The training yard fell silent as Su Hao crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain. The other disciples stared at Su Chen with wide eyes, their faces a mix of shock and unease. No one had expected the "broken meridian loser" to strike back-let alone with such devastating force. Su Chen stood there, his chest rising and falling steadily, as the last traces of golden spiritual energy faded from his fists.
The jade pendant around his neck was still warm, a gentle hum resonating against his skin. He could feel the Reverse God Meridian thrumming inside him, its power now flowing smoothly through the once-shattered channels. It was like a dormant beast had awakened, hungry for more energy but obedient to his will. For the first time in years, he felt in control-truly in control.
"Y-you…" Su Hao struggled to his feet, his face contorted with rage and humiliation. He glared at Su Chen, his hand clutching his chest where the punch had landed. "This isn't over. I'll report you to the elders-attacking a fellow disciple without provocation!"
Su Chen raised an eyebrow, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Provocation? You've spent three years mocking me, insulting me, and now you call this unprovoked?" He took a step forward, his eyes sharp as a blade. "If you want to report me, go ahead. But next time, think twice before you pick a fight you can't win."
The disciples backed away, murmurs spreading through the crowd. Su Chen's aura had changed-there was a quiet intensity about him now, a power that made even the older disciples nervous. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the exit of the training yard, ignoring the stares burning into his back.
As he walked through the Su Clan's stone corridors, Su Chen focused on the Reverse God Meridian. He could feel the spiritual energy circulating through his body at an astonishing speed-far faster than any ordinary cultivator's. It was as if his veins had become rivers of light, carrying power that seemed to multiply with each passing moment. He tested it subtly, channeling a wisp of energy to his fingertips. A faint golden glow appeared, warm but potent.
"This is incredible," he whispered to himself. The pendant had not just repaired his meridian-it had transformed it into something beyond comprehension. A meridian that could absorb and refine spiritual energy at a rate no human should be capable of. A meridian that defied the laws of cultivation.
But as he rounded a corner, a sudden chill ran down his spine. It was not the cold of the stone walls, but a feeling of being watched-of eyes boring into his back. Su Chen slowed his steps, his Reverse God Meridian flaring to life. His senses sharpened exponentially, far beyond what a normal human's should be. He could hear the rustle of leaves in the courtyard a hundred meters away, the distant clink of a blacksmith's hammer, and… the faint sound of breathing in the shadowed alcove ahead.
Someone was following him.
Su Chen kept walking, his face calm but his muscles tensed. He knew who it was likely to be-one of Su Kun's men. Ever since his father had fallen comatose, Su Kun, his uncle and the current acting clan leader, had kept a close eye on him. He had never trusted Su Kun-not after the way he'd seized power so quickly, not after the cold indifference in his eyes when he spoke of Su Chen's father.
He turned into a narrow corridor lined with storage rooms, the shadows growing deeper. The breathing grew closer, steady and deliberate. Su Chen counted the steps, his mind racing. He was still new to the Reverse God Meridian's power-he didn't know its limits, didn't know how to fully control it. But he knew he couldn't let himself be caught off guard.
When he reached the end of the corridor, Su Chen suddenly spun around. His spiritual energy surged, golden light flickering around his fists. But the alcove was empty-only a pile of dusty crates and a spiderweb stretching across the corner.
"Coward," he said aloud, his voice echoing in the empty corridor. "Hiding in the shadows like a rat."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a low chuckle sounded from above. Su Chen looked up to see a man standing on the beam of the corridor's ceiling, his body hidden in the darkness. He was dressed in a black robe with the Su Clan's emblem stitched on the sleeve, his face obscured by a hood.
"Sharp senses, young master," the man said, his voice gravelly. He jumped down from the beam, landing lightly on his feet. He stood about two meters tall, his muscles bulging beneath his robe. Su Chen recognized him-Zhang Feng, one of Su Kun's most trusted subordinates. A cultivator with four intact meridians, far stronger than most disciples his age.
"Su Kun sent you to spy on me," Su Chen said, not a question but a statement.
Zhang Feng's lips curled into a sneer. "The acting clan leader is concerned about you, Su Chen. After your little outburst in the training yard, he wants to make sure you're not causing trouble." He took a step forward, his spiritual energy flaring-a dark, oppressive force that would have made most cultivators tremble. "But I see now… there's something different about you. Your meridian-what did you do to it?"
Su Chen's heart raced. He couldn't let Zhang Feng discover the Reverse God Meridian. If Su Kun learned of its existence, he would stop at nothing to take it for himself-even if it meant killing him.
"Nothing has changed," Su Chen said, forcing his voice to stay steady. "I'm still the same 'broken meridian loser' you all love to mock."
But Zhang Feng wasn't fooled. He circled Su Chen slowly, his eyes scanning him up and down. "No. Your aura is different. Your spiritual energy is stronger-purer. And that pendant around your neck…" He nodded toward the jade pendant, his eyes narrowing. "It wasn't glowing like that before. What is it?"
Su Chen's hand moved to the pendant, clutching it tightly. "A gift from my father. Nothing more."
Zhang Feng laughed, a harsh, barking sound. "A gift? Or a treasure? I think you're hiding something, Su Chen. And I intend to find out what." He lunged forward, his right hand shooting toward Su Chen's neck, aiming to grab the pendant.
Su Chen reacted instantly. The Reverse God Meridian roared to life, spiritual energy surging through his body. He dodged to the side, his speed far faster than Zhang Feng had anticipated. The man's hand grabbed nothing but air, his eyes widening in shock.
"How…?" Zhang Feng stared at him, disbelief written across his face. A cultivator with a shattered meridian should not be able to move that fast-should not be able to dodge an attack from a four-meridian cultivator.
Su Chen didn't answer. He launched a counterattack, channeling spiritual energy to his fist and swinging at Zhang Feng's chest. The man blocked with his forearm, but the force of the blow sent him staggering backward. He grunted, his face twisting with pain.
"You little brat!" Zhang Feng roared, his spiritual energy flaring to its full extent. He charged at Su Chen, his fists moving like blur. But Su Chen's senses were heightened by the Reverse God Meridian-he could see every movement, every shift in Zhang Feng's weight, before it even happened. He dodged, weaved, and countered, his fists landing with precise, powerful blows.
It was a one-sided fight. Zhang Feng was stronger, more experienced, but Su Chen's speed, reflexes, and the sheer power of the Reverse God Meridian were overwhelming. He was moving beyond human limits, his body reacting to threats before his mind could even process them.
After a few minutes, Zhang Feng collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. His robe was torn, his face bruised and bloodied. He looked up at Su Chen, fear in his eyes. "What are you?" he whispered.
Su Chen stood over him, his golden spiritual energy swirling around his body. The Reverse God Meridian pulsed in his chest, a reminder of the power he now wielded. A power that made him more than human.
"I'm the heir to the Su Clan," he said, his voice cold and steady. "And I'm coming for what's mine."
He turned and walked away, leaving Zhang Feng lying in the corridor. As he exited the narrow passage, Su Chen's eyes narrowed. He knew this was just the beginning. Su Kun would not take this lightly. He would send more men, stronger men. But Su Chen was no longer the weak, defenseless boy he had been.
The Reverse God Meridian had awakened. And with it, a force that would shake the entire Su Clan to its core.
But first, he needed to master this power. He needed to grow stronger-strong enough to face Su Kun, strong enough to uncover the truth about his father's coma, strong enough to protect himself from the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
Su Chen clutched the jade pendant, feeling its warmth against his skin. He looked toward the eastern sky, where the sun was climbing higher. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in years, Su Chen felt hope. Hope, and a burning determination to conquer his fate.
The journey ahead would be dangerous. But he was ready.
Because he was no longer human. He was the wielder of the Reverse God Meridian. And nothing would stand in his way.