He woke up shortly after, still not recovered from the mental blow he had just suffered. For the very first time, Xiao Ming felt the faint stirrings of an inner demon in his heart, a dark seed planted by Shen Wu's devastating words.
Her cutting remarks had struck deeper than he cared to admit, and now they festered in his mind, threatening to take root. He couldn't help but examine himself, reflecting on his actions over the past year.
Questions swirled in his mind, each one more troubling than the last.
"How can I still remain a mortal when even the smallest child in the clan has at least reached the Spirit Condensation stage? Is there some hidden risk involved with my cultivation that bars Uncle Xiao from allowing me to cultivate? My physique… Could it be so complicated that it has crippled my spiritual foundation?" Xiao Ming's thoughts raced, a barrage of self-doubt and frustration.
