Two days had passed since Liu Chen awakened in the Sacred Dao Cave. In that time, he had sorted through the chaotic waves of memories from both lives, stabilized his cultivation at the Soul Foundation Realm, and grown familiar with the foreign yet familiar feeling of the Immortal World. The harmony he felt with heaven and earth still pulsed softly in his golden-black soul. His body no longer felt like flesh and blood, but a sacred vessel forged by divine will.
Today, a servant respectfully approached his courtyard. "Young Master, the Madam has returned to the clan."
Liu Chen's heart stirred.
His mother, Yan Ruyan, had been away for several years on a cultivation journey to temper her soul. From the old Liu Chen's memories, she was a gentle yet unfathomably powerful woman, one of the most beautiful and talented cultivators in the Immortal World. Liu Chen quickly made his way toward the main hall.
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She stood there, draped in flowing robes of silver and pale green, the fabric embroidered with phoenix feathers. Her long dark hair cascaded over her back like a waterfall of night, while her eyes shimmered like lakes under moonlight. She turned around as he entered, her expression melting from regal composure to motherly warmth.
"Chen'er... you've grown taller again," she smiled and opened her arms.
"Mother." Liu Chen stepped forward, embracing her. Though the soul inside him now was that of someone who had died on Earth, in this moment, he felt an inexplicable sense of peace and belonging.
"You've changed..." she murmured, brushing her hand gently over his face. "Your soul feels brighter. Stronger."
Liu Chen smiled faintly. "I'm trying to walk a new path."
His father, Liu Tian, walked in at that moment. Unlike Yan Ruyan's serene beauty, Liu Tianyuan was a towering figure clad in white robes with golden edges, and his presence felt like a mountain looming under heaven.
"Let the boy breathe, Ruyan. He's not a child anymore." Yet even as he spoke, pride shone in his deep eyes.
"Father," Liu Chen greeted respectfully.
"Good. You've awakened your God and Demon Body and reached Soul Foundation. Not bad for a boy who used to run around breaking my pill furnaces."
The three sat together and shared a warm moment of reunion. For Liu Chen, who had died alone in another world, this genuine affection felt precious.
Just then, an elder stepped into the hall and bowed. "Clan Leader, urgent report from the outer branch."
Liu Tianyuan raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
The elder hesitated, eyeing Liu Chen.
"It's fine," Liu Tianyuan said, waving his hand. "He's no longer just a youth."
Liu Chen leaned forward, curious.
"A secret space has appeared beyond the Borderless Wilds. A rift in space opened ten days ago. Local cultivators entered and only a few returned, many injured or dead. One survivor brought back a piece of black stone. It radiated a faint trace of... ancient aura."
Yan Ruyan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ancient aura? Are you sure?"
The elder nodded. "Several sects investigated. The aura is extremely diluted, but undeniably ancient."
Liu Chen frowned. "What is ancient aura exactly?"
Liu Tianyuan turned to him. "In the distant past, the Immortal World was brimming with heaven-defying treasures and legacies. Ancient beasts, divine weapons, supreme arts... everything flowed with the power of the heavens. But then came the Great War between realms—Immortals, Demons, Underworld Clans, and even Celestial Beasts clashed. Much was lost. Entire worlds burned."
"Ancient aura is the leftover resonance from those times—when the heavens hadn't sealed themselves and the Dao flowed freely. Even a drop can transform destiny."
He sighed. "Of course, what remains today is often insignificant. But even crumbs of divine fortune are enough to cause bloodshed."
"And the secret space?"
"It's unstable and partially collapsed, but still holds remnants of that aura. Several powerful clans and sects have noticed it. To prevent full-scale war, an agreement was made—only cultivators under 25 can enter and compete."
Liu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Even the super sects?"
"Even them," Liu Tianyuan nodded. "Our Liu Clan has sent a small group. The Ye Clan, Gu Clan, the Jade Spirit Pavilion, and the Heavenly Sword Temple—all are involved."
Then, with a wave of his hand, Liu Tianyuan brought out a piece of black stone and set it on the jade table between them.
"This is the stone that sparked it all. Doesn't look like much, does it?"
The moment Liu Chen looked at it, his body remained calm—but deep inside his soul sea, a ripple surged.
His golden-black soul trembled. A whisper echoed faintly within.
The stone's dark aura peeled itself away like a thread of smoke, drifting invisibly through space. His parents continued discussing the politics of the sects, but Liu Chen's attention had narrowed.
That black aura floated toward his soul and coiled in front of it. The Heavenly Dao patterns engraved on his soul began to shine softly.
The aura condensed into a shape—a black eye, ancient and cold.
A voice echoed in his mind.
"Ghost Eye."
Liu Chen's eyes widened. He had read about the Ghost Eye in the inherited memories of Liu Chen.
It was a divine treasure from the Underworld Clans, one of the Nine Divine Eyes of Heaven. Said to peer into the abyss of truth, capable of seeing the threads of life, death, fate, and even karma itself.
His soul had harmonized with it.
"My soul… it doesn't just attract heaven's favor… it attracts treasures with heaven and earth essence."
Liu Chen composed himself quickly, pretending as if nothing had happened.
He stood. "Father, I want to experience this secret space."
Liu Tianyuan raised a brow. "You just stabilized your realm. You sure?"
Liu Chen nodded. "I believe I'll gain more insight there."
His mother gently touched his shoulder. "Be careful. There's more than just cultivators in places like that. Some things should have remained buried."
Liu Chen bowed respectfully. "I will."
As he walked away from the hall, his thoughts raced.
Ghost Eye... My soul attracts treasures connected to heaven and earth. Then that secret space... perhaps it's not as insignificant as others believe.
He clenched his fist lightly.
Let's see what the heavens buried... and what I can dig back up.
#I will give you some points on cultivation realms...
1. Body Practitioner
2. Spirit refining
3. Spirit transformation
4. Soul foundation
5. Spirit core realm
6. Immortal Lord realm
7. Immortal King realm
8. Immortal emperor realm
9. Immortal Venerable
10. Immortal Ancestor