The night in the Iron Cloud Sect was quiet, almost deceivingly so. My straw mat felt colder than usual, and even Zhou Kai's steady breathing nearby did little to calm the unease coiling in my chest. I couldn't stop thinking about the orb in the Whispering Forest. The faint glow, the pulse, the promise of unimaginable power—it had burned into my mind like fire.
I knew one thing with absolute certainty: this was no ordinary artifact.
The first rays of dawn painted the mountains with gold, and I slipped out before the morning drills began. I could hear the other disciples preparing, but I moved silently, careful not to be seen. My destination: the clearing in the Whispering Forest where the orb waited.
I emerged from the trees and approached it cautiously. Its faint glow seemed brighter today, almost impatient. My heart raced as I knelt, fingers hovering above the smooth crystal surface.
What is this thing?
As soon as my skin touched it, the world shifted.
A wave of energy surged through my body. My vision blurred, then cleared—not the forest around me, but visions of a place I had never seen. Cities of shining crystal towers, sky streaked with strange, unfamiliar constellations, and beings that moved with a grace I could barely comprehend.
A voice echoed—not in my ears, but in my mind:
"You have found what was lost. Keep it safe. Or perish."
I staggered back, gasping. The orb pulsed like a heartbeat in my chest, and my skin tingled from the alien energy.
Lost? Alien? Perish?
I stumbled back toward the forest edge, my mind racing. This orb… this was not of the Iron Cloud Sect, nor of any mortal world I knew. It was something far older, far stronger. And now, somehow, it had chosen me.
I barely noticed Zhou Kai emerge from the shadows, following his instinct.
"You okay?" he asked, eyes sharp.
I hesitated. Could I tell him? Could anyone know?
"No… I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. "Just… meditation."
He frowned but didn't press. Some instincts, he had learned, were dangerous to question.
The following days in the sect were different. Every muscle in my body burned with energy from the orb. My qi flowed stronger, faster, and deeper than before, even without touching it again. But something else changed: I could feel it—eyes on me, watching from afar.
I noticed it first in the training ground. A pair of dark eyes observing me from the treeline. Then in the mess hall, fleeting shadows that disappeared when I looked directly.
I'm being followed.
That night, unable to sleep, I returned to the clearing. The orb lay in silence, glowing faintly under the moonlight.
I knelt again, whispering, "Who are you? Where did you come from?"
The pulse quickened, and another vision washed over me—this time, clearer. I saw the history of the orb:
It had been crafted centuries ago, in a place far beyond the mortal world. A civilization long gone, an alien people whose power dwarfed even the greatest sects. The orb was a fragment of their technology, imbued with energy meant to enhance physical and spiritual power beyond any cultivation path known to man.
And then I saw the warning.
Legions of shadows, unseen to mortal eyes, moving across landscapes, hunting, searching… for anyone who dared touch the orb.
They… will come for me.
I staggered backward, heart pounding. The forest seemed to darken, even though the moon shone bright. One thing was certain: this treasure had made me a target. Not just for the sect, not just for jealous disciples like Meng Tao, but for forces far beyond my comprehension.
I could feel the orb's energy thrumming in rhythm with my own pulse. It called to me, a promise of power… but also danger. One wrong move, and I could die before I even began to understand it.
I returned to the sect the next day, cautious. Nothing had changed outwardly—discussions of cultivation, training exercises, even Meng Tao's smug sneers—but I felt the weight of unseen eyes pressing down on me. I couldn't tell anyone. Not Zhou Kai, not the elders, not a single soul.
The secret had to remain mine alone.
Over the following days, I practiced in secret, using the orb's lingering energy to refine my Body Tempering techniques. My strikes became faster, my movements sharper, and my qi flowed smoother. But every time I touched the orb or trained near it, the visions returned—cities of light, alien beings, and the shadowy hunters closing in.
I realized that the orb was more than a tool—it was a test. It would give strength, yes, but only if I could survive the dangers it attracted.
One evening, while sparring with a wooden dummy near the forest edge, I sensed movement behind me. Quick as a flash, I spun—but saw nothing. Just the leaves rustling.
I narrowed my eyes. "They're here," I whispered.
A chill ran down my spine. I was no longer just a poor boy from a village. I was a target. And every move I made, every ounce of strength I gained, could draw the attention of beings far more dangerous than any disciple.
By nightfall, I returned to the clearing once more. The orb glowed faintly, as if acknowledging my resolve. I knelt, pressing my forehead to the ground.
"I don't know what you want from me," I murmured. "But I'll survive. I'll get stronger. I'll be ready for whatever comes."
The pulse of the orb intensified, as if approving my words. And for the first time, I felt the weight of responsibility settle fully on my shoulders.
This was no longer just a cultivation journey. It was a fight for survival, a test of will, cunning, and courage.
And the hunters… they were coming.
The forest seemed darker that night, the shadows longer. Somewhere, in the distance, a faint glow like starlight shimmered—too perfect, too precise. Watching. Waiting.
I clenched my fists, muscles tense, heart pounding.
If they want me… they will have to take me.
And I would not go down without a fight.