State of the Divided Mountains. Thousand Beasts Mountain City. Atop a three-thousand-meter-high peak, a city shone intensely, as if a new kind of day had been born.
Farther down, outside the immense walls, a cluster of dim houses was crammed together so tightly it was hard to believe any planning had gone into it.
In one of those houses, a young man with loose hair and a white cloak stood still, staring into nothing. He had remained that way for several breaths' time.
Floating in front of him, within his field of vision, was a translucent panel.
For a moment, he felt like he was going insane. Maybe this was a consequence of having just broken through to the first level of Qi Refinement.
On the panel, glowing words read: [Proficiency Panel]. Below that, it said: [Five Fundamental Elements].
âWhat... Whatâs going on here? This is a game panel. Why would this show up here? Have I gone mad? Or⦠did I end up in this place because of this panel!?â
As he tried to make sense of it all, out of the corner of his eye he saw something that made him hold his breath. Everything in his field of vision had vanished.
Millions of stars and the vast starry sky suddenly appeared. The darkness of the universe struggled against the brilliance of millionsâperhaps billionsâof stars, yet nothing interfered with the natural order of things.
Zhang Chen quickly realized that something was changing in the stars. Many began to fade and merge with one another.
The scene was breathtaking: an overwhelming number of stars fusing and converging from every direction.
Whether it took a long time or a short moment, Zhang Chen couldnât say. From the instant the vision appeared, he had lost all sense of time.
The stars seemed to race against time, their fusion urgent, and when they finally came together, a brilliant light was emittedâbright enough to illuminate the dark universe.
Seven golden stars hovered in the middle of the void, radiating an intense light. Each rotation caused their brilliance to expand endlessly.
Just when Zhang Chen thought the vision was over, a rift opened in the universe, and he almost heard the terrifying sound of it tearing apart.
The seven golden stars shot forth, tracing a streak of golden light, while the universe itself seemed to shrink and cower in their shadow, creating an even more dazzling image.
He then saw the stars form a dark streak with hints of gold.
Even though only a corner was visible, it was enough for him to understand: that was the universe.
Disbelief was written all over his face. If a simple panel had already made him question his sanity, what could he say about a scene like this?
The seven streaks of light seemed to be on another plane, as if they were moving before himâbut Zhang Chen knew that couldnât be true. It just couldnât...
Crack! Crack!
Any thoughts about reality or illusion were cut short by the sound of something breaking. When he looked down, the panel that had once seemed intangible was now cracked, like shattered glass.
Seven holes had been punched through at different points, and the light that had once filled the panel began to flicker and fade, turning gray.
Zhang Chen noticed something he hadnât seen before.
[Proficiency Panel] = [Opportunity Panel]
Before he could even begin to understand what that meant, the panel vanished as if it had never existed.
The stars that had disappeared returned. Their reappearance made Zhang Chen furrow his brows.
He knew a panel like that could have been an invaluable tool, but now it seemed everything had been consumed by the stars.
Without giving him time to think, the seven stars turned and, in the blink of an eye, entered his body.
Zhang Chen was pulled into a dark space. Of the seven stars, only one remained, still shining brightly.
It began to swim through his body, reaching his Dantian and settling thereâbut it didnât stay for long.
Soon, it moved toward a colorless mass that Zhang Chen instinctively understood to be his soul.
Then it passed through his spiritual energy, but just like before, it quickly made its way to his physical body.
Each time the star touched a part of his body, Zhang Chen felt something different. Unfortunately, everything happened so fast that he could only vaguely sense that something immense was taking place.
When the star stopped moving, it seemed to float out of his body and hover above his head.
Zhang Chen still didnât understand what was happening. A fluctuation emanated from the star, and its glow expanded, enveloping his entire body.
Zhang Chen, in turn, felt his body lose all control.
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His spiritual energy, his physical strength, even his mindâall surged and diminished in total chaos.
The pain that followed was unbearable. Every part of his body felt as though it were being torn apart from the inside out.
He felt as if even his blood were pumping erratically, while his veins and meridians were destroyed and regenerated over and over again.
âAhhh!!! Argh!!!â Inhuman screams escaped his mouth, but some final shred of reason made him try to stifle them with all his might.
Zhang Chen could not see that, within his body, a golden glow coursed through every part. Veins, meridians, flesh, Dantian, soul, and spiritual energyânothing escaped this process.
The torment lasted the entire night, and he didnât even notice when it ended. In the end, he lay in bed, drenched in sweat and unconscious.
Within his hazy mind, memories that seemed to have been sealed began to surface.
The first was of a sack made from an old cloak. Inside it were a few glowing stones, which he hid in a cavity he had carved at the bottom of a wood-burning stove.
Something brown seemed to lie at the very bottom.
The second memory felt older. He had arrived in an unfamiliar place, his face weary. In each hand, he carried something he considered deeply important.
The stove was full of ashes, but still in good condition. "Zhang Chen" looked around, as if searching for something. With a machete, he carved a rounded hole in the clay of the stove and hid a small bag, about thirty centimeters long, in the space, sealing the hole as best as he could.
Then he went to the bedroom and noticed a slightly cracked floorboardâ¦
The final memory seemed to be the most important. It emerged slowly and hesitantly, filled with conflicting feelingsâsorrow, hatred, and helplessness.
The images began to form, showing simple houses, a dirt road, and a forest surrounding the small village.
However, one of the houses stood out in his mind. There was no grass in front of it, and the reddish wooden walls made it unmistakable.
The sun was beginning to rise, pushing back the darkness of the night. A low groan came from the bed, followed by a slow movement.
Zhang Chen raised his hand to his head and, as he shifted, noticed the bed was damp. His head still ached.
"Heh... I didnât expect cultivation to be so painful and full of twistsâ¦" he said, getting up with some difficulty.
Of course, he knew his case wasnât normal; the incredibly detailed booklet described with precision the sensation of breaking through to the Qi Refining stage.
The most striking part in the book was precisely the explosion one could hear only internally, caused by the expansion of the Dantian and the birth of spiritual energy.
Much of the previous night was still hazy in his mind; only the panel and the stars remained as clear as day.
Naturally, the pain wouldnât be forgotten.
He didnât understand the purpose of the golden stars, but he was sure they were something extraordinary and beyond the norm.
Closing his eyes, Zhang Chen was able to sense the condition of his body. He felt a faint energy in his abdomen, slowly spreading.
It was weak, and he couldnât distinguish it clearly, but according to the booklet, at higher levels, this energy could even affect the soul, allowing it to expand beyond what the eyes could see.
Despite the setbacks, he gave a relieved smile.
Zhang Chen had not only become a cultivatorâhe had also gained some additional memories.
âSo thatâs where the spirit stones were⦠But what was that pouch? I have a feeling itâs incredibly important⦠And that villageâ¦? What could be thereâ¦?â Zhang Chen muttered as he headed for the stove.
As he moved, he felt a bit strange. At that moment, a strong smell reached his nose. Looking at his arm, he saw the grime stuck to his skin.
He finally understood the source of the odorâthe impurities expelled from his body during the first spiritual cleansingâbut he pushed those thoughts aside for later; something more important was on his mind.
When he approached the stove, he noticed a slight alteration in the structure. If he had paid a little more attention beforeâ¦
Without hesitation, he grabbed the machete and cut into the area that seemed tampered with.
His rounded cut made it easier to remove the first cloth. Positioned far to the side and deep inside, the heat of the flames didnât seem to have damaged the objects hidden there.
Even if the first layer had been harmed, the flames wouldâve had to go through the pouch placed underneath it.
With a tug, he pulled out the sack. It felt too light and smaller than he remembered. Without waiting any longer, he untied the knot.
Inside, he found exactly twelve glowing stonesâsaved up since he first started working.
Well, it was better than nothing, but he knew that even with this amount, he couldnât afford the most basic cultivation technique.
Still filled with expectations, he reached back into the hole and pulled out the pouch buried deeper. Upon seeing it, he noticed how small it wasâfitting in the palm of his hand.
There was a string tying it shut. Its appearance was simple, but when Zhang Chen tried to untie it, he realized he couldnât move it, not even with all his strength.
He turned the pouch over in his hands, trying to uncover its secret. The more he examined it, the more it looked like a simple pouch.
Then he remembered something now vital in his body: his spiritual energy. Just as he was about to activate it, he noticed the sun was already too high in the sky.
"Oh no! Iâm going to be lateâ¦" he said, jumping up. With familiar movements, he placed both items back in the hole and covered it hastily.
He quickly ran to the basin and washed his face. Then he took a "bath" a bit more thoroughly, since the smell wasnât easy to ignore.
Wasting no time, he opened the door and dashed eastward. Even though the sun was already high, the cold remained as sharp as everâbut he didnât seem to notice.
It was fine to be late for work, but there was someone he couldnât keep waiting.
As he ran, Shen Jieâs house came into view. She was already standing by the door, and when she sensed his approach, she turned her head toward him.
Her expression seemed calm, but Zhang Chen knew he couldnât trust that look.
As she watched him come closer, a flicker of surprise appeared in Shen Jieâs eyes, followed by a faint smile on her beautiful face, hidden beneath the grime.
As soon as Zhang Chen reached her, he began explaining, "Sorry, Sister Jie, I ran into a few things at home today, but Iâve got some good news. Thanks to your help, I managed to break through and reach the first level of Qi training."
His face could barely hide his excitementâafter all, despite everything that had happened the night before, it was still a major accomplishment.
In truth, Zhang Chen already felt a weight in his heart, because every time he cultivated, a strange image appeared in his mind⦠Even he had begun to doubt himself.
"Congratulations, I knew you could do itâ¦" she said, with a genuine smile. It was clear she was truly happy for him.
âAll thanks to Sister Jie, all thanks to Sister Jieâ¦â
âBut, did you get hurt?â Shen Jie asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
Zhang Chen was surprised by the sudden question.
Without a mirror at home, he usually saw his reflection in water, but in todayâs rush, he hadnât even noticed the paleness of his face.
âHuh? I got a little hurt, but itâs nothing. I guess I got distracted while cultivating last night. Thankfully, a good nightâs sleep made me feel better,â he replied with a relaxed smile, showing it really wasnât anything serious.
âYou should be careful. A minor injury can turn into a hidden wound, and that might hinder your futuâ Why are you smiling?â Shen Jie voiced her concern but stopped halfway upon seeing Zhang Chen's wide grin.
âI didnât know you were so worried about me.â
âThatâs... Thatâs not truâ Shut up. Letâs goâ¦â
She tried to defend herself, but seeing that his grin didnât falter, she gave up and walked ahead. Naturally, Zhang Chen quickly followed. Todayâs a good day!
What they didnât know was that their conversation hadnât been as private as they thought. They were standing outside the house, speaking loudly, and it was impossible not to be overheard.