"Let's try out my fountain first."
This was my golden ticket—my key to immortality.
Raising my hand, I summoned the Fountain of Youth, and instantly, a sweet, fruity aroma filled the air. The crystalline pink liquid shimmered, practically inviting me to take a sip.
I examined the fountain's intricate design for a moment before finally tasting it.
The flavor burst across my tongue—something between pink Starbursts and sweet melon, but infinitely better. Smooth, refreshing, and just the right balance of sweetness.
"Damn, that's good." I smacked my lips, savoring the aftertaste.
Still, drinking from the fountain was just for pleasure. The real magic was already fused with me, constantly providing its benefits. And the best part? I could produce an infinite supply.
After another sip, I dismissed it. There were still more things to check.
---
Next, I summoned the Ancient Stone Talisman into my palm.
The moment it appeared, I felt it begin absorbing Qi from the surroundings, charging itself naturally. A good sign.
Unfortunately, I didn't have cultivation available to me right now, meaning Qi pearls or Qi liquid were useless. The body-strengthening liquid might work, but with my physique already enhanced, I wasn't sure how much of a difference it would make. Plus, I had no containers to store them in.
As for alchemy, I had neither the ingredients nor the recipes to start making pills or elixirs. That would have to wait.
I sat down cross-legged and entered the dream space connected to the talisman.
---
My real body remained outside—only my soul form entered.
The space itself was vast yet empty. No shadow warriors yet; I didn't have any martial arts techniques for them to display. The only notable features were: A massive jade platform, large enough to hold at least twenty-five people comfortably and a gray mist curtain in the distance.
I walked toward the jade platform and took a step onto its surface.
The moment my foot touched it, a wave of refreshing energy surged through me—like stepping into a warm spring on a cold day.
"Ohhh… that's nice."
Without hesitation, I collapsed onto the platform like a wet noodle, completely basking in the sensation.
"I could stay here for days..."
The energy wasn't just relaxing—it was nourishing my soul.
I forced myself to look toward the gray mist curtain. That led to the Doppleganger Fight Arena.
Step inside, and an exact copy of me would manifest, possessing all my knowledge and abilities—but executing everything with flawless technique.
A fight to the death. No escape until one of us fell.
If I won, the talisman would reward me—strengthening my soul, purging impurities, or granting some other unknown benefit.
If I lost? Well… I'd experience death before waking back up here or in the real world.
A brutal yet effective training method.
"Not today, Satan."
There was no way I was fighting a perfect version of myself just yet. Especially since my immortality wouldn't work in here. That would defeat the purpose of the training.
Regretfully, I peeled myself off the jade platform and exited the dream space, re-entering my real body.
The second I woke up, I groaned. My face-down position on the dirt wasn't exactly comfortable.
After brushing myself off, I dismissed the Ancient Stone Talisman.
---
Next up—Heavenly Restriction.
I already knew it was active. My enhanced memory, heightened senses, and physical upgrades confirmed that. But I still wanted to test it.
I clenched my fist and threw a casual punch into the open air.
BOOM!
The force blasted outward, kicking up dirt and sending dust swirling. The air cracked from the sheer impact.
"Not quite Saitama-level… but still badass!"
Excitement buzzed through me. This was power. The kind of strength that put me in the ranks of legends—Might Guy, Rock Lee, Toji, Bang, Garp—true hand-to-hand combat monsters.
I bent my knees and launched forward.
The world blurred. Everything around me moved both slow and fast at the same time. Before I even processed it, I was already at the lake.
My foot landed on the water's surface—but instead of sinking, I kept running, skimming across the lake like it was solid ground.
(If anyone had been watching, all they would've seen was me vanishing like a ghost before reappearing on the other side of the lake.)
"So. Freaking. Cool!"
And that's when I made a huge mistake.
I bent my knees and jumped.
Not a normal jump. A Superboy/Hulk jump.
I rocketed into the sky, watching the ground rapidly shrink beneath me. And that's when my brain caught up to reality.
I forgot one important thing.
"I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS!"
The realization hit me like a truck. My stomach twisted as I reached the peak of my jump, way higher than I was comfortable with.
Then… gravity took over.
As I plummeted, I'd love to say I didn't scream like a little bitch—but that would be a lie.
The ground rushed up in slow motion, and I braced myself for impact.
The moment my feet touched down, my body automatically absorbed the force. I landed gracefully, almost like a cat.
…If cats had shaky legs and pale complexions after nearly shitting themselves.
"Okay. Not doing that again."
---
Ryan's Top Fears
Let's get one thing straight—there are three great fears in life.
1. Heights.
2. Needles.
3. Fish.
Heights? Terrifying. I prefer my feet on the ground where they belong.
Needles? Fuck them. Anything that slides into skin so easily is nightmare fuel.
Fish? Absolutely not. Those dead, soulless eyes, those slimy, smelly bodies that flop around unpredictably? Nope. Childhood trauma cemented that fear into my very being.
…Oh wait, I forgot one.
4. Parasites.
Fuck tapeworms. Fuck any tiny creatures that invade your body. The thought alone makes my skin crawl.
Call me a coward all you want—I don't give a shit. Even if I could survive being dropped from orbit, I'd rather not experience that.
With that, all of my basic gifts had been checked.
Now, it was time for the real test—my Peerage Summoning System.