The days dragged on, each one more tense than the last. Lin Yu's attempts to harness Earth's sparse spiritual energy grew more focused as he spent hours practicing in solitude. The flickering spark of power that he had felt before seemed to fade in and out like a candle struggling against the wind. But he didn't give up.
There was no choice.
Cheng Xi remained oblivious to his internal struggle, her life, unknowingly, hanging by a thread. Three days. That was how much time he had left to stop the creature, to save her.
Lin Yu walked through the school hallways with a growing sense of urgency. The creature's presence was still just a shadow in his mind, a distant threat, but Lin Yu could feel it in his bones. The beast wasn't just a random monster—it was a part of a much darker plan. Whatever had caused his fall in the Celestial Realm was still active, pulling strings here, on Earth.
He needed more information, but where could he start? The spiritual energy on Earth was weak, but it wasn't completely gone. Somewhere, there must be a place that held more of it, a source he could tap into to accelerate his recovery. But Earth wasn't like the Celestial Realm—it didn't have temples or ancient scriptures devoted to cultivating power. Lin Yu's only option was to seek out hidden, forgotten sources, wherever they might be.
That evening, Lin Yu walked through the streets of the city, his thoughts sharp and deliberate. He had felt a ripple of energy earlier, something subtle but unmistakable, and it was leading him toward an old part of town—an area where the buildings were more decrepit, and the streets quieter. His instincts told him that the source of the spiritual energy was somewhere near, hidden in the shadows of this forgotten place.
The sun was setting as Lin Yu reached the old district, its once-vibrant market now a ghost of its former self. Narrow alleyways twisted between cracked stone buildings, the air thick with dust and the scent of age. But there was something here—something different. His senses tingled, a distant pulse of energy drawing him forward.
He entered an alleyway, his eyes scanning the surroundings. His hand moved instinctively to the hidden blade at his side, the weight of it familiar and comforting. There was no telling what—or who—he might encounter here.
After walking for several more minutes, he found himself at the entrance of an old, crumbling building. The walls were covered in ivy, and the door hung crooked on its hinges, as if forgotten by time itself. Lin Yu felt the pulse again, stronger this time, calling to him from inside.
With a deep breath, he pushed the door open, the rusted hinges groaning in protest. The dim light of the setting sun barely pierced through the grime-covered windows, casting a haze over the room. Dust floated in the air, and the musty smell of old paper filled his nostrils.
Inside, the building appeared to be an old library, its shelves packed with ancient books and scrolls. The air was thick with the weight of forgotten knowledge. Lin Yu stepped forward cautiously, his footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor.
There it was again—the pulse of spiritual energy. It was faint but undeniable. He moved further into the room, his eyes scanning the shelves for anything that might be useful.
And then, as if drawn by some invisible force, he approached a dusty old shelf at the back of the room. His fingers brushed over the spine of a weathered tome. As soon as his hand touched it, a jolt of energy surged through him. It wasn't much, but it was enough to send a shock through his system.
He pulled the book from the shelf, its cover cracked and faded. The title, written in an ancient script he almost couldn't recognize, was nearly illegible. But the aura around it—this book—was unmistakable. It contained something of great value, something related to the spiritual energy Lin Yu had been seeking.
Just as he began to flip through the pages, a voice broke the silence.
"You've found it."
Lin Yu spun around, instinctively reaching for his dagger, but the figure standing in the doorway wasn't a threat. The man was older, his long robes ragged but worn with age. His presence radiated something faintly familiar. But the real shock was in his eyes.
"You're… not from here," the man said, his voice deep and calm.
Lin Yu narrowed his gaze. "Who are you?"
The man smiled slightly, as if this was all very amusing. "I've seen you before. Not in this life, but in others. You may not remember, but I've been watching you. You were always destined for something far greater than this."
Lin Yu felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. There was something strange about this man—something powerful, hidden beneath his ordinary appearance. He didn't trust him, not yet. But he had to know more.
"Who are you?" Lin Yu asked again, his voice firm.
The man raised a hand, dismissing the question for the moment. "I'm not the one you need to worry about. But you will be—soon enough. You've walked into something much larger than you realize. The spiritual energy here is scarce, yes. But you're not the first to seek it. There are others. Powerful forces."
Lin Yu took a step closer, his gaze never leaving the man. "What do you know about the beast? And about what's happening to this world?"
The man's eyes glimmered with something unreadable. "The beast is merely a symptom. You've been brought here for a reason, Lin Yu. But it's not the beast you should fear. It's the hand that controls it."
He let those words hang in the air, leaving Lin Yu with more questions than answers.
The man turned and walked toward the exit of the library, his pace unhurried. "I'll be seeing you soon, Immortal King. There's much more you need to understand."
Lin Yu stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing. This man—this mysterious figure—knew too much. He knew about his past. He knew about the beast. And now, Lin Yu was left with more uncertainty than ever before.
But one thing was clear: Earth was not as simple as it seemed. And the forces manipulating it were more dangerous than anything he had faced before.