After an hour of traveling and conversing, the four of them, Kaye, Zelios, Selene, and Locke, arrived at Strauss City.

Locke stared at the modernized world in awe. He didn't expect that the world he lived in was different from the martial arts world he once lived in. The world where he was one of the greatest martial artists.

Locke was once a martial emperor who stood at the pinnacle of the martial arts world. But unfortunately, the world wasn't ready to accept him to reach godhood, so his cultivation killed him.

Locke noticed a commotion nearby, "What is happening there, dad?"

"Hm?" Zelios stared at where Locke pointed and recalled an important event, "That's where the competition is being held. The event was a friendly battle between two clans. Everyone can join and show off their skills and abilities to government officials." Zelios continued as he solemnly smiled, reminiscing from the past.

"It was held every year, and the last person who stood above all would receive a generous award!" Selene chuckled as she remembered a funny memory.

"Hm? What kind of rewards?!" Locke's curiosity was piqued! He might be a kid, but he is thirsty for generous rewards!

"Well, every decade, a participant could receive a spirit seed! It is a seed that could enhance one's elemental affinity! Sometimes, the rewards were also spirit-grade artifacts, which everyone is dying for!" Zelios smirked.

Spirit seed is an item for everyone to become stronger. Spirit seeds come into various elements, and it could enhance that affinity to a different level.

Elemental affinities could tell what elements a person could use. Most of the time, a person has 2 or 3 elemental affinities.

Locke had an affinity for all elements: fire, water, wind, earth, plant, lightning, dark, light, lightning, poison, ice, metal, space, time, and other more. So, he can use any element, and any spirit seeds could significantly increase his strength!

'I already know how valuable the seeds were. My mother's [Snowflake Seed] increased her affinity. It also changed her ice's property. The average ice-related skills had a light-blue color, but her ice turned darker blue after absorbing the seed.' Locke inwardly thought.

"As I've heard, the reward for this year is a rare spirit weapon, right?" Selene asked in a questioning tone. It's already been more than 2 decades since the last time they participated in such an event. Somehow, they missed those times of struggle.

"Since most of the participants were 12 years old, a rare spirit weapon is enough for them to be fired up. When you turn 12, it should be the end of the decade, right? Then you're fortunate if you win since the reward would be standard to a sky-grade spirit seed!" Zelios enthusiastically said to Locke, whose eyes shone brightly.

Locke hoped that the reward for the end of the decade would be a sky-grade spirit seed!

Every item has the same grades. Even if they were pills, skill books, martial arts, or weapons, their qualities were still the same.

The grades were ranked: standard, rare, mortal, sky, heaven, immortal, and legendary.

A single sky-grade spirit seed could increase anyone's elemental affinity by five folds! With that thought in mind, Locke began more excited. He can't wait to hit his adolescence!

Locke looked out the window and amusingly watched the people in the city.

Along the way, Zelios explained the other occupations related to the Cosmic Masters.

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Locke listened carefully and widened in eyes. He didn't expect that there are occupations that use their cosmic abilities.

He wanted to ask more, but unfortunately, they arrived at the clan residence, where the clan members of the Elfiau Clan reside.

The residential area is undoubtedly covered in loud crowds.

"Locke, we're going to meet your grandfather first. Can you stay here in the meantime?" Zelios gently asked as they hid their faces with the cloak they brought.

"Sure, dad!" Locke enthusiastically replied. He watched his parents enter the hall area and began inspecting his surroundings. Locke observed the people while examining the food. He began deducing how they work. He's learning many things, making him a curious kid in front of the shopkeepers, who immediately got immersed in his cuteness.

He saw several potions and pills. These objects look similar, but he could feel cosmic energy rather than qi energy from his former world.

'So there's still alchemy, huh? I could do alchemy, smithery, and enchantment--but is the process different?' Locke said as he subconsciously stared at the stall nearby. There's a lot of food in the shop, so he rushed there and bumped into a young man. The young man has purple hair and red eyes, making him scary to look at.

"Hm? A kid? Where's your mom and dad?" The young man indifferently asked. Locke strangely felt a familiarity with him.

"M-my mom and dad left to talk with my grandparents." Locke wasn't scared of the stranger in front of him. He's just hesitant to talk to him.

"Who's your grandparents?" The young man asked. He noticed that Locke's face was new to him. He hadn't seen him in the residential area for over a decade, so he was sure.

"Hm? Why do you ask?" Locke innocently asked.

The young man's heart melted as he looked at Locke's precious innocent-looking face. He replied, "I just want to know since I might know them..."

Locke didn't feel any malicious intent coming from him. Then he politely replied, "I'm sorry, but mom and dad said that I should not just trust any strangers..."

"They taught you well. But you can trust me!" The young man gently smiled.

Before Locke could respond, two voices rang.

"Locke! I told you not to leave at that spot!" Selene worriedly scolded. They were focused on Locke that they even forgot the third party's presence beside them.

"I'm sorry, mom..." Locke hangs his head down, feeling bad for disobeying them.

"Uncle Zel, aunt Selene?" The young man muttered as he stared at Locke with his mouth opened agape after hearing the word "mom" and "dad" coming from him.

"Hm? Tyler? It's been a long time!" Zelios widened his arms, offering the young man, Tyler, to hug him.

Zelios embraced him and pulled him away in a few seconds. Zelios turned to Locke and introduced, "Locke, this is Tyler Hugh. The Victor's third young master!"

Selene began worrying since Tyler was a rebellious kid. He always fights with his other nephews or siblings and disobeys the clan elders.

"Uncle--he called you dad earlier. Is he--?!" Tyler was struck by a realization.

"Yes. This talented kid is my son, Locke Victor, the seventh young master!" Zelios proudly introduces. Tyler was speechless as he stared at Locke in disbelief.

Tyler snapped out of his thought and gently patted Locke's head. "Nice to meet you, Locke. You can call me a big brother or brother Tyler, alright?" Tyler gently smiled, surprising the couple behind him.

'Is he really the rebellious kid I know? He is soft!' The two of them thought.

"Okay, big brother!" Locke broadly smiled, melting his heart for the second time.

"Anyways, where did you run off to again??" Zelios asked since it was peculiar for Tyler to leave their home near the hall area.

Tyler hesitatingly replied with a questioning tone, "I met with one of my classmates, and we hanged out for a bit?"

Zelios helplessly sighed and said, "Do you know that the patriarch was about to give up on you? You are talented, but you neglect your responsibilities as a young master! Fortunately, your first and second brother begged for reconsideration..."

Tyler looked down, making Locke frown a bit. 'Are you seriously going to talk about this stuff in front of me, a kid?'

"I'm sorry, uncle. You must've understood my stand too. I won't give up my own dream for the responsibility I haven't sworn upon into!" Tyler said with determination.

"Mom, dad--what's the responsibility of a young master?" Locke curiously asked.

Zelios, Selene, and Tyler subconsciously stared at Locke, forgetting that they were discussing an important thing in front of a child.

"Locke, the responsibility of the young masters will be introduced to you when you turn 10. For now, you must train your abilities more!" Zelios replied with a big smile on his face.

Tyler looked at Locke with an awkward smile, weakening his heart after staring at the curious Locke.

"Let's go to the hall! Let's introduce you to the young masters and elders!" Zelios immediately turned around. "The patriarch already gathered the elders and young masters. We must not make them wait!"

Locke happily nods as he begins following his father with his mother. Tyler joined them since he was also visiting his and Locke's nephew, the first young master.

Their group began heading to a medieval-style castle, where the general clan assembly was held. The hall, the awakening site, the training ground, the young master's private room, and the ballroom were in this single castle.

Locke saw that two people were sparring. One of them has blue hair, holding a sword, using a water-related cosmic ability. The other has green hair, holding a dagger. He also uses a wind-related cosmic ability. He immediately noticed that the two of them weren't holding back their attacks.