Days passed, and Xu Yao practiced every sunrise and every moonrise.
His body trembled from exhaustion, his meridians stung like threads scraped by blades, but he never stopped.
Then, one morning, while meditating beside an ancient pine stump at the valley edge—
his fingers brushed against something buried under moss.
A jade pendant.
It was smooth, cool, and shone with a faint green radiance, like moonlight trapped in leaves.
There were no carvings. No markings. Just pure, flawless jade.
He picked it up, confused.
"Maybe… it belonged to some disciple before," he murmured, placing it around his neck.
He returned to his small dorm that day, unaware that his fate had already changed.
---
The Next Day
On the training grounds, Zhao wei - an arrogant senior disciple approached him—tall, strong, full of pride.
"Look who it is," the senior sneered. "The trash who thinks he can become an Inner Disciple."
Xu Yao kept silent.
But silence was not enough.
The senior shoved him.
Then kicked him.
Then punched him.
Xu Yao fought back—but with his weak body, his strikes were like feathers against stone.
Within minutes, he was beaten, bruised, blood dripping down his chin.
But his eyes…
His eyes did not break.
The senior clicked his tongue, annoyed.
"Hmph. Keep struggling. It makes your fall more pathetic."
And he left.
Xu Yao dragged himself back to his room.
His entire body ached. His wounds burned.
He leaned against the wall—breathing ragged.
A single drop of blood slid from his hand.
drip
It fell onto the jade pendant.
The jade glowed.
A bright, emerald light filled the room, enveloping Xu Yao.
He felt his consciousness being pulled—
into a vast space of shimmering mist.
---
Sea of Consciousness
He stood on a field of endless light.
Clouds swirled beneath his feet, stars shimmered above.
Then he heard a sound.
"Pui pui pui~! Finally! I can speak again!"
Xu Yao blinked.
In front of him floated…
A tiny worm.
Round.
Green.
Glowing.
With little stubs that looked like paws that were not paws.
It waved happily.
"Hello host! I am the Ancient Emerald Spirit Devourer!"
Xu Yao stared.
"…A worm."
The worm puffed up angrily.
"Not just a worm! A supreme immortal spirit beast!
Fallen… into unfortunate circumstances…
and temporarily sealed into a worm form."
Xu Yao continued to stare.
The worm coughed with dignity it didn't have.
"Ahem. Anyway—because your blood awakened the pendant, from now on, I will guide your cultivation!"
Xu Yao's eyes widened.
"You… can help me cultivate?"
The worm flipped proudly in midair.
"Of course!
I can refine qi, strengthen meridians, and even devour impurities!"
Then it added quietly:
"…Though I may need some snacks first."
Xu Yao blinked again.
"What kind of snacks?"
The worm smiled innocently.
"Just a little bit of spiritual herbs. Maybe… a few low-level spirit beasts.
Xu Yao: "…"
The worm: "Don't worry, host!
From today forward—we rise to the heavens together!"
For the first time since arriving at the sect, Xu Yao smiled.
His journey… had truly begun.