The sharp voice shattered the fragile stillness of the morning.
"Get up, Tianran. The sun is already high!"
Bright sunlight poured through the window, illuminating the dust that danced in the humid air. Each beam seemed to probe for secrets hidden in the cramped room—remnants of suffering, silent desperation, and the faint metallic tang of blood lingering on the bedding.
Yu Tianran's limbs felt heavy as lead, his muscles stiffened by the weight of yesterday's failures. The ache radiated through his body, from his ribs to the tips of his fingers. Every breath became a lesson in humility.
The door creaked open, admitting heavy footsteps along with the odor of sweat, earth, and raw power. Zhou Weiming stepped in first, flanked by his two henchmen. Their eyes lingered on Tianran's slow movements, a flicker of delight crossing their faces like the play of wolves anticipating a kill.
Zhou's foot struck the edge of Tianran's bed. "Do you plan on sleeping forever? Or do you believe talent will flourish simply from dreaming?" His tone was deceptively soft, yet the cruel edge of his words was unmistakable—every syllable selected to wound.
Tianran, forcing himself to sit up, braced his unsteady arms against the edge of the cot. The sunlight glimmered off the pallor of his face, exposing the humiliation that lay just beneath his skin. He managed, with great effort, to keep the pain from creeping into his voice. "If you've come only to mock me, then you can leave. I have nothing to give you."
Zhou's tall, rat-faced companion sneered, "He's just the ghost of this sect. Perhaps the heavens simply forgot to collect him." His gaze was sharp, intent on dragging Tianran even lower.
The other man, thickset with arms crossed, shook his head. "If it were me, I would have run home ages ago. I wouldn't want my name associated with someone like him." The sting of those words cut deep, like a sprinkle of salt in an open wound.
A prompt coursed through Tianran's mind, cold and perfectly timed to twist the knife deeper.
─────[HEAVENLY FATE CODEX]─────
Name: Yu Tianran
Cultivation Level: Qi Condensation (Beginner)
Qi Level: 4%
Meridian Pathways: Currently Closed (0 out of 12)
Physical Status: Extremely Weak
Active Skills: None
Main Quest: Awaken 1 Meridian Pathway (0 out of 1)
Time Left: 6 days, 10 hours
─────▲─────
Tianran grimaced, furrowing his brow. "Can you just stop, system? Not right now." He struggled to concentrate, but Zhou was crouched before him, eyes sharp and voice low.
"How long are you going to keep up this act? Everyone can see you're just a burden." Zhou's words struck like arrows, each one hitting its target.
The air around them felt suffocating, heavy with dust, sweat, and something darker—resentment, perhaps, or maybe fear. Tianran's throat felt parched. He clutched the blanket tightly, knuckles turning white.
"Zhou, that's enough," Tianran said, his voice flat and barely holding back the weariness and pain he felt. "I'm not hurting anyone."
"And that's the crux of the matter, Tianran. Trash doesn't make a sound, but it sure does reek," Zhou chuckled softly, almost as if sharing a secret. It was a laugh that closed the door on any flicker of hope.
"Remember what happened yesterday?" Rat-face broke in, mimicking an exaggerated gasp. "Master Han was ready to throw you out just for messing up those breathing exercises." His dramatization ignited a wave of cruel laughter among the others.
Tianran pressed his lips together, determined not to let any tears fall. Yet, the sting of shame flared up, burning behind his eyes.
Suddenly, the status screen of the system lit up again with its latest information:
─────[STATUS INFO]─────
Physical Strength: 7 out of 100
Body Stamina: 5 out of 100
Qi Control: 3 out of 100
Aura: 1 out of 100
Open Meridians: 0 out of 12
Skills: None
─────▲─────
This humiliating situation, Tianran thought bitterly, feeling the weight of self-loathing deepen within him.
Zhou poked a finger close to his face. "We have joint training today. If you collapse, Elder Bai might just kick you out. You ready for that?"
"I'll give it my all. That's all I can do," Tianran replied, a quiet flame flickering in him despite the anxiety churning in his gut.
The big one smirked. "Trying? In that body? Maybe you got reincarnated into the wrong life." The words lingered long after the trio departed, the door slamming shut like a judgment passed.
Tianran remained still until their footsteps faded away. Only then did he unclench his jaw and let his trembling hands settle. I used to look down upon the world, he thought. Now, I can't even stand up to schoolyard bullies.
His stomach twisted as the smell of cheap kitchen herbs wafted in. The training gong rang out, three sharp clangs slicing through the stillness of the morning. He forced himself to swallow a mouthful of stale bread, every chew a grinding down of his pride, yet hunger wouldn't let him pause.
He stepped outside, straightening his back so he wouldn't come across as weak. The courtyard hummed with life—students sparring, swords glinting, laughter soaring. Whispers trailed in his wake.
"That's Tianran, right? Still stuck at Qi Condensation. What a joke."
"Hasn't opened a single meridian. Some claim he's cursed—his channels all blocked."
Tianran kept his gaze steady, battling the urge to shrink away. They don't realize how hard I train, he reminded himself. They only see what they choose to see.
The training grounds were bustling with activity. Zhou and his group lounged lazily against a pillar, their eyes glinting with a desire for fresh humiliation.
"Hey, Tianran!" Zhou shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. "Ready to fail again?" The snickers that followed were all too loud.
Master Han, a robust man with sharp eyes, barked out commands. "Line up! Take a deep breath! Today's focus is stamina. No exceptions." His presence felt like a stone dropped into still water; everyone snapped into formation, a mix of fear and hope swirling among them.
Tianran slipped to the back of the line, his heart racing. Zhuang, one of Zhou's cronies, shot him a pointed look. "Don't freeze up like your meridians, Tianran." Laughter cascaded through the group.
"Get into position for running!" Zhou called, a smirk plastered on his face. "Let's see who collapses first."
Tianran pushed their words aside, center his attention on his breathing, each inhale sharp and biting like cold iron. When the gong rang out, he took off running.
Every step felt like torture—tiny stones digging into his feet, his joints screaming in protest. After just two laps, his lungs felt ablaze, and his vision blurred at the edges.
The system display flickered to life:
─────[WARNING: LOW PHYSICAL CONDITION]─────
Physical Strength: 3/100
Qi: 2%
Risk of Fainting: High
─────▲─────
"Master is in danger. Recommend activating emergency meditation—Void Pulse," the system's voice was calm yet increasingly urgent.
"Not now," Tianran murmured, forcing himself to keep going.
Zhou slowed down to match his pace, elbowing him lightly in the ribs and speaking in a hushed tone. "Oops. Take care—don't want to slip and fall."
Tianran stumbled slightly but managed to regain his balance, determined not to give Zhou the satisfaction of seeing him falter. I refuse to fall here. Not in front of them.
Lap after lap, he found himself trailing further behind. The other students were panting hard, but it was only Tianran who was teetering on the brink of collapse.
Master Han observed from a distance, his face inscrutable. "Yu Tianran, if you can't continue, retreat now. If you fall again, you'll face the elders." Underneath the strictness in his voice, there was an undercurrent of something else—was it expectation? Or perhaps pity?
Summoning the last remnants of his strength, Tianran straightened up. "I... I haven't given up," he declared, his words shaky but filled with defiance.
A silence settled over the crowd. Some students murmured, "Is he insane? Or is he just unbreakable?"
Master Han's gaze sharpened as he commanded, "Get back in line. If you fall again, you'll face the elders' judgment." His tone was as formidable as a wall, yet there lingered a hint of concern beneath it.
Tianran nodded, fighting back the overwhelming urge to collapse. I refuse to let them witness my failure, he thought, even as his legs threatened to give way.
The system panel hovered nearby, a new message flickering ominously in red:
─────[Mission Update]─────
Awaken 1 Meridian Path: 0/1 (Status: Critical)
Time Remaining: 6 days, 5 hours
Recommendation: New skills may be unlocked if 'Will to Survive' is proven.
─────▲─────
No matter how far I've fallen, Tianran reassured himself, tears stinging his eyes but refusing to spill. I have reached the peak before—I understand how swiftly fate can shift. As long as I draw breath, I will discover a way.
Training concluded. Most disciples kept their distance, some openly mocking him, while a few regarded him with tentative respect. None dared to approach; Tianran's struggle had evolved into a legend all its own.
He sank down beneath an ancient tree, sweat mingling with tears on his face as the gentle breeze brought him relief. The sky stretched above, clear and blue, clouds drifting lazily—so contrasting to the tempest within.
The system's voice returned, softer this time, almost kind:
"I've detected a flicker of hope from the host. Your determination is on the rise. The skill 'Void Pulse' can now be unlocked if you accept your frailty and choose to persevere."
A spark ignited deep within Tianran's chest—a long-buried memory of strength, of purpose.
He inhaled deeply, the breath shaking in his chest. "Alright, system," he said softly, his voice still quavering yet somehow more resolute than it had been. "Tonight, I embrace this—weakness, shame, and even fear. I refuse to retreat."
The status display shifted, a new progress bar slowly beginning to fill:
Survival Resolve: 12%
Pain still coursed through his body, but beneath it lay something new—a flicker of strength, delicate yet undeniable. For the first time since his downfall, Tianran managed to form a genuine, soft smile.
I will survive, he vowed, to the system, to the sky above, and to himself. In this life, I am no longer just running away.