The afternoon sun dipped low over Yunping, casting amber hues across the hamlet's square as villagers gathered in tense clusters. The air retained a faint ozone scent from Rong Shen's violet rift, a lingering threat from the 12th Cycle's unrest. Lin Hao sat on the ancestral grove's edge, the Lotus Soul Amulet resting in his lap, its golden runes dimming to a soft pulse.
His chest ached with the unfamiliar thrum of his spiritual vein, a fragile thread awakened by the amulet. The shield against Rong Shen's flames had drained him, leaving his limbs heavy with fatigue. Yet the amulet's warmth steadied his breath, a quiet promise of the power he now held.
Master Zhang Wei approached, his staff tapping the earth with a steady rhythm. His silver beard swayed in the breeze, clouded eyes reflecting concern. "You've stirred a tempest, Lin Hao," he said, voice low. "The Lotus Soul Amulet calls to the Ethereal Gate and beyond, drawing peril in the 12th Cycle."
Lin Hao lifted his gaze, dark eyes narrowing with resolve. "Then I'll be ready. This vein, this power—it's mine to protect." His fingers traced the amulet's lotus contours, its warmth evoking visions of ethereal spires.
Zhang Wei sighed, lowering himself beside him with a groan. "Power is a dual-edged blade, child. The amulet grants a vein, but it summons dangers from the ethereal realm." His gaze drifted to the Lotus Veil's peaks. "I once chased such strength, only to be humbled—guidance is your only hope."
Lin Hao nodded, though his spirit resisted caution. "Teach me, Master Zhang. Show me to cultivate this vein." He clenched his fist, determination flaring. "I'll face any threat."
The elder studied him, then nodded. "We begin tonight, under the Crescent Moon's light. The ethereal breeze rises then, a spiritual current to test your soul." He rose, shuffling back to the square, leaving Lin Hao to steel himself.
As day waned, Yunping buzzed with tension. Villagers whispered of the amulet, their voices blending awe and fear. A young girl, Mei Ling—named after his mother—approached with a bowl of rice porridge, her wide eyes fixed on the relic.
"Is it true you defied the keeper?" she asked, voice a timid whisper. Lin Hao offered a faint smile, accepting the bowl. "I survived, at least. That's enough for now."
The porridge's warmth eased his tired frame. Mei Ling lingered, her curiosity a stark contrast to the adults' wariness. She stirred memories of his own youth, before loss shaped him.
Night fell, cloaking the hamlet in silence broken by crickets' chirps. Lin Hao met Zhang Wei at the grove, where a circle of stones surrounded a shallow fire pit. The elder had kindled a fire, its flames casting dancing shadows on ancient trees.
"Sit," Zhang Wei instructed, pointing to a flat stone. "Close your eyes and feel the ethereal breeze. Let it guide you to your vein." Lin Hao obeyed, settling cross-legged, the amulet's pulse syncing with his breath.
At first, he sensed only the cool night air. A faint hum rose, a vibration from the earth like a monk's chant. The warmth in his chest flared, and he focused, willing the energy to flow.
Sweat beaded on his brow as he struggled to direct it. "Steady your mind," Zhang Wei's voice pierced the haze. "Envision a gentle stream, not a torrent. Guide it with care."
Lin Hao pictured a clear, flowing stream. The energy settled into a steady rhythm, tingling from his core to his limbs. He tasted true cultivation, a sensation both foreign and exhilarating.
His eyes opened, a grin breaking through. "I felt it!" Zhang Wei nodded, stern. "A seed, not a harvest. Your vein is tender—push too hard, and it'll shatter."
The elder tossed a jade token into the fire. It crackled, releasing green smoke to anchor the connection. "Tomorrow, we seek the Verdant Lotus Sect. The amulet's power draws danger Yunping can't withstand."
Before Lin Hao could respond, a sharp cry split the night. He leaped up, the amulet flaring. A figure emerged from the grove, tall and lithe in indigo robes.
Her hair flowed like midnight ink, eyes glowing silver. A curved sword hung at her hip, its blade etched with runes. She paused beyond the fire, exuding a predator's grace.
"I am Jiao Mei, envoy of the Silent Orchid Clan," she declared, voice cool and commanding. "The Lotus Soul Amulet belongs to the ethereal realm. Surrender it, and I may spare you." Lin Hao tightened his grip, stepping forward.
"It chose me," he said defiantly. "I won't yield." The vein pulsed, fueling his resolve. Zhang Wei rose, staff glowing faintly.
"Jiao Mei, this boy is under my care," the elder said. "The amulet awoke to his spirit, not by theft." Jiao Mei's lips curved into a smirk.
"An old man and a hollow?" she taunted. "The clan will scorn this. The amulet is for those proven in ethereal rites—you're untested." Her hand rested on her sword hilt.
"Then test me," Lin Hao challenged, voice steady. The amulet's warmth surged, energy gathering in his palms. Instinct drove him, though he lacked training.
Jiao Mei drew her blade, its edge glinting in the firelight. "A duel, then. Survive three strikes, and I'll consider your claim. Fail, and the amulet is mine." She lunged, sword arcing with speed.
Lin Hao raised the amulet, a golden shield flaring. The impact jolted his arms, but he held firm. "First strike," Jiao Mei said, circling.
Her second attack swept from the side. Lin Hao ducked, rolling as the blade grazed his robe. The vein burned, urging him to act.
He thrust the amulet forward, releasing a burst of light. Jiao Mei staggered back, eyes widening. "Second strike," she acknowledged.
"Untrained, yet favored," she mused. "Let's see your limit." Her third strike was a flurry, forcing him to weave and dodge.
His body ached, breath coming in gasps. He focused on the vein's flow, channeling energy at the last moment. A wave of light knocked her sword aside.
The grove fell silent, fire crackling softly. Jiao Mei sheathed her blade, silver eyes locking with his. "Three strikes survived," she said.
"You've earned a reprieve, Lin Hao," she continued. "But the Silent Orchid Clan won't relent. Train, or the next meeting ends you." She vanished into the mist, leaving a trail of ethereal energy.
Zhang Wei exhaled, lowering his staff. "You've made an enemy, and gained time. We must flee to the Verdant Lotus Sect—the ethereal realm calls." Lin Hao sank onto the stone, amulet glowing faintly.
The vein pulsed stronger, a sign of growth. Suddenly, the ground trembled, and a violet light pierced the darkness. Rong Shen emerged, flanked by enforcers.
"The amulet's power betrays you," he snarled. "Surrender before the next lunar cycle, or Yunping falls." Lin Hao's heart raced as flames ignited, his fate teetering on the edge.