Chapter 11 – Reunited
The morning air drifted slowly through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and dew clinging to the leaves. The forest that last night had felt like a valley of death now seemed a little calmer—though every shadow still held the promise of danger.
I leaned against the trunk of a great tree, my body heavy, every joint resisting movement. The wound on my left shoulder had dried, though pain still flared whenever I lifted my arm. The night of terror had finally passed, yet the hollow ache from losing an avatar still gnawed at my core.
"It's morning…" I whispered, watching streaks of orange light pierce through the canopy.
Light footsteps rustled through the undergrowth. My instincts tightened, hand closing around a large stone beside me. But before I could hurl it, a voice I knew all too well followed the steps.
"I've returned."
Through a veil of mist, Qin appeared. His form mirrored mine, only colder in expression, eyes always sharp with calculation. He walked closer without a word, sat before me, and studied the wound on my shoulder.
"The main body nearly broke last night," he said flatly. "If not for the avatar's sacrifice, we wouldn't be speaking here."
I stayed silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "I know. Still… it feels like I lost a piece of myself."
Qin didn't reply. His face was expressionless, yet because we shared the same consciousness, I knew he carried the same weight.
---
For a long while we sat in silence, accompanied only by wind and birdsong. But I knew we couldn't just mourn. The world wouldn't stop moving.
"Did you find anything?" I finally asked.
Qin nodded. "Several things. Rumors, old records, whispers—perhaps only half-true. But all important."
I straightened, curiosity pushing aside the pain. "Tell me."
"First, there are rumors of an ancient sect that once researched what they called the true path of evolution. The villagers only know fragments, but it seems they believed humans could surpass ordinary evolution. The sect vanished after some great calamity hundreds of years ago."
I narrowed my eyes. The true path of evolution… The words felt both strange and enticing.
"Second," Qin continued, "I found an old record written by a village healer. He wrote of a 'gate in the sky' that collapsed long ago—very similar to the rift we saw last night. Which means this isn't the first time the world has been invaded from beyond."
A heavy sigh escaped me. So dimensional rifts weren't just a new disaster—they were part of an old cycle.
"And lastly," Qin lowered his voice, "there are whispers of people with strange divine abilities, their power far above the rest. Some have already begun gathering, forming the seeds of new sects."
I fell quiet, processing everything. Alien monsters were already a threat, and now I had to contend with other humans who could become enemies. The world was changing too quickly.
---
I raised my hand and summoned the status panel. Pale light shimmered in the air, its words cold and unforgiving.
---
Status – Lu Yuan
Main Body: Severely wounded (slow recovery, stamina drained)
Remaining Lifespan: [-3 years]
Avatars: Qin (active)
Cultivation: Foundation Realm (unstable)
Evolution: Stage 1 (early)
Soul Condition: Weakened (fragment lost)
---
My gaze hardened. Losing the avatar hadn't only cost me lifespan—it had scarred my soul. The debuff was clear, an emptiness that couldn't be filled.
"If it goes on like this, I won't last long," I muttered.
Qin's stare was sharp. "That's why we must find another way. A new technique, a cultivation path, or a method to strengthen avatars without burning away so much lifespan."
I dismissed the panel, its glow fading. He was right. Until now, I had relied only on the ability's simplest function, never thinking further. If I kept repeating the same mistakes, I'd die before ever touching true power.
---
The sun slowly climbed, warming the forest's cold air. I stood, though my body trembled. Qin rose beside me, face still calm and cold.
"Our next step?" he asked.
I looked east, where morning light pierced the mist. "We need a safe place. From there, we'll gather more information—about the old sect, about the true path of evolution, about anything that can give us strength. I won't remain prey any longer."
Qin nodded. We didn't need many words—our resolve was one.
I drew a deep breath, letting the sunlight cut through the leaves. My wounds still burned, but inside, another fire was awakening.
I wouldn't let the next rift find me weak. The world might be collapsing, but I would stand in the heart of the storm.
A faint roar echoed from the distance, shaking the leaves. Qin and I exchanged a glance, then turned forward again.
"Let's go," I murmured. "The journey has only just begun."
---