9 2 Years Later

2 Years Later

A figure sat on the hardened sand dunes overlooking the expanse of sheer heat and dryness. The Sion Desert was known for it's merciless temperatures which would make a bowl of water evaporate 3 minutes. The temperatures today had already exceeded 52 degrees. Also there was hardly any source of water nearby and the air was crisp, dusty and dry.

Fine particles of sand were lifted by the fleeting wind making the experience much worse. Even though wind was blowing from the East, it did not help matters but make any creatures existence intolerable. Hardly any trees survive this place as the conditions too unbearable for the green trees to survive.

Only the drought-resistant so and battle hardened magical beasts managed to stake their claim of this overbearing climate. The plants' roots dug deep into the loose earth and greedily sucked any moisture leaving none for the ground dwellers. The animals in turn hunted each other and if blessed to be herbivores would devour the plants.

The figure's back was staunch and unwavering in this tough environment. White hair streaked the male figure's head. However if anyone looked closely there were black streaks firmly planted on the figures scalp. Other than that there wasn't much to mention about it.

Of course it was the puberty-induced Daniel sitting atop the sand dunes. His clothes had already been drenched with sweat. He circulated his magic power constantly to prevent his body from collapsing under the strain. He was now 12 years old and something about had changed.

His eyes looks now down towards the south. Which was in the direction of Sky City. Golden eyes peered into the expanse as he saw just a trace of the city's outline. His eyes closed shut as if taking in wanting to remember something.

He was currently in the middle of the desert which bordered Sky City to the North. He could probably run there as he had spent quite a bit of time in the desert exploring the terrain. He knew most of the desert's magical beasts as they had constantly attacked him. So many times, when he slept, as he meditated, as he ate.

The golden gleam in his eyes dimmed as they returned back to the piercing blue.

*It is time, Daniel.*

Over the two years he spent in the desert, he learnt to never question the voice of the dragon. As his spiritual power increased, the voice of the dragon became easier to hear without the system's help. Occasionally, the dragon spoke to him about things he could only imagine at least for now that is.

At first he was wary, but he noticed it never had any ill intentions against him. Always helping him on his way to avoid the more powerful magical beasts and find him some food and water. Such was the life of a desert inhabitant. Stop, move, eat and sleep was all they did. That was one thing every living thing worked in this environment.

He looked in his spiritual sea and found the source of the voice. A large snake-like figure had turned it's body to fit into the enclosed space. A slitted eye had opened as he looked on. Brilliant blue scales with a hint of transparency marred the dragon's body and they seemed to reflect the enclosed space.

"Yes it is time, Brother Ice,"

He then opened the status window after exiting his mind.

'Status'

Tti-ring.

Name: Daniel Wright

Bone Age: 12 years

Level: 16

Cultivation: Mid Grandmaster realm

Magic Power: 25

Spiritual Power: 49 (Spiritual Connection)

Condition: Dehydrated (-15%)

HP: 35

MP: 300

Fatigue: 12

Strength: 19

Agility: 17

Stamina: 12

Vitality: 0.57

Intelligence: 67

Awareness: 42

Skills (6)

(Available points for distribution: 0)

<<Daily Missions>>

1.Meditate for 4 hours without pause. - 0.1 Magic power✓

2. Walk for 1km.- 0.1 Stamina✓

3. Practice the Golden Demon Eyes and the Golden Pathways. - 0.2 to spiritual power✓

(Missions have all been completed for the day)

Speaking of the Golden Demon Eyes he managed to cultivate them to the partial vision stage which was the 2nd stage of the Golden Demon eyes.

[Deletion of Daily Quests has begun.]

What the... A sense of blankness hit his mind like a hammer nailing a wall. This system is so bizarre! A few moments, his eyes regained focus. He called out to the Ice dragon in his mind but got no response. 'eh! Perhaps he's sleeping.' After that he thought of it no more as he had learnt 'knowing more can sometimes be fatal and ignorance can also be bliss.'

He spared no effort and strode towards Sky City. His legs were imbued with magic power which circulated under the effect of Golden Pathways as he reduced the temperature to 25 degrees at a distance of 2 metres. Which helped to conserve magic power.

After a day had gone by he arrived at the desert's outskirts which bordered the Sky City Defense. A humongous cemented wall stood tall and mighty making any other wall he saw in his life look significant. The wall was made high to prevent magical beasts from scaling it.

Passing by the gates he listened to the guards gossip.

"You know Sky Cloud Academy will begin the admission test in three days. I so wish to take my kid there but the fee is 100 gold coins. Aah! This job ain't helping my life,"

"Of course it ain't 'cause no beast comes by the wall which we can kill to sell for some cash or augment our elements. Sky Cloud really is a mages sacred sanctuary. It has existed for over ten thousand years. Hardly any school or even sect can reach that,"

"True that, my friend. But let's talk something better like you know your brother..."

After listening to this he breathed a sigh and thought most likely he had to get all his savings to pay for the admission fee. However if he did failed the test most likely he wouldn't have been refunded. He trusted his mother's words more than anything in the world. For she had never lied to him before. At least any he could remember.

So he still had two days to mull over what to do. He could go sight seeing or visit his house again. Whenever he thought of the house at the edge of the Great Scar Forest he felt depressed that the most prominent memories we're filled with sorrow, loss and despondence.

After all, he decided to get all his savings and go sight seeing as he had never wandered more than a three hundred metres from his former home. Well except now, he thought.

After getting his savings which he hid under the ground, he strolled the unfamiliar neighbourhood. As he was walking for some time in between the crowd, Daniel noticed some boys were silently looking at him. He did not allow his gaze to meet theirs for he knew never to look at them.

"The eyes are the window to one's soul and also convey emotions to a greater degree. Well maybe not better than body language but still you must guard your emotions." His mother had once said to him when he was younger.

The more dominant boy looked at the seemingly unsuspecting prey and appraised the azure-eyed boy. His clothes looked like they came from hell's doorstep. Meaning they were completely insignificant to him. His shoes and appearance were no better but with his sensitive hearing he heard some coins jingling silently. They almost were inaudible but this seemingly didn't affect him as his ears twitched capturing the sound.

"Hmm, looks like we got ourselves a good item today," The dominant boy said to his companions.

The other boys after hearing their boss' statement began to stalk their prey. They had locked on to the young teenager with ragged clothing and piercing azure eyes. They slowly inched closer and closer without alerting the crowd that were busily walking by.

By now Daniel's eyes had slit and turned a faint golden as he glanced at those who followed him. Judging by their physique majority were master grade mages which was about rank 10-19. The dominant boy was at rank 22, he estimated. Still within limits, he may not die but the injuries he would receive would be quite difficult to recover from in 2 days.

Whilst Daniel was focusing on the gang of boys behind as he led them into an abandoned corner, a shadow figure watched this happening. No sign of movement was witnessed when it disappeared. It vanished into thin air as if becoming one with the shadows. When Daniel had been cornered into a dark alley, green flames danced under the shadows. It was devoid of heat and certainly it was a type of flame.

After seeing that the boys had no good intentions, the last thread of hope was cut. His heart grew cold and his eyes glinted with a sense of trepidating chill. His body was tensed like a tiger ready to strike. The Golden Pathways technique circulated his magic power at high speed and his heart raced as he grew more and more anxious.

It struck finally as his cheek was cut letting loose the caged tiger as well as the quickening flow of blood. His cheek bled as a knife raced under the grip of the dominant boy. Daniel could now see clearly under the effect of the Golden Demon Eyes the features of the dominant boy. Blonde hair dripped down on to the pale face of the boy and a sharp nose and tiny lips accented his dominant features.

His ears were medium size and the tanned brown color unique to the Star Lin Empire made him appear unique amongst his peers. A slender and agile body allowed him to use the knife to upmost efficiency. The plump and calloused hands had been trained and a look of viciousness crossed his features.

Daniel suddenly felt lethargic and his quickening heart beat slowed as his cheek turned a dull purple showcasing the impressive network of veins.

"Is this... Poison!" He exclaimed. So vicious and such killing intent can't be faked. He now knew his age mate wanted to cut his path short and kill him.

A smug smile caught the dominant boy's visage and a sense of madness was present. "Restrain him. Make sure he isn't dead yet and we can take him back to the lair to do our thing."

Due to the paralyzing and corrosive nature of the toxin, Daniel's cheek seemed to turn aflame and begin to sizzle. His limbs suddenly lost their vitality and he fell to his knees as he struggled to circulate his magic power to neutralize it. This type of poison was extremely potent and only Spirit Sage could successfully dissipate it.

In this contest of tug of war, Daniel's magic power lost and it travelled quickly inside his blood. His heart had been infected as he though how the hell he attracted such things to himself. His blood essence vigorously danced excited by the events perhaps. Immediately Daniel looked up as the pain slowly faded and his vision cleared.

"Hmm, shouldn't you be unconscious, friend,"