The wilderness was unforgiving. Thick, tangled trees blocked out the sky, and the underbrush was a chaotic mess of thorns and vines. Lei Chen moved through the dense forest with difficulty, his body still weak from his injuries. But he pressed on, driven by the burning desire to survive.
Days passed, each one blending into the next as Lei Chen struggled to find food and shelter. His once-strong body had withered, and his lack of cultivation made him vulnerable to the elements. Every step was a challenge, every breath a battle.
The nights were the worst. The sounds of predators echoed through the forest, and Lei Chen often found himself huddled beneath a tree, clutching a makeshift spear, hoping to survive until morning. His once-clear vision of reclaiming his honor had begun to blur under the weight of reality.
But even in the darkest moments, Lei Chen refused to give up. His hatred for the Lei Clan, for the elders who had cast him aside, fueled him. It kept him moving, kept him fighting.
On the fifth day, however, his body finally gave out.
Lei Chen collapsed onto the forest floor, his vision blurring as exhaustion and hunger took their toll. He had reached his limit. There was nothing left.
As he lay there, staring up at the canopy of trees, his mind drifted. Was this really how it would end? After everything he had been through, after all the pain and suffering… was this truly his fate?
No.
A voice echoed in the depths of his mind, cutting through the haze of despair.
You are not done.
Lei Chen's eyes widened as a strange sensation washed over him. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but there was something… something pulling at him.
With great effort, Lei Chen forced himself to sit up, his eyes scanning the area around him. At first, he saw nothing but the familiar sight of trees and foliage. But then, in the distance, he noticed something strange.
A cave.
It was hidden beneath a cluster of rocks and vines, barely visible unless one knew where to look. But Lei Chen felt drawn to it, as if some unseen force was guiding him.
Summoning the last of his strength, Lei Chen crawled toward the cave, his heart pounding in his chest. As he neared the entrance, he felt a strange warmth emanating from within. It was as if the very air inside the cave was charged with energy.
Panting heavily, Lei Chen dragged himself inside.
The cave was dark, the walls slick with moisture, but there was a faint glow coming from deeper within. Lei Chen's instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but he couldn't turn back now. Something awaited him in the depths of this cave—something that could change his fate.
He stumbled forward, his hands brushing against the rough stone walls. The deeper he went, the stronger the strange energy became, until it was almost suffocating.
Finally, he reached the source.
In the center of the cave was an ancient stone altar, covered in dust and cobwebs. And resting atop the altar was a scroll—its surface glowing faintly with a soft, golden light.
Lei Chen's breath caught in his throat. There was no mistaking it. This was no ordinary scroll.
It was a cultivation technique.
But not just any technique. As Lei Chen drew closer, he could feel the overwhelming power radiating from the scroll. It was as if the very air around it crackled with energy.
Trembling with anticipation, Lei Chen reached out to take the scroll. But just as his fingers brushed against its surface, a voice echoed through the cave.
"Who dares to claim the War God's inheritance?"
Lei Chen froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The voice was deep, ancient, and filled with power. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"State your name," the voice demanded.
Lei Chen swallowed hard, his mind racing. "I… I am Lei Chen."
There was a pause, and for a moment, Lei Chen thought he had imagined the voice. But then it spoke again, its tone even more imposing than before.
"Lei Chen… Do you believe yourself worthy of the War God's legacy?"