After the room emptied, leaving behind only the distant echoes of his so called relatives' departure, Yi Chang stood in the silent expanse of his room, the weight of recent events lingering in the air. The sun was beginning to set outside, casting a golden hue that filtered through the curtains and painted the room in shades of amber. He returned upstairs to his bedroom. The luxurious furnishings felt hollow, meaningless, compared to the deeper calling that resonated within him.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Yi Chang closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, letting the calmness of meditation settle over him. His thoughts turned inward, focusing on the technique he had been so eager to try since his return to this lower earthen plane—the Chaos-Cosmos Coherent Cultivation Technique. This was no ordinary cultivation technique. It was his creation, birthed from the deepest mysteries of the universe itself.
As he delved deeper into his dantian, he felt the spiritual qi of the world stir around him. Though, it was faint, almost laughably weak too weak even for a low level spiritual plane compared to the Endless World's abundance, yet it responded to him. He began drawing it through his meridians, guiding the flow with practiced precision. The qi was get compressed and transforming the moment it reached his dantian, converting into something far more potent—cosmos-chaos qi.
This new qi was unlike anything he had ever encountered before, even in the Endless World. There, as a child of heaven, he had been able to absorb any form of qi—be it elemental, chaotic, or divine. But this...this was different. The cosmos-chaos qi accepted every form of energy and seems like it could be transformed into any form of energy, merging and refining it into a purer state of existence, a limitless potential that extended beyond the boundaries of what even the heavens allowed.
In this moment of realization, Yi Chang could feel the essence of his new identity. He was no longer simply a reincarnated soul or a previous child of heaven. He was an existence born from non-existence and a non-existence from existence—an entity that transcended the limitations of the universe something he doesn't truly understand. This paradoxical nature made him something neither Heaven nor Earth could fully contain.
As the flow of spiritual qi intensified, Yi Chang's body began vibrating with energy, and the barriers of the Qi Gathering Realm shattered. He could feel the surge of power signifying his entry into Stage 1—a significant step in reclaiming his former glory. The Qi Gathering Realm was the first true stage of cultivation, where a cultivator would start drawing in qi from the environment, storing it within their dantian. It was a delicate process—each cultivator had to refine and circulate the qi through their meridians, slowly strengthening both the body and the meridians.
Stage 1 was just the beginning. As one progressed, from Stage 1 to Stage 9, the cultivator's capacity to hold qi grew, and each stage brought with it an enhancement in the cultivator's physical body. The meridians would gradually be fortified, capable of handling purer and more concentrated qi. By the time one reached Stage 9, the dantian would be an enough reservoir of spiritual qi to build a foundation on which greater cultivation realms could be built.
The qi in this world was pathetic. It trickled into him like a meager stream, barely enough to sustain even the weakest cultivator. He furrowed his brows, his expression darkening slightly. "If it weren't for my experience and my unique technique," he mused inwardly, "cultivating in this lower earthen plane would be impossible. No wonder this world has no cultivators, even if there is, they would probably never be able to breakthrough from qi gathering. There simply isn't enough qi to support them."
Though this lower plane offered him little, it also gave him the perfect place to grow unnoticed. And with the cosmos-chaos qi coursing through him, he had no doubts about eventually surpassing his former self. Especially now that he's free from the child of heaven identity.
As the feeling of qi surged within him, Yi Chang's thoughts began to drift to the distant memories of his previous life. In the Endless World, he had never known the struggle of the lower stages of cultivation. From birth, his destiny though restrained had been marked by greatness—born with a Yin-Yang Breaking level of cultivation, a realm far beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. He had never had to experience the painstaking process of slowly gathering qi or refining meridians. The heavenly dao had blessed him with a body that naturally absorbed all forms of qi, elevating him to godlike heights before he could even understand what cultivation truly meant.
His early days had been filled with awe from those around him, elders and sect leaders bowing to his innate talents. He had been revered, feared, and seen as the so called destined child of heaven of the endless world. But that had been both his blessing and his curse.
"I never had to experience the struggles of a beginner," Yi Chang reflected, the memories vivid yet distant. "No qi gathering, no meridian cleansing... my path was set from the beginning." In this life, things were different. He was no longer the child of heaven, born into greatness. This time, he had to claw his way up, from the very bottom.
A faint smile crept onto his lips as he meditated, feeling the cosmos-chaos qi flow more naturally now. It made the journey richer, forcing him to rely on not just his talent, but his knowledge and experience.
"I never appreciated the lower stages before. But now... I see their purpose," he mused. The Qi Gathering Realm, while insignificant compared to his previous power, had a certain elegance. It was a stage that required patience, precision, and persistence. Cultivators of this realm had to understand their limits, carefully nurture their bodies, and build a solid foundation. Without these steps, reaching the heavens was impossible.
Yet, Yi Chang was different. He was no ordinary cultivator, and even this lower realm, this weakened lower spiritual plane, would not be enough to stop him. His cosmos-chaos qi, his new identity, and his knowledge of the cultivation process gave him an advantage far beyond the comprehension of anyone in this world.
Just as Yi Chang's mind wandered through the memories of his past, a sudden knock on the door pulled him back to the present. He opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and clear, yet there was a calmness about him as he released a breath.
"Come in," Yi Chang called out.
The door creaked open, revealing Old Man Feng, his expression concerned but also hesitant. The old steward had been with the family for as long as Yi Chang could remember, always loyal and diligent. He stepped inside cautiously, closing the door behind him as he approached.
"Young Master Yi," Old Man Feng began, his voice filled with a mix of care and worry. "I came to check on you. After everything that happened today... I wanted to make sure you're alright."
Yi Chang offered a small nod, his expression neutral, though there was a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "I'm fine, Old Man Feng. There's no need to worry."
Old Man Feng sighed deeply before continuing. "I've been thinking about what happened with your uncle, Yi Fan. Young Master, you've been tricked. Your uncle's intentions were never pure, and now that you've sold your shares, there's no going back. Néngyuán Games was your father's legacy. It belonged to you."
Yi Chang remained silent, listening calmly as the old man went on.
"There are still things we can do. I can get in contact with some of your father's friends—people of influence, people who can help you legally. There's still a chance to reclaim your shares, but you'll need to act fast. We can fight this in court. You don't have to give up so easily."
Old Man Feng's words were sincere, his concern evident in every word. He had watched over Yi Chang since he was a child, and now, seeing him sell off his inheritance, he couldn't help but feel responsible for guiding him.
Yi Chang's lips curled slightly, an amused smile crossing his face. "Old Man Feng, I appreciate your sincerity, truly. You've always looked out for me, and I can see that you're trying to protect me. But you misunderstand."
The old man looked puzzled. "Misunderstand? Young Master, what do you mean?"
Yi Chang leaned back slightly, his voice calm but resolute. "I know my uncle's intentions. I'm fully aware of what Yi Fan is trying to do. But I sold the shares intentionally. That five million I got from the sale? It's just the beginning."
Old Man Feng's eyes widened in shock. "But why? Néngyuán Games is worth far more than that. You could have fought to keep your position, to protect your father's legacy!"
Yi Chang chuckled softly. "Legacy? No, Old Man Feng. I have no intention of holding onto Néngyuán Games. What I have in mind is far bigger. With that money, I'll start something greater, something that will overshadow my uncle's ambitions entirely."
He stood up, walking toward the window, gazing out at the fading sunlight. "I'm returning to Shanghai. Back to ZA University. There's more for me to do there, and I need to be in the right place to begin. Besides..." He turned to face the old man, his expression softening slightly. "This mansion will be empty soon. I want you to come with me."
Old Man Feng blinked, surprised. "Come with you, Young Master?"
"Yes," Yi Chang confirmed. "You've been loyal to my family all these years, and I trust you. There's no point in staying here anymore. This mansion will just be empty with nothing to do, and the company no longer belong to us. But I want you to be part of what I'm building. Something far beyond what you could imagine. Will you join me?"
Old Man Feng hesitated for a moment, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend what Yi Chang was proposing. Leaving the mansion, abandoning the familiar life he had known for decades—it was a daunting thought. But looking at the young master standing before him, there was something in Yi Chang's eyes, a spark of determination that was unlike anything he had seen before. It was as if the boy he had known had been replaced by someone far more powerful, someone who had a vision that stretched beyond the present.
"I... I will follow you, Young Master," Old Man Feng finally said, bowing his head slightly in deference. "Wherever you go, I will be there."
Yi Chang nodded, his expression softening even more. "Good. Then let's prepare. We'll leave for Shanghai soon, and once we're there... the real work will begin and I will be expecting a lots from you"