Chapter 20: "The Hidden Lake and the Awakening Within

After leaving behind the hidden demonic beast temple and inheriting the lightning legacy of the ancient Sword Saint Warren, Eren resumed his journey with renewed strength and purpose. The quiet rustle of leaves under his feet and the whisper of the wind across his shoulders accompanied his solitary steps as he ventured deeper into the mountainous terrain. Though the night had gifted him with great fortune, he could feel the rumble of something greater stirring within—his soul sword was trembling lightly in its sheath, resonating with the growing energy inside his core. He instinctively knew it was time. His advancement from Soul Sword Disciple to Soul Sword Practitioner was near. But such a crucial breakthrough required more than strength—it demanded the right place, a concentration of soul energy powerful enough to support the surge of evolution.

Climbing higher, Eren activated his newly awakened eye ability—Dragon View, an ocular power that allowed him to perceive fluctuations in soul force and hidden spiritual realms invisible to normal senses. The world shimmered before him as countless lines of flowing energy came into focus, dancing through the peaks and crevices of the mountain range like living rivers of light. Then he saw it—a faint yet potent pulse of soul power radiating from a solitary mountain peak to the east. There were no visible signs of caves or ruins, no dwellings or remnants of ancient construction. But that strange surge of pure soul energy was undeniable.

Without hesitation, he scaled the peak, carving his own path into the rocky side using his sword imbued with water and ice elements. After a few hours of careful excavation, Eren opened a small cavern—and what he discovered inside left him speechless. There, hidden deep within the heart of the mountain, shimmered an ethereal Soul-Sprite Lake. Its surface glowed with a faint blue light, and gentle motes of soul essence floated above it like fireflies in a dream. The air itself felt thick with power, nourishing and ancient.

Understanding the immense value of what he had found, Eren wasted no time. He retrieved five illusion talismans from his dimensional pouch, placing them at the edges of the cave and activating them. A powerful illusion enveloped the area, masking the presence of the lake and the energy within it from the outside world. Only then did Eren allow himself to sit by the lake's edge, drawing in slow, controlled breaths. He placed his sword across his lap and let his consciousness settle. The dual forces of ice and water surged through his veins, calm yet powerful, cold yet flowing—perfect balance.

His heart grew still. The mountain's soul power poured into him like a rising tide, feeding the swirling core of elemental essence inside his soul. His aura flickered, then steadied. Eren closed his eyes, allowing the breakthrough to begin