Kellan glanced between Lehen and Onru, his brow furrowed in suspicion.
"Why is it a gamble on my part as well? Is there some sort of risk for me?"
Onru's gaze turned serious, her voice low.
"Obviously, there's a problem. If you choose to absorb this spirit diamond into your body, you'll be connected to the spirit race.
It makes you half a member, meaning if people find out about it… well, they may kill you to take it."
Kellan took a step back, eyes wide.
"Are you serious? Isn't this just a ticking time bomb waiting to go off?"
Lehen's face softened, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"It's true, child. There is some risk on your part. But not everyone gets a chance like this.
A spirit diamond is a rare treasure, a gift from our race, it was created from years of effort just to find a chance of salvation for us spirit race members,
However, if you're uncomfortable, we won't force you. We'll just have to choose someone else."
"Why can't you just run away? Do you really need to stay in the Mystfall Springs?" Kellan asked
"Bah, what do you know, how would you feel if somebody suddenly came to your house and told you to scram after living there for generations" Onru stated
Kellan hesitated, his heart hammering in his chest as he considered the consequences.
He could feel the weight of their offer pressing on him.
After a long silence, he gritted his teeth and spoke with resolve.
"Fine. I'll do it. If I hesitate when opportunities come my way, I'll stay ordinary forever."
Onru replied, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
"Oh, so you're not all bad after all, kid."
Lehen extended her hand, the spirit diamond glowing faintly in her palm.
"This is yours now. Take it, and let it merge with you."
Kellan reached out, feeling the warmth radiate from the diamond as he took it.
The moment it touched his skin, a searing pain shot through his body.
He clenched his jaw, struggling not to cry out, but just as suddenly, the pain was replaced by a warm, comforting sensation, like a soft blanket settling over his soul.
He could feel the spirit diamond settle within his dantian, drawing spiritual energy toward his body in gentle waves.
As the energy coursed through him, Kellan couldn't contain his excitement.
"With this, I won't be left behind anymore. I can finally get stronger."
Lehen nodded approvingly.
"With that spirit diamond, your cultivation speed will be twice that of an average person.
But this power comes with responsibility, and like I said, with danger.
If people find out you possess the spirit diamond, they'll try to take it by any means.
You'll have to be cautious."
Lehen's gaze sharpened.
"The only way to truly fuse with the spirit diamond is to reach the bone sacrifice realm."
Only then will the diamond merge with your spirit bones, and people will be forced to give up on claiming it for themselves."
Kellan nodded, feeling a bit wary.
"Understood,"
He said, though his mind was racing.
The thought of someone hunting and killing him for the diamond was unsettling, but he knew that sometimes you just had to take the jump.
Onru's face darkened as he glanced over his shoulder.
"We need to go, Lehen. If the Frey Clan finds us here, we're dead."
Lehen turned back to Kellan, her expression softening.
"We have to leave now, child. Remember your promise."
Kellan raised an eyebrow, a hint of defiance sparking in his eyes.
"How are you so sure I won't break it?"
Lehen chuckled.
"The spirit race has the natural ability to sense the color of a person's soul.
Yours shines with honesty and kindness.
It tells us you're a trustworthy person who won't go back on your word."
He paused, looking Kellan squarely in the eye.
"This is why we chose you. If you were unworthy, we wouldn't have offered you this chance, no matter how talented you might be."
Kellan nodded slowly, feeling a bit embarrassed about what he said.
"Alright, I understand. I might not fully get what's going on, but I'll do my best not to let you down."
Onru snorted, but Lehen's face softened into a proud smile.
"Good. Now we must go. We need to return to the array formation of the Mystfall Springs.
I hope the next time we meet, you'll be even stronger."
With that, Lehen and Onru vanished into the shadows, leaving Kellan alone with the spirit diamond's comforting glow in his dantian.
Kellan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Things just got a lot more complicated," he muttered to himself.
"There's the clan tournament, the inter-tribe trial by fire, the Nightshade Clan, and now the Frey Clan, all pulling strings from the shadows.
And on top of that, there are spirit race members hiding out here too."
He breathed deeply, centering himself.
"Regardless, my priority is still my cultivation. If I get stronger, I can handle whatever comes my way."
Closing his eyes, he initiated the temporal breathing technique, sensing the flow of time around him as he drew spiritual Qi into his body.
The spirit diamond pulsed in his dantian, pulling at the energy with an almost greedy hunger, amplifying the Qi he absorbed.
"I was already at the peak of the second level of the blood solidification realm," he thought, focusing his energy.
"With this, I can break through to the third level."
With a surge of determination, Kellan guided the spiritual energy through his veins, using it to solidify his blood even further.
Moments later, he felt a sharp increase in his power. He'd done it—he had reached the third level.
"Success!" he exclaimed, testing his newfound strength.
His body felt sharper, stronger, faster—yet he sensed something more, something beyond his current achievement.
Before he could fully understand it, the spirit diamond in his dantian flared again, drawing in even more spiritual energy.
"Crap!" Kellan's heart raced.
"I just broke through. If I absorb too much right now, my foundation will be unstable."
But as he tried to halt the flow, the spirit diamond pulsed again, this time spreading a stabilizing warmth throughout his body. His foundation held firm.
"What…? This thing can stabilize my foundation too? Does that mean I can keep going?"
Ecstatic, he pushed himself, drawing in more and more spiritual energy.
A whirlpool of Qi formed around him, spinning with intense force as he reached the peak of the third level of the blood solidification realm.
"The peak of the third level!" he whispered, clenching his fist as power surged through him.
But just as he began to savor the moment, he heard voices approaching.
"Over here!" someone shouted. "This is where the energy gathered. There must be a treasure around."
Kellan's heart leapt, and he dropped into a crouch, his gaze snapping toward the intruders.
Emerging from the shadows were two figures dressed in black robes, each marked with a dagger insignia—a clear symbol of the Nightshade Clan.
His eyes narrowed. "The Nightshade Clan," he murmured.
The two figures scanned the area, their eyes gleaming with greed.
"I can feel it," one of them hissed.
"Something powerful is here. Keep searching."
Kellan gritted his teeth, his mind racing.
With the spirit diamond in his possession, he was stronger, yes, but he wasn't sure he could take on two members of the Nightshade Clan alone.
He knew enough about them to understand that they were merciless, willing to kill anyone who stood between them and their prize.
He steadied his breathing, pulling his aura close to hide his presence.
With the spiritual energy whirling around him, he prayed it would be enough to mask his location.
One of the figures paused, tilting his head. "Do you feel that? A faint trace of energy here…"
Kellan tensed, readying himself.
His only chance was to move quietly and escape without drawing attention.
But if he failed, he would have to fight.
"Am I really gonna fight again? Why am I so unlucky?" Kellan grimaced