Lin Yu stood in the dimly lit library, the strange book still in his hands. His fingers trembled slightly as he glanced down at its cracked, weathered cover. The words on the title page seemed blurred, as if obscured by time itself, but the pulse of spiritual energy emanating from it was undeniable. The book held knowledge—powerful, ancient knowledge that could help him regain his strength.
The mysterious figure who had spoken to him moments ago had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only cryptic words. He had hinted at forces far beyond Lin Yu's understanding. Powerful forces that had drawn him into this world, forces that seemed to know far more about him than he could have ever expected.
"What did he mean by that?" Lin Yu muttered to himself, his mind racing. The mysterious man knew his true identity, knew he was the Immortal King. That alone was troubling. But the way he spoke about the beast and the hand behind it made it clear that something far more sinister was at work.
The beast was only the beginning. The true threat lay beneath the surface, controlled by someone—or something—whose power reached into every corner of Earth.
Lin Yu shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside for now. The immediate threat was still Cheng Xi. He had to stop the creature, find a way to protect her, and uncover the truth about the forces manipulating this world. But the man's words had planted a seed of doubt. Whoever controlled the beast had to be dealt with, and soon.
With renewed focus, Lin Yu turned his attention back to the book. He opened the ancient tome, its pages filled with intricate symbols and faded script. The language was archaic, and much of it was beyond his understanding, but there were familiar traces of spiritual techniques hidden within the text.
"Found it…" Lin Yu whispered to himself as he came across a page detailing a method of spiritual amplification—a technique that could enhance his connection to Earth's spiritual energy. It wouldn't restore his full strength, but it was a start. The words weren't easy to decipher, but with the memory of his previous cultivation, Lin Yu could follow the basic principles. The technique required focus, patience, and the ability to draw the world's subtle energies into his body. It was nothing like the torrents of power he had once commanded, but it was something.
He tucked the book under his arm, resolving to study it further later. There was no time to waste. He had to get back to Cheng Xi before the beast struck.
The next morning, Lin Yu woke early, his mind already racing with plans. He had found a way to begin tapping into Earth's energy, but it wasn't enough. He needed more time—more control over the spiritual forces that flowed through the world. But his window was closing, and Cheng Xi's fate was sealed in just two days.
As he walked toward school, his steps were quick, purposeful. Every second counted. He needed to prepare. While he had begun cultivating, his strength was still far from what it had been in the Celestial Realm. His senses were sharper now, though—he could feel the energy surrounding him more clearly, even in the thin atmosphere of Earth.
But even that wasn't enough to face what awaited him.
He reached the school grounds, where Cheng Xi was waiting for him at the entrance. She smiled when she saw him, her expression bright and welcoming, but Lin Yu couldn't help the tightness in his chest. He hadn't told her about the danger yet—he couldn't. If he did, she'd try to stop him, and that was the last thing he needed. She was safer not knowing, at least for now.
"Morning, Lin Yu!" Cheng Xi waved, her voice cheerful.
"Morning," he replied, offering a strained smile. He wished he could just tell her everything—that he was an immortal king, that the world was on the brink of destruction, that she was in immediate danger. But no, not yet. Not when he had nothing solid to offer.
They walked together to class, the mundane sights of school grounds feeling so out of place in Lin Yu's mind. There were students laughing, friends chatting, and the usual chaos that came with a school day. But all Lin Yu could see was the ticking clock. His focus was elsewhere—on the beast, on the strange book, on the mysterious man from the library. Every second was a reminder that he was running out of time.
After school, he walked with Cheng Xi toward the park, trying to keep up the facade of normalcy. They talked about mundane things—homework, upcoming exams, trivialities that felt so distant to Lin Yu. As they walked, Lin Yu's mind wandered. He kept his eyes peeled, instinctively searching for anything out of place, anything that could be a sign of the approaching danger. He had no idea when the creature would show up, but his instincts told him it would be soon.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something—a shadow, slipping between the trees. It was quick, too quick, but it felt wrong. Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat. His body tensed as he instinctively reached out for Cheng Xi's arm, pulling her back.
"Stay close to me," he said, his voice low and urgent. Cheng Xi blinked in confusion, but she didn't question him.
"Lin Yu, what's—"
But before she could finish her sentence, a low growl echoed from behind them.
The air shifted, charged with an unnatural presence. Lin Yu turned sharply, his senses flaring. The beast—he could feel it, just beyond the trees, its presence dark and heavy. He had no time to waste.
"Run!" Lin Yu shouted, grabbing Cheng Xi's hand and pulling her away. The creature was close—too close.
They sprinted down the park path, Lin Yu pulling Cheng Xi faster than she could keep up, but the growl grew louder. It was getting closer.
"Don't look back!" Lin Yu urged. His eyes darted around, searching for anything, a place to hide, a way to escape. But there was nothing. They were out in the open, with no cover in sight.
Then, as if the world itself had conspired against him, a shadow leapt from the trees. The beast—a monstrous hybrid of tiger and leopard, with eyes glowing with an eerie, unnatural light—lunged toward them with terrifying speed.
Lin Yu's heart raced. His instincts screamed to fight, to protect, but his body was still weak, his cultivation incomplete. He couldn't face it head-on, not yet.
But there was no choice.
In a split second, Lin Yu pushed Cheng Xi to the side and faced the creature, summoning every bit of his energy. He wasn't strong enough for a full-on battle, but he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
"Get away from her!" he shouted, his voice filled with authority, but his hands trembled with the effort to control the spiritual energy he had gathered. It was faint, but it was enough to slow the beast for a moment.