Feng Chen whistled, his eyes running over the endless list of treasures he had accumulated.
"I've got enough resources here to make any sect envious," he said with a grin.
"All this power... and it's all mine."
"This is insane," Feng Chen said, unable to contain his excitement.
"With all this, I could break through multiple realms without any trouble."
Satisfied with his inventory, Feng Chen stood up, stretching his legs.
"But before I do anything with these treasures," he muttered,
"I need some fresh air. It's been fifteen years... I should take a look outside."
With that, Feng Chen walked out of the cave, blinking as the bright sunlight hit his eyes. The forest was just as he remembered... lush, vibrant, and alive with the sounds of nature. The world outside didn't seem to have changed much, but Feng Chen knew he was different.
He wandered over to the lake nearby, feeling the cool breeze against his skin.
As Feng Chen approached the water's edge, he caught a glimpse of his reflection and froze. His long, white hair flowed down his back like a cascade of snow, and his once-dark eyes had turned into an intense cerulean, glowing with a mysterious light.
A mark... a shimmering Cerulean Rune... had appeared on his forehead, intricate and otherworldly, glowing faintly even in the daylight.
For a moment, Feng Chen simply stared at his reflection in disbelief. His fingers trembled as he reached up to touch his hair, his face, and finally the strange mark on his forehead.
"What… what is this?" he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and shock.
"Am I… am I even me anymore?"
His fingers combed through his long white hair, confirming that it was indeed his. No wig, no illusion... it was real. Feng Chen's heart raced as he studied his face in the water. His features had sharpened, his jawline stronger, his skin flawless, and his eyes… they were mesmerizing, like the depths of the ocean.
A sudden wave of panic hit him.
"W-Wait! Did I age?!" he cried, grabbing at his face with both hands.
"Did I… did I become an old saggy man?!"
He frantically checked for wrinkles, sagging skin, or any other signs of aging. His heart pounded in his chest as his fingers moved over his face. But as he examined himself more closely, the panic started to subside.
He realized, to his immense relief, that he hadn't aged at all. In fact, he looked better than ever... his body hadn't aged a day beyond the 15-year-old boy he was when he first entered seclusion. Physically, he was still as youthful as ever, but now… with a touch of the divine.
He let out a long sigh, half in relief and half in disbelief.
"Thank heavens," he muttered.
"I'm not some old man after all." A smile slowly spread across his face as he admired his reflection.
"I've actually… leveled up in the looks department. Damn, I look good."
Feng Chen straightened up, his confidence swelling as he studied his reflection. The cerulean mark on his forehead glowed faintly, a mark of the power that now resided within him. His long white hair added an air of mystery, making him look like a character out of a legendary story. He couldn't help but grin.
"Not bad," he said with a smirk, flipping his hair back dramatically.
"I look like one of those immortal cultivators you read about in the stories… and honestly, even the gods must be jealous."
With a final glance at his reflection, Feng Chen turned away from the lake and looked up at the sky. Fifteen years had passed in the blink of an eye, and yet, nothing in the world seemed to have changed... except him.
He had grown stronger, smarter, and more powerful than he had ever imagined. The world outside his cave was still waiting for him, but now, he was no longer the weak, mocked boy he had once been.
"Fifteen years…" Feng Chen murmured as he gazed up at the vast blue sky.
"I've spent fifteen years in seclusion, and now it's time to see what the world has in store for me."
His cerulean eyes gleamed with excitement as he imagined what lay ahead. His power had grown exponentially, his cultivation had surged, and his weapons were waiting to be unleashed. The world had no idea what was coming.
"Alright, world," Feng Chen said softly, his voice filled with excitement and a hint of mischief.
"I'm back. And this time… I'm taking everything."
With a confident stride, Feng Chen turned back toward his cave. His mind raced with plans for his next steps. He had resources to burn, cultivation realms to conquer, and weapons to awaken. But for now, he would take it one step at a time. The world was vast, and his journey was only just beginning.
As he walked back into the cave, he couldn't help but feel a surge of energy coursing through his veins. The transformation, the power, the growth... it had all brought him to this moment. And now, the world would have to face the consequences of underestimating him.
With one last smirk, Feng Chen chuckled to himself.
"Let's see if the heavens are ready for what's coming next."
And with that, Feng Chen disappeared back into his cave, his mind already focused on the challenges that lay ahead.