7. Prodigy II

"Waaa, my son is a genius! He's a genius unlike any other! And he even formed his Spirit Tree, splendid, how splendid!"

Such was the word of Arya when the night was filled with a pure silver light of Hal's Soul Seed signifying his ascent to becoming a true cultivator.

And upon closer inspection, he had even formed the connection to the Spirit Realm through the Spirit Tree, making it even more shocking to the rest.

Hal Estize, this name shocked the province where the Estize family was established, prompting many of the nearby powerhouses to send congratulatory gifts as they cursed the Estize's good fortune.

The nearby powerhouses began flocking on the doorsteps of the Estize Family; because Arya has no time to deal with them as she has her responsibilities to take care of and her time is occupied by playing with Hal, she just accepts these gifts with a smile and sees them off without saying much.

"Aiya, Hal, can you say Mommy?"

"Ma...mi!"

"Waaa, so smart, my baby Hal can already understand this mommy of his. Come on, say it once more."

"Ma…mi"

"So, cuteeee!"

Hal inwardly sighed. The voices in his soul, the ones he said he would forget and move forward doesn't respond too kindly when Hal refuses Arya's requests.

Those voices are not real, they are his own hallucinations, but he accepts them because he can feel the emotions that are fettered inside his chest boiling when those hallucinations echoes.

In a way, it could be said he has PTSD from all the traumas of the different lives. He fears a lot, and at the same time, he also fears none.

In some manner of way, he can be called a courageous coward.

Hal knows nothing of what others think of him outside the Estize manor's walls, but in here, he is known as a genius.

There are already tales about Hal; he learned how to walk at six months old; speak incoherent ramblings thereafter; understanding others clearer than any of his peers, and then become a genuine cultivator in the seventh month.

He was a genius, nae, he was a prodigy.

And with his understanding already blossoming at seven months, it was decided for Hal to have a personal maid take care of him.

Arya was against this idea, but the maidservants and the other important-looking people in the manor begged for Arya to work.

So, a consensus between forces was born.

"A maid will take care of him during the day, but at night, my son is with me, got it?"

That is the best deal they got out of Arya despite there is more work at night.

These people urging for Arya to work obliged to her demands, because this is the best deal they got even when the twin ladies were born.

'It's a miracle she agreed to it.'

'Yeah, last time we got beaten up black and blue when we said anything about such a thing.'

They still shuddered at the thought of that event.

So, Hal was left with a personal maid starting thereafter.

"Young Master, is this what you want?"

Hal was seated on a cushion. He was silent as he watched the Sozu, make a loud tapping sound as the hallowed bamboo is filled with water and has to let it flow.

Tap!

It was a loud sound meant to scare the grazing birds, and yet the Crane perched beside the Sozu had its eyes remained close.

The Crane was a graceful animal associated with many myths of the Myriad Worlds. It is said that its power may not rival the Phoenix or the Roc, but its beauty and grace rival the most beautiful of the feathered beasts.

Which the Celestial Nether Phoenix called bullshit. Yet watching the white Crane with its calm disposition made Hal see how others say such a thing.

'Interesting.'

He thought to himself as he raised his head to look at the personal maid handing him his milk bottle.

Hal held it with both hands and started sucking on it with pure bliss on his face.

"Young master, is it to your liking?"

"Ooh!" he was satisfied.

A simple sound and a raise of his healthy arms were enough to make his maid feel at ease and confirm his thoughts.

The personal maid sat beside him and brought out an old and archaic book from her sleeves. She tapped the dust off it a couple of times, before opening it and placing it in front of Hal.

"Are you ready to begin the lesson, young master?"

"Ooh!"

Thus, he begins the day of Hal learning his letters.

The passage of time came as quickly as the winter breeze, before long, Hal was no longer a walking baby but a running child.

When he turned one year old, he began to run in order to increase his constitution, surprising those around him. He was diligent in learning his letters and different crafts.

When he turned one, the family threw a huge party. As the people of the Estize family ate meat and drunk liquor, Hal sat on Arya's lap with a pleasant smile on his face whilst drinking milk.

Even now, Hal has yet to stop drinking milk…he likes it.

He was no bigger than a normal child, but he was far more intelligent than his peers. And as he sat up straight, his keen eyes reminded everyone who presented him a gift who he was.

While Hal sat with a pleasant smile, Darya and Alri, who arrived hours earlier, finally stepped forward.

"Sister Darya, Sister Alri!" Hal jumped up, and he was caught by Alri, who looked at him with soft eyes. She did not say anything and only held him in her embrace.

Hal did not respond to being subjected to suffocation, but he still keeps a certain distance with them for certain reasons.

His sisters returned from their respective academies bearing gifts, but he didn't care about that. He already has most of the things he could wish for in this life.

"My dear brother Hal, I have brought you something truly special…the Muspell Crown!"

Darya, who had not seen her brother for the longest time and in excitement, brought out a gift with a broad smile on her face.

A scarlet light appeared as a crown that is two times bigger than Hal surfaced.

Alri saw the scarlet crown and looked at Darya with a weird look.

"Is that the thing you took from Niflheim Branch? Your master is going to kill you if you give Hal that treasure."

"Put a sock on it; he won't kill me. I exchanged this treasure for one of the Dragon Skeleton we found seven years ago. Don't hate on me just because I have a better gift than you do."

"Oh, if that's the case carry on then. But don't worry about me, I have something interesting as well." Alri flicked her wrist, and from the bracelet she was wearing came out a circular plate that had runes etched on its surface.

Darya saw this, and her eyes widened, "That's the Sky Deity Protection Array, right? "

"Indeed."

"Didn't your senior brother give that to you?"

"Yes, he did indeed. What of it? He gave it to me, so it's mine, so I am giving it to Hal. I have another kind of these protection arrays, so don't worry about it.;"

Darya kept her silence; she didn't know what to say, but she was aware that she did not have the upper hand in terms of gifts.

'She's good.'

Hal did not know about the great 'rivalry' that boils in the heart of his sisters; he simply received their gifts, and flashing them a jovial smile is his only intention.

"Thank you, Sister Darya, Sister Alri."

The twins looked at each other with blank stares before going full spoiling mode to their brother.

"Aw, he's so nice."

"Yes, yes, he is."

They both agreed on the same sentiment.

The twins were a sight for sore eyes. Seeing them enjoy themselves away from the fights their family operates in is truly amazing to see.

Then, an hour later, the one who was most excited about this whole thing finally arrived.

Daryun burst through the door, letting the cold wind of winter enter while dragging the corpse of a beast ten times his size. He had the doors closed and finally stopped in the middle of the hall.

"Daryun, dear, what gift did you bring, Hal?"

"Hehe, when we annihilated the Raging Blood Dojo, we came across this Bloodbath Dragonboar while we were about to head home, I fought it for three days and three nights, managing to slay it just yesterday..."

Daryun, who had no intention of acting like his status as he turned to the boar.

Daryun used his heavenly essence to make the boar rise to the air, he gathered his strength to his fingers and plunged it on its body; upon the retraction of his hand, a red sphere the size of an adult's fist was already in his hands. This is the Demonic Core of the beast.

Turning around, Daryun approached Hal, who was seated on Arya's lap.

"This Bloodbath Dargonboar's core shall strengthen your body when the right time comes, and the fire of the Phoenix awakens your body will be able to withstand it."

Daryun crushed the core, and red lights scattered about. He controlled these lights and purified them until the many specks turned to three twinkling lights.

Daryun guided the three twinkling lights to Hal's body and had it assimilate with his blood. Hal felt his body become lighter; he let out a muffled groan when the vitality of the three lights entered his bloodstream.

'This is quite addictive.' He thought to himself and raised his hands, and stared at Daryun with begging eyes.

He did not speak aloud, for he did not want to sound annoying, but his eyes reflected his inner desires.

'Give me more, more, give me more.' The baby Hal demanded more of the twinkling light, but Daryun misinterpreted his son's desire.

"Oh, did you miss Daddy? Come here, little one." Daryun carried Hal to his hands and looked at him with a broad smile plastered on his face.

'Old man, this is not what I want...' Hal was angered at first, but then, his anger suddenly disappeared after some time.

Daryun laughed as the guests did so as well. Their laughter echoed in the hall…

That is until the doors to the reception hall exploded open.

Boom!

The two massive doors of the reception hall opened, and from the outside, an old man wearing a white robe and has a white beard appeared.

White mist flowed inside the hall, together with the appearance of the old man. He had a wide smile on his face as he walked in.

Behind that white-haired old man was a young woman around the age of 20. She was silent, and against the wide smile of the old man, she was indifferent.

Hal looked at the two with a passive expression. He was still expecting to be thrown into the air one more time, but considering the atmosphere, it would seem that such a thing would not happen.

'Sigh,,,' he inwardly sighed in disappointment.

Silence prevailed in the room.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

The clear sound of the old man's steps echoed in the hall. Everyone froze, and as Arya stood up with a gentle smile, Daryun had an ugly look on his visage.

She looked at the old man and slightly bowed.

"Elder Tian, what brings you here today?"

The white-haired elder stopped his steps and looked at Arya with an amicable look.

"Nothing, the Sect was going to send an envoy here to deliver something, so I went and came here myself. A much-needed stretch of the limbs is needed anyway, so I accepted a mission as well before heading here."

Elder Tian then turned to Hal, who was on Daryun's embrace. Daryun glared at the old man and acted like a child hiding his food from others. He hid Hal as he turned his body so that Elder Tian will not see him.

"Why are you so warry of an old man, Daryun? Is the leader of the Tiger Mercenaries supposed to be this cowardly?"

"You tried to kill me years ago, old man. I know you're petty, so do you think I have no reason to be wary of you? And five years ago, your Sect Master colluded with the Celestial Mountains to take over my Brother's Business! That's only five years ago! The deaths of my brothers are not something that can be washed just like that, and you wish for me to act normal?"

Elder Tian could only sigh at his words. He knew Daryun was correct, but still, it is not pleasant to the ears.

"First of all, the first time I tried to kill you, I have a reason. You killed my disciple; do you think I'll stay quiet about it? I still hold a grudge even today! I'm just mature enough not to pursue it."

"That disciple of yours killed three villages to create a Blood River; I think I'm on the right there."

Elder Tian ignored him.

"Also, the Sect Master is no longer in this world, and the current Sect Leader is Little Arya's Master. We even did a complete purge after that incident, which brings me to one of my intentions for coming here." Elder Tian avoided any more argument.

"The purge is still incomplete, the Left Grand Seat escaped, I am currently pursuing him so we'll be able to kill him sooner or later. He's injured by the Virulent Poison Flames, so he's not going to be a problem. As for the second reason, the Sect Master decided to give this to your son as a gift."

Elder Tian flipped his wrist and threw something at Arya. Catching it with ease, Arya looked at the Black plaque on her hand.

"This is the Supreme Black Plaque."

"Indeed, with this, your son will have the chance to request for the Prime Disciple position if he comes to our steps."

"We refuse!" Daryun shouted.

"Thank you, Elder Tian!" Arya, on the other hand, accepted it with open arms.

"But, Arya!"

Daryun objected to the acceptance of the plaque, but Arya didn't listen to him.

"That's it, I'm going to look for someone now. I will see you later, Arya, Daryun, little twins, and finally, little beast!"

"Hah! Good riddance!"

Daryun screamed without a hint of respect in his voice. Elder Tian turned his back and was already about to leave.

Daryun scoffed as Arya looked at the lady who was with Elder Tian.

Arya smiled and nodded her head but said anything that is not needed. The lady did the same; the only difference is that she did not smile, and as the doors closed and the two visitors left, Daryun let out a snort and ordered one of his men to throw salt.

"We don't want to attract bad luck."

Everything that happened caused Hal to question.

'What's happening?' And his answer was never answered, and the night passed without anything major happening.