Chapter 303: Soul Manifestation (2)

Kael formed hand seals—snap, snap, snap—his fingers threading together in rapid patterns. The Netherworld Soul Locking Flag floated behind him—hummm—its cloth unfurling, runes blazing.

The sixteen souls inside the flag ignited.

Flicker-flicker-flicker.

Each soul blazed with condensed soul energy—tempered by the Lightning Lake, refined by weeks of absorption. The Abyssal Thornsire’s soul burned brightest—its crystal-antlered form visible through the cloth. The Storm Wolf Alpha’s soul crackled with residual lightning. Fourteen others pulsed in unison.

The dragon watched from the garden’s edge. Her lightning-gold eyes narrowed and a small smile crossed her face.

Oh, she thought. I see what he’s trying to do.

The soul power from the sixteen souls flowed.

Not into the flag’s internal space. They flowed outward and through the bond Kael had formed with the flag, the soul energy of sixteen absorbed beings poured into his body.

WHUUUM.

Kael’s soul core trembled. The influx was enormous—sixteen souls’ worth of condensed soul energy flooding into his Peak Soul Tempering soul core. His soul structure groaned—creak—expanding to accommodate the surge.

The energy pushed against the Soul Shell.

Kael pushed.

The soul energy pressed against the shell—crack—hairline fractures appearing. He pushed harder. More soul energy flowed from the flag.

CRACK.

The fractures spread. The shell buckled—creak—but held.

Hhhh... hhhh...

Kael’s body trembled. Blood dripped from his nose—drip—and his vision blurred. The pain was extraordinary—like his entire being was being compressed into a single point.

More.

He drew deeper from the flag. The souls’ energy surged—whuum—and the shell cracked further. Crack. Crack. Crack.

The dragon’s hand hovered near his shoulder—ready to stabilize if needed. But she didn’t intervene. This was his battle.

CRACK—SHATTER!

The Soul Shell broke.

WHUUUUUM!

Soul power gushed out—burst—like a dam collapsing. Kael’s soul energy flooded through his body. The air around him distorted—shimmer—as spiritual energy merged with the physical world.

A smile spread across Kael’s face.

He opened his eyes.

Flicker.

Everything was different. His soul sense had exploded outward—thrum—mapping the entire garden, the corridor beyond, the palace chambers above, the mountain above that. Everything within range rendered in exquisite spiritual detail.

[Soul Cultivation Breakthrough: Early Stage, Soul Manifestation Realm.]

[Soul Sense Range: 105 meters.]

Kael exhaled slowly. Hhhh. The soul energy settled around him like a second skin. He could feel the ambient mana of the garden, the runic formations on the ceiling, the dragon’s own soul energy—massive, ancient, unfathomable.

The dragon smiled.

"Congratulations," she said. "I didn’t expect Valdris also gave you the soul flag."

Kael looked at her. "You recognized it."

"Of course. The Netherworld Soul Locking Flag. One of the Immortal Soul Sect’s greatest treasures." She crossed her arms. "Valdris was always stingy with that thing. The fact that he gave it to you means he likes you at least."

She uncrossed her arms and stepped back.

"Accustom yourself to your new powers. Then we can continue training." She paused. "Your rule power is still at the second step."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Second step?"

The dragon held up five fingers.

"There are five steps in refining rule power," she explained. "The first step is the Spark. The cultivator first senses lightning rule power—becomes aware of it as a concept. They can feel its presence in ambient lightning mana but cannot interact with it. It’s like seeing the ocean from shore—vast, distant, overwhelming."

She lowered one finger.

"The second step is Resonance. This is where you are. The cultivator begins to resonate with lightning rule power. Their lightning-affinity techniques become smoother, more efficient—as if the lightning itself is cooperating rather than being forced. They understand lightning intuitively but cannot yet articulate what it is."

She lowered a second finger.

"The third step is where it gets difficult. To actively spam your domain—to deploy it freely in combat—you need to fully grasp the lightning rule. Articulate lightning at a fundamental level. Not just feel it. Understand it. Define it. Become it."

She looked at him directly. "You’re still far from the third step. You should break through to the Spirit Soul realm before you attempt it."

Hhhh. Kael nodded. Spirit Soul realm. That was the next major milestone. His soul was ready—Soul Manifestation achieved which was already far beyond what was required. His mana was close—Mana Heart Rank 7. His rule power was sufficient—gravity rule and lightning rule both comprehended.

All the criteria for Spirit Soul breakthrough were met. He just needed to push his mana cultivation to Rank 9 and consolidate.

"Show me your techniques," the dragon said. "Let me see what you’re working with."

Time passed.

Kael trained under the dragon’s guidance—refining his lightning rule power, practicing his domain formation, and honing his existing techniques. The dragon was a demanding teacher. But her insights were invaluable.

The man from the Lightning Lake—the Peak Mana Heart cultivator who had been comprehending lightning rule power—joined them. His name was Torven. A quiet, intense cultivator from the Northern sector. He trained alongside Kael, and while they weren’t friends, there was a mutual respect.

The dragon also introduced Kael to the Dragon Thunder Manual—a technique collection that required dragon blood or a supremely powerful physique to practice. The techniques were devastating—dragon-affiliated lightning arts that channeled the primordial power of dragon-kind.

Kael absorbed a drop of dragon’s blood but not the female dragon’s blood as that one was too powerful for even his own body. So he was given a lesser dragon’s blood. But even then—

AGH—!

The blood was molten fire—sizzle—racing through his meridians, tempering his body from the inside. His Void Body Refinement technique integrated the dragon blood energy—creak—using it to reinforce his bones, his muscles, his organs. His Tier 5 body grew denser with each session.

The Dragon Thunder Manual techniques followed. Thunder God Flash. Dragon’s Roar—a sonic lightning attack. Thunder Claw—close-combat lightning-infused strikes.

Two months passed.

Kael stood before the dragon in her human form. He was ready to leave.

"I’m afraid I have to leave now," Kael said. "Something valuable to me is going to appear soon. I need to go."

The dragon nodded.

Kael paused. He turned back. "I never asked your name."

The dragon smiled—a warm expression that softened her storm-grey features.

"Vaelthara," she said. "I am Vaelthara."

Kael smiled. "Thank you, Lady Vaelthara. For everything."

"Go," she said. "And don’t die before you reach your full potential, boy."

She handed him a small storage ring. "Lightning treasures. Storm Cores, Fulgurite Shards, and a few other items from the palace vaults. Use them well."

Kael took the ring and bowed—creak—a gesture of genuine respect. He turned and walked toward the palace exit.

He flew.

The Cloak of Flight carried him down the stairway—whoosh—past the cultivators still climbing. Their eyes widened as he descended effortlessly—floating past them like a ghost. Some cursed in jealously.

Kael entered the Lightning Canyon. The narrow passages blurred past—his speed far beyond what it had been when he first entered. Lightning beasts lunged—growl—and Kael killed them without slowing.

Four worthy souls. A Rank 7 Storm Wolf. A Rank 8 Thunder Lizard. Two Rank 8 Lightning Serpents. Each one killed in a single strike—slash—and their souls absorbed into the Netherworld Soul Locking Flag.

Soul Flag: 20/100.

He reached the Lightning Lake. Crossed it in minutes—step, step, step—his aura absorbing every strike without effort. The lake that had taken him a full day to cross now felt like a puddle.

He reached the gateway—the portal that would return him to the outer zone of Vaelthor’s holy ground.

FWOOSH.

A lightning strike screamed toward his head.

Kael dodged—ZIP—Thunder God Flash activating instinctively. The strike passed through his afterimage—BOOM—and cratered the ground where he’d been standing.

He frowned.