As the night deepened, the mansion stood in serene stillness, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. Outside, the vast expanse of the sky stretched overhead, a sea of stars twinkling in the darkness, each one a distant beacon of ancient light. Old Man Feng, standing in the quiet of the garden, felt the cool breeze brush against his face. Despite the tranquility, there was an unmistakable tension in the air, a kind of energy that seemed to hum just beneath the surface.
He recalled Yi Chang's instructions from earlier in the evening: to cultivate under the stars, allowing the celestial energy to flow directly into him. Though he had his doubts—cultivating in such a specific manner was foreign to most martial artists—Old Man Feng knew better than to question Yi Chang's orders. The young master possessed an understanding far beyond his own, and whatever Yi Chang's intentions, Old Man Feng trusted in their significance.
As he settled into a meditative stance on the soft grass, Old Man Feng closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. The silence of the night wrapped around him, and he began to channel his internal qi, drawing upon the techniques Yi Chang had shared.
Slowly, the air around him began to shift. A gentle pull, like a magnetic force, seemed to extend from the heavens, reaching down toward him. Tiny specks of starlight flickered in the sky, and one by one, they began to move, as though drawn to his presence. The stars themselves appeared to dim, their light flowing toward Old Man Feng, forming streams of ethereal energy that descended toward the earth.
The starlight shimmered as it gathered around him, swirling like a galaxy in miniature. He could feel the weight of their power pressing against his skin, permeating his very being. These tiny motes of light, no larger than grains of sand, drifted toward him like falling snowflakes, but instead of touching the ground, they were drawn directly to his body.
Old Man Feng inhaled deeply, allowing the starlight to enter through his pores, the energy filtering into his meridians and spiraling toward his dantian. The sensation was unlike anything he had felt before—both invigorating and soothing at once. His qi swelled, and his body seemed to hum with the power of the celestial energy he was absorbing.
Inside the mansion, Yi Chang sat cross-legged in his dimly lit room. The quiet of the night was unbroken, save for the rhythmic sound of his breath. His eyes were closed, but his mind was sharp, attuned to the flow of spiritual qi surrounding him. The room was saturated with the energy, drawn from the earth itself and channeled into his body with precision and focus.
Yi Chang's dantian glowed faintly as the qi circulated within him, spiraling in complex patterns before being compressed and transformed. The energy he absorbed was no ordinary qi; it was the essence of the cosmos-chaos qi, an energy that accepted and transcended all forms of qi, allowing him to harness power from every element of existence. This unique energy, born from the mysteries of his cultivation technique, gave him an edge far beyond that of ordinary cultivators.
He had reached the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm some time ago, but now he was on the verge of breaking through to the next stage: the Meridian Passage Stage. His body had been primed for this moment for days, his meridians pulsing with the energy he had accumulated.
The air in the room thickened as Yi Chang concentrated, guiding the qi through his body with deliberate intent. His meridians strained under the pressure of the energy, but he continued to push, knowing that the breakthrough required him to open the first of his major meridian passages.
With a sudden surge, the qi struck against the barrier of his meridians, seeking release. Yi Chang's eyes snapped open, and a bright light flashed within his pupils as his dantian pulsed with energy. In a moment of pure focus, he directed the force of the qi toward the blockage, willing the passage to open.
There was a brief moment of resistance, and then—a sudden release. The energy exploded through his meridian, like a floodgate opening after being held back for too long. The sensation was intense, a rush of power coursing through his body as the first meridian passage was opened, and Yi Chang ascended to the Meridian Passage Stage.
He could feel the difference immediately. The flow of energy was smoother, more efficient, and the qi within his body moved with newfound ease. But he didn't stop there. With the barrier broken, Yi Chang pressed forward, pushing the limits of his cultivation even further. He channeled more energy into his meridians, guiding it through the newly opened passage and compressing it within his dantian.
As the qi swirled and gathered in his core, he felt the distinct presence of something else within him—a foreign yet familiar force. The egg. It pulsed with life, its energy intertwined with his own, feeding off the power he absorbed and amplifying it.
Yi Chang's mind sharpened as he focused on the egg, sensing its growth alongside his own. Its life force was increasing, growing stronger with each pulse of energy. The egg wasn't just a dormant presence within him—it was actively contributing to his cultivation, enhancing his ability to absorb and refine qi.
Without hesitation, Yi Chang pushed himself further, drawing in more qi and channeling it through his meridians. His body, already accustomed to the process, responded with ease as the energy flowed smoothly. In quick succession, he broke through the next two stages of the Meridian Passage, advancing into the 3rd Stage with startling efficiency.
He marveled at the rapid progress, knowing full well that this level of advancement was far beyond what most cultivators could achieve in such a short time. The egg had amplified his abilities, allowing him to progress at a rate that defied the limitations of the lower plane he now found himself on.
Yet even as he reveled in his newfound strength, Yi Chang couldn't shake the lingering question that had plagued him since his arrival on this plane. How had he, a being of the Endless World, descended to such a place? Earth's spiritual qi was weak, barely sufficient for proper cultivation, and the resources available here were pitiful compared to those of higher realms.
The egg within him pulsed again, its energy thrumming in sync with his thoughts. It was as if the egg itself held answers—answers that Yi Chang was not yet ready to uncover. For now, he would focus on the present. He had broken through to the 3rd Stage of the Meridian Passage, and his cultivation had never been stronger.
But the mysteries surrounding his arrival on Earth, and the role the egg played in his journey, were questions that would need to be answered.