Chapter 1: The Awakening
Lan Yu was a young man who had always dreamed of becoming a cultivator. He admired the heroes and legends of the cultivation world, who could fly in the sky, control the elements, and fight against demons and monsters. He wanted to follow their footsteps and reach the peak of power and glory.
But he was born in a poor and remote village, where cultivation resources were scarce and opportunities were rare. His parents were ordinary farmers who could barely afford to feed him and his younger sister. He had no talent or aptitude for cultivation, and no one to guide him or teach him. He could only rely on some old books and scrolls that he found in the village library, which were mostly incomplete or damaged.
He practiced diligently every day, hoping to awaken his spiritual root and start his cultivation journey. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not sense any trace of spiritual energy in his body or in his surroundings. He felt like he was trapped in a cage of flesh and blood, unable to break free.
He did not give up, though. He believed that as long as he persevered, he would eventually succeed. He had a strong will and a kind heart, which earned him the respect and affection of his fellow villagers. He also had a loyal friend, Li Wei, who shared his passion for cultivation and supported him in his endeavors.
One night, when Lan Yu was 16 years old, he decided to sneak out of his house and go to the nearby forest. He had heard that there was a mysterious cave in the forest, where some ancient relics and treasures might be hidden. He thought that maybe he could find something useful for his cultivation there.
He took a torch and a backpack with him, and quietly left his house. He did not tell anyone about his plan, not even Li Wei. He did not want to involve anyone else in his risky adventure.
He walked through the dark and silent forest, following a faint trail that he had discovered earlier. He soon reached the entrance of the cave, which was hidden by some vines and rocks. He pushed them aside and entered the cave.
The cave was dark and damp, with a musty smell. Lan Yu lit his torch and looked around. He saw some stalactites and stalagmites on the walls and ceiling, some bones and skulls on the ground, and some bats hanging from above. He felt a chill run down his spine, but he did not turn back.
He walked deeper into the cave, hoping to find something valuable or interesting. He did not notice that some of the bats had woken up from their slumber and were following him with their red eyes.
After walking for about half an hour, he reached a large chamber in the cave. There was a stone altar in the center of the chamber, with a black coffin on top of it. The coffin was covered with dust and cobwebs, but it also had some strange symbols carved on it.
Lan Yu felt a surge of curiosity and excitement. He approached the altar and examined the coffin. He wondered what was inside it, and who had put it there.
He reached out his hand to touch the coffin lid, but before he could do so, he heard a loud screech behind him.
He turned around quickly and saw dozens of bats flying towards him from all directions. They had sharp teeth and claws, and they looked hungry and angry.
Lan Yu was shocked and scared. He realized that he had disturbed their nest, and they were attacking him as intruders.
He tried to run away from them, but it was too late. They surrounded him and bit him all over his body. He felt a sharp pain in his neck, chest, arms, legs... everywhere.
He screamed in agony, but no one heard him. He dropped his torch and backpack on the ground, as blood gushed out of his wounds.
He fell to his knees, then collapsed on the floor. His vision blurred, his hearing faded, his consciousness dimmed.
He thought he was going to die.
But he did not die.
Instead... he awakened.