The loud boom rattled the air around me, yet I did not stop. The heavens shuddered and shivered, shaking as I continued to reach out towards them, and I saw something taking shape.The winds carried me above, my strength failing to resist the torrents as the storms began to swallow me. Lightning struck me. Once. Twice. I let my Chi gather, using it to hold the worst of the blows back.Three. Four. Five. My clothes singed, burning from the intensity of the attacks. My skin was charred now, blood seeping from my wounds.I closed my eyes, letting my Chi gather, as the strikes grew in strength again.Six.I almost lost control as the lightning tore through my body. My arm rose, blocking the lightning as Chi gathered around my palms, holding the thunderstrike at bay. Smoke rose from my limb, now a burnt husk as it hung limp by my side. The pain was an afterthought, as I continued to rise.Seven.I blacked out for a moment, the world vanishing from my sight. Taking a hold of myself, I reori

I opened my eyes, finding myself in my room. The smell of herbs was the first thing that I noticed, coming from the salves lathered upon my injuries underneath the bandages covering my right chest and arm. I tried to lift my arm, but found a sharp pain telling me not to push it. The tribulation had left a mark this time. Slowly seating myself upright, I tried to recall what I last remembered. A headache assailed me at the attempt, but the grogginess slowly washed away, and the memories came.Right. Heavens. Chains. That was a lot.I still did not understand what had happened. At the time, all I had been focused on was protecting the village from the heavens, everything else… it felt like a blur. Whatever it had been, it was powerful.I looked around my room. It was nighttime, and the stars were slowly dancing across the sky as Lunar Qi… no, Lunar chi rose amidst the sky. Taizhou no longer had any Qi in it, or the presence of the Heavens above it. Standing up from my bed, I walked to t

Zhang stood in silence, listening to my words. I felt pathetic, like I was moping around for nothing. I stopped, feeling my words die in my throat. Everything felt like a lie at this moment.“Brother, do you know why I follow you?” Zhang asked.I looked up at him for a moment, thinking of what to say, but found the truth slipping from my mouth. “Because you think you owe me. For Silverlight, and for healing your core.”Zhang shook his head.“I do owe you my life, and everything else. But that is not why I follow.”“Then why?” I asked.“Because you are like the sun. To me, to us, you bring light. It is not your knowledge, the Path you share, or any of those things. It is your nature, your kindness, your willingness to help those in need of help, and protect them from harm. In that, I see someone worthy of following,” Zhang said, walking closer as he put a hand on my shoulder. “I call you my brother, Yuan. And no matter what, I know I will stand by your side until the end.”I stared at

“No, not quite. To cultivate, you must first form a core. A dantian that will hold the Chi you gather. Upon doing so, you will have become a cultivator of the First realm.”“So… I’m not a cultivator then?” Yin asked, not sure if that made her any more relieved than before.“You are a budding cultivator, who has not taken their first steps yet. I’m here to guide you through those first steps,” Yan Yun said. “When I had awakened my senses, my grandfather had taught me how to gather the Qi within my core.”Yin watched a wave of feelings pass over Yan Yun’s face as she remembered an old memory.“He had sat me on his lap, as he taught about what it meant to be a cultivator,” Yan Yun said, smiling bitterly. Taking a breath, she closed her eyes, before proceeding. “Cultivation is the gathering of energy. A path towards the Heavens, for the purpose of achieving the ultimate pinnacle. That of immortality,” Yan Yun said, looking at Yin. “As Cultivators, it is our burden and responsibility to ac

Mei Lin tried to move past the boy but his senses were sharp, while her own abilities felt weak here. Cursing to herself, she waited in the shadows for an opportunity when one suddenly presented itself.Mei Lin's eyes widened briefly as she noted Yan Yun coming closer. Her young mistress wore much simpler clothes here, with no sign of Qi within her. The sight made her heart ache in pain, and she wished she could abandon her task and take Yan Yun back with her instead. But she couldn’t, she had a task, and she needed to see it through. Letting herself blend further in the shadows, Mei Lin waited patiently, overhearing the conversation.“How is he?” Yan Yan asked.“Still unconscious,” the boy replied, his expression grim.“I know you’re worried. All of us are, but Granny Lang has checked him and she says he’s fine, just sleeping. You can’t run yourself sick with worry, Zhang,” Yan Yun said.The boy- Zhang - didn’t reply. He stood, silently looking down at her, spear still clutched in hi