The next morning felt different.
The sky above Qinghe Village was clear, without a single cloud. A gentle wind blew across the vast rice fields, carrying the scent of soil and river water.
Lin Tianyuan stood in his courtyard.
That small house had been his home since birth.
But now…
he knew his time there was almost up.
Tianyuan closed his eyes slowly.
He activated the Void Origin Breathing Art.
His breathing grew deeper.
Slow.
Rhythmic.
Within just a few seconds, the qi around him began to stir.
Faint energy from the air gathered toward his body.
It entered through the three meridians that had already opened.
The Heavenly Meridian.
The Earthly Meridian.
The Spiritual Meridian.
The qi flowed toward his dantian.
There…
the small black core spun slowly.
Every stream of energy that entered was immediately swallowed by the vortex.
No energy was wasted.
None overflowed.
Everything was devoured calmly.
Yet Tianyuan soon realized something.
The energy he absorbed…
vanished far too quickly.
As if the black core was a bottomless pit.
Tianyuan opened his eyes.
He let out a soft sigh.
"Father was right…"
"The energy I need is far greater."
An ordinary cultivator might feel a clear improvement after absorbing qi for several hours.
But Tianyuan…
only felt his black core become slightly more stable.
He stood up slowly.
But before he could move—
a voice sounded from the courtyard gate.
"Tianyuan!"
Tianyuan turned around.
A young man of his age ran in.
It was Zhao Ming.
His childhood friend.
"Why didn't you come hunting today?" Zhao Ming asked, panting slightly.
Tianyuan smiled faintly.
"I was training."
Zhao Ming looked at him in confusion.
"Training for what?"
Tianyuan did not answer.
He just shrugged his shoulders.
Zhao Ming shook his head.
"Ever since you went into the forest yesterday with your father, you've been acting strange."
He took a step closer.
"By the way…"
"Where's Uncle Lin?"
The question made Tianyuan pause for a moment.
"He left."
"Left?"
"Yes."
"For quite a long time."
Zhao Ming furrowed his brows.
"Why?"
Tianyuan shook his head slowly.
"I don't know either."
Zhao Ming was silent for a few seconds before finally saying,
"Then you have to come hunting with us."
"The village hunters are short on people."
Tianyuan looked at his friend.
A few days ago…
he might have agreed immediately.
But now…
he had another goal.
"I might be leaving too."
Zhao Ming froze.
"Leaving?"
"To where?"
Tianyuan looked toward the distant mountains to the north.
"I want to go to a sect."
Several seconds passed in silence.
Then Zhao Ming laughed loudly.
"HAHAHA!"
"Are you serious?"
"Everyone knows the sects are far, far away!"
"And they only accept talented people!"
Tianyuan was not offended.
He just smiled faintly.
"I still want to try."
Zhao Ming let out a sigh.
He knew Tianyuan had always been stubborn.
Once he set his mind to something…
nothing could stop him.
"Well then…"
Zhao Ming patted his shoulder.
"Don't die on the way."
Tianyuan chuckled softly.
"I'll do my best."
After Zhao Ming left, Tianyuan went back inside the house.
It was a simple home.
A few wooden pieces of furniture.
A small bed.
An old table.
He walked slowly through the rooms.
Every corner held memories of his childhood.
Yet Tianyuan had no hesitation.
He took a small bag from the cupboard.
A few simple clothes.
A hunting knife.
And some copper coins.
Not much.
But enough for the start of his journey.
He stepped out of the house once more.
The sun had risen high.
Qinghe Village looked just as it always did.
Farmers working.
Children playing in the streets.
Several hunters mending their weapons.
No one knew Tianyuan would leave today.
He stood at the village gate.
Glancing back one last time.
His small house was visible in the distance.
Tianyuan took a deep breath.
"Father…"
"I will become stronger."
He turned around.
And began to walk.
The narrow dirt path led out of the village toward the mountains.
His steps were not fast.
But they were also not hesitant.
A few hours later, Qinghe Village had vanished behind the hills.
Before Tianyuan stretched a vast forest.
That forest was a small part of the Desolate Flame Region.
A wild territory filled with Origin Beasts.
Yet Tianyuan felt no fear.
On the contrary…
he felt something inside him beginning to awaken.
As he stepped deeper into the forest…
he activated the Void Origin Breathing Art once more.
The qi around the trees was far richer than in the village.
Natural energy slowly flowed toward his body.
The black core in his dantian pulsed gently.
Tianyuan's journey had only just begun.
And without him realizing…
deep within that black core…
an ancient power was slowly waking up.