Chapter 2: A World of Strength
The morning haze over Qinghe City shimmered faintly, like a veil of spirit energy rippling above the rooftops. The skyscrapers gleamed beneath the light of the rising sun, but Ren Yu's gaze was distant, focused on the pulse he felt deep inside his chest.
That heartbeat — steady, yet strange — didn't belong entirely to this world.
He stood in front of his mirror, shirt half-buttoned, eyes tracing the faint golden lines that glowed beneath his skin. They weren't veins of blood — they pulsed like liquid fire. When he touched them, the warmth spread, carrying a subtle pressure that resonated with something beyond flesh.
"Still… here," he whispered.
The night before, his dreams had been filled with fractured memories — battlefields, screams, the shattering of a martial seal. He had awoken drenched in sweat, but with a clarity he couldn't explain. It was as if a second consciousness had nested within him.
Downstairs, the aroma of jasmine tea lingered. His mother, Lin Yuyan, was already seated in the dining room, her quiet composure undisturbed. The woman looked delicate, but the faint glimmer of aura around her betrayed a cultivator's strength. Her eyes softened when she saw him.
"Yu'er, you're awake early," she said. "You didn't rest well?"
Ren Yu shook his head slightly. "Just… strange dreams."
Lin Yuyan's smile was knowing, but her tone was even. "Dreams are how the spirit remembers what the body forgets. You've been restless since the entrance exams. Don't let the unknown trouble your heart."
He gave a faint nod. His father's footsteps soon echoed from the corridor. Ren Housheng emerged — stern, broad-shouldered, every movement carrying the confidence of a man who built his empire through sheer will.
"Yu," he said, folding open the morning news tablet, "the Awakening Ceremony is next week. You'll be representing the Ren family before the council. I trust you've prepared."
Ren Yu froze mid-bite. The words "Awakening Ceremony" stirred something deep in his chest — another memory that didn't belong to this life. In his past world, martial spirits were legends. Here, they were a measure of worth.
"I'm prepared," Ren Yu said after a moment. But the truth was — he wasn't.
Later that day, Qinghe No. 1 High School was alive with energy. Holographic banners floated above the courtyard: "Annual Martial Awakening — Strength Defines Destiny."
Students walked past in crisp uniforms, each carrying a faint aura from years of cultivation training. Some glowed subtly — signs of awakened spirit veins. Others, like Ren Yu, appeared ordinary, their potential still sealed.
"Ren Yu!"
The familiar voice of Kairen Liu rang out as a tall boy jogged over, sweat beading on his forehead. "You skipped the morning spar again! Coach Li's looking for you."
Ren Yu smiled faintly. "Tell him I was meditating."
Kairen laughed. "You? Meditating? You barely stayed still during theory class."
They both laughed, but Kairen's grin faltered when he looked closer at Ren Yu. "You okay, man? You look… different. Like you're seeing ghosts."
"Maybe I am," Ren Yu murmured.
The training field buzzed with students testing their strength against dummies that glowed with energy runes. Ren Yu stood at the edge, watching as Lira Han — the academy's martial prodigy — stepped into the center.
Her kicks were sharp, precise, each strike trailing golden light. The crowd whispered in awe. Even Kairen couldn't hide his admiration.
"She's already reached Martial Tier Two," he said. "Rumor is, her family has an awakened ancestor teaching her directly."
Ren Yu didn't answer. His gaze followed her movements — but what he saw wasn't just her technique. He saw the faint flow of spiritual energy tracing her veins, converging at her heart and exploding outward with every motion. To his eyes, the world was no longer normal — it was alive with power.
That realization sent a shiver down his spine.
"Ren Yu." The voice was calm yet piercing. Coach Li, tall and scarred, stood behind him. "You've been absent from sparring for two weeks. Don't tell me you're giving up before the Awakening."
Ren Yu looked up. His expression was unreadable. "Not giving up," he said quietly. "Just learning to see differently."
The coach raised an eyebrow. "Seeing doesn't win battles. Get in the ring."
He didn't argue. As he stepped onto the field, the world seemed to still. His opponent was an upperclassman, muscular and confident, a smirk already on his lips. The crowd watched, expecting a quick defeat.
"Ready?" the coach asked.
Ren Yu nodded.
The match began. The senior lunged forward, his fist wreathed in faint aura. Ren Yu moved — but it wasn't reflex. It was instinct, drawn from memories of another life. His body turned with fluid grace, sidestepping at the perfect angle. His counter came fast — a palm strike to the chest, precise and clean.
A shockwave burst from the contact.
The senior was thrown back several meters, landing hard. Silence filled the field.
Kairen's jaw dropped. "You— you've been hiding that?"
Ren Yu stared at his hand. The faint glow returned — that same golden light from his veins, flickering like embers under his skin.
He clenched his fist, heart pounding.
"I think," he whispered, "I've just remembered what strength feels like."
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