The forest was quiet, almost unnaturally so, as I settled near the clearing. The orb sat before me, faintly glowing as if it had been waiting for this moment. My fingers hovered above it, heart pounding.
The previous night's visions had left me restless. The alien cities, the beings of light, the hunters—everything replayed in my mind. I knew one thing: this artifact was far beyond anything in the mortal world, and it wasn't just a treasure. It was a weapon, a tool, and a test.
I took a deep breath. "Level 1," I whispered. "Let's see what you're capable of."
The moment my fingers touched the orb again, energy surged into my body. It was different this time. Not just warmth, but power coursing through every muscle, every vein, every nerve. My vision sharpened; the faintest movements of leaves, the tiniest rustle of branches, felt magnified.
This… is incredible.
The orb pulsed, and a voice—not quite alien, not quite human—echoed in my mind:
"Level 1 unlocked. Body Tempering enhanced. Physical abilities increased. Awareness heightened. Proceed with caution."
A rush of information flooded my senses. I could feel my muscles more responsive, my reflexes faster, my heart beating in perfect rhythm with my qi flow. I moved, and everything felt… effortless. My jumps were higher, my strikes sharper, and even my balance felt uncanny.
I grinned. This is only Level 1…?
Zhou Kai arrived unexpectedly, breaking the moment.
"Li Chen?" he said, stepping into the clearing. "Why do you look… different?"
I froze, realizing I could feel even the slight tension in his posture, the subtle shift in his qi flow. Level 1 had amplified not just my physicality, but my perception.
"I… I'm fine," I said, forcing a casual tone. "Just… training."
He didn't argue, though he gave me a suspicious glance. Some instincts, he had learned, didn't need words.
Over the next days, the changes became undeniable. During morning drills, my movements were smoother, faster than anyone else. Even Meng Tao noticed.
"Li Chen…" he muttered under his breath one morning, watching me block and counter a wooden dummy's attacks with near-perfect precision. "How… how are you doing that?"
I smiled faintly. "Just… training harder than before."
He didn't believe me. I could feel it in the heat of his gaze. The gap between us had shifted, ever so slightly, and it terrified him.
Secretly, I continued my training with the orb in the Whispering Forest. Each day I unlocked a little more, testing the limits, learning to channel the energy into my cultivation. Level 1 was amplifying my Body Tempering abilities, but it came with rules:
Overuse leads to exhaustion beyond normal limits.
Attention from unknown hunters increases the stronger I become.
The orb will advance levels only when I prove myself ready.
It was a delicate balance: grow too slowly, and I risk stagnation. Push too hard, and I risk death.
One evening, while meditating, the orb pulsed stronger than ever. A vision flashed across my mind—dark figures moving through mountains, observing, tracking. I realized with a cold certainty: the hunters were aware of my presence.
I bolted upright, eyes scanning the forest. Nothing was visible—just shadows, moonlight, and rustling leaves. But I could feel them, like icy fingers tracing my spine.
They're here. Watching. Waiting.
I clenched my fists. "I won't run," I whispered. "Not now. Not ever."
The next day, training with other disciples, the effects of Level 1 became apparent. During a sparring match, I barely touched Meng Tao, yet he staggered, thrown off balance by a surge of energy I barely controlled. His eyes widened in disbelief, and whispers spread among the other disciples.
Zhou Kai's eyes were wide, but he grinned. "Li Chen… you're different. Stronger. Faster. Better."
I nodded, suppressing the thrill. I couldn't reveal the source—no one could know about the orb. If they did, not even the sect could protect me.
That night, I returned to the clearing. The orb pulsed faintly, almost as if sensing my progress. I knelt, placing my hands upon it.
"Level 2… when will you be ready?" I asked aloud, almost expecting a response.
The orb's light dimmed, then pulsed in slow rhythm. A voice whispered:
"Patience. Growth draws attention. Prepare, or perish."
I shivered. The thrill of power came with danger, and now I understood the stakes fully. I was no longer just a poor boy seeking cultivation. I was a target, and every step forward would bring greater risk.
The forest seemed to hold its breath as I trained under the orb's influence. Each strike, each jump, each breath was enhanced, yet measured. I pushed my Body Tempering abilities, learned to sense the faintest energies around me, and felt the first taste of true martial strength.
But shadows lingered. Every rustle of leaves, every distant howl of beasts felt like eyes watching me. I couldn't shake the feeling that agents of the hunters had already arrived in the mountains nearby, unseen, yet present.
That night, I meditated, letting Level 1 energy flow through me. I felt a faint warmth spread from my chest, down my arms, and into my legs. My vision sharpened, my senses heightened. I could almost feel the qi of the entire sect from my meditation spot—a faint hum of power, order, and hierarchy.
A thought struck me, sharp as a blade: if this is only Level 1… what will Level 2 bring?
And then, almost as an answer, the orb pulsed brighter. A warning—or a promise—I wasn't yet ready to understand.
I rose from meditation, muscles humming with newfound strength. I was stronger than yesterday, sharper, faster. But I was also more aware of the danger that now stalked me unseen.
Meng Tao would notice, sect disciples would whisper, and the alien hunters would begin their approach.
The first step had been taken. Level 1 was unlocked.
And the world, whether mortal or otherwise, had just begun to notice me.