Night had fallen by the time Tang Xiu returned home. The streets were quiet, the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of jasmine from a nearby garden. He pushed open the creaky door to his small room and sat cross-legged on the worn-out mat.
Tang Min had gone to bed without another word, leaving him in peace. The events of the day replayed in his mind—the confrontation with Zhang Wei, his brief study of the elderly man's martial arts, and, most importantly, the faint trace of qi he had sensed in their movements.
"It's weak, but it's there," Tang Xiu murmured, touching the pendant around his neck. "Earth isn't completely devoid of spiritual energy. It's just hidden, diluted over time."
His eyes gleamed with determination. He closed them and began to regulate his breathing, his posture straight and steady.
As Tang Xiu sank into meditation, his mind drifted into his sea of consciousness—a vast, infinite expanse within his soul. But instead of the radiant, boundless power he had once commanded, he found himself staring at a barren wasteland. The once-flowing rivers of spiritual energy were now nothing more than dry, cracked earth.
"This is the state of my foundation in this life," Tang Xiu muttered, a trace of frustration in his voice. "But it doesn't matter. I'll rebuild it, step by step."
At the center of the wasteland, a single flicker of light caught his attention. It was faint, barely noticeable, but it pulsed with an ancient energy he recognized immediately.
"The pendant," Tang Xiu whispered. "You've carried me through life and death. Let's see what secrets you hold."
Reaching out with his spiritual sense, Tang Xiu touched the light. Instantly, a surge of information flooded his mind—ancient runes, forgotten cultivation techniques, and fragments of the pendant's origin.
"This…" Tang Xiu's eyes widened as the knowledge settled. "The pendant contains a hidden dimension! A pocket realm filled with spiritual energy!"
The discovery was monumental. With a realm of pure energy at his disposal, he could cultivate even in Earth's barren environment.
Returning to his meditation, Tang Xiu focused on drawing the energy from the pendant's hidden realm. At first, it resisted, as though testing his resolve. But with his ten thousand years of experience, he quickly overcame its barriers, guiding the energy into his body.
A warm, soothing sensation spread through him as the energy filled his dantian, reigniting the foundation of his cultivation.
Crack!
The sound echoed in his mind as the first layer of his meridians reopened. Tang Xiu smiled faintly. "Body Refinement Stage, Level One. It's a humble beginning, but every journey starts with a single step."
The energy continued to flow, and Tang Xiu carefully circulated it through his meridians, strengthening his muscles, bones, and organs. The weakness of his teenage body gradually faded, replaced by a newfound vitality.
By the time he opened his eyes, the first rays of dawn were peeking through the window. Tang Xiu stretched his arms, feeling a surge of strength coursing through him.
"This body is no longer as fragile as it was yesterday," he thought. "It's just the beginning. Soon, I'll be unstoppable."