"What…"
"Where am I?"
Lin Mei's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred by sleep and confusion.
Her mind struggled to piece together her surroundings, which were far removed from the ruins and desolation she had come to expect.
The ceiling above her was an unexpected sight—a pristine white expanse adorned with a grand chandelier. Crystals hung in shimmering clusters, casting fragmented beams of light across the room.
The room was softly lit, the chandelier's glow mixing with the gentle illumination of modern lamps. This was a far cry from the wreckage of the world outside.
Lin Mei's eyes adjusted to the dim light, and she noticed the details of the room more clearly. She was lying on a comfortable sofa bed, its cushions plush and inviting.
The walls were painted soft beige, lined with tasteful artwork that had somehow survived the apocalypse. The room had a touch of familiarity and normalcy that seemed almost surreal in the context of the world's decay.
Her daughter, Xiao Ling, was nestled beside her on the sofa bed, sleeping soundly. Xiao Ling's face was serene, a small, innocent smile playing on her lips, a stark contrast to the harshness of their reality.
Lin Mei's heart ached with a mix of relief and concern as she looked at her daughter.
Beside them, Li Shen sat in a meditative lotus position on a cushion. His posture was a blend of grace and power, his eyes closed in deep concentration.
Li Shen's appearance was a striking contrast to the serene setting they now found themselves in. The room, with its warm light and comforting decor, seemed almost surreal against the backdrop of his bloodied and torn clothes.
Each rip in his attire and every dark stain of blood told a story of the fierce battles he had fought. His clothes, once pristine and strong, were now a testament to the violence and chaos he had endured.
Despite the grime and gore staining his garments, Li Shen's aura exuded a faint, otherworldly glow.
This ethereal radiance was a manifestation of the cosmic powers he wielded, a shimmering light that seemed to pulse with inner energy, providing a stark contrast to the disheveled state of his clothes.
The aura was both mesmerizing and comforting, a subtle reminder of the incredible force that lay beneath his battered exterior.
For Lin Mei, the sight of Li Shen's bloodied figure alongside her tattered clothing served as a powerful reminder of the reality they faced.
The pristine normalcy of the room, with its plush sofa and elegant chandelier, was a fleeting reprieve from the madness that had overtaken their world.
The contrast between the room's tranquility and their disheveled states underscored the harsh truth: their current safety was but a temporary sanctuary amidst a world that had spiraled into chaos.
Every detail—the bloodied clothes, the faint cosmic glow, and the serene setting—painted a vivid picture of their precarious situation.
This moment of calm, though precious, was a brief and fragile interlude in a world that had been turned upside down.
Lin Mei's heart ached with the weight of this realization, understanding that their brief respite was not an escape from the madness but a necessary pause to gather strength and prepare for the challenges that lay ahead.
Li Shen's focus was split between monitoring Lin Mei's condition and delving into the depths of his newfound cosmic powers. However, it would be correct to say, that most of his inner focus was on his newfound powers, his divine cosmic qi.
...…..
The energy surrounding Li Shen was a living, breathing entity in its own right. It shimmered with an otherworldly luminance, casting an ethereal glow that flickered and danced in harmony with his slow, deliberate breaths.
The air around him seemed to pulse with a resonant hum, each vibration a subtle testament to the cosmic power he was channeling. This rhythmic oscillation created a soothing yet otherworldly atmosphere, almost as if the very fabric of reality was responding to his focus.
Li Shen was deeply immersed in the art of harnessing this cosmic energy. His concentration was absolute, his mind a conduit for the immense and intangible forces at play.
The cosmic energy he manipulated formed an intricate protective shield around the building, a barrier of luminous energy that pulsed with a steady, protective rhythm.
This shield was not merely an abstract force; it was a tangible manifestation of his will and power, a radiant cocoon safeguarding them from the threats outside.
As he delved into the depths of his inner cosmic qi, Li Shen explored a realm far beyond the limits of his previous experiences. The cosmic qi he now wielded had completely eclipsed the hard-earned reserves of qi he had accumulated over countless lifetimes in the Murim world.
This new form of energy was profound and elusive, existing in a state that defied conventional understanding. Unlike the more familiar qi of the mortal realm, cosmic qi was not bound by earthly constraints; it was as boundless and unfathomable as the stars themselves.
The only way to draw upon this cosmic essence was through the void that stretched above the mortal plane.
To replenish and refine his cosmic qi, Li Shen drew upon the celestial expanse, metaphorically consuming the stars to restore his energy reserves. This process was not just a replenishment but a profound communion with the cosmos, an integration of the celestial with the terrestrial.
Each intake of cosmic energy felt like absorbing the essence of the universe itself, a process both invigorating and humbling. This celestial interaction was a testament to the boundless nature of cosmic qi, a force that transcended the limits of the mortal experience.
It became increasingly clear to Li Shen why the Constellation Demon God exuded an aura of such formidable power. The Demon God's strength wasn't merely a result of raw force or brute power; it stemmed from an unparalleled mastery over cosmic energies.
The essence of his might lay in his ability to harness and replenish cosmic power through the infinite expanse of stars that spanned across the void.
In the grand tapestry of the universe, the Demon God was a master weaver, drawing upon the boundless reservoir of celestial light and energy.