The first light of dawn timidly seeped through the cracks of the cave, dancing upon the damp stones as if attempting to awaken a place long shrouded in eternal silence. Amidst that silence, Liu Shan stood beside the corpse of his old master—the man who had spent thousands of years with him—staring down with eyes filled with sorrow and reverence.
Despite his immense power, which surpassed all expectations, his heart weighed heavy with the feeling of weakness."I am still weak… truly weak!" he murmured to himself, gazing at the body of the man who had taught him everything, even the mysterious numbers that had replaced the names of the stages.
He did not yet realize that every step he had taken over thousands of years had been extraordinary, that even the iron sword in his hand was of divine rank, and that his simple sandals were celestial treasures. In his mind, his master had been nothing more than an ordinary cultivator, devoid of great power, devoid of secrets.
He began preparing a resting place for his master in the heart of the cave—a simple pit carved with care, surrounded by the stones that had witnessed hundreds of years of training and meditation. Gently, he laid his master to rest, then sat before him, placing a hand upon the cold chest, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath:
"You have taught me all I know… yet… I am still weak," he whispered, as if the words were drawn from the very depths of the earth.
After a moment of silence, he performed his final respects. Slowly, Liu Shan raised his hands and bowed thrice before the grave, each bow carrying a thousand words of gratitude, a thousand years of solitude and patience, a thousand secrets still undiscovered.
When the rites were complete, he rose once more, gazing upon the cave that had sheltered him all his life. Every stone, every ray of light, every echo of dripping water became a part of his memory, a part of the path he would now begin—alone, in search of true immortality.
Before leaving, Liu Shan wandered through the corners and tunnels he had known for thousands of years, seeking any trace of his master. In a dark corner, he spotted a small wooden box. Upon opening it, a faint celestial blue glow emerged.
Inside, he found a small dagger etched with strange runes, tiny luminescent pills radiating pure blue Chi, and meticulously crafted potions that appeared ordinary but were in truth of heavenly rank. A strange feeling filled his heart, yet he did not recognize their true value. "Just simple tools… nothing special."
Stepping further, he approached stone shelves carved into the rock. There lay the iron sword he had carried all along, just a single point in a sea of treasures. Gems sparkled, crystals emitted energy, and ancient tomes contained the secrets of immortal cultivators. Every item was of divine rank, yet to him, they appeared as ordinary instruments.
Despite the grief clutching his heart, Liu Shan did not cease his training. He seated himself in a small clearing within the cave and began refining his body, circulating the blue Chi through his veins. His movements seemed simple, yet in reality, they defied the limits of heaven. The techniques he considered weak cracked stones with the force of Chi and made the air groan under the pressure of his energy.
"I am weak…", he muttered again, yet a shiver ran through him, as though the heavens themselves were watching. It was clear that this body, this Chi, and this power surpassed all natural limits, but his mind had yet to comprehend it.
When the time came, Liu Shan stood at the cave entrance. One last glance at the place, every chamber and tunnel, every memory and trace of his master. Then he slung the sword across his back, hoisted his pouch onto his shoulder, and took his first steps into the outside world.
His first step beyond the cave was not merely a step on the earth; it was the beginning of a world unknown, filled with opportunities and dangers, a world that would spare no cultivator—not even the strongest. And despite the incredible power he had yet to realize, only one thought remained in his mind:
"I am weak… but I will become immortal."