After acquiring the Partial Dragon Body Cultivation Manual, Robert gently returned the scroll to its place. Without a word, he turned and moved toward the next section of the library—Soul Cultivation Techniques.
The same whispers clung to him like shadows—disbelief, curiosity, and sarcasm.
"Why's he even here?"
"That useless heir again?"
But Robert's expression remained unchanged calm, unreadable. Every step he took echoed with quiet resolve, steady and unshaken as if nothing could turn him back.
He laid his palm on the soul cultivation shelf.
[Initiating Data Transfer…][Compiling Compatible Techniques…Partial Custom Soul Cultivation Manual ∗Dragon Soul Manual∗]
Robert felt a surge of warmth pass through his body. The knowledge didn't just sit in his mind, it settled deep.
The system had stored a complete visual training series for the Dragon Soul Manual. He could now revisit it anytime, replay the moves, feel the flow, and purify his knowledge.
It brought a rare touch of satisfaction to his face.
Without wasting time, he turned toward the shelf labeled Martial Techniques—ready for the next step on his path.
[Initiating Data Transfer…][Technique Acquired: ∗ Twin Dragon Fang Art ∗– A dual style that emulates the strike and flow of twin dragons, known for explosive bursts and relentless chaining attacks.][Combat Visualization Stored in System Memory – Accessible Anytime]
Robert's eyes gleamed. The rhythm of twin blades flashing in unison played through his mind quickly, precisely, and overwhelmingly.
The Twin Dragon Fang Art wasn't just powerful; it suited him. It was created for somebody with something to demonstrate.
He stepped toward the next shelf.
[Initiating Data Transfer…][Technique Acquired: ∗ Heaven Mountain Fist ∗ – A devastating close-range technique root draws strength and unmovable will. Like a falling mountain, it crushes defenses and destroys enemy momentum. Technique ][Combat Visualization Stored in System Memory – Accessible Anytime]
Next, he reached the shelf labeled Movement Techniques.
[Initiating Data Transfer…][Technique Acquired: ∗ Shadow Step ∗ – A stealth-based footwork technique that integrates the user with a shadow. Swift, surprising, and ideal for sudden strikes or silent escapes.][Combat Visualization Stored in System Memory – Accessible Anytime]
After assembling the knowledge needed for cultivation, Robert left the library.
A few whispered behind cupped hands, shaken by the sudden transformation of the so-called disgrace of the Osborns.
But just as quickly as the whispers rose, they faded. People returned to their scrolls and books, shaking their heads as if ignoring what they had seen.
Robert didn't care.
His footsteps echoed calmly through the corridor until a quiet voice grabbed his attention.
"…the clan competition is next month. The Smiths and the James clan are preparing hard this time."
"That William James brat… already at Body Tempering Realm 9 level. No one from our side can match that."
Robert's pace slowed.
Then it quickened.
His eyes sharpened. His pulse thudded with excitement.
Competition between clans.
An opportunity to grow, to establish, and to crush every label that had shackled his name.
By the time he reached his room, his heart was thumping not from fear but from intense anticipation.
He shut the door behind him and sat down, back straight, eyes glowing with focus.
Smith Clan. James Clan.
The names weren't new to him.
The Smiths had always been a model of order—reliable, skilled, and unwavering in their craft.
But it was the James clan that stood above the rest. Their younger generation feared for good reason. Brutal. Talented. Trained like elite warriors since childhood.
Compared to them, the Osborn younger generation has been called the weakest.
Robert clenched his fists, the system's knowledge buzzing beneath his skin.
Not anymore.
He would rewrite their place in the ranking.
Starting with himself.
And in a month, the entire region will witness the rebirth of the Osborns.
With fire in his eyes, Robert stood up and moved to the corner of the room where a small wooden chest lay hidden beneath an old, dust-covered sheet.
He opened it.
Inside were a handful of low-grade spirit stones and a few basic cultivation pills, remains of his father's last attempt to help him succeed.
He gathered them carefully.
This is where it begins, he thought.
Robert sat cross-legged in the center of his room, placing three spirit stones in a loose triangle around him.
He held one of the pills in his palm, then turned his gaze inward.
"System", he said, his voice steady. "Can you show me the training method for the Dragon Body Tempering Manual?"
A pause.
Then the system replied with a ding.
[Confirmed. Initiating Visual Projection.]
A glowing, holographic figure appeared in front of him, humanoid, powerful, and wrapped in faint energy lines.
The system voice followed, calm and clear in Robert's mind:
[Initializing: ∗Dragon Body Tempering Manual∗ — Training Started.]
[Overview: The Partial Dragon Body Tempering technique is divided into five minor levels of physical cultivation. Each level significantly improves the host body's strength, resilience, and mana-handling ability.]Dragon Body Tempering – Power LevelsLevel 1: Draconic Skin – Enhances surface muscles and outer flesh, improving stamina, durability, and tolerance to external impacts. → Power Level Range: Body Tempering Realm 1–2Level 2: Iron Veins – Reinforces internal blood vessels and increases mana flow ability, improving reaction time and physical skill. → Power Level Range: Body Tempering Realm 3–4Level 3: Tempered Bones – Strengthens the skeleton, allowing resistance to bone-breaking attacks and supporting heavier mana density. → Power Level Range: Body Tempering Realm 5–6Level 4: Dragon Heart Pulse – Refines organs, improving energy recovery and resistance to internal injuries. → Power Level Range: Body Tempering Realm 7–8Level 5: Scaled Body Core – Infuses the body with dragon essence, unlocking supernatural resilience, regeneration, and mana compression. → Power Level Range: Body Tempering Realm 9–10
Each level is divided into two stages: Half-Step and Full-Step. You will begin at Half-Step Level 1.
Robert's eyes narrowed. So the Dragon Body path was more than just strength—it was a ladder to surpass human limits.The video started, and Robert mimicked the old man shown in the video. He shifted into a low stance—feet grounded, arms wide, drawing in mana from the surroundings and adjusting his posture to match.He crushed the spirit stone around him and took the pill resting in his hand.A pulse of warm energy surged through him.His muscles stiffened. Heat built beneath his skin—first tingling, then boiling, as if dragon fire ran through his veins. Every breath became heavier, more focused. The light from the spirit stone danced across his body, absorbed into his body and flesh.He moved into the stance shown by the holographic figure—slow, precise, grounded.This technique wasn't just about moving; it was about having a clear intention. It was about control and reshaping his body into something more powerful.Robert is dedicated to the cultivation method, step by step, breath by breath. Minutes slipped by, then hours, as he became fully immersed in the rhythm of his training.Then suddenly he felt it.A surge.His body shook, then steadied. His skin itched as if layers of weakness were clearing away. He could feel the energy coiling in his core, alive and pulsing, reinforcing every limb and joint.A grin slowly stretched across his face.This… this is power.He thought, but he didn't stop.That flicker of strength wasn't enough. Not yet.His stance deepened, and he dove back into the next form, sweat glistening, breath steady, resolve unshaken. He repeated the motion, then again, each repetition burning it more in-depth into his body, forging muscle and mana together.He had started this path not just to survive but to rise.To rebuild.To conquer.And so, he continued.