C10 - Raging Dragon, 9th Rank!?
...
"A war of this scale is far too dangerous. I'm sorry, but I cannot agree to this proposal."
Ivan seemed taken aback by Alden's response.
To him, Alden's refusal made little sense.
After all, this was a rare opportunity—a chance to rise through military achievements. The last kingdom-level conflict had occurred over a decade ago. If they let this pass, who knew when the next chance would come?
"Baron Alden, are you certain you won't reconsider?" Ivan pressed, attempting one last effort to sway him.
He had a good reason for persistence. Alden's reputation for slaying the advanced mutant beast, the Flaming Storm Gorilla, had reached far and wide.
Having someone of Alden's caliber on their side would significantly improve their odds of survival and success on the battlefield.
"There's no need to reconsider. My wife is due to give birth soon, and I have no intention of leaving her side," Alden replied firmly, waving his hand to dismiss the notion.
Ivan and the others exchanged looks.
Although they were reluctant, there was nothing they could do.
Its not like they could force him.
After some brief formalities and polite words, the three nobles departed with their guards.
Having failed to secure this young baron, they would now need to seek out other nobles to increase their chances.
...
With the visitors gone, Alden's life returned to its familiar rhythm of quiet, steady progress.
For now atleast.
Two weeks later, the tranquility was broken when Jennifer went into labor.
The household was bustling with anticipation as she was taken to the delivery room.
It wasn't long before the cries of a newborn echoed through the halls.
This was Alden's seventh child.
Who knew whether it was due to the advanced magic potions he had fed Jennifer during her pregnancy or simply a stroke of luck, this child's potential was truly remarkable.
...
[Detected the birth of the host's 7th child. The magic aptitude is mid, and the physical aptitude is high.]
[Overall Evaluation: C-Level.]
[Reward: 30 years of Inner Qi cultivation, mid physical aptitude, and 6-Star Cultivation Art – Raging Dragon.]
(Note: Changed the system window format. Is it better this way or should we go back to the old way. Let me know and I will redo the old ones too.)
...
As soon as he saw the rewards, Alden's face lit up with joy.
The reward of thirty years of Inner Qi cultivation was already exceptional, but what truly thrilled him was the boost to his physical aptitude.
His physical aptitude had always been his greatest limitation. Even with tireless effort, progress came at a snail's pace compared to those naturally gifted.
What made this even more significant was how the system calculated the Inner Qi cultivation reward. The amount he received was based on how much he could cultivate given his aptitude.
Now, with mid-tier physical aptitude, a single year of cultivation would yield results more than tenfold compared to before. It was as if he had unlocked a lifetime of exponential growth.
And then there was the 6-Star Cultivation Art - Raging Dragon.
Inner Qi cultivation techniques were the foundation of a warrior's strength, far more valuable than combat skills. In the entire Silverleaf region, even the most powerful noble family only possessed a 5-star cultivation art, Dancing Leafs.
The difference between lower- and higher-tier techniques was staggering.
If Inner Qi from a 1-star cultivation art was a akin to that of an ordinary blade, the energy cultivated from a 5-star cultivation art was akin to a missile—powerful and overwhelming.
Although there wasn't any difference between the power of a 5-star art and a 6-star art, 6-star art cultivated a path to Trancendence.
"Accept the rewards," Alden commanded inwardly, unable to suppress his excitement.
Almost immediately, he felt an intense transformation.
His meridians expanded and strengthened, changing from narrow streams to wide, rushing rivers. The efficiency of his Inner Qi flow increased tenfold, making his previous state feel primitive by comparison.
As the physical transformation completed, a rush of knowledge about the Raging Dragon Art flooded his mind.
This art was extraordinary. Inner Qi cultivated through it carried not only the force of a dragon but also a terrifying destructive power capable of obliterating anything in its path. At its peak, it could even enhance the body to rival the strength and resilience of a lesser dragon.
"This… this is incredible," Alden thought, his mind racing as he processed the information.
Compared to this, his current 2-star Goldenshield Art was utterly insignificant.
Without delay, Alden began transitioning. He activated the Raging Dragon Art, converting all his Goldenshield Inner Qi into the vastly superior Raging Dragon Inner Qi.
Simultaneously, the thirty years' worth of Inner Qi cultivation poured into his body, amplifying his strength even further.
After fully absorbing the thirty years of Inner Qi cultivation, Alden's strength surged, his warrior rank continuously breaking through, leaping directly to the 9th rank.
He had ascended from an intermediate warrior to the advanced-level warrior stage, a remarkable achievement.
While this level of power was not exceptional on the vast Ondoria Continent, it was quite strong within the Frosthaven Kingdom.
In the entire kingdom, the mightiest warrior was merely a 3rd Rank Transcendent.
A Transcendent pledging allegiance to the king would be automatically granted the title of Count, along with extensive lands.
However, Crossing this threshold was not as easy as it sounded.
Crossing this major realm could take decades, even centuries depending on talent.
If only mortals could live that long.
...
Calming his excitement from the significant rewards, Alden made his way to the delivery room.
The sight that greeted him warmed his heart. Jennifer was seated, cradling their newborn son in her arms.
"Alden, it's a boy! Look how adorable he is!" Jennifer exclaimed, her face radiating joy.
"No matter how cute he is, he can never outshine you," Alden replied with a grin, gently taking the baby from her arms.
"Always using sweet words to deceive me!" Jennifer teased.
...
Three Months Later
Jennifer had recovered her vitality, and life in the Ashleigh household returned to normal.
Alden and his wife resumed their efforts to expand their family, hoping for another child.
But despite their best efforts, the months passed with no sign of success.
Growing concerned, Alden sought the help of a priestess from the Church of Life.
After a thorough divine examination, the priestess revealed the issue: Jennifer's prolonged pregnancies had significantly impacted her fertility.
Her body needed time to recover, and it would be impossible for her to conceive in the near future.
The news hit Alden hard.
Was this not akin to cutting off his path?
Jennifer, however, was happy.
As a mother of seven, she felt her duty to the family had already been fulfilled. She had been continuing for Alden's sake, but deep down, she welcomed the respite.
One evening, after they had shared an intimate moment, Jennifer rested in Alden's arms. Her soft voice broke the silence.
"Alden," she began, hesitating slightly. "I know how much you desire children… but I can't give you that right now."
She looked up at him with gentle determination.
"How about you marry another woman?"
Alden's eyes widened in surprise, but she continued.
"I don't mind," she said firmly. "If it will make you happy and help expand the family, I won't stop you."
...
PS: The Auxiliary Chapter for Levels & Ranks is up.