Chapter 6: Feeling the Power Again
Shen Yuan, the twelve-year-old boy, sat on the dark ground deep in the alley, breathing slowly as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. He should have died moments ago, yet now… now he felt as if he had been reborn. His heart beat with an unusual calm, and his spirit felt strangely stable, so much so that he could not sense fear, as if something within him protected him from any negative emotion.
He closed his eyes briefly, then entered a short meditation. He wanted to confirm just one thing… something he had lost for three full years. Extending his consciousness outward, he searched for that flow that once filled the sky and earth. Suddenly, his eyes widened in astonishment, and a smile of excitement spread across his face.
He could feel spiritual energy again!
His body trembled with excitement. This sensation was indescribable in words. His connection to spiritual energy had been severed since that ill-fated incident, and now it had returned suddenly, as if it had never left.
"It's… it's the seed…", he murmured, placing his hand over his chest.
He remembered the moment when the beam of light pierced his body, and the mysterious man who appeared before him in a sky-like world. No thought was needed; everything happening now was because of that seed. It had healed his nearly dead body and restored his ability to cultivate.
He opened his eyes and looked at himself. His body was covered in blood, yet there was not a single wound, not a single bruise. In fact, he felt stronger than before, as if the seed had not only healed his weakness but also enhanced his physical condition.
Once fully conscious, he remembered something important. He looked around cautiously, as if searching for something as vital as what had just happened. It did not take long before he found a small bag covered in mud. He quickly picked it up, wiped off the dirt, then extended his perception to check its contents.
He smiled in relief when he confirmed everything was intact:
"The crappy sword… one hundred and four gold pieces… spare clothes… food and water… and the key to my hotel room… all here."
He returned the bag to his side and let out a deep breath. That was enough to reassure him. True, what had happened was beyond logic, but the important thing was that he had lost nothing.
He stood up, then spoke in a low voice:
"I must return to the hotel quickly, before anyone comes to check if I'm dead or not… If they discover I'm alive now, things could get even more complicated."
He clenched his fists tightly and ran toward the hotel. Along the way, he caught the gazes of people around him. Some looked at him with disdain, others with pity. His appearance was far from presentable: messy hair, torn clothes, a blood-stained body. He perfectly embodied the word "miserable."
But Shen Yuan… no longer cared. He had long been accustomed to those looks.
As he ran, his mind drifted back to memories of the past. Just three years ago, he had been called the number one genius in Earth Continent. At nine, he had reached the seventh layer of Body Refinement, an achievement unheard of. Everyone believed his future would be brilliant, that he would become one of the pillars of the Shen Clan, and perhaps transcend it to become an immortal figure.
But that mysterious incident destroyed everything. Suddenly, his cultivation completely collapsed, as if it had been erased from his body. In an instant, he went from an exceptional genius to a crippled child with nothing.
And the worst was not only the loss of cultivation. He had a different appearance from all his family members: his hair and eyes did not resemble any of theirs. Initially, this difference was overlooked due to his extraordinary talent. But after losing his power, all the rumors emerged. Some accused his mother of betrayal, others called him a bastard.
The Shen Clan, which valued its reputation above all, did not hesitate. They exiled him, demoting his mother, and the two lived far from the main branch. For the clan, his existence had become irrelevant.
He had been nine years old at the time. He had never faced the outside world and knew nothing but cultivation. So when he found himself cast out without protection or support, the shock was unbearable.
He fled to Skyfall City, ten hours away from the clan's headquarters. The reason was not random. He had heard of the Dark Abyss, the second most dangerous forest on the continent, filled with deadly beasts. In his small mind, he thought that if he could survive there, perhaps he could regain his glory.
But the reality was different. For three years, he entered the forest repeatedly, emerging only covered in wounds, teetering on the edge of death. Not a single beast had he slain during that period.
He remembered those dark days and could only sigh deeply. He had experienced events he still could not fully comprehend.
But today… things were different.
He felt warmth flowing through his body. True, he had not suddenly become powerful, but at least he had a starting point. A point from which he could begin anew.
As he approached the hotel, a small smile appeared on his face.
"This… is truly a new beginning."
His steps were still heavy, yet his heart felt lighter than it had in many long years. He had tasted the fe
eling of power again, and he would never let it go.