“Mother, do not trust anyone.” Zao says as he walks into his room in Grand Elder Chi’s estate. Wei Ning’s face is full of confusion as Zao says this.

“Why Baby Zao?”

Wei Ning knows that Zao has a master named ‘Grand Elder Chi’. This person gave her and Zao a home and even offered them a place to stay after their last house exploded, so why would there be a reason to not trust them she asks herself.

“Everyone is not what you make them out to be. With your innocence mother, even if I did tell you, you still wouldn’t understand.” Zao says as he shakes his head back and forth pitily.

“Hey, don’t underestimate your mother! I’ll have you know I am very sharp when it comes to wit!” Wei Ning says as she puffs out her cheeks at her son’s words.

“Yes, yes. Just be on the lookout. Do not go anywhere with anyone and if you need anything, come to my room and get me.”

“Why does it sound like you won’t be seeing me much in the future?!” Wei Ning yells worriedly. Her son is the only thing that keeps her motivated as the days go by and Wei Ning won’t function much without her daily dose of her loving son.

“I need to go into seclusion and cultivate as much as possible for this tournament. I heard there are great rewards for whoever gets in the top 50 and anyone that gets in the top 10 gets to go into an inheritance. I can’t miss this opportunity mother.”

“But-but-but-!”

“No buts! I need this so I can gain as much power so we can get out of here as soon as possible. This place will only limit our potential and as you saw with our house exploding, we seem to have some enemies.”

A cold light flashes in Zao’s azure eyes as he mentions the part about the Ning family having enemies. A shiver goes up Wei Ning’s spine as she sees the deadly aura coming from within her son.

‘Why does it seem like my son is much older and mature than me! He is barely older than a year old.’ Wei Ning thinks to herself when seeing how concentrated and motivated her son is to become stronger and rise throughout the lands.

“Don’t worry, I will come out every so often to eat and to see you mother. I will also check your progress in cultivation.”

Wei Ning smiles as she can tell her son thought of her when planning out his path for cultivation.

“How long will this last.”

“Until a week before the tournament, which is in 39 days, so for a little more than a month.”

Wei Ning thinks for a second and then nods her head.

“I can manage that, but you must promise to come out at least once a week to see me and to eat!”

“Haha, okay mother. I promise, but you have to promise not to go anywhere or to take anymore masters!”

“Alright!”

Zao Ning sticks out his pinky finger and interlocks it with his mother, representing the beginning of the promise. Wei Ning smiles brightly and then bows to her son.

“I’ll let you start then!”

Zao nods his head and sees his mother out of his room and into her room. Knowing that his mother will be safe and out of sight for now, Zao locks up his room. He also puts a sign on the door that says ‘Do not disturb’.

Zao’s room is fairly spacious, being 20 meters by 20 meters. Most of it is just open space which is perfect for Zao Ning right now.

The boy walks to the middle of the room and then sits down and closes his eyes. Looking inside of his cultivation veins, 1 Darkness Ki worm and 1 Lightning Ki worm are wriggling around in his veins. At the moment the Lightning Ki worm is extremely profound and even has a scar representing its evolution.

Using his past knowledge, Zao knows that he needs to focus on merging the two if he wishes to be able to use both elements efficiently. After he does so, it will hard to tell which type of Ki will be more profound or which Zao will use more since it will depend on his experiences throughout life.

Zao also has to figure out how to make the bead inside of his heart ignite if he wants to truly be able to soar through the Realms.

I have so much to do before the tournament, but entering the inheritance will be a pivotal point in my destiny so I cannot slack now!

*14 days later*

A dark and electrifying aura is emitted from the door leading to Zao’s room. Anyone who walks by it is hit with a large sense of danger. This sense of danger causes anyone below the peak 6th Mortal Realm to sweat in anxiety.

“How strong has Zao become now?” “Will he be able to beat the top 10 disciples?” “No wonder Grand Elder Chi picked him, that youth is so terrifying!”

Servants of Grand Elder Chi gossip and talk about Zao Ning’s rise in power recently since the whole estate can feel undulations of power from time to time.

Inside of the room, the only color that once can see is black. The pure amount of Darkness Ki is outstanding and every once in a while, a semi translucent spark of electricity manages to split apart the darkness.

In the heart of the cloud of darkness sits a platinum haired youth that seems to be in a trance and is unaware of the outside world. Soon, a surprised look spreads across the youths face.

The surprised look is soon replaced with a face full of happiness and bloodlust.

Zao Ning opens his hands and puts out his palm. Soon, an azure colored ball of lightning forms above his palm and bends to Zao’s commands.

My translucent lightning from before has finally evolved and turned a solid color. My color seems to be azure, slightly above average for now.

There are many different types of lightning which can form from someone’s Lightning Ki. Different colors represent different characteristics. Some lightning is quick but doesn’t hit very hard.

Some lightnings hold unlimited strength but can be dodged easily.

Rare types can even have mystical effects. There was once a lightning that could heal any injury. There has also been a lightning that could travel through dimensions in a second.

Anyone who managed to cultivate these rare types were legends and are long gone.

In his past life, Zao’s Lightning Ki was titanium white with a black outline. This was a very rare and destructive form of lightning. Anyone hit by the lightning was instantly burned, their strength was decreased and it was nearly impossible to heal the damages caused by his lightning.

This let Zaragnathor, Zao Ning’s past name, travel throughout the realms nearly unmatched.

Zao’s current color, Azure, is known for having insane speeds and slightly above average strength. The strongest lightning ever known is pure gold and Zao can only think of one person who has ever cultivated this. That person is in the Never Realm and is considered in the Top 5 Existences ever.

Of course, a cultivator can change the color of their lightning but acquiring other colors takes a lot of effort and dedication. Zao didn’t worry about it in his past life.

“I wonder if this could help me unlock the powers of my past life.

Zao uses his newly acquired lightning and directs it into the shiny silver bead in his heart. The bead actually responds and begins to hungrily absorb Zao Ning’s lightning Ki.

At first, Zao Ning smiles to this reaction but this smile soon turns into fear. The bead is absorbing all of Zao Ning’s Lightning Ki without stopping.

If this continues… This bead will absorb not only all of my Ki but even my Lightning Ki foundation!

Zao grits his teeth as he tries to use his soul to try and stop the furious absorption of his Lightning Ki before he loses his Lightning foundation, but alas. Not even his soul can stop the hunger of this bloodline bead.

Zao’s Lightning Ki has been 50% taken away and his eyes have turned bloodshot. A bright silver light is shining in the darkness from within Zao’s chest and a heat that is unbearable is dug into Zao’s heart.

The pain of having one’s Ki being drained and a burning heat in permeating in their heart, it is not fun for the reincarnated dragon.

Soon, Zao can’t take anymore and waves begin to appear in his soul! A small sliver of primordial power forms within his soul.

STOP!

Zao roars mentally and the primordial power within his soul shines in unison with the bloodline bead.

As if sensing its original owner, the bloodline bead finally stops stealing Zao’s Lightning Ki and just in time too. Zao has only 1% of his original amount of Lightning Ki left and the azure worms in his veins are quaking in fear from the strength of the bloodline bead.

*sigh* It’s over. Zao thinks to himself while letting out an exhausted breath. The bright light emitting from the bead is still shining through Zao’s chest, but it is different now.

It seems I now have control of the bead. Looking at my soul, I can feel a familiar sense of power. Maybe I even got a piece of my original soul back.

Zao is excited at his progress towards his old self and soon he begins to manipulate the bead.

Zao feels like he is trying to mold a boulder but soon he starts making some progression.

The bead soon starts to dissipate and is absorb into Zao’s blood. As every single piece of the bead is chipped off and absorbed, Zao can feel an immense power be shot through his blood and be sent throughout his whole body.

The feeling of raw, untamable power from when he is was a dragon is once again filling Zao Ning’s conscious and he has a face of pure ecstasy. A low rumble emits from within Zao’s chest.

“Ahhhhh. This feeling… It is good to get it back.”

Zao’s voice turns back time and he sounds the exact same as when he was a dragon. Zao stops absorbing the bloodline bead though when it reaches 1% absorbed. Zao can feel his voice turn back to normal and Zao’s face turns extremely pale.

I can’t absorb too much too quickly I will destroy my whole body. This is the max I will be able to absorb for a while, but I did get some benefits.

Looking down at his right arm, Zao puts all of the absorb dragon blood in his right hand and soon, a thin layer of silver scales form on his hand.

The scales look unbreakable and the aura radiating from that can make the heart of anyone quiver and quake in fear.

I need to continue processing the blood I have already absorbed now to make it purer. Then maybe I can transform my body into something extremely similar to my last body. Plus I have to keep feeding the bloodline Ki to keep igniting it further.

Zao closes his eyes to focus on regaining his Lightning Ki but they shoot open as he remembers something.

“I have to go see mother!” Zao yells as he almost broke their promise.