Volume 1-Chapter 4- Awakening

It had been a year since Orphelia had left for the sect. Maxwell had written 4 letters in total and had sent some gifts with it for her to help her grow. He had read all the books in his library and had started to read the books in the Chevalier family's library. He had learnt a lot in this one year and his treasure pavilion had grown its influence vastly and it was getting ready to fully wipe out its enemy, the Smith family who had trapped Hannah and opposed the treasure pavilion since Leonidas was the leader after its mysterious backer. The imperial family chose to not intervene after receiving benefits from the treasure pavilion. Maxwell failed to breakthrough, but his spirit fruit tree had grown 2 meters tall.

The information collected by the treasure pavilion had told him about many secret zones and currently unopened tombs in the Azure Dragon Kingdom. The treasure pavilion also set up one branch in the other 3 kingdom's capitals but had not spread out since they had to consolidate their strength.

Maxwell had reached rank 2 in the lightning element but remained in rank 1 of space element cultivation. He could not cultivate lightning element further since he could not break through. He had reached the peak of spear essence and heard that Orphelia had reached mastery of sword essence. He knew hands on experience was better for weapon intent comprehension, but he could not unleash his spear intent fully without qi.

One day he got good news from Leonidas.

"We have located some lightning dragon dung. I would like to ask why you need such a terribly smelling item."

"To grow a lightning spiritual fruit tree."

"Oh, this will increase its growth by a lot if you put it regularly."

"Exactly."

Leonidas completed his report and Maxwell returned home to see his little sister. She was now 5 months old and had white hair and icy blue eyes. She was frail and every month she had bursts of cold ice qi that was a variant of water qi attack her body. Every time this happened she would feel a lot of pain and cry. Maxwell knew this was a sign of her having an ice physique, but he was not sure which one. He could only watch as she writhed in pain as he could not help her.

When his sister, Lily saw him she smiled brightly.

'My sister is very cute, but her physique will suppress her emotions when it awakens so she won't smile anymore.'

"Hello Lily."

Maxwell's father entered the room with a bowl of baby food and started feeding Lily, her white hair contrasting against his deep black hair. Maxwell looked just like his father, but since Lily had an ice physique she didn't inherit hair or eye color from either of their parents.

Maxwell then played with Lily for a little while before heading to the Chevalier's library. It was a grand library and they had accumulated many rare books that Maxwell even using the treasure pavilion would have trouble acquiring. There were a lot of books he was restricted from reading since he was not an actual member of the family, mainly important techniques and family secrets.

While engrossed in a book about the 7 top forces and their strengths in each of the 4 kingdoms- Azure Dragon in the east, Vermilion Bird in the South, White Tiger in the West, and Black Tortoise in the North.

'This book will need updating in a few months after Leonidas completes enacting his revenge.'

'At this rate I won't find even a clue of how I'm supposed to breakthrough till I die. The treasure pavilion also won't be able to find much with only my words.'

Sighing, Maxwell put the book back in its place and took out the treasure pavilions findings on Orphelia's physique. He decided to investigate it since his dilemma was caused by its awakening.

'Oh! Sword movements used by anyone with this constitution will cause plum blossoms to appear, interesting.'

The information about the constitution was very little even after months of searching but Maxwell thought it to be useless to him.

9 Years later, a few months after Maxwell had turned 14.

Maxwell came running in the house, waking up his family while shouting, "Mom! Dad! Lily! Quickly come, it's about to ripen."

His father walked out sleepily, disgruntled at being disturbed with his clothes disheveled still. Next came his sister and mother who were neatly dressed already.

"C'mon Lily, hop on my back. I'll carry you there."

Lily had turned 10 recently and had endured her cold ice qi attacks with increased frequency, this was a sign that her physique was going to awaken. The increased frequency also made her very pale and weak leaving her unable to perform even the most basic of tasks.

Maxwell ran at a slow jog so that she would be able to breathe smoothly. Two-thirds of the way to the pond where the Lightning spiritual tree was growing, everyone noticed all the qi suddenly getting absorbed.

'That gourd is indeed an excellent herb. I might have underestimated its rank.'

The ground then started to tremble wildly.

"F*ck, the beasts want the fruit." Max swore and as soon as they entered the formations that he had improved over the years, he activated the protective formations.

"Son, that should be at least a rank 8 herb. How did you grow it in 10 years?" His father was rather perplexed.

"No, that's actually a rank 9 medium grade herb, it's called Tribulation Gourd. I got very lucky in growing it, if it was not for the pond holding lightning qi from the tribulation and dragon dung I acquired it might not have matured even in 1000 years."

"Dragon dung? You used that putrid substance?" His father shivered on the mention of dragon dung.

His mother then explained, "Your father hates the smell ever since he stumbled upon some in a cave. He could not smell for weeks after that and did not even have an appetite for a week either."

Lily giggled softly on hearing this to everyone's astonishment since she hardly showed emotion anymore.

"Lily stay in the house, it's the safest place to be in now."

Maxwell had felled strong trees from the forest and used them to upgrade himself to a small villa. Those trees had taken him months to cut and they were very sturdy. He had also layered the walls in defensive formations.

Around the perimeter of the array, thousands of beasts appeared but on feeling the destructive aura the gourd possessed hordes fled, leaving only the strongest ones and the few fools who hoped to take advantage of the fighting.

As soon as the fruit matured a strong wave of coercion swept out and knocked down many beasts and Maxwell's parents to their knees. Only Maxwell and few other beasts that seemed to possess lightning affinity were not fully on the ground.

In total there were 3 beasts, a Lightning Pegasus, a Thunderwing Owl and the strongest, a Thunderstruck Ent. They were all Level 5, they had the strength of a martial grandmaster, a major stage above his father. The Thunderstruck Ent seemed to be at the peak of his realm and desired the fruit to breakthrough, while the other 2 did not try to fight against him in fear. The Ent roared, and cracks appeared in the formation. Maxwell quickly used a low-grade earth spirit stone to repair it and headed for the tree. The lightning around the fruit seemed to dance as Maxwell approached closer.

'Are they attracted to me because of my lightning affinity?'

Maxwell did not put too much thought into it and plucked the gourd.

'I hope this gamble works out for me.'

The Ent charged furiously, desperate to stop Maxwell but Maxwell quickly ate it in 2 swift bites. Giant waves of Qi charged through Maxwell, destroying his body and causing him to writhe in pain. His body reformed and was destroyed again, transforming Maxwell. The Thunderstruck Ent broke the formation and attacked Maxwell to the horror of his family.

Lily closed her eyes and suddenly heard a violent sound, she reopened her eyes and saw pieces of wood everywhere. As soon as the Ent contacted Maxwell, it had been torn to shreds. The Lightning Pegasus did not dare to make a move in fear. Maxwell then clutched his head in pain and screamed like he experienced nightmares.

A voice spoke in Maxwell's head. "It's okay, it's just your soul getting healed and all my memories flowing back."

"Who are you?"

"I am you and you are me but we are still not fully the same. Your preferences and personality can differ, but we are the same soul."

"I don't understand."

"It is fine, you will understand once you remember everything. You are lucky and unlucky at the same time. Your constitution awakening so early was a mistake, but it might prove to change everything in the future."

"My constitution?"

"Yes, The Heavenly-"

"Why can't I understand the full name?"

"You are not strong enough, just know that the Heavenly Dao needs you."

With this Max woke up, very disoriented after the input of a thousand years of memories.

"Ugh… My head."

"Max, you're okay!" his sister sat next to him with tears rolling down her pale face. Maxwell patted her head and comforted her.

"Other than a slight headache I feel better than ever."

His family hugged him tightly.

"I take that back, it hurts, ow… ow."

All the magical beasts quickly dispersed except for the Lightning Pegasus who stood there confused.

"You, who are you?" The Pegasus asked Maxwell.

"I'm Maxwell Windsor." Maxwell responded slightly surprised that the beast could talk.

He then realized he spoke in a different language. The Pegasus was now stunned.

"How can you speak with me? There should be none of your kind who can speak with us."

"I don't know either. You also give me a sense of familiarity for some reason, like I have known you for years."

"Now that you say it, I feel that too but I shouldn't have ever met you. Anyways, human you're strong, would you like to be my partner."

"You want to form a beast contract?"

A beast contract was a contract made with a Magical beast with conditions imposed that could not be broken.

"That is a rather vulgar term to describe such a beautiful creature like me but yes."

Maxwell scoffed at his narcissism before they then agreed upon the details of the contract. The Lightning Pegasus who was at the start of level 5 would be Maxwell's mount and companion and in exchange Maxwell would help him train and treat him equally and show him the human world.

Maxwell's parents who were watching their conversation in confusion saw the beast contract being signed and grasped the situation a bit.

"Congratulations Max, you got a Level 5 Magical beast as your companion. Even the Imperial family would not give their children such high leveled beasts." His mother congratulated him and then said, "He needs a name."

"Hmmm… How about Arion?"

"Yes, a noble name for me."

"Alright then Arion, it's time to see if I can cultivate now."