation couldn't be a mere coincidence. There likely existed enigmatic clans or sects working to keep this information hidden from the general public. Otherwise, how else could it be explained?
He then retrieved the Blue Jade Sword from the system, and a 43-inch-long weapon reminiscent of a Chinese sword materialized in his grip.
"I didn't expect it to be this heavy." Holding the sword, he remarked on its weight.
[Of course, it's heavy. After all, it's a spirit sword.] Nora clarified.
He then created a small cut on his fingertip, and a drop of blood formed. To his surprise, the blood drop exhibited a golden hue mixed with the red, only visible upon close inspection.
Thinking no further, he used his Qi to scatter a few drops of his blood over the dragon egg.
As his blood touched the egg, it began to tremble with excitement. After a moment, it stopped, surrounded by a dark crimson Qi.
"Yes!" Yuan promptly responded, without a moment's hesitation.
A crimson tattoo with a few golden lines materialized on his right arm, forming a dragon tattoo in blood-red ink that extended to around 18 centimeters in length.
A smile spread across his handsome face as he observed the tattoo. He sensed a strange connection with the dragon egg, almost as if they could understand each other's emotions.
"..."
"Huh?"
Yuan blinked several times, trying to confirm that he wasn't seeing things. He scrutinized the clear display in front of him, but the information remained unchanged.
'Did I just end up with an 'Egg' as my wife?' Yuan's thoughts whirled in confusion as he looked at the system screen.
Name: Xi Meili
Servant Grade: Ancient
Master: Yuan Blank (Husband)
Cultivation: Third-Level Spirit Warrior
Legacy: None
Bloodline: Ancient Chaos Dragon Bloodline
Physique: God Chaos Body
"This... This is real!"
He stared at the status of the dragon egg on his system window, his shock evident on his face.
"What on earth!... How is this even possible? I can't recall ever agreeing to a marriage contract with anyone! Definitely not with an egg!"
Yuan exclaimed in bewilderment. He was certain that the contract he had formed with the dragon egg was not intended for marriage.
[It's not that you have a marriage contract with Xi Meili; rather, most Divine Beasts consider their contracted master as their 'husband' due to their pride. They find it difficult to be considered a mere servant. While it's been quite a while since this happened, it's not surprising that she acknowledges you as her 'husband'!] Nora explained, shedding light on the situation.
"Now I understand... So I'm now the 'husband' of an egg? Apparently, it's a dragon egg, and she can assume a human form later. That's good news, but where should I keep this egg?" Yuan mumbled, his face reflecting his confusion.
[Yes, you are, Host! By the way, even though it's a bit belated, congratulations on your 'marriage'!] Nora chimed in with a cheerful tone.
—
After Yuan exited the room, Anna and the others were left in a moment of silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Mistress... Do you truly think it's okay for me to start cultivating? Do I deserve it?" The room remained hushed until Emma's hesitant voice broke the silence. Doubts lingered in her heart; she wasn't certain if she was worthy of learning such an advanced technique. After all, she considered herself a mere servant in this esteemed family.
"Emma! How many times must I remind you not to see yourself as a mere servant? Have you forgotten that you are a valued member of this family, as Yuan himself has stated?" Anna's tone held a touch of reproach as she fixed Emma with a serious look.
"My apologies, Mistress... I promise it won't happen again." Emma replied with a warm smile, her eyes brimming with sincerity.
Lily chimed in with her own grin and a gentle touch of her hand on Emma's. "Mom's right, Big Sis! You should never think of yourself as an outsider. You hold great significance in our family, and you're my cherished elder sister!" Lily's words were infused with genuine affection for Emma.
Anna couldn't help but chuckle at the camaraderie between her daughter and Emma. "Alright, you two, let's start with your cultivation. As Yuan and Lily have emphasized, cultivation is the key to finding a solution for your condition, Mom. I'll take care of preparing dinner tonight." With that, Lily rose from the bed and exited the room, leaving Anna and Emma alone.
"Emma, we should follow Yuan and Lily's advice and begin our cultivation," Anna spoke with a reassuring tone.
"Absolutely, Mistress..." Emma concurred, her resolve firm.
As Yuan had explained, the two of them settled into the lotus position and opened the technique manual with care.
Upon opening the book, they were greeted with intricate writing in an unfamiliar language, a jumble of symbols that made little sense to them. Subconsciously, they closed their eyes, feeling a sense of calm and comfort settling over them.
The inscrutable words on the pages gradually transformed, becoming less like gibberish and more like comprehensible text. They could feel information pouring into their minds, knowledge about this enchanting world that they had never encountered before. The experience was nothing short of miraculous.
As an hour passed, a sensation of cool energy spread through their bodies, replacing their prior fatigue with newfound vitality. They had succeeded in reaching the level of first-level spirit apprentices, stepping beyond the boundaries of ordinary humans.
"So this is what it's like to be a cultivator? I've never felt so invigorated and alive." Anna's voice carried a mix of awe and excitement, and she nodded as if affirming the changes within herself.
"Mistress, I feel like I've been reborn!" Emma's voice held genuine happiness as she shared her experience.
"Thanks to our dear boy, we've been granted a fresh start, haven't we, big sister?" Anna's thoughts echoed with a cool yet affectionate voice inside her mind.