After exiting the vault, Kael separated from Elder Rhett after choosing the three objects: the "Crimson Plum Circulation" aura cultivation technique, the "Flower Hemomancy" manual, and the Zu.
Sitting at the desk while looking at the three objects, he opened his status window:
Kael Medici
Title: Strayed Demon.
Talent: SSS.
Mana Core: Awakened.
Rank: 9
Traits: Refinement (A), Swordsmanship (A) Melee (S), Tamer (C)...
Strength: 33 +
Endurance: 31+
Agility: 31 +
Vitality: 60 +
Mana Capacity: 97%
Stat points: 119
Currently, Kael had 119 stat points, which he had not yet spent. Now that he had gone through the Awakening Ceremony, he had to recruit the person who would accompany him on the dungeon raid.
Besides, at that moment, his name was on the list for the succession fight... He had to be extremely careful with his moves.
Kael thought of his older brothers, and a cold smile formed on his lips.
He also needed to study much more about the Zu, for it was a field of which he did not possess much knowledge, and he was unwilling to make mistakes that would harm him.
Kael began to plan his next steps. He considered the possibility of creating a force of his own, but that would demand too much time and resources that, for the moment, he could only get from the clan.
While he organized his ideas and discarded the less efficient ones, after a few minutes of reflection, he focused on the most important thing:
Create your magic circle and dantian.
In my past life, I created my dantian at the age of twenty-two, after leaving Kiran Mountain and changing my name. Now I'm doing it seven years earlier!
Kael couldn't help but compare his past life with his current one. The changes were too obvious; even a fool would notice.
Putting aside his thoughts, Kael fixed his eyes on Lydia, who remained silent. Her voice, cold as steel, broke the stillness:
"Lydia, I will create my dantian. Intervene only if you see me losing control."
The maiden raised an eyebrow, and her pupils contracted slightly. "Young master, isn't this madness? It hasn't even been a week since your Awakening Ceremony. The mana core is still unstable.... One mistake could destroy it."
Lydia was right. Creating a dantian soon after awakening was dangerous, as the mana core in the early days was unstable. Misuse of the mana essence could destroy it.
For any young person, this would present a serious problem, but for Kael, someone who had lived 400 years and possessed a system was not an obstacle in the least.
In all the Medici clan, only Zephyr could match him in mastery of mana essence.
"Patience is a luxury I do not have," Kael replied, holding Lydia's gaze. "My brothers are years ahead of me. And now that they know I possess an S-rank talent.... do you think they'll hesitate to act?"
Lydia shook her head and pursed her lips. "No, young master, none of them will stand still. They will take every opportunity to eliminate you, as you are one of the great candidates to be the next patriarch."
A cold smile tugged at Kael's lips. "At least you understand. That's why today I will create my dantian... and before the next dawn, my first magic circle."
Lydia wanted to retort, but she kept quiet and moved closer to him, ready to react quickly.
Kael sat on the ground in lotus position and closed his eyes.
To create a dantian, several requirements were needed: first and foremost, to have a mana core; second, to have a guide or experience; and most crucial, to create a conduit to convert mana essence into aura.
The same applied to create a Magic Circle, only this was much more delicate, as it had to be done in the heart. A mistake meant death; on the other hand, with the dantian, there would only be a violent reaction, which would diminish the talent.
Just as Kael was about to begin circulating his mana essence, a notification window appeared.
[Do you want to activate the assistance function?]
[Yes/No]
Kael squinted for a moment. The system, silent for most of his return, rarely manifested itself without reason. It did not offer exaggerated rewards, nor did it impose childish punishments. He preferred it that way: functional, invisible, obedient.
Perfect. He thought. As a tool should be.
After a brief moment's thought, he pressed "Yes".
Ding!
[You have accepted the assistance function]
[This function will only be available during the creation of the dantian and the first magic circle. Once they are completed, it will be deactivated again.]
Ding!
[The creation of the dantian began!]
Immediately, he felt the essence of mana stirring within his core. A precise current, like a river traced by invisible hands, began to slowly pierce the void beneath his navel.
[Mana capacity has decreased by 5%].
[Has decreased by 10%]
[Has decreased...]
The notifications continued to cascade, but Kael paid no attention to them. His eyes remained closed, his mind immersed in every fluctuation of energy, every twist of mana, every ramification of the new channel born in his body.
Kael watched the process closely. Not because he doubted its success, but because he wanted to dissect the logic of the system. Every tool had to be understood, even its most hidden mechanisms.
As he watched the process, he was a bit surprised.
So this is the method that the system chose.... Technically efficient. Primitive, but flawless. It will appear within a decade, when the war on the Northern Border forces the simplification of traditional methods.
A faint mist of steam rose from his skin. His breathing was steady. His pulse, even.
Lydia did not look away from Kael, expecting some mistake. However, she was surprised to see the fluctuation of the mana essence creating the dantian perfectly.
"What technique is this? The fluctuation is stable... and at the same time, completely alien to any known method. Where did he get it from?" she muttered.
Time was diluted between pulses of essence. Notification windows kept appearing.
Finally, after several minutes, a last window appeared.
Ding!
[You have successfully created the dantian!]
[Congratulations! You have become a nine-star knight!]
Kael opened his eyes. A faint silver light flickered in his abdomen before fading, leaving behind a sense of solidity and fullness. He could see them, if only for an instant: nine tiny stars lined up like a celestial diagram, etched into his new power center.
Calmly, he opened his profile:
Kael Medici
Title: Strayed Demon.
Talent: SSS.
Mana Core: Awakened.
Rank: 9
Knight Rank: 9 Stars
Traits: Refinement (A), Swordsmanship (A) Melee (S), Tamer (C)...
Strength: 33 +
Endurance: 31+
Agility: 31 +
Vitality: 60 +
Mana Capacity: 18%
Stat points: 119
Kael at the sight of his status window. A slight smile, more of satisfaction than excitement, curved his lips.
In my past life, this took me seven more years.... Now, I've done it in an afternoon.
His fingers slowly closed over his knee.