Just as Wang Chen was about to step outside to investigate, a familiar metallic chime rang in his mind.
[Ding! A bearer of heavenly providence detected. Click to check status.]
His expression froze. Without hesitation, he mentally clicked on the prompt.
[Name: Li Mei]
[Lifespan: 16 / 999]
[Race: Mortal]
[Cultivation: Peak of Qi Refining Realm
[Talent: Alchemy Symphony, Regressor of the Upper Realm]
[Abilities: Three-Eyed Proud Pupil, All-Seeing Eyes, Bearer of Time Providence]
[Techniques: World Tree Crossing the Firmament]
[Potential: Extremely high. (If cultivated properly, the individual has potential to become the Alchemical Saint of the generation.)]
The moment he finished reading, Wang Chen's eyes shone like lanterns in the dark. His lips curled ever so slightly — he had just found his second disciple.
For someone like him, who now lived on borrowed time, the path to longevity was clear: disciples were the only key to extending his lifespan. Every ounce of potential they possessed translated to centuries of survival for him.
Yet, after the initial wave of excitement faded, his brows furrowed tightly.
The situation felt... unreal.
Just weeks ago, he had been nothing more than a pitiful soul trapped in an endless cycle of life and death. And now, out of nowhere, not only could he extend his lifespan — the process itself didn't even seem that difficult. Two people, both bearing heaven-defying luck, had appeared before him one after the other.
Coincidence? No.
The chill that crawled down his spine told him otherwise. Someone — or something — seemed to be pulling strings behind the curtain.
Some might say he was overthinking, but Wang Chen thought otherwise.
He exhaled softly, his gaze hardening. If someone truly is watching from the shadows… then so be it. The path ahead may be treacherous, but it's the only one left for me to walk.
Unbeknownst to him, the air around the old lamppost flickered faintly, the dim glow resonating with his earlier thoughts. Threads of golden fate coiled around Li Mei's unseen form like ethereal chains, flaring once — brilliant and yearning — before fading back into the unseen fabric of the world.
….
When Wang Chen returned inside, he began pacing, mind racing with possibilities. How should he approach Li Mei? What excuse could he use to draw her in? But no matter how much he thought, every plan felt forced, unnatural.
Lin Huang, meanwhile, noticed his master's silence. Not wanting to disturb him, he quietly rose and made his way toward the library — his footsteps echoing faintly against the wooden floorboards. He still had to complete his daily studies.
…
Elsewhere in the city, Li Mei sat by the window of a dimly lit tavern, her reflection flickering faintly against the glass. Her eyes were clouded with confusion.
The scene of Zi Han and that mysterious man — Wang Chen — speaking with casual warmth kept replaying in her mind.
She knew Demon Queen Zi Han better than anyone. The woman was infamous throughout the worlds. And yet… that man had spoken to her as an equal.
Who was he?
He didn't match the appearance of any Grand Ascension expert she knew. His aura was calm, unassuming — yet it carried an inexplicable depth, like a still lake that hid a sleeping leviathan beneath.
Her face darkened slightly as an unsettling thought crossed her mind. Could he be… from the Upper Realm?
She jumped to this conclusion, although she had no evidence but something in her heart told her, this was most likely true.
Every creature from that place was a monster wrapped in human skin.
Though the chance was slim, she couldn't dismiss it. She clenched the Ten Thousand Soul Flag in her hands, her voice cold and bitter.
"Who he is doesn't matter. What's clear is that I've lost the chance to make the Demon Queen my master…"
She had seen the young girl standing behind Zi Han — Xin Yi — and her instincts told her the truth: Zi Han had already chosen a disciple. From her memories of the future, the Demon Queen would only ever accept one student… until her death during the Bloody War.
The moment that memory surfaced, Li Mei's hands trembled. She didn't want to remember that blood-soaked era. The screams, the heavens burning red, the fall of saints and demons alike.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced the thoughts aside.
"If things continue like this, the Bloodfang dogs and that demon will track me down sooner or later… I need to act before they find me."
Although she had countless ways to deal with some low life's like the blood fang, but all of these things needed time, she had none of those.
Her gaze turned resolute. A year from now, she knew, one of the Great Demons would descend upon this region. To survive, she needed strength — a master — and time was already slipping away.
Even so, she restrained herself. Barging into the dojo now would only make her appear desperate. Patience was key.
Ironically, both she and Wang Chen thought the same thing: wait for fate to move first.
…
Time flowed like water.
Wang Chen returned to his routine — lounging on his rocking chair beneath the swaying sign of the Phoenix and Dragon Dojo, half-asleep, half-vigilant. Yet every so often, his eyes drifted toward the street, scanning the crowd for a familiar silhouette.
Days bled into weeks. One month has passed since Zi Han's visit. And though he pretended to meditate each morning, in truth, he was quietly watching.
Every night, the same faint shadow appeared near the dojo gate — Li Mei, standing still, observing him in silence before disappearing into the fog.
By now, Wang Chen had already devised a plan. Since he had already established himself as a hidden master, why not lean into it fully? Let fate "bring them together." After all, destiny worked best when nudged gently.
He chuckled to himself at the thought. Yes… let's see how fate chooses to play this one.
…
Meanwhile, Lin Huang continued his own steady routine.
Every morning: a hundred push-ups, a hundred sit-ups, a ten-kilometer run. Every afternoon: study sessions in the library.
The Divine Workout was beginning to reveal its true nature. Within a month, the blockages in his meridians had completely cleared — qi flowed through him like a flowing waterfall.
When realization struck, Lin Huang nearly shouted with joy. Who would've thought those mundane exercises could have such divine effects?
Then, as he glanced toward his master reclining lazily under the old willow tree, a sudden thought hit him. And the scene of Wang Chen handing him the pills flashed through his head.
"No… this can't be a coincidence. It must be Teacher. He must have helped me secretly."
His heart swelled with gratitude — though Wang Chen, eyes half-closed, remained perfectly still, the faintest smile tugged at his lips.
…
The next day, something finally changed.
Someone came to the Phoenix and Dragon Dojo.
It was the first visitor since Zi Han's appearance, and even Lin Huang couldn't contain his curiosity.
Stepping out of the library, he froze mid-step. Sitting across from his master was a girl of otherworldly beauty, her aura sharp yet refined, pouring tea with quiet grace.
For a long moment, Lin Huang just stood there, unable to move.
Her aura… it was so familiar — in some way almost identical to his own albeit a little weaker.
Who is she…?