A Pact Beyond Blood

  As he rose to his feet, Huang Di sensed a presence watching him from the shadows. He quickly dressed and descended the stairs, finding Madame Scarlet and a formidable beast awaiting him a creature with the body of a black panther and the head of a wolf. It was a rare, mutated being, the offspring of a union between two distinct species an anomaly even in the world of beasts.

  The creature was preoccupied, devouring a massive slab of roasted meat, while Scarlet observed it with a pleased smile. Huang Di felt that the bond forged during the summoning was deeper than he had anticipated. Even separated, an invisible thread seemed to connect them with one that would only grow stronger with time.

  As he approached, he noticed the beast eyeing him sideways, wary as if afraid he might steal its food. Huang Di turned to Scarlet and asked:

  "So, what did you think of my first attempt? Honestly, I didn’t expect it to work."

  She chuckled, amused.

  "Truly, you are blessed by the goddess of fortune. Not only did you succeed on your very first try, but you summoned a nearly extinct and extraordinarily rare species. I even had to consult the other elders to identify it and ensure it was fed while you rested."

  Surprised, Huang Di recalled his grimoire. Upon opening it, he saw the image of the beast on the first page, its name, basic attributes, and a section dedicated to potential evolutions.

  He noticed that he could give the creature a personalized name instead of simply referring to it by its species. But what caught his attention most was the genealogy listed: descendant of Fenrir and the Lady of the Night. The revelation shocked him. These were legendary names mythical figures from the age of the gods. The creature, so young and seemingly frail, hardly resembled a being of such noble lineage. However, grimoires were known for their accuracy if uncertainty, they would simply mark something as "unknown."

  Noticing Huang Di's astonishment, Scarlet commented:

  "I was shocked too. How can something that small and unassuming be a rank five beast equivalent to a cultivator at the Earth Rank? It completely baffled me."

  "Were you underestimating me by chance?" Huang Di teased, flashing a wide grin.

  "Yes, I admit it," she replied, laughing. "I thought you'd manage to summon something, but certainly not something this powerful. A vast gap in strength between summoner and creature can cause loyalty issues or worse, outright defiance."

  The beast, hearing their conversation, raised its head proudly, exuding arrogance and challenge. Huang Di noticed and considered putting it in its place but remembered that he had not yet formalized the growth pact. With a firm tone, he addressed the creature:

  "Boy, I’m the one who brought you into this world and I can send you back. So, I ask you: will you follow me willingly, or would you prefer to return and become prey for stronger beasts?"

  Though the creature didn’t fully grasp his words, it understood the tone. It felt mildly insulted. Yet for some inexplicable reason, there was a sense of respect and gratitude within it toward Huang Di. Perhaps it was the summoning bond. Perhaps instinct. Besides, it knew the one who had fed it Scarlet was powerful and not to be trifled with. So, the beast simply ignored him.

  With Scarlet’s laughter echoing behind him, Huang Di realized that despite the initial tension, the two were getting along well. With a mischievous wink, Scarlet exited, leaving them alone.

  The creature stared him down, its gaze provocative, daring him to act. Huang Di, determined to end the silent standoff, formed a series of seals with his hands. The beast was enveloped in a radiant aura, levitating gently before being absorbed into the grimoire.

  Within the grimoire, the beast found itself in a spiritual realm small, serene garden that, while modest, felt like a comfortable cell. There, it could rest and grow. In the real world, Huang Di observed the image of the creature within the grimoire. Once static, it now pulsed with life, as if ready to leap off the page.

  With that matter settled, Huang Di prepared to bid farewell to Scarlet and make his way to meet the blacksmith, Bobby. A full day had passed since he’d arrived at the witch’s home, and it was now two in the afternoon. He realized he had slept for seven hours straight a clear sign of the mental exhaustion brought on by his first summoning.

  The Heralds of Power

  After bidding farewell to Madame Scarlet, Huang Di set out to meet the blacksmith, Bobby. As he passed through the plaza, his gaze fell once again upon the four statues near the fountain, the same ones he had noticed upon entering the city. The Mountain Sage was sitting nearby, puffing on his cigar as he contemplated the sculptures. Curious, Huang Di approached to greet him.

  "Well, if it isn’t the Mountain Sage," Huang Di said with a smile. "You mentioned they’re magnificent, but what’s the story behind these statues? What makes them so worthy of admiration?"

  The Sage looked at him and replied:

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  "Legend has it that they are the progenitors who enabled humanity to access this relic. They were the ones who reached the highest stages of this realm, becoming legends. It’s said that meditating and cultivating near these statues can lead to steady breakthroughs and a deeper understanding of their teachings. Others claim there are hidden secrets within them visible only to those with exceptional insight, prodigies with perception forty times above average. I’ve observed them for years yet still comprehend little. But every time I look at them again, I learn something new. It’s as if they represent the vastness of knowledge... and I, a mere sage, still fail to grasp it completely."

  Moving by these words, Huang Di climbed onto the fountain’s rim, at the center of the statues positioned at the four cardinal points. He sat in the lotus position, began meditating, absorbing the Qi of the surroundings and examining the statues with his spiritual perception.

  Sensing a sudden change in the flow of energy, the city's elders began silently approaching, watching attentively as the young man meditated in the heart of the fountain.

  Huang Di, unaware of the gathering crowd, was sinking deeper into a profound state of meditation. At that moment, he once again heard the voice that had guided him on many occasions:

  "It seems you’re on the verge of a new opportunity. Let me give you a little push..."

  He felt a stir within his dantian. Within seconds, four miniature treasures adorned with jade, gold, and precious stones emerged from his body, each representing one of the four mystical beasts: the Azure Dragon of the East, the White Tiger of the West, the Black Tortoise of the North, and the Vermilion Phoenix of the South.

  The treasures floated and gently landed atop the statues, merging into them. To everyone’s astonishment, the sculptures began to move. The once motionless figures turned their gaze toward Huang Di. The elders stood speechless as the statues slowly rose into the sky.

  Huang Di entered a deep trance, his astral body projected outward. Before him stood the souls of four colossal warriors, communicating in unison:

  "You are worthy of carrying the Four Heralds of Power. However, with your current strength, you will not be able to summon them," they declared. "Still, they shall aid you in many ways along your journey. We hold great expectations for you; one blessed by the Goddess."

  The statues descended one by one, fusing into Huang Di’s body. A surge of energy raced through him. Upon regaining consciousness, Huang Di felt as if his body were on the brink of collapse, overwhelmed by the immense power.

  At that critical moment, the small pagoda within him emerged, releasing a stabilizing energy that soothed the internal chaos and helped refine the influx of power into his dantian.

  During the process, Huang Di advanced four levels in cultivation, reaching the seventh level of the Profound Rank. His energy overflowed, his power rejuvenated. A wave of euphoria coursed through his body as the energy spread throughout his meridians.

  But his progress wasn’t limited to cultivation alone, he also gained a deeper understanding of the nature of the ranks.

  The nine levels of the Foundation Rank focused on the enhancement of the body’s systems: cardiovascular, nervous, integumentary, reproductive, muscular, sensory, digestive, skeletal, and immune. From the first to the ninth level, the primary goal was physical reinforcement.

  At the Profound Rank, however, the focus shifted to opening hidden portals within the body to enhance Qi circulation and absorption. Most cultivators managed to open only one to three such portals, with the most common being the Dantian Portal.

  Huang Di, however, possessed knowledge of an ancient method an inheritance from a mysterious treasure he’d discovered in his youth. This method described seven main portals corresponding to the seven levels of the Profound Rank. They were the Dantian Portal, the Prostate Portal, the Heel Portals, the Knee Portals, the Elbow Portals, the Heart Portal, and the Mind Portal.

  Most cultivators only accessed the Dantian Portal. The more advanced focused on the Heart and Mind Portals, which were deemed the most vital, the former for containing the essence of life, the latter for housing spiritual energy. The remaining portals were tied to the path of physical cultivation and were seldom pursued by conventional cultivators.

  Yet Huang Di walked both paths, the path of the body and the path of energy treading a unique route among mortals.

  The Blacksmith’s Proposal

  Huang Di opened his eyes and realized there were far more faces around him than expected, including some he hadn’t noticed before. Glancing to the side, he saw that the statues had vanished, leaving him stunned. Still, he chose to play the fool, pretending he didn’t understand what had just happened.

  "Elders, what a beautiful day we have today, isn’t it? A little sunlight each day is truly important," he said, trying to downplay the event.

  Some of the elders laughed at his remark, while others choosing not to delve into mysteries simply acknowledged that everyone had their secrets. In the end, nothing had changed significantly, except for the Mountain Sage. After centuries of watching the statues, he now saw them vanish, likely never to return. He looked at Huang Di with a meaningful gaze, filled with both curiosity and awe.

  Huang Di noticed that his grimoire, once outlined in copper, now gleamed with silver edges. Upon opening it, he discovered it had gained two hundred additional pages, totaling three hundred. The descriptions of the beast abilities had also been updated. He saw the figures of the statues now depicted wearing armor representing the Tiger, Tortoise, Dragon, and Phoenix, but he sensed he still lacked the strength to summon them.

  Descending from the fountain, he spotted Bobby entering his house. With a quick farewell to the Mountain Sage, Huang Di headed toward the forge.

  Upon entering, he found a place that looked like both a forge and a tavern, with tables scattered around. Approaching the counter, he noticed a young dwarf clearly not Bobby.

  "Ah, so you're the new chosen one of the relics, huh? More or less... So scrawny. You need to eat more beans," the young dwarf said, before Bobby interrupted him with a mug to the head.

  "You little brat! How am I supposed to run a business with you scaring away the customers? Go wash the dishes. Your mother’s been looking for you."

  The young dwarf made faces at Huang Di as he walked away.

  "Don’t mind that rascal," Bobby said. "So, what brings the young warrior to Bobby’s forge? How can I assist you in your noble endeavors, my friend?"

  Sensing an opportunity, Huang Di replied:

  "You're a high-ranking blacksmith, so crafting a rank-5 armor must be nothing for you."

  Bobby, initially enthusiastic, was surprised to hear about rank-5 armor.

  "Young man, why not aim for rank-7 or 8 armor instead? Why settle for that rank-5 trash? It’ll soon be useless on your path. You’ll reach higher ranks in no time."

  Huang Di explained that while a stronger armor would be ideal, he neither had the resources nor the capacity to fully harness the power of higher-ranked gear.

  Understanding the situation, Bobby made a proposition:

  "My equipment is top-notch efficient and doesn’t require your energy. And the price? Think of it as an investment. Do something for me, and when you return, a custom armor will be waiting."

  Huang Di was thrilled by the offer, though he knew the task ahead wouldn’t be easy. He carefully weighed the risks and benefits, recognizing the opportunity to obtain a powerful armor that wouldn’t drain his energy.