Three Days Later
To the north of Green Sun City, within the old and relatively forgotten mansion of the Chen family, the sound of steady breathing echoed in a dark room. A faint light shone through the cracks of a wooden window, illuminating the floating dust particles in the air. At the center of the room, Chen Hao sat cross-legged on the floor, his hands resting on his knees. A silver aura spun around his body, rising like mist from his shoulders.
Chen Hao, the same boy who until just three days ago had been considered a useless, talentless failure, was now creating a miracle. In these three days, he had succeeded in opening two meridians. Opening two meridians in three days was a remarkable achievement—one that had never happened before in Green Sun City.
But that wasn't the most important part. The two meridians Chen Hao had opened were releasing a tremendously powerful aura. It was as if the aura came from an ancient being. That level of aura indicated only one thing:
Sky-level meridians.
---
In the world of cultivation, meridians were the foundation of all power. Every cultivator needed to open these inner energy pathways in order to progress. But the type of meridian changed everything.
The most common were Mortal-level meridians—the lowest tier, which most people couldn't even dream of surpassing. Above those were the Earth-level meridians—rare, powerful, and a sign of genius. In the Eternal Glory Kingdom, only a few had ever succeeded in opening Earth-level meridians.
And finally… the Sky-level meridians. Legends in human form. Even among thousands of prodigies in the Eternal Glory Kingdom, only a rare few ever reached this level. Many elders, even over the course of their entire lives, might open just a single Earth-level meridian. Sky-level? It was a dream that even made the elders smirk in ridicule.
But now, in the silence of this abandoned mansion, sat a boy who in just three days had opened not one, but two Sky-level meridians.
This alone placed him far above even the top genius of the Chen family.
Whenever someone mentioned "the genius of the Chen family," only one name came to mind:
Chen Yuanli.
The young master of the Chen family. The pride of Green Sun City. He possessed Fifth-grade Mortal-level meridians, and even that was enough to make him the pride of his generation. In the city, few dared not bow before him.
In the Chen family, everyone took pride in Chen Yuanli. All eyes were on him. All hopes and dreams. The name "Chen Hao" had long since faded from everyone's memory… remembered only as a joke, a warning.
But now…
Who could have imagined?
That "Number One Trash of Green Sun City," the one mocked for years and forgotten by all, was now the bearer of meridians so rare they could not even be found in the Eternal Glory Kingdom!
Compared to Chen Hao, Chen Yuanli was insignificant.
In that quiet room, a faint smile appeared on Chen Hao's lips. He opened his eyes. The glowing aura surrounding his body gradually faded and returned within him.
He knew the time was near.
The time when the world would once again hear his name. When all the mockery would fall silent, and the only sound left would be the sound of power.
The air in the room was heavy.
Chen Hao remained seated cross-legged, his hands on his knees, eyes half-open. The space around him was silent, but within his body, energy surged like a raging river, searching for a path to open a third meridian.
Sweat covered his forehead. Clear drops slid from his temples down his cheeks. His lips were tightly pressed together. Pain, pressure, and a burning heat twisted through his body.
Opening a meridian was like breaking the dam of a thousand-year-old river. One had to concentrate every ounce of spiritual and physical energy into a single point, endure the pressure, and at the perfect moment, let the energy carve its path.
This was his third meridian.
But it was no ordinary meridian...
Only Chen Hao knew that opening this meridian was even more difficult than the previous two.
Moments passed.
Then suddenly—a faint "Vwooom" trembled through the room.
A radiant aura burst from Chen Hao's body. At first, it was white, then turned blue, and finally, a brilliant gold. The golden light spread through the entire room like a warm wave. The tattered carpets on the floor trembled, the windowpanes cracked slightly, and the trees outside the mansion gently bowed.
The room was no longer the same.
This was the sign of the birth of a Grade Nine Sky-level Meridian.
---
Chen Hao took a deep breath. It was as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders. A brief smile appeared on his lips. The feeling of power, like a newly kindled flame, surged within his chest.
"A Grade Nine Sky Meridian! In my previous life, I had the lowest-level meridians... but now... in this life, I will truly rise to the peak."
But in that moment, his smile faded.
He knew just how rare Sky-level meridians were. Let alone someone awakening a Grade Nine Sky-level meridian. Such a person would be beyond the limits of the lower world.
If anyone discovered he had a Sky-level meridian, even the strongest families in the Eternal Glory Kingdom would devour him alive to claim it.
Even his own family…
He had to keep the secret hidden. Until he became strong enough, this truth had to remain buried.
In silence, he touched his chest and murmured:
"I must grow stronger… faster than I thought."
---
At that moment, his mind drifted elsewhere...
To a distant memory, to something no one in this world knew.
His cultivation was thanks to the "Divine Scroll of the Golden Heavens".
An ancient art he had discovered in his previous life, in a forgotten ruin deep within a remote mountain range. No one knew of it. It was an unknown legend.
But with the help of that scroll, Chen Hao had become the most powerful being on his continent. He had even shattered the limitations of his lowly body and reached the peak. Without a doubt, that scroll was no ordinary artifact.
And now, with the same scroll, he had started his life anew. In truth, Chen Hao believed this scroll was his greatest trump card.
---
At that very moment, a voice from outside shattered the silence of the house.
A deep, angry voice, filled with mockery and authority.
"Chen Hao! Come out!"
Without flinching or hesitating, Chen Hao slowly closed and opened his eyes. As if he had faced such a moment many times before.
He murmured under his breath:
"Seems like every mutt and stray thinks they can push me around now."
At the entrance of the mansion, Chen Hao stepped into the courtyard.
Sunlight fell directly on his face. His eyes squinted slightly. Standing right in front of him was a tall boy with broad shoulders and large fists, veins pulsing with rage.
The boy was around eighteen, but his body resembled that of an experienced warrior. His face was furious, jaw clenched, and eyes filled with hatred.
He was Chen Han.
The older brother of Chen Gu—the one who was said to have been killed by Chen Hao.
Chen Han had opened five meridians; his strength was at the mid-level among the young cultivators of the city. He was considered one of the Chen family's promising talents. Behind him stood two others—Chen Mo and Chen Wei, the same two who had witnessed the battle between Chen Hao and Chen Gu. Now, they had switched sides and stood among his enemies.
But they weren't alone.
Around twenty youths from the Chen family and its branch families filled the courtyard. Whispers rippled through the air.
"Looks like that fool's in trouble. Chen Han is part of the Young Master's team and with five opened meridians, he's strong."
"Chen Han will crush him. I don't know how he killed Chen Gu, but he definitely can't beat Chen Han."
"He hasn't even opened a single meridian. How can he fight? This is clearly bullying."
Chen Han stepped forward. His voice was deep and dangerous:
"Chen Hao… What lowly trick did you use to kill my brother?"
Chen Hao replied calmly:
"If you really want the truth, you can ask your brother in the underworld."
Chen Han let out a cold, dry laugh.
"Seems like our little young master still hasn't realized the situation."
Chen Hao looked at him playfully.
"I'll crush you. Even if you're the patriarch's son, I'll avenge my brother."
Everyone knew what kind of person Chen Han was. Once he made a decision, he carried it out—no matter the consequences.
---
With a loud roar, Chen Han charged forward. His feet cracked the ground, and he launched a powerful punch straight at Chen Hao's face.
Chen Hao dodged and smoothly twisted his body to the left. At that moment, he struck the opponent's abdomen with the palm of his right hand.
"Falling Leaf Palm!"
The strike shimmered with a green glow.
Chen Han only staggered back one step, but his face paled. He was shocked by the strength behind the strike. Falling Leaf Palm was just a basic martial technique in the Chen family, commonly used for children's practice. Its power was weak.
He attacked again. Punches, kicks—each blow was like a hammer slamming into a mountain. But Chen Hao, with smooth and calculated movements, dodged or deflected them one after another with precise counters.
"White Tiger Fist!"
This time, Chen Hao struck Chen Han's chest, and a wave of energy rippled through his body. Chen Han was thrown backward from the shock.
A murmur spread through the onlookers.
"What was that? I've never seen that technique before."
"How is that possible? Isn't he the same trash from before?"
The battle escalated.
Dozens of strikes were exchanged. Dust filled the courtyard. The ground beneath their feet cracked. The walls of the mansion bore the marks of impact.
But it was strange. Chen Hao wasn't just holding his ground—he was gradually taking control of the fight. His body was fluid, his strikes precise, and his eyes cold and emotionless.
Chen Han was panting heavily. His face bruised, body wounded, yet he still wanted to fight.
Chen Mo shouted:
"Chen Han! Finish him! He's weak!"
But at that moment, Chen Hao clenched his fingers into a fist. A golden energy coiled around his hands.
He whispered:
"This ends now."
Then, with a swift move, he leapt from the ground. His fist struck Chen Han's right shoulder directly.
The sound of bones breaking.
Chen Han collapsed to the ground with a loud scream. His arm was bent at an unnatural angle. His body lay motionless.
A deathly silence fell over the crowd.
No one spoke. No one even breathed.
Someone whispered under their breath:
"He… he crippled him…"
Chen Hao exhaled calmly. He looked around. Then, slowly, he turned and walked back toward his room.
In that moment, everyone watched in silence as the skinny teenager walked away. The boy who had been mocked and ridiculed for years, now erupted with such power.
…
Qiantai Wuji stood atop a large cliff. The mountain wind gently swayed his robe. The orange glow of the setting sun passed through thin clouds, illuminating his face in golden light.
Behind him, twisted valleys and towering cliffs stretched endlessly. But in front of him, a thin mist hovered among the forested peaks. And within that mist… something stood out. Something strange at first glance.
In these three days, Wuji had traveled far. Forest paths, hidden hills, rocky trails barely trodden by others. But he had not stopped. With each step, his focus had sharpened. In the mountain's peace and the silence of nature, he had passed through the first layer and now entered the second layer of the Acquisition Realm.
His physical strength had become stronger than ever!
Amid the mist, something caught his attention. In the heart of the mountain, among the trees, a village could be seen.
Qiantai Wuji furrowed his brow.
"A village? Here?"
A question formed in his mind.
Why would there be a village in the heart of such an isolated mountain?
The path to reach here was difficult. No defined roads, no nearby settlements. There was no logical reason for such a distant place to be inhabited.
But there it was. Silent, still, within the mist.
Qiantai Wuji looked away from the cliff and descended the steep slope. He had decided to spend a night in the village. Not just for rest, but to uncover the mystery of its inexplicable existence.
The path to the village wasn't short, but it was quiet and eerie. The mountain trees were tall and bent. As if no one had walked among them for years.
And finally, after several hours, as the darkness of night grew deeper, Qiantai Wuji stood before the wooden gate of the village.
The gate was a picture of abandonment. Its wood was decayed, cracked, and dusty. On the left side, part of it had broken off and fallen. The color of the wood had faded to gray over time.
Around him, there was no light. No sound. No sign of life.
Qiantai Wuji stood in silence. The cold night breeze rustled through the trees, and tendrils of mist slid between his legs.
"Looks like this place has been abandoned for years…"
He took one step forward and passed through the broken gate.
The village was drowned in absolute silence.