Chapter 4: The Silent Awakening
Early morning, Duan Liyang emerged from his hut. The confrontation with Ren Hao had left him with a strange mix of apprehension and exhilaration. He couldn't fully grasp what had happened, but he knew something within him had changed. To understand his abilities better, and perhaps to discover his true 'level,' he needed to go to the Xiao family's Cultivation Examination Room. This was where disciples' cultivation levels were regularly assessed, and even as an outer disciple, he was permitted to go.
As he walked towards the room, Duan Liyang remained cautious. He sensed the other outer disciples casting strange glances his way, some whispering, still stunned by Ren Hao's defeat. He tried to ignore their murmurs, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.
The Cultivation Examination Room was located on the side of the Xiao family's main hall, a chamber typically frequented only by high-ranking officials and authorized disciples.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside
The room was large and brightly lit, with a crystal-studded pedestal in the center used for measuring cultivation levels. Usually, a serious, experienced elder would be present, conducting all the tests.
But today, a girl stood beside the pedestal. Her hair was silky and black, her eyes shining like stars. Duan Liyang, who was eight years old, still knew only the simple ways of the world, and he had never seen such beauty in his life. His eyes fixed on her, his new, clearer vision allowing him to see her in even greater detail – the softness of her features, the intricate embroidery on her dress. He stared, captivated.
The girl sensed his gaze.
She raised an eyebrow slightly, a mischievous smile spreading across her lips. Her voice was sweet, like the whisper of the morning wind, and it reached his ears with astonishing clarity.
"Am I beautiful?" she asked directly.
Duan Liyang was taken aback. His cheeks immediately flushed. He hadn't expected such a blunt question. Embarrassed, he lowered his head and softly, almost whispering, said, "Yes."
The girl's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with delight. She stifled a giggle, her shoulders shaking slightly. "Alright, then why are you here?" she asked, a hint of playful teasing in her voice. "I suppose you've come to have your cultivation level tested?"
Duan Liyang nodded in embarrassment. He slowly approached the crystal pedestal and placed his hand on it, as he had seen others do. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the faint hum within him, hoping for something miraculous to happen.
The crystal on the pedestal shimmered faintly, then settled into a steady, dim glow. A number appeared on it: "Level 0."
Duan Liyang's heart sank. Level 0. Again. After defeating Ren Hao, he had thought something had changed, but this result... it was disheartening. Sadness clouded his eyes.
The girl looked at the result on the pedestal, but there was no disappointment on her face. Instead, her mischievous smile broadened. She looked at Duan Liyang, a strange glint in her eyes.
"You just turned eight, didn't you?" she asked, a slight playfulness in her voice. "You've only just become ready for cultivation. This result, it's perfectly favorable for you."
Duan Liyang was completely stunned. His eyes widened. He hadn't told anyone his age. "How... how do you know my age?" he stammered.
The girl chuckled softly. "Because you look very young. It's evident from your demeanor," she said, a sweet mischief in her voice. "And in your eyes... when you were looking at me, there was a pure glow. Not like the glow I usually see in others' eyes – where greed, or envy, or just lust is often hidden. Your eyes were simply clean." She glanced at the pedestal again. "And when your cultivation level showed 'Level 0,' I understood. It means you've only just become qualified for cultivation, and you're just eight years old." Her smile became mischievous once more.
Duan Liyang was dumbfounded, realizing he had been so easily read. He was embarrassed, but also filled with a strange sense of respect.
This girl wasn't just beautiful; she was incredibly sharp and discerning.
The girl reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, shiny green leaf. The leaf was thin and translucent, emitting a sweet, refreshing fragrance. "This is for you," she said, extending the leaf towards Duan Liyang in her palm. "It's a simple herbal medicine my grandfather often makes. It's not very valuable, but it might help a little for a nascent cultivator."
Duan Liyang's eyes widened. For him, this was a treasure! He was someone who barely saved enough for his daily needs, and buying an herb for cultivation was a distant dream. He cautiously took the leaf, his fingers trembling slightly. "Thank you!" he said, true gratitude in his voice.
"Thank you very much!"
The girl simply smiled, her eyes sparkling with joy at Duan Liyang's innocence. She said nothing more, just stood watching him leave.
Duan Liyang cast a final, grateful glance and then swiftly exited the room. His heart was filled with joy and excitement.
In his hand was that shiny green leaf, an invaluable gift. He rushed straight back to his hut, countless questions and a new, thrilling hope swirling in his mind.
Upon reaching his hut, Duan Liyang closed the door and immediately examined the green leaf. It wasn't just an ordinary leaf; it seemed brimming with life force. Without hesitation, he placed the leaf in his mouth and began to chew it.
A sweet, earthy taste spread in his mouth, followed by a warmth that descended down his throat.
As the herbal medicine dissolved within his body, Duan Liyang closed his eyes and focused on his internal energy. He felt the medicine's power spreading through his veins, intensifying the faint hum he felt within him. It was a pleasant sensation, like water soaking into dry earth.
But then, suddenly, an intense pain erupted in his head. It was the same familiar, unbearable pain he had felt that night when his senses first awakened. This time, however, the pain didn't spread throughout his entire body.
It was confined solely to his head, as if an invisible hammer were striking his mind. Duan Liyang gritted his teeth, his fists clenched, but he kept his eyes closed and tried to fight the pain.
The pain intensified, seizing his consciousness. He felt as if his head would explode.
There was no sense of time, just the pain and a strange, blurry vision. He saw the same dream again – vast buildings crumbling, mountains shattering, and the energy emanating from his hands destroying everything. He was wielding an incredible power, driving the world towards annihilation, turning everything into ruins.
When the pain finally subsided, and the dream images faded, Duan Liyang woke up, gasping for breath.
The first rays of morning light streamed through his window. He lay on his cot, drenched in sweat, his heart pounding.
"Again... that dream..." he whispered, his voice filled with shock and confusion. He was destroying the world. But how was this possible?
After the headache subsided, Duan Liyang didn't feel any immediate or obvious change. His senses were as they had been since they first awakened, and the faint hum within his body remained the same. He checked his body, clenched his fists, but he found no new power or clear alteration.
The sunlight crept further into his hut. It was a new day, and his daily chores awaited him. Taking a deep breath, he pushed his worries aside. What had happened was strange, but he didn't have time to unravel these mysteries now. He had to go to his duty. He slowly got up, prepared himself, and stepped out of his hut, returning to the usual tasks of the vast Xiao family compound.