[Child of Fortune: Arov, will you make a promise to me?]
Arov frowned, his expression clearly showing discomfort. Sweat poured down his body.
"What?"
[Child of Fortune: You must be strong. I know that mentally, you are the strongest. But when the day comes that you lose someone precious, you must remain steadfast, okay?]
Arov's instincts screamed loudly, but he suppressed them.
"Alright, I promise."
[Child of Fortune: I accept your promise.]
Arov focused back on what was happening before him.
He tried to stabilize the chaotic energy surging through his body.
These energies seemed intent on breaking through to a specific place, and Arov struggled to restrain them.
The Yin and Yang energies were heading straight for the meridians.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have tried to stop them and would have welcomed the opening of his meridians.
But now, the two energies seemed to roar wildly, almost madly. If he couldn't control them, death awaited him.
"Damn it, the manual didn't say anything about this!"
Arov gritted his teeth hard.
He tried to follow the path the energies seemed to demand.
Their destination: the 12 principal meridians!
The Yin and Yang energies surged toward Arov's heart, led primarily by the Yin energy.
The heart is often regarded as the control center for other organs, the seat of emotions, and even the mind's core.
Now, Arov's heart was experiencing intense turmoil.
A searing heat and piercing cold invaded, making him feel like vomiting blood.
I can feel it. There's fire inside me.
Ba-dump!
He also sensed something deeper within his heart, as if it had expanded to span several miles!
The scorching hot and icy flames were burning Arov's heart.
"Argh!"
His consciousness nearly slipped away.
The Devil Change kept trying to heal the burning heart, but Arov stopped it.
This was an important process.
I'll take the gamble this time.
Whether life or death, I've faced countless threats before. One more won't make a difference.
Arov's heart burned completely, and just as he believed he was on the brink of death—
Ba-dump!
I'm still alive.
The fire consuming his heart began repairing the heart's cellular tissues.
The powerful Yang energy spread throughout Arov's organs.
The heart, the body's source of warmth and essential for blood circulation, now circulated not just blood but also pure Yang energy as hot as fire, revitalizing Arov's entire body.
The next meridian closest to the heart was the lung meridian.
Arov had a few guesses about what he might gain from opening it.
He guided the stabilized energy toward the lung meridian, breaking through in one swift motion.
With every breath, he felt a unique freshness, unlike anything before.
It was as if a lump of tension that had clung to his chest for twenty years had dissolved.
He also noticed his movements were now even faster with the opening of this meridian.
Reflexes that were already inhuman were enhanced further.
"Hm? What is this…"
As Arov inhaled, a gentle and benevolent energy tried to enter his lungs.
Arov's body and even his soul shuddered violently, as though experiencing an overwhelming sense of ecstasy.
When this energy entered Arov's body, he wanted to moan but held himself back.
"This… This is life energy!"
Arov was astonished.
He realized his lifespan had slightly increased.
Maybe by two hours?
But this joy was fleeting, as the life energy soon seemed to vanish without a trace.
Arov quickly identified the issue.
If you think about it, many comics and novels depict the need for a breathing technique as a method to efficiently absorb and store such energy.
Tsk tsk tsk, I really am a genius.
Arov slowly took a deep breath.
The air in the training room stilled in an instant, as though experiencing spatial stagnation.
"Hmm, what name should I give this technique?"
Looking around, Arov noticed that the life energy he absorbed seemed to slowly benefit his surroundings.
Even small sprouts grew from the cracks in the training room floor.
"I'll name it—"
[Congratulations! You have learned the skill "Nature's Breath."]
"…."
Arov squinted his eyes, harboring a murderous intent toward the system.
But he simply sighed and continued his cultivation.
[Don't be surprised; that's its actual name.]
"Does that mean someone else has learned it before?"
[Yes.]
Arov wasn't shocked to hear this. After all, it was just a simple breathing technique. Surely others must have learned it first.
Arov continued focusing on opening his meridians, unaware of the dangers this might bring…
***
Above the Universe.
Beyond the Multiverse.
Beyond the infinite branches.
There lies a world perched atop the lush, majestic tree of existence.
Shan Hai Qiuyuan World, a realm whose origins predate creation itself.
This is the home of mythical beasts, legends, and even gods.
It is a place of unparalleled beauty, with serene rivers winding through towering mountains.
Exotic creatures thrive, feeding on the bountiful fruits growing along the riverbanks.
This land is paradise—a tranquil haven of beauty, sustained by the Guardians.
Long ago, this world was consumed by unending chaos wrought by horrifying entities.
Deep within a verdant valley stood a modest house made entirely of plant roots.
Inside was a bed bathed in warm sunlight.
A breathtakingly beautiful woman, whose beauty was unmatched in all realms of existence, lay resting peacefully.
Her fair skin, paired with long, slender legs that resembled radiant jade, and her elegant fingers and toes complemented her captivating eyelashes that could enchant any man.
At this moment, the woman stirred awake, her thoughts and awareness seemingly traversing countless realities within the tree of existence.
Finally, her consciousness descended upon a certain insignificant blue world at the edge of the universe.
That world was Arma.
There, she observed Arov, engrossed in unlocking his meridians.
Sensing the gaze, Arov glanced around, puzzled, as if searching for something.
The woman remained silent and withdrew her consciousness.
The peaceful silence of her modest home returned once more.
***
Deep within the unknown expanse of Shan Hai Qiuyuan World, where space and time are distorted to extreme degrees...
The layers of space and time in Shan Hai Qiuyuan World are entirely different from the outside world. Although this world exists on a higher hierarchy, it doesn't mean it aligns with the space and time of lower-tier worlds.
Here, the sun appears warped, glowing with an intense crimson hue that burns into one's vision.
Mountains stretch like melted paintings, dripping downward from their peaks, leaving no trace of dust behind.
Elsewhere, an enormous beast towers over all the mountains.
Its colossal body makes the surrounding peaks look like mere pebbles scattered across a road.
The giant bear roars.
ROAAAR!
The deafening roar shatters mountains and rivers alike.
The terrifying sonic blast briefly blocks out the blazing heat of the distorted sun.
The sun retaliates, firing an intense laser beam so hot it warps the surrounding space.
The beam slams into the massive bear's body, only further enraging the creature.
Nearby mountains rise and swell as if bending to the bear's will.
From behind the sun, a figure cloaked in flames spreads the fire outward, forming a massive protective shield.
The collision of their forces plunges the realm into utter chaos.
Not far from this battleground, a magnificent ocean sparkling with starlight evaporates.
This act awakens a being slumbering within its depths.
The awakened creature emerges—a sea dragon whose every scale reflects a mesmerizing oceanic glow.
The dragon rises into the air and unleashes a water-elemental breath, aiming it at the crimson sun and the raging bear below.
It doesn't take long before all three titanic beings engage in an all-out battle.
The surrounding lands are obliterated by their clash.
Meanwhile, a humanoid figure lounging in a rocking chair is struck by debris from the chaos.
Still seated, the humanoid watches as the incoming rocks shatter into dust before even touching them.
Their expression reveals deep anger.
With a burst of speed faster than light, the humanoid launches into the fray, striking each of the three beasts one by one.
|Can't you all behave yourselves for once?|
The humanoid's will alone spreads devastation, toppling mountains and reshaping the landscape.
|Kuhahaha! Why don't you join us in the fight, ;#:$&#-&#?|
#::$:#;: retorts with amusement.
|I'm not as foolish as you. Haven't you noticed it yet? #-&#:$&#@ is starting to awaken. You know what must be done, don't you?|
The eyes of the three creatures blink in unison, their demeanor shifting to one of caution as they process the humanoid's words.
|The Creator Seed. Is it truly awakening?|
|We've long endured oppression from Him. We must prevent His return, no matter the cost|
|Those foolish Guardians. They have no idea of the looming threat…|
The massive bear covered in rocky armor speaks up.
|-#&#'sg, should we warn the Guardians?|
The humanoid replies with a grim tone.
|No. Who would believe prisoners like us? Our authority has been stripped away entirely—we can't do anything about this|
The humanoid speaks with melancholy, their gaze heavy with sorrow as they look at the three creatures.
|But I still have ways to kill Him. Leave it to me. And don't cause any more chaos, or I'll punish you for a century|
|Fine, we'll abide by your wishes,| they respond.
***
"Hish… What is this strange feeling?"
Arov's entire body trembled, making him wonder if he had suddenly caught the flu.
"It's nothing… Besides, I've already obtained what matters most."
Arov grinned, uncertain of how to articulate the sensation coursing through him.
[Congratulations! You have awakened a new Trait: Symphony of Elemental Harmony.]
---
Hi guys, this is DE. Sorry for late Chapter, in this 2 days, I'm in a situation where I have to think about the whole plot and remake everything to make it better and more perfect. And thx for today. Please moar vote. Bye~~~
1633 Word.