My realm is now Ganjing.
Heng Zhen sat on a rock, his eyes closed, his breathing barely audible. Around him, the valley was silent, the wind stilled, even the birds seemed to choose not to sing.
But beneath the stillness, something stirred. A subtle ripple… not in the ground, not in the air—but within him.
Yuanqi.
It began to flow not as a feeling, but as a direction. Not only could it be felt, but it began to direct.
The first vibration came from his abdomen—his dantian, which had seemed powerless until now, now pulsed gently, like a seed touching the first light.
Then, the earth trembled.
It wasn't an earthquake. But it was as if the world's skin took a deep breath. Small stones rose half a finger. The water in the basin formed a slow vortex. The sky paled, not because of the weather, but because nature was adjusting to something.
Something new was born.
"What is this…?" Heng Zhen opened his eyes. His usually calm eyes now burned slightly. "I can see it... that flow... entering me. Slowly."
"After Ganjing... then this is... the beginning of the body." He touched his abdomen. "Zhùjī..."
His bones felt light, yet strong. His muscles were calm, yet warm. Yuanqi was beginning to not just touch him, but reside within him.
Far to the north, Lao Wen opened his eyes from meditation.
"Someone... has broken through from feeling to form."
Behind the southeastern mountains, San Lie stopped in his tracks and frowned.
"This vibration... doesn't belong to Chaosqi. But to a power that has been hiding... infiltrating, waiting."
And in the Lu Valley, Lu Wen prostrated himself unconsciously.
"Master... he has opened the second door."