Shen Hao walked down the bustling streets of Void Gate City, a light breeze tugging at his coat as neon signs flickered around him.
He'd spent the entire day shopping, hauling back crates of pills, potions, and gear… and now, with his storage ring stocked like a miniature warehouse, he finally felt halfway prepared for this crazy world.
But something still bugged him.
"Master…" Shen Hao spoke up, his hands tucked into his sleeves as he strolled past a floating market stand.
"There's something I've been wondering since… well… the moment I got here."
Mo Han's voice answered calmly in his mind.
"Yes?"
Shen Hao frowned slightly.
"How… do I even understand what everyone's saying?"
Mo Han didn't answer right away.
"I mean," Shen Hao continued, waving his hand, "I came here from Earth — I don't remember downloading alien language packs on the way here. And yet… I get everything they say. But I can't read their writing for the life of me."
He stopped walking for a moment, letting the crowd drift past him.
Lingfeng spoke from the storage ring.
"Master has a point," Lingfeng chimed in, spinning once. "I thought you just became smart all of a sudden."
"…Thanks for the vote of confidence," Shen Hao muttered.
Mo Han finally spoke, calm and as serious as ever.
"I used a translation technique on you, Shen Hao."
Shen Hao blinked.
"You… what now?"
Mo Han explained,
"The technique is simple. I applied a minor spiritual imprint to your ears and tongue when you arrived here. It automatically translates spoken languages into your understanding — and adjusts your words to the universal tongue when you speak."
Shen Hao's eyes widened.
"Wait… so I've been using a cheat code this whole time?"
Mo Han let out a soft, amused hum.
"You could say that. But it is temporary."
Shen Hao frowned.
"Temporary?"
Mo Han confirmed,
"The technique only works as long as I maintain it. And I will not do so forever. You must learn the universal language yourself — as soon as possible."
Lingfeng floated closer, his tiny voice mock whispering,
"Guess master's gonna have to hit the books."
Shen Hao shook his head with a small chuckle.
"Of course. Of course, there's always homework in the end."
He resumed walking, now with a grin tugging at his lips.
The city's lights reflected in his eyes as he whispered,
"Guess I've got a lot more learning to do."
He barely finished muttering the words when…
A sharp heat stabbed through his chest.
He gasped — his hand flying to his heart as a fierce surge of energy exploded inside him, rushing through his veins like wildfire.
"What the—?!"
His Qi trembled… then roared.
Mo Han's voice sharpened instantly.
"Shen Hao. Calm your breathing. Your Qi is spiking!"
Lingfeng zipped out of the ring, darting around Shen Hao like a buzzing fly.
"Uh… Master? That doesn't look normal!"
Shen Hao clenched his fists, trying to contain the swirling energy… but it wasn't listening.
His Qi pulsed — ripples of pressure spreading around him in waves.
People nearby stumbled back, glancing at him in alarm as they felt the sudden shift in the air.
Mo Han's tone grew urgent.
"You are on the verge of a breakthrough. You must find a controlled environment — now."
Shen Hao grit his teeth.
"Could've… said that earlier…"
Without wasting another second, Shen Hao spun on his heel and bolted through the crowd.
"Sorry! Coming through! Cultivator emergency!"
He dashed between market stalls, vaulted over a merchant's hovercart, and slid under a floating banner — earning a few startled shouts and more than one annoyed glare.
Lingfeng zipped after him, laughing nervously.
"Wow! You sure know how to make an exit!"
Mo Han remained calm in his mind.
"The cultivation zone is five streets west. Head there — quickly."
"I'm going, I'm going!" Shen Hao muttered as he sprinted.
He arrived at the Void Gate Cultivation Chambers — a massive sleek building lined with glowing pillars and guarded by men in silver armor.
Panting, Shen Hao ran straight up to the front desk — nearly slamming into the counter.
The receptionist, a humanoid with bright silver eyes, raised a brow.
"Private chamber?"
Shen Hao slammed his watch onto the scanner.
"One year. Now."
The man blinked once… then nodded.
"Room seventy-two. Payment deducted. This way."
A few minutes later…
Shen Hao stood inside a private chamber — white walls humming softly, a glowing array drawn on the floor beneath his feet.
He dropped to a seated position, crossing his legs.
His Qi raged inside him — boiling, surging, tearing through his channels like a beast.
Mo Han's voice echoed in his mind.
"Let it flow… guide it, do not resist."
Shen Hao closed his eyes.
And with a long, slow breath…
He surrendered to the storm.
The moment he let go, his Qi burst forth like a flood breaking through a dam.
The golden glow swirled around him — wild, raw, untamed.
His body tensed as wave after wave of energy crashed through his meridians.
It wasn't pain…
It wasn't exactly pleasant either.
Mo Han's voice stayed calm in his mind.
"Guide it. Don't force it. Let it pass through every vessel."
Shen Hao focused, letting the energy run its course — following Mo Han's steady instructions.
The violent surges slowly began to shift… to soften…
And then —
BOOM!
A soft shockwave rippled outward.
The array beneath him flickered brightly as the breakthrough struck.
His Qi… stilled.
Shen Hao opened his eyes slowly — a faint golden light gleaming in his pupils before fading.
"…Beginning Realm. Level 8," Mo Han confirmed.
Shen Hao let out a long breath, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"That… was intense."
Lingfeng's voice chimed in, muffled from inside the ring.
"You didn't explode. I call that a win."
Shen Hao gave a tired smirk.
"Yeah… win."
But it wasn't over yet.
He stood, rolled his shoulders, and cracked his knuckles.
"Alright… time to push further."
The door to his private chamber sealed shut with a soft hum.
From that moment…
Shen Hao began his sealed cultivation.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks melted into months.
Inside the quiet chamber, Shen Hao meditated, trained, refined his techniques… and cultivated relentlessly.
The chamber provided him with enhanced Qi concentration — allowing his body to adapt and his core to stabilize with every passing day.
Mo Han remained a constant presence in his mind — guiding, advising, sometimes silent when Shen Hao needed to push on his own.
Lingfeng occasionally chirped up with sarcastic comments…
But even he fell silent when Shen Hao entered deep focus.
The outside world moved on…
And Shen Hao?
He drowned himself in cultivation.
On the last day of his sealed year…
As he sat perfectly still in the heart of the chamber, his Qi swirled around him like a silent storm.
His entire body hummed with power.
And then —
BOOM!
A deep ripple tore through the chamber — soft, yet powerful.
Shen Hao opened his eyes.
Mo Han's voice came through, calm but filled with approval.
"Beginning Realm. Level 9… Peak."
Shen Hao exhaled slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"…I did it."
Lingfeng chimed in softly.
"Took you long enough."
Shen Hao chuckled.
"I could've gone faster… but I wanted to do this right."
Mo Han replied,
"You have built a solid foundation. What you've gained will serve you well in battles ahead."
Shen Hao stood up slowly.
His movements felt… light.
His power — stable.
His heart — calm.
With a soft hiss, the chamber door slid open.
Shen Hao stepped out into the cool morning air of Void Gate City…
A year older — at least mentally.
A realm stronger.
And with a heart ready for whatever waited outside.