Li Xuan stepped out of the classroom, leaving Chen Yu and the confused stares of his classmates behind. The air outside felt a bit fresher, but his mind remained focused on the grand plans he was developing. Though campus life held no real interest for him, he still had to adapt for now, at least until his powers were fully restored.
"This place is so weak," he thought, glancing at the towering modern buildings around him. The chi was barely detectable, and there was no trace of spiritual aura anywhere. "I need more time," he muttered quietly.
As he walked down the hallway toward the campus exit, his pace slowed when he noticed a group of students gathered near the entrance. They were laughing and joking, with one of them, dressed in an expensive jacket, standing out from the others. It was Zhou Wei and Yang Mei, still talking about Li Xuan despite him already leaving the classroom.
Zhou Wei chuckled, his eyes gleaming with scorn.
"People like him don't belong here," he said to his friends.
Yang Mei smirked beside him, adding, "I wonder why he's still trying to stay here. Doesn't he realize he'll never succeed?"
Li Xuan continued walking, paying them no mind. Their insults and mockery didn't bother him at all. To Li Xuan, they were insignificant obstacles in his grand scheme.
However, Chen Yu, who caught up from behind, looked more awkward.
"Don't take it to heart, bro," he said softly, approaching Li Xuan. "They've always been like that. Just ignore them."
Li Xuan glanced at Chen Yu briefly, then looked straight ahead again.
"I don't care about them," he replied flatly.
Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief, then patted Li Xuan's shoulder enthusiastically.
"Good, don't let them get to you. Hey, let's grab lunch together! There's a new place near campus, and the food's great!"
Li Xuan didn't particularly care, but he followed Chen Yu to the campus cafeteria. Even though ordinary food wasn't his primary need, his new body still required nourishment. When they arrived at the cafeteria, it was bustling with students, all busy with their meals and light conversations.
Chen Yu chose a quieter corner, and they sat across from each other.
"You know, everyone's been asking about you. Professors, friends they're all wondering why you suddenly disappeared," Chen Yu said while scooping food from his plate.
Li Xuan listened without saying anything. To him, those people didn't matter. But he knew that to survive in this world, he had to maintain a semblance of normalcy. In the meantime, he was still figuring out how to find a stronger source of chi in this modern world.
"There might be places that still hold ancient power," he thought to himself. "I have to find them."
Chen Yu kept talking, recounting small things that had happened on campus during Li Xuan's absence. But Li Xuan's attention wasn't on the stories. His eyes scanned the cafeteria, observing every corner carefully, searching for any signs of spiritual energy.
After a moment, Chen Yu stopped talking and looked at Li Xuan more seriously.
"Li Xuan, you've really changed," he said in a lower tone. "I don't know what happened, but you're not the same as before."
Li Xuan glanced at Chen Yu briefly.
"People always change," he replied shortly.
Chen Yu chuckled lightly, though it sounded a bit awkward.
"Yeah, but your change is different. You used to be more relaxed. Now it's like you've got this heavy burden on your shoulders."
Li Xuan didn't respond further. He knew he needed to distance himself from his old friends, especially if he didn't want them to discover who he truly was. Though this body was once part of their lives, he was no longer the Li Xuan they knew.
After their meal, Li Xuan and Chen Yu left the cafeteria. The sun shone brightly over the campus courtyard, and students were enjoying their break. But Li Xuan felt increasingly detached from this environment. The world around him felt empty, a far cry from the power he once held.
As they walked toward their next class, the sound of hurried footsteps came from behind.
"Li Xuan! Wait a minute!" someone called out.
Li Xuan slowly turned around. It was Zhao Ling, approaching quickly with narrowed eyes full of suspicion.
"You've changed a lot," Zhao Ling said in a flat tone. "You weren't this cold before."
Li Xuan said nothing. He simply stared at Zhao Ling with a blank expression, devoid of emotion. Zhao Ling moved closer, seemingly trying to figure out what had truly happened to Li Xuan.
"You seem like a completely different person," she continued, her voice softer this time. "What really happened?"
Chen Yu, standing beside Li Xuan, looked confused by the question. But Li Xuan wasn't interested in explaining. He just wanted to get through the day without unnecessary interruptions.
"This isn't your business," Li Xuan replied coldly.
Zhao Ling sighed but didn't seem surprised by the answer.
"Yeah, I didn't think you'd answer," she said before walking away, leaving the two of them alone.
Chen Yu looked at Li Xuan, still puzzled.
"Why does everyone think you've changed?" he asked, shaking his head.
Li Xuan only glanced at Chen Yu briefly, then continued walking. He didn't care what people thought. What mattered to him was regaining his power and finding places that still held remnants of spiritual energy in this world.
As the afternoon wore on, the campus began to quiet down. Li Xuan left the classroom building and walked toward the campus gate. In his mind, he continued planning his next steps. The temple he had found was only the beginning. He was certain there were other places in the city that held even greater power.
But suddenly, he sensed something unusual. A faint energy seemed to be emanating from somewhere nearby. Although it was very weak, Li Xuan could feel it clearly. It was chi, albeit in a small amount.
Li Xuan paused, focusing on the source of the energy.
"What is this?" he thought, feeling intrigued.
Without hesitation, he decided to follow the direction of the chi. His steps were quick but cautious. The energy was coming from the city park, not far from campus.
When he arrived at the park, it was quiet. There weren't many people around just a few students sitting on benches or walking leisurely. But Li Xuan wasn't interested in them. His focus was entirely on the chi that was growing stronger as he approached.
He followed the flow of energy until he reached a secluded corner of the park, near a large, ancient tree. The tree looked different from the others its trunk was thick and wide, with roots protruding from the ground. A faint spiritual energy seemed to be emanating from within the tree.
"This is it," Li Xuan muttered, narrowing his eyes.
He stepped closer to the tree, standing still in front of it as he felt the gentle flow of chi coming from its roots. While the energy wasn't strong enough to restore his power, it was a clue that other places in the city might still hold more significant strength.
"This isn't enough, but it's a good start," he thought.
Li Xuan looked up at the darkening sky before deciding to return to campus. He had found a clue, and that meant his next steps were becoming clearer.