The clearing was serene, the tranquility broken only by the faint hum of energy emanating from the pseudo-spiritual vein. Liang Chen knelt beside it, his movements slow and precise as he adjusted the formation inscribed into the earth. Threads of energy shimmered faintly under his fingers, their delicate patterns weaving through the soil like threads in an intricate tapestry.
The pseudo-vein pulsed faintly, its light steady but fragile. Liang Chen's gaze narrowed as he observed its structure, his keen eyes catching subtle fluctuations in its rhythm. Though far from a true spiritual vein, its stability had improved noticeably in recent days, allowing for a slightly stronger flow of Qi. With careful deliberation, he extended a hand, his palm hovering just above the vein's light. A soft hum filled the air as he guided its energy into a deliberate cycle through his body.
The Qi, faint as it was, moved sluggishly through his meridians, barely enough to stir his dantian. Yet Liang Chen's expression remained calm, even satisfied. On this barren Earth, every step forward was a victory.
"Hold steady," he murmured, his voice barely audible above the soft hum of the vein.
Around him, the clearing bore subtle signs of transformation. The shrubs closest to the vein shimmered faintly, their leaves taking on a richer hue. Blades of grass swayed gently as though in response to an unseen current. Even the air carried a new vibrancy, a richness that was almost imperceptible yet undeniably present.
Yue Ling lay curled nearby, her golden eyes half-closed as she basked in the quiet energy of the clearing. Her ears twitched occasionally, her senses attuned to the subtle shifts around them. When Liang Chen glanced her way, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Even you can feel it," he said softly.
The faintest hint of a breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it the promise of change. Liang Chen knew better than to rush the process. Earth was stirring, but its awakening would be gradual, each step forward fraught with fragility. For now, his focus was on nurturing the vein and avoiding detection.
Far away, within the bustling halls of the Neutral Alliance headquarters, the Immortal cultivator sat at a long oak table, their expression thoughtful. The room was filled with the low hum of voices, the air tense as alliance leaders debated over a map spread across the table.
"Several regions have reported anomalies," one leader said, their voice measured. They gestured to the map, their finger tracing the locations of faint energy fluctuations. "Small spikes in energy levels, though none strong enough to be considered spiritual Qi."
The Immortal cultivator leaned forward, their gaze sharp as they studied the map. The patterns were scattered, seemingly random, but something about them tugged at the edges of their mind.
"Are there any patterns or consistencies in these locations?" they asked, their tone calm but insistent.
The leader hesitated, glancing at their notes. "Not that we can discern. The fluctuations are faint and intermittent. It could be residual effects from the dream cultivation world… or perhaps just unrelated natural phenomena."
The Immortal cultivator leaned back in their chair, their fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood of the armrest. Their mind drifted to the ripple of joy they had felt weeks earlier, an inexplicable sensation that lingered like an unsolved riddle. They had dismissed it as coincidence—a resonance born of the thousand soul cultivators awakening to their abilities. Yet, these scattered anomalies suggested otherwise.
"Continue monitoring these areas," the Immortal said finally, their voice firm. "And maintain our focus on the thousand soul cultivators. They remain our most tangible resource."
The leader nodded, gathering their papers before stepping out of the room. Left alone, the Immortal cultivator's gaze lingered on the map. The idea of Earth possessing a will had seemed preposterous—an absurdity born of wishful thinking. Yet the anomalies refused to fade from their thoughts, gnawing at their resolve.
Back in the clearing, Liang Chen sat cross-legged beside the pseudo-vein, his focus shifting to his soul-cultivation technique. Closing his eyes, he visualized his soul as an orb of radiant light, its surface shifting and rippling like molten gold. With each breath, he compressed and refined its energy, guiding it inward with meticulous precision.
The technique, one of the many treasures of his past life, was leagues beyond the low-grade method that had been released to the public. Each cycle sharpened his senses and fortified his spiritual foundation, deepening his connection to his essence. The faint hum of the pseudo-vein resonated with his cultivation, the two energies intertwining in a delicate dance.
Around the globe, soul cultivation had become a lifeline for the thousand rare individuals capable of practicing it. These cultivators had become pawns in the power struggle between the alliances, their talents coveted and exploited. Yet Liang Chen remained unconcerned. His path was his own, untethered by the schemes of the alliances.
"They're grasping at straws," he muttered under his breath, a faint smirk crossing his face.
The pseudo-vein pulsed faintly beside him, its energy steady as the formation held firm. For now, it was enough—a fragile but vital foothold in the quest to reignite cultivation on Earth.
In a remote and uninhabited region, far from the eyes of humanity, a golden-stalked herb pushed through the soil. Its leaves glowed faintly under the pale light of the moon, their veins coursing with the faintest traces of spiritual Qi. It was one of five such plants scattered across the globe, each a product of the pseudo-vein's influence.
These plants remained hidden, their growth unnoticed and their potential untapped. Yet, their existence was a quiet testament to Earth's awakening—a sign that the barren world was beginning to stir. Though Liang Chen was unaware of their presence, their emergence marked a crucial step in the planet's gradual transformation.
As the night deepened, Liang Chen opened his eyes, the light of his soul cultivation fading as he returned to the present. The clearing was quiet, the pseudo-vein glowing faintly at his side. Yue Ling stirred, her golden eyes meeting his as she let out a soft yawn.
Liang Chen reached out to scratch behind her ears, his expression thoughtful. The vein had stabilized, but its energy remained too weak to sustain significant cultivation. The road ahead would be long and fraught with challenges.
"One step at a time," he said softly, his voice resolute.
Far away, the Neutral Alliance's Immortal cultivator stared at their desk, their mind restless. The anomalies on the map, the scattered fluctuations of energy, and the ripple of joy they had dismissed—together, they painted a picture they couldn't ignore. Questions lingered, unanswered and unsettling.
And in the forgotten corners of the world, five glowing plants waited, their faint light a quiet promise of what was to come.