Long Tian moved through the frostbitten forest with Bai Xue resting on his back. Her wounds were healing slowly, aided by one of the minor elixirs from his pendant, but her strength remained fragile.
Despite the bond forming between them, something dark churned inside him.
His appetite had grown.
He'd begun feeling a terrifying urge—one he didn't fully understand—every time he smelled blood. The primal hunger of a dragon.
When a tiny, rabbit-like spirit beast bounded past their path, his instincts surged. He lunged without thought—fangs bared, qi surging through his claws.
But before the killing blow, a soft voice called out.
"Stop."
Bai Xue stood before him, shaky but firm. Her eyes glowed with quiet strength. "You are not just a beast… I've seen your eyes. You think like something more."
Long Tian froze. Trembling, he pulled back. Shame—not fear—coursed through him. He looked at his claws, blood-tipped and trembling.
The pendant pulsed.
> [Dragon Soul Trait: Resonance Achieved. Emotional Will Detected.]
[Dragon Soul Awakening Progress: 5%]
That night, as wind howled and snow danced through the trees, he meditated near a frozen stream. Bai Xue taught him about Beast Will—the ability of higher spirit beasts to preserve their sense of self, resisting bloodlust and madness.
He listened, remembering human books, morals, and mistakes. He wasn't just a hatchling. He was Long Tian.
> [Dragon Core Condensation Initiated. Forming Node One: Azure Heart Core.]
[Qi Flow Increased. Skill Advancement Unlocked.]
Lightning flashed above the forest.
The water beneath him vibrated.
When dawn broke, Long Tian opened his golden eyes, sharper than ever. His soul had taken root.
He was no longer just surviving.
He was cultivating.