Chapter 22: Studying His System

As Xavier and Jessica stood under the soft glow of moonlight, they shared a rare quiet moment amidst their hectic lives. The triumphs of their cultivation hung between them, but so did the unspoken weight of what lay ahead.

Jessica leaned lightly against Xavier's arm. "Breaking through to the Earth Rank…" she began, her voice soft, almost wistful. "It's going to take more than just sheer will. We'll need rare spiritual items, artifacts that are hard to come by."

Xavier nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "I've heard the same. The Earth Rank demands more—strength of spirit, purity of energy, and those rare catalysts. None of which we have right now."

Jessica sighed, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "Then we'll have to find a way, together. We've come this far already."

Xavier smiled at her words. "We always do."

Their gazes lingered on each other for a moment before Jessica leaned up and kissed him softly. "Goodnight, Xavier. Rest well. You'll need it."

As she departed toward her quarters, Xavier watched her go, a faint smile playing on his lips before turning to head toward his own.

As Xavier approached his quarters, the quiet of the night was broken by the faint crunch of footsteps ahead. A figure stepped out of the shadows, tall and imposing, with an aura that crackled faintly with power.

"Xavier," the man said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of authority. "We finally meet."

Xavier halted, his gaze narrowing. The man before him was unfamiliar, but his presence was undeniable.

"And you are?" Xavier asked, his tone steady but firm.

The man smirked, his arms crossed casually. "Nathan Greenwood. Noble Rank 10. I hold the number one spot among the outer disciples." He tilted his head, studying Xavier with sharp green eyes. "I've heard about you—how you climbed the Tower of Enlightenment and emerged alive. That's…impressive. But it's also drawn a lot of attention."

Xavier remained silent, his posture tense as he sized Nathan up.

Nathan chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "Relax, I'm not here to fight. Not yet, anyway. I just wanted to see the new prodigy for myself before the tournament in a month." He stepped closer, his smirk growing wider. "You're interesting, Xavier. I'll give you that. But don't think for a second that I'll make things easy for you when the time comes."

Xavier's eyes didn't waver. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Nathan let out a low laugh, stepping aside and gesturing for Xavier to pass. "Good. Keep that fire, and we'll see just how far it gets you. Until then…" He turned and began to walk away, his voice carrying over his shoulder. "Rest well, Tower Climber."

Xavier didn't respond, watching Nathan until he disappeared into the shadows. Only then did he continue to his quarters, his mind replaying the encounter and the subtle challenge in Nathan's words.

As soon as Xavier laid down in his bed, exhaustion took over, and he drifted into a deep sleep.

In his dream realm, Elior stood waiting for him, his expression unusually stern. "You've made incredible progress, Xavier, but the path ahead will only grow more treacherous. The opponents you'll face from here on out aren't just strong—they're cunning, experienced, and relentless."

Xavier nodded, his determination unwavering. "I'll be ready, Elior. Whatever it takes."

Elior's gaze softened slightly. "Good. Then let's continue your training. You'll need every advantage you can get if you're going to face warriors like Nathan Greenwood—and beyond."

As the dream realm shifted into a familiar training ground, Xavier braced himself for what was to come, the fires of determination burning bright within him.

As Xavier focused on mastering his abilities, the quiet solitude of the cultivation chamber provided the perfect backdrop. The glowing embers of the Infernal Blade of Enlightenment second form shimmered faintly as he practiced, his movements precise and deliberate. Each slash carried a weight of intense focus as he channeled his energy, trying to bring out the blade's second form.

Sweat trickled down his brow as he finally felt the energy within the blade respond, a surge of power radiating through his arm. With a final swing, a wave of blazing energy erupted from the blade, cutting through the air with fierce precision.

Xavier paused, breathing heavily, as the energy dissipated. A faint smile touched his lips as the system confirmed his success:

[Infernal Blade of Enlightenment - Second Form: Intermediate Level can immediately turn opponents to ash if they are a lower spiritual level]

After a brief rest, Xavier moved on to refining his Soul Dash, a technique that had saved him countless times. He closed his eyes, channeling energy through his legs and core, visualizing the explosive speed he needed.

At first, his movements were clunky, the energy misaligned. But as he continued to practice, adjusting his stance and flow, he began to feel the familiar surge of power. With each attempt, his dashes became faster, more controlled, until he felt the breakthrough he sought.

The system chimed once more:

[Soul Dash - Intermediate Level: complete Precision and Extended Range]

Exhausted but satisfied, Xavier finally allowed himself to sit down, activating his system to review his progress. A holographic interface appeared before him, displaying a detailed list of his current skills, abilities, and stats.

Stats:

• Strength: 100

• Speed: 80

• Vigor: 100

• Spirit: 90

• Endurance: 85

Skills:

• Infernal SoulBlade (FirstForm): Intermediate 

• Infernal Blade of Enlightenment 

(First Form): Master

(Second Form): Intermediate

• Soul Dash: Intermediate

• Soul Domain (Passive): Locked (Must have 100,000 spiritual energy to use)

• Dragon's Bloodline: Locked (Requires Mystic Rank for Full Awakening)

As Xavier studied his skills, he noticed something strange. His Infernal Soul Blade- First Form had upgraded to the intermediate level without his knowledge. A faint memory stirred within him of the dragon's aura merging with his own back on the eighth floor of the tower.

"That must be it," he thought, a sense of awe washing over him. The dragon's power must have seeped into his skills, strengthening them in ways he hadn't yet fully understood.

His eyes then landed on the description of his Dragon's Bloodline, which remained locked. The system's notes were clear:

"Reach Mystic Rank to fully awaken bloodline abilities."

Xavier clenched his fists, determination igniting within him. "If the Mystic Rank is what it takes, then I'll get there. No matter what."

As the energy left his body, exhaustion finally caught up with Xavier. He stretched out on the floor of the cultivation chamber, his mind drifting to the battles ahead. With each skill he mastered, each level he climbed, the path before him became clearer.

But so did the challenges. From Nathan Greenwood's warning to the locked potential of his bloodline, Xavier knew that his journey was only just beginning.

As sleep overtook him, the faint hum of his system echoed in his mind, a reminder of both how far he'd come and how far he still had to go.

Xavier awoke to the sound of shouts and laughter echoing from the courtyard. As he peered out of his window, his heart dropped at the sight of Mara and Eddie being harassed and beaten by four smug-looking noble rank 9 warriors. Their taunts rang out cruelly as they shoved and struck his friends, who tried in vain to defend themselves.

Fury ignited in Xavier's chest, his fists clenching tightly. "Not again," he muttered under his breath. He activated Soul Dash, the technique instantly propelling him forward with incredible speed.

In a blur, Xavier landed between Mara and Eddie and their attackers, his Infernal Earth-Grade Spear materializing in his hands. The four warriors froze, their expressions shifting from amusement to unease as Xavier's blazing aura spread across the courtyard like wildfire.

"You dared to touch my friends?" Xavier's voice was calm, but the venom beneath his words sent a chill down their spines.