Chapter 7: Awakening amd Potential
The village square was filled with tension. Today was Jihan's Heaven Fire aptitude test, the trial that would reveal his potential as a cultivator. Unlike his sister Jahin, who had long since left for the sect, Jihan had remained in the village, quietly observing, calculating, and waiting.
At fifteen, he had grown taller and stronger, but his dark eyes retained the calm, calculating intensity of someone far older than his years. His heart, however, carried a heavy burden. He still did not know the full circumstances of his parents' deaths — only vague rumors that haunted the village.
Before the test began, a familiar presence appeared. Jahin, now a late-stage Qi cultivator, had returned. Her aura exuded strength and calm, the kind only years of disciplined training could produce. Villagers whispered as she walked past, her reputation already well-known: in just three years, she would reach the Foundation Building stage, a feat few could achieve at such a young age.
"Jihan," she said softly, her eyes scanning him carefully. "I've come to tell you… about our parents. They will not return. You must be strong and protect yourself. Do not let their death be in vain."
Jihan's expression remained neutral, but his mind calculated everything. Death is inevitable. Weakness is dangerous. I will survive.
He glanced at the Heaven Fire in the center of the square. His aptitude rank was 3 — not a genius, but far from weak. He could survive the trial, but progress would be slower compared to someone like Jahin. Most of all, he didn't want to join the sect. The thought of submitting to an organization and following its rules irritated him. He had his own plan.
Jahin smiled faintly. "I understand you don't want to go to the sect. That's fine. But you must learn to cultivate, even here. I'll give you a cultivation skill — something to help you start. Master it, and it will help you survive, no matter what comes next."
From within her robes, she pulled out a small scroll, its edges faintly glowing with Qi. "This is the Basic Qi Circulation Technique. It is simple but effective. With practice, you can start controlling your Qi, refine your body, and prepare for Foundation Building in the future."
Jihan took the scroll, his dark eyes studying it carefully. A gift from her… predictable, but useful. Perfect for my first step.
He didn't speak. Words were unnecessary. Actions mattered. He unrolled the scroll and began to practice, following the detailed instructions. Qi flowed hesitantly at first, clumsy and weak, but slowly, it began to circulate through his body.
The Heaven Fire loomed before him, but for now, Jihan had another trial: mastering his own body and Qi, guided by his sister's gift.
Rank 3… slow, steady, predictable. Just how I like it. Genius or trash, I control my own path.
Even as the villagers watched in anticipation, and Jahin stood silently by, Jihan's mind was already planning the next steps — the future cultivation, the eventual awakening of the system, and the path that would make him stronger than anyone in this world.
This is only the beginning.