The sky... slowly faded.Not because of a pressing force,nor the waning of magicbut because the world itself had changed its tone.
The dark ash hue of the storm of suffering evaporated,replaced by a pale bluethat had never appearedsince this realm was born from chaos.Birds made no sound.The wind ceased its howl.Even the Chaosqi trembled gently,as if acknowledging something they could not defy.
Yuanqi had been born.
And Heng Zhen's body—once no more than scorched flesh and shattered bonebegan to heal.
There was no burst of light.No mighty cry.Only a soft exhale,like the first morning breezetouching leaves after a long winter.
Faint white vapor drifted from his pores.Open wounds slowly sealed.Charred skin peeled away to reveal new layers.Torn muscles stirred,reforming themselves.But most striking of allwas the silence within.
"This... isn't power as I once knew it,"he murmured,his voice hoarse yet full of meaning.
He sat upon the lone stoneleft standing from the storm's blast,staring at his hands.There was no wild aura like Chaosqi.No oppressive pressure like before.Yet there was resonancegentle, but unshakableas if the earth itselfwas breathing in rhythm with him.
Within his chest,Yuanqi began to flow.
He didn't control it.He simply followed.And in that,he understood:
Yuanqi cannot be commanded.It can only be understood,guided,and accepted.
His first step had begun.His body was no longer just flesh,but part of a new harmonythat had never existed before.Yuanqi gave him something deeper than strengthit gave him connection.With the world itself.
Above, behind the still-thin clouds,a distant voice echoed faintly:
"He has passed the first stage…"
Yet no answer came.
Because for the first time in this world's historysomeone had answered the world.