The bell rang, signaling the start of another day at school. Lin Yu stood by the classroom window, his gaze fixed on the outside world. The campus below was bustling with activity, but he couldn't focus on the noise. His mind was filled with only one thing: Cheng Xi. In three days, she would be dead—victim to a monstrous hybrid beast that would arrive from the forest. He couldn't let that happen.
But even worse than the countdown was the stark realization that he was no longer the Immortal King he had once been. The Celestial Realm's spiritual energy, the energy that had once surged through him like a torrent, was now a faint trickle. Earth was different. There was energy here, yes, but it was weak and sparse. Still, it was enough to be useful—if he could tap into it.
He could still feel the pulse, faint as it was, buried deep within the air. The power he had once wielded was not gone, but buried beneath the surface of this strange world.
"Lin Yu?" A voice interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see Cheng Xi standing in the doorway, concern etched on her face. "You've been staring out the window for ages. Is everything okay?"
Lin Yu managed a small smile, trying to mask the weight of what was pressing down on him. "I'm fine. Just thinking."
Her brow furrowed, but she didn't press. "Well, if you're sure…" she said, though there was still doubt in her eyes.
He nodded, but inwardly, his mind was already elsewhere. The beast would come soon, and he had to find a way to stop it. Cheng Xi couldn't die, not on his watch.
After school, Lin Yu found himself sitting alone on the rooftop of the school building, gazing out at the sprawling city below. The air felt thick with the weight of the world, but there was something else—something faint, yet familiar. The spiritual energy of Earth was sparse, almost non-existent compared to the Immortal Realm, but it was there. He just had to reach for it.
Closing his eyes, Lin Yu drew in a slow breath and focused. Breathe in… breathe out…
The ancient cultivation techniques he had perfected in the Celestial Realm began to surface in his mind, like a long-forgotten language he was remembering piece by piece. He centered himself, reaching into his body, searching for the energy that had once flowed so easily through him.
At first, it was like trying to draw water from an empty well. The energy here was thin, diluted. But slowly, very slowly, he felt a flicker—a tiny spark. His dantian, the core of his energy, seemed to stir. It wasn't much, but it was something.
Lin Yu clenched his fists, focusing more intently. The energy felt weak, struggling to break free from the restraints of this world, but he held onto it, letting it gather within him. It was like a flame in the wind—flickering, fragile—but it was alive.
After a few moments, the flicker of energy faded. Lin Yu opened his eyes, frustration settling over him. His cultivation was slow here, agonizingly slow. Earth's spiritual energy was thin, and it felt almost impossible to access. He'd been so powerful once, a god among mortals, but now, he was nothing. At least, not yet.
The feeling of helplessness gnawed at him, but he refused to give up. He had climbed to the top once before. He would do it again. Slowly, he would rebuild his strength, piece by piece.
Later that afternoon, Cheng Xi found him again, this time outside in the school courtyard. She seemed hesitant as she approached him, her usual carefree demeanor replaced by a quiet concern. "Lin Yu… are you really okay? You've been so distant lately, and I'm worried about you."
Lin Yu looked at her, the words of concern from her mouth tugging at something deep inside him. He hadn't allowed himself to feel this vulnerable in centuries. He didn't know how to explain what was happening inside him, what he was becoming. How could he tell her that he wasn't just a normal student—that he was the former Immortal King, now trapped in this weak, ordinary body?
"I'm fine," he said, offering her a tight smile. "Really. It's just… something I need to work through."
Cheng Xi didn't look convinced, but she smiled anyway, sitting down next to him. "You don't have to do everything alone, you know. I'm your friend. If you ever want to talk, I'm here."
The sincerity in her voice was almost overwhelming. Lin Yu felt a pang of guilt. She had no idea how dangerous everything was. How could he tell her that he couldn't involve her in his world? That if she knew the truth, she would be in even more danger than she already was?
"I know," Lin Yu said softly, turning his gaze to the horizon. "I just need to figure things out. But thank you."
As the days passed, Lin Yu's focus remained unwavering. He had to grow stronger. He had to stop the beast. He couldn't let the past repeat itself. Every time his thoughts returned to Cheng Xi, to her impending death, a fire lit within him. He wasn't just fighting for power anymore—he was fighting for her.
Even though the path ahead felt long and uncertain, Lin Yu couldn't afford to hesitate. Every day that passed brought him closer to the moment that would decide Cheng Xi's fate. The beast would come, and he would be ready. He had no choice.