On that quiet night, where only the sound of wind slipping through abandoned buildings could be heard, Liang Chen sat in his small room, leaning against the cold wall. The faint light of the glowing orb shone from within, pulsating like a living heart. He closed his eyes and tried once again to comprehend the strange energy carried by the Seed, but it resisted, as if testing him.
The high walls surrounding the city were symbols of protection, but also of isolation. The city's inhabitants lived in constant fear of the spiritual beasts that ravaged the outside world. However, Liang felt that the true threat did not only come from the outside but also from within.
"Why me?" Liang whispered to himself. Since discovering the Seed inside him, he had been trapped by endless questions. "What is the purpose of all this? And why does the Seed want me specifically?"
Suddenly, he heard a voice inside his mind, a voice that had become familiar to him over the past months:
– "Liang Chen, hesitation is not an option. You must move forward."
Liang trembled. "How can I move forward when I don't even know what awaits me?"
The system responded calmly: "Knowledge will come with experience. Every step you take will bring you closer to the truth."
Liang took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his thoughts. "If I am the only one carrying this Seed, how can I protect it from all these dangers?"
The system answered firmly: "Because you are the only one who can. This is not just a responsibility, but a destiny."
The next morning, Liang decided to go out and breathe in some fresh air. He took his way to the small market located at the edge of the city. The market was bustling with life despite the caution on the faces of the people. Vegetable vendors, weapons merchants, and even wandering priests were all part of this organized chaos.
As he walked among the stalls, he felt something strange. A faint but familiar spiritual energy. He turned to find a young man in black robes standing at one of the stalls. His features were sharp, and his gaze was fixed, as if he were searching for something specific.
"You feel it too, don't you?" the young man suddenly said without looking at Liang.
Liang froze in place. "What are you talking about?"
The young man smiled coldly. "The strange energy around you. It's not normal."
Liang tried to remain calm. "I think you're talking to the wrong person."
The young man responded more sharply: "Don't try to deny it. I can feel it, as if it's calling me."
Liang returned to his apartment, feeling increasingly uneasy. He began to realize that keeping the Seed's secret would not be easy. If that young man could sense the energy, there were probably others like him.
He sat cross-legged on the floor and began practicing the breathing techniques he had learned. He tried to channel the spiritual energy within his body, attempting to calm his anxiety. Suddenly, he felt a change in the flow of energy. The Seed responded to him in a way it hadn't before.
"This is the way," the system whispered.
Liang opened his eyes, his heart filled with resolve. If it was his fate to carry this Seed, then he had to be ready for anything. The world was full of dangers, but now, within him, was a power that could change everything.
End of Chapter Ten