It was Diana who first went into labor.

Ethan stayed by her side the whole time, holding her hand as she groaned in pain.

Sweat covered her forehead, but there was determination in her eyes. He could feel his own heart racing, knowing what was about to come. With Diana's talent and his own bloodline, he was sure their child would be something special. The thought alone made his chest swell with anticipation.

And then, the sound came. A faint cry.

The air around him seemed to still for a moment.

[Detected birth of children.]

[The child has been born with E-rank Mage potential.]

[Reward: Gift 1]

Ethan's lips curled slightly upward as he looked at the small, fragile boy wrapped in soft cloth.

The child's golden hair shimmered faintly under the lantern light, glowing as if a blessing had been placed upon him. The sight made something stir deep within Ethan's chest.

He held the child gently, afraid that even his breath might disturb the newborn. "You'll grow strong," he whispered, his voice low but filled with pride.

As for the reward the system had mentioned, he didn't open it immediately. There was another event waiting just around the corner.

A few days later, it was Sophia's turn.

Once again, the atmosphere in the house grew tense. The maids hurried back and forth carrying water and towels while Ethan stood outside the room, his hands clasped tightly. He could hear Sophia's labored breathing, and each sound made his heart sink deeper into his stomach.

Then, just like before, a cry broke the silence.

[The child has been born with E-rank Warrior potential.]

[Reward: Gift 1]

He let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. After ensuring both women were fine and spending some time nursing and comforting them, Ethan finally turned to the unopened gifts.

He exhaled slowly, then said, "Open."

A faint chime followed.

[DING]

[Breakthrough Potion * 1]

[You have gained Spell Whirlwind of Storm: D-rank]

[You have gained 10 years of Mage Insight.]

[DING]

[You have gained 1ml Flame Dragon Essence.]

[You have gained 10 years of Knight Insight.]

Ethan froze for a moment and his jaw almost dropped to the ground.

He blinked twice, making sure he wasn't imagining things. "What the hell..." he muttered under his breath, staring at the notification.

He had expected something mediocre but not this.

The rewards were incredible far beyond what he thought he'd receive. The special reward for his fifth child had already been overwhelming, so he hadn't imagined anything like this until perhaps his tenth child or a higher-ranked offspring. Yet here it was,an advanced breakthrough potion, a new skill, and even dragon essence.

The potion alone was enough to change a cultivator's fate. But then there was Whirlwind of Storm, a spell that made his eyes gleam.

The technique description appeared before him.

[Whirlwind of Storm: D-rank Spell]

Description: Creates a storm of violent wind currents that twist around the caster. The storm can be directed forward, slicing through enemies with blades of compressed air. The stronger the caster's mana, the more devastating the storm's radius and force become.

He could almost picture winds swirling around him, roaring like a living beast tearing through the battlefield. The very thought made his blood rush.

Then came the next item, the 1ml of Flame Dragon Essence. Extracted from a true Flame Dragon.

He stared at the vial as it materialized before him, filled with glowing red liquid that pulsed faintly, as if it was alive. The warmth it emitted was suffocating, almost burning through his skin even though he hadn't touched it yet.

But the system gave no further explanation of its effects. That made him uneasy. Power that came without clarity was dangerous.

Finally, there was the insight.

"System, what is this insight?" Ethan asked with faint curiosity.

[Host insight refers to cumulative years of cultivation experience in a particular path.]

[Using insight, you can increase your realm or comprehend a technique.]

[However, the effect depends on the host's aptitude and control.]

Ethan nodded slowly, a flicker of understanding crossing his eyes.

"I see," he murmured. "So it's like ten years of training compressed into one."

That made sense. Aptitude didn't automatically mean faster growth. Even the most gifted needed time, patience, and experience.

He recalled the Duke, a Master Knight who was already nearing seventy. If someone like that took decades to reach his level, then raw talent alone meant little without years of practice.

He sat quietly for a while, staring at the items that floated before him. Each one glimmered with immense power, tempting him.

He ran a hand through his hair, thinking aloud. "So... should I use the Dragon Essence first or the insight?"

The question lingered in the air, heavy and uncertain.

.

.

.

Ethan didn't hurry to consume the items. He knew that using them recklessly could bring more harm than good. Rushing cultivation was the fastest way to cripple one's foundation.

He decided it was best to research the Flame Dragon Essence before doing anything.

Soon, piles of thick books appeared on the long wooden table in his library.

The scent of old parchment and ink filled the air. Shelves lined with ancient tomes stood behind him, flickering candlelight casting shadows across the room.

Ever since his power had grown, Ethan had started buying more books from different regions, filling the library with knowledge about mana, ancient races, and mythical beasts.

He ran his hand across a few book covers and pulled them toward him.

"Bloodlines of the Ancient Beasts", "The Draconic Origins of Humanity", and "Secrets of Dragon Evolution" were some of the rare works he had collected over the years. Another one caught his attention, a weathered blue leather book titled "Soul and Fire: The Flame Dragons of the South."

He began to flip through the pages one by one, eyes narrowing as he read.

From what he gathered, dragons were not just beasts but beings of immense spiritual and elemental control. Many ancient families carried traces of dragon blood within them.

Somewhere in the distant past, their ancestors had apparently shared blood or more disturbingly, having offspring with true dragons.

Some did it for power. Others claimed it was for love.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. "This is weird," he muttered. "Did those ancient lofty beings really breed with humans?"

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