The morning sun spilled through the window, painting the small apartment in a warm golden hue. Lin Tian sat cross-legged on the floor, his hands forming ancient mudras. A faint silver light glimmered around him — soft, yet filled with an indescribable force.
Inside his dantian, a single thread of spiritual energy flickered like a candle flame.
"Only one strand of qi…" Lin Tian murmured, his brow furrowing. "Earth's aura is thin—almost barren. No wonder mortals cannot cultivate here."
Yet, that tiny strand was enough to awaken something long dormant within him — the Heavenly Pulse, the foundation of his former immortal body.
He inhaled slowly, drawing in the faint essence of heaven and earth. The room's temperature dropped. The air vibrated.
[Ding!]
System Notification:
Congratulations! You have opened the first meridian: The Spirit Gate.
Reward: Low-grade Spirit Gathering Technique unlocked.
Lin Tian opened his eyes. "Finally, progress."
He clenched his fist, feeling faint energy circulate through his veins. Though weak compared to his past self, it was enough to restore his physical condition beyond a normal human's.
Across town, in a quiet laboratory, a group of researchers monitored strange readings from a new energy detector.
"Sir, look at this," a young scientist said, pointing at the screen. "At 6:12 a.m., there was a sudden spike in unknown radiation levels — but it doesn't match any known electromagnetic pattern."
The older man frowned. "It's centered near East City University… exactly where the recent 'energy burst' was reported last week."
He rubbed his chin. "Keep an eye on that location. We might be looking at the birth of something… unprecedented."
Meanwhile, Lin Tian headed to class, blending into the crowd of students. His body felt lighter, his senses sharper — every sound, every heartbeat, every gust of wind registered clearly.
As he stepped into the classroom, Su Mengyao looked up. Her eyes widened for a second.
"Lin Tian… you look different," she said softly.
He smiled faintly. "Maybe I just slept well."
But deep down, he noticed something strange. Around Su Mengyao's body, a faint spiritual glow shimmered — weak but pure, like the aura of a celestial being.
Could it be… the reincarnation of Fairy Yue Ling, his companion from the cultivation realm?
Lin Tian's heart trembled slightly. No. Impossible. Her soul was destroyed when I ascended… wasn't it?
That evening, he trained again, sitting atop the university's rooftop. The city lights shimmered below like stars on the ground.
"System," he said quietly, "you claimed to assist me in regaining power. But what exactly are you?"
[Ding!]
I am the Heavenly Reincarnation Assistance Unit. My function is to help the host adapt to Earth's environment and regain immortal cultivation abilities within the laws of this world.
Warning: External entities have detected your spiritual fluctuations. Host should proceed cautiously.
"External entities?" Lin Tian's eyes narrowed. "So… others from the cultivation world have crossed over?"
Affirmative. At least two other cultivators have established presence on Earth within the last seven days.
The wind blew fiercely across the rooftop. Lin Tian gazed into the horizon, his expression turning cold.
"So the heavenly game begins again… even in this mortal world."
Down in a dark alley across the city, a man in a black trench coat knelt before a flickering sigil on the ground. Dark mist swirled, and a chilling voice whispered through the shadows.
"He has awakened… The Heavenly Sword Immortal lives again."
The man grinned wickedly. "Then the hunt begins."
End of Chapter 5: "The Awakening of Spiritual Energy"