Chapter 3: The Rising Storm
The atmosphere in Ravenwood Town trembled as an ancient, overwhelming pressure rippled outward from the duelling arena. The moment Zhengyi Zhiguang's dormant power erupted, waves of spiritual energy surged like a tidal storm, shaking the hearts of every cultivator in the vicinity.
The Town Head, Shi Tianlei, the only person in Ravenwood at the peak of Foundation Establishment, shot up from his cultivation chamber, his expression grave. "This aura... it feels like it doesn't belong to your average person. Could someone have broken through into the Golden Core Realm in our small town? Impossible."
Without wasting a breath, he blurred into motion, flashing across rooftops until he arrived at the arena. What he saw made his pupils contract.
Ouyang Min lay unconscious on the floor,his men were all strewn across the arena, groaning in pain, while the crowd that had gathered stood frozen in shock.
Standing at the centre of the arena was Zhengyi Zhiguang. His white robe billowed in the fading light, and his aura, calm but terrifyingly deep, seemed to suppress even the heavens.
Shi Tianlei landed gently on the ground. "Zhiguang?"
Zhengyi turned slowly. His eyes were serene, yet he carried a wisdom far beyond his years.
"Town Head," he greeted respectfully.
Shi Tianlei studied the boy in silence, then walked past the unconscious bodies and placed a palm on Ouyang Min's chest. "No serious injuries, he'll be okay."
He turned back to Zhengyi, his tone wary. "What realm are you in?"
Zhengyi replied calmly, "Level 9 Body Refining. On the verge of Foundation Establishment."
At the same time, trouble brewed elsewhere. The Ouyang family, already shaken by the public humiliation of Ouyang Min, decided to retaliate. They assembled a force led by Ouyang Min's father, Ouyang Ren, and several family elders. Their purpose: to punish Zhengyi Zhiguang and restore the family's lost dignity.
Zhengyi stood calmly in the courtyard of the Morning Dew Restaurant, now deserted after word of his return spread. He wore a pristine white robe that fluttered in the breeze, his long black hair trailing down his back. His ocean-blue eyes radiated a quiet power that made the incoming cultivators hesitate.
"Zhengyi Zhiguang!" bellowed Ouyang Ren, striding forward. "You dare lay hands on my son? You've gone too far!"
Ouyang Min, his face bruised and twisted with rage, stood behind his father. "Father, kill him! He humiliated me before the entire town!"
Zhengyi stepped forward. "He tried to kill me. What I did was mercy."
"How dare you talk to your elder like that" Ouyang Ren bellowed.
"What elder?"
Furious Ouyang Ren signalled the elders to attack. Five elders, all late-stage body refining cultivators, surged forward with coordinated attacks.
But Zhengyi didn't flinch.
In one fluid movement, he struck with a palm technique that bent the air around him. His movements were elegant but carried overwhelming force. One elder was blown back instantly, crashing into the nearby wall with a groan. The next was swept off his feet by a sweeping kick that cracked the ground beneath them.
The others tried to form a formation, but Zhengyi dashed through them like a phantom, using a footwork art from his past life. Within moments, the elders were groaning on the ground, unable to continue.
Gasps rang out from the gathered onlookers. "He defeated them all... alone?"
But before the crowd could recover, terrible pressure descended on the area. Space trembled, and the air turned heavy. A golden-robed old man appeared in midair, stepping through a ripple in the sky.
"Ouyang family greets Ancestor Ouyang Xuan!" Ouyang Ren dropped to his knees.
Zhengyi's gaze sharpened. "Golden Core Realm..."
This man was Ouyang Xuan, a cultivator of the previous generation. He was not only the family's ancestor but also a peer of Shi Tianlei's late father. He had secluded himself for decades in pursuit of greater power.
The Town Head, sensing the escalating situation, arrived in a flash. "Ouyang Xuan, do not forget that this is my town."
Ouyang Xuan's expression was indifferent. "Shi Tianlei, the boy almost crippled my family's heirs. This can not go unanswered."
Shi Tianlei's gaze flicked to Zhengyi. "Let him speak for himself."
Zhengyi stepped forward, his tone calm. "Your descendants attacked first. I merely defended myself. If justice means favouring the aggressor, then I must question your title as an elder."
Ouyang Xuan's eyes narrowed. "You're bold."
Then, without warning, he raised a hand. A golden palm the size of a house materialized above Zhengyi.
Zhengyi's eyes gleamed. He unleashed a divine technique, formed from remnants of his previous life, "Palm of Judgement." A radiant blast of qi burst from his core, laced with the force of the heavens. The golden palm cracked and dispersed under the pressure.
The townspeople screamed in awe. "He withstood a Golden Core Realm attack?!"
Shi Tianlei raised a hand. "Enough! If you push this any further, you threaten the town itself."
Ouyang Xuan restrained his anger since the town is under the Mythic Cloud Sect, one of the 5 overlords of Xi Continent, and the town head is their representative and if anything happens to Jim he'll have to answer to Mythic Cloud Sect and even as a Golden Core cultivator, he can't withstand their fury.
Ouyang Xuan glared at Zhengyi, then withdrew with a snort. "This isn't over."
The Ouyang family departed in disgrace, their pride shattered.
Shi Tianlei turned to Zhengyi. "You've changed... You're not the boy I once knew. But you have my gratitude. Your mother is dear to this town.
"I only did what was necessary," Zhengyi replied.
During the entire ordeal, Mei Xue wasn't able to take any action.
Later, at home, Mei Xue sat beside her son.
"Zhengyi... what happened to you? How did you gain such power overnight?"
He hesitated, then said softly, "Mother, I remembered who I was."
Her eyes widened, but before she could speak, he sat her down. "Let me check your pulse."
He gently placed two fingers on her wrist, and a moment later, his eyes widened. "Mother… you possess a Pure Moon Jade Constitution."
"A what?" she blinked.
"It's an extremely rare and powerful physique, perfect for cultivating moon and ice elemental techniques. If properly cultivated, you could reach heights greater than the Town Head himself."
She looked doubtful. "But I've never trained in such arts."
"You didn't have the right method. But I have one its a legacy technique from the Supreme Moon Palace, a sect that only accepts women and is known for their unrivalled moon-ice cultivation arts."
"You're going to give me such a precious technique?" she asked, heart aching with pride and worry.
"You're my mother. Of course I will."
He passed on to her the Frozen Moon Lotus Scripture, a foundational art of the Supreme Moon Palace. Its elegant yet profound methods allowed Mei Xue to begin absorbing the moon's essence during her meditations.
Over the next two months, Zhengyi stayed in Ravenwood Town. On the surface, it was to rest and avoid attention—but in truth, he had other goals.
He took two months to guide his mother in her cultivation. During this time, he refined his strength, stabilizing the massive power he had suddenly regained.
Under his guidance, Mei Xue's cultivation rose steadily. Her spiritual aura became serene, refined, like the moonlight itself. With her Pure Moon Jade Constitution and Zhengyi's careful guidance, she made swift progress, advancing from a level 8 Foundation Establishment cultivator to level 9 within six weeks. Her aura grew colder and more refined, like a serene night blanketed by silver snow.
Throughout this two months' time, she noticed the changes in behaviour, the knowledge, and the guidance he gave her, and she couldn't help but express concern.
"You speak and behave like someone who's lived a thousand lifetimes," she said one evening.
"I have," Zhengyi replied with a distant smile. "Would you believe me if i said i remembered my past life and in my past life, I stood at the peak… and was betrayed before I could ascend."
"You mean… this power, this change, it's all because you remembered?"
Zhengyi nodded. "I was once the Primordial Immortal God. My sworn brother envied me and struck during my final breakthrough."
Her heart clenched, both from pain and awe, even though she had no idea what the cultivation realm he mentioned was.
"And now?"
"Now, I'll walk the path again. But this time… no betrayal will catch me unaware. "
Two months passed like fleeting mist. The quiet rhythms of Ravenwood Town continued, the past commotion although not forgotten, the discussion about it has subsided, but for Zhengyi Zhiguang, each day was a silent furnace of cultivation. Beneath the moonlit sky, he often stood on the rooftop of their small home, gazing toward the endless mountains beyond. His qi had stabilized, his senses sharpened, and the sealed depths of his past life had begun to stir with clarity. Yet even as he trained and guided his mother's growth, he felt a subtle pull in his soul, a yearning for something greater, he knew... staying here any longer would only delay the journey ahead of him.
It wasn't until the beginning of the third month that Zhengyi made the decision to leave Ravenwood. The region was small, with limited cultivation resources. His path required trials, dangers, and fortuitous encounters.
At this time, he has already started forming his Golden Core as he has crossed over the Foundation Establishment stage due to his already opened meridians.
On his final night at home, he stood under the moonlight, dressed in his white flowing robe, sword strapped to his back. Mei Xue stood beside him.
"It's time I left," he said, gazing at the distant mountains.
"Must you go?" Mei Xue asked, her eyes glistening.
"This town is too small. I need resources, treasures, and challenges. My path doesn't end here."
She smiled sadly. "Then go. But remember, no matter how far you walk... your mother will always be waiting."
Zhengyi bowed deeply. "I promise."
With one last look, he stepped onto the path leading out of Ravenwood, his white robe fluttering like a celestial cloud.
(Author's Note: Please tell me your honest thoughts about this chapter in the comments and what you think might come next).