The warm, glowing peace of the womb was suddenly stirred by movement outside. Jin's senses, now more attuned than ever, picked up faint echoes of voices and energy.
A low, deep voice entered the room.
"Greetings, Great Elder," Jin's father said, rising to bow.
"Honoured to have you here," his mother added, her voice calm and respectful.
Jin could feel the subtle tension in their emotions. Something important was happening. The man who had just arrived was no ordinary visitor—he was the Grand Elder of the clan, a legendary figure known for his unmatched wisdom and authority. Even among the highest-ranking members of the Central Clan, his word was final. His presence alone carried weight, and the very air seemed to bow in respect.
The old man's voice was ancient, yet powerful. "A week from now, the Talent Ceremony will take place. All children soon to be born must undergo the test. That includes your child."
Jin stirred slightly within his protective cocoon. A new window flickered in his mind.
Ding! [New Quest Detected]
Quest Name: Probe Your Worth Objective: Place first in the Talent Ceremony and be recognised by the entire clan. Rewards:
Talent of Magic
Elemental Affinity: Light, Darkness, Time, and Space
Ability to Cultivate in the Womb
Time Remaining: 7 Days
Jin's thoughts sharpened. "Another test… Another step forward."
The days passed quickly. The air was filled with anticipation. The Talent Ceremony was one of the most awaited events in the clan—every child born within a specific cycle had their blood tested to determine their potential.
When the seventh day arrived, the skies above the Mage Tower shimmered with glowing sigils. Clan members from all around the Central Dynasty gathered near the altar.
A stone platform pulsed with soft blue light. At its centre sat the Talent Stone, a mystical artefact said to reveal the aptitude of any child through the drop of maternal blood.
Jin's mother stepped forward, joining the line of other mothers.
One by one, parents approached the altar. Each drop of blood summoned a different light from the Talent Stone, and each light determined the future of a child.
Ordinary Talent: The stone flickered dimly, barely glowing. This signified minimal potential, where cultivation would be slow and difficult.
Medium Talent: A soft but steady light emerged. Children with this level showed promise, destined for an average cultivation path.
High Talent: A brighter, more vibrant glow. These children were seen as gifted, often fast learners and strong fighters.
Awakened Talent: The stone pulsed with dazzling, radiant energy. Such children possessed rare gifts and were considered future elites.
Transcendent Talent: A surge of golden energy erupted, overpowering the surroundings. This was the rarest of all—so rare, only a handful had appeared across the generations.
Gasps filled the air as each result was announced. Hope, envy, and pride mingled in the hearts of all who watched.
Only one child so far had triggered the full burst of golden energy—"Transcendent." The crowd held its breath, wondering if they would witness something greater still.
Then, it was Jin's mother's turn.
She inhaled deeply and pricked her finger, letting a drop of her blood fall onto the stone.
Silence fell.
The stone trembled.
A golden light burst forth, blinding and radiant. Gasps filled the crowd.
But then—
BOOM!
The Talent Stone cracked—then shattered into dust.
The crowd erupted.
"What just happened?!"
"The stone... it broke?!"
"That's never happened before!"
The Great Elder stood in stunned silence. Even he, in all his years, had never seen such a phenomenon.
Jin's father clenched his fists with pride, eyes wide. His mother's eyes shimmered with tears.
Ding!
[Quest Completed – Probe Your Worth]
Rewards Granted:
Magic Talent Acquired
Elemental Affinity: Light, Darkness, Time, Space
Womb Cultivation Unlocked
System Notification: Magic Talent Integration: In Progress
Within the womb, Jin felt a rush of unfamiliar but exhilarating energy. Streams of mana flooded into him. His body pulsed with power.
Outside, his mother's eyes widened.
She gasped. "He… He has a magic talent. Stronger than any I've ever sensed!" As one of the most renowned high-ranking magicians in the clan, she had witnessed countless talented individuals. Her magic had once shielded cities during wartime and earned her the title of the 'Crimson Moon Enchantress'. But even in all her experience, she had never encountered such overwhelming innate magic potential in an unborn child.
Another pulse followed. Spiritual energy swirled around Jin.
The Great Elder narrowed his eyes. "That's… cultivation energy. From within the womb?
He stroked his long, silver beard, his expression unreadable. The Great Elder, known as Arcanos the Wise, was not only the spiritual leader of the clan but also its oldest living cultivator—rumoured to have once walked the sacred realms of the Spirit Sky. His mere presence carried an invisible pressure that silenced crowds and humbled warriors. Even the Clan Head bowed when Arcanos spoke. Though revered by all, Arcanos had always maintained a composed detachment—until now. For the first time in decades, the aged master looked truly astonished. His gaze locked onto the spiritual energy spiralling out of the unborn child—the son of Binas, the Demon Emperor's eldest and most powerful heir. Binas, a legendary cultivator known for mastering forbidden arts and leading armies in ancient wars, stood frozen beside his wife. He had sensed it too. The spiritual resonance pulsing from Jin was beyond comprehension. Eyes wide, fists trembling,
"Impossible... he's already channelling spirit energy? Before birth?" A storm of emotions brewed behind his usually stoic expression—pride, awe, and an unfamiliar flicker of fear.
On the other side, hidden in the shadows, the Demon Emperor—Binas—watched the entire ceremony unfold. His eyes were narrowed, his expression unreadable. But as the golden light erupted from the Talent Stone, his lips curled into a smile.
Chatter rippled through the crowd.
"How is this possible?"
"He's cultivating before being born?!"
"This child… he's not just talented. He's a monster!"
The voices blurred into awe, envy, jealousy, and fear.
"He has the greatest talent our clan has ever seen," someone whispered. "Maybe even in the entire Central Planet…"
But Jin didn't care for the words of others. All he could feel was the power awakening inside him. Like a door opening—no, doors—to magic, to cultivation, to infinite potential.
Days passed.
Within the womb, Jin's development surpassed all expectations.
System Log:
Daily Quests Completed: 27
Daily Points Earned: 96
Cultivation Progress: Qi Gathering Level 1 → Level 9
In mere months, Jin had advanced through nine stages of Qi Gathering. Most prodigies required a decade to reach what he had achieved before birth.
The clan elders continued monitoring from afar, each report more shocking than the last.
"He's already at the peak of Qi Gathering?"
"He hasn't even been born yet!"
Jin's body strengthened with every passing day. His soul, enriched by system support, continued refining itself.
Current Status – Host: Jin
Strength (STR): 5
Agility (AGI): 1
Vital Energy (HP): 10
Magic (MP): 1
Charisma (CHA): 20
Luck (LUK): 6
Intelligence (INT): 10
Cultivation (CULT): 9
Unallocated Attribute Points: 50
Jin's thoughts settled as the final days approached.
"So this is the strength I've been given… No, the strength I've earned."
He thought of his parents. Of his fate. The world was waiting for him.
"A world of power. Of war. Of destiny. Let it come."
System Prompt:Estimated Time Until Birth: 3 Days