Lin Xuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, staring at the tiny, barren patch of farmland before him. The sun had been beating down relentlessly for hours, turning his black hair into a sweaty mess and making the air shimmer with heat. He groaned. "I swear, if anyone tells me farming is relaxing again, I'm throwing a hoe at them."
His stomach growled. "Okay, Lin Xuan, think positive… at least no one's chasing you with swords yet. That's progress." He chuckled at his own joke, but the laugh quickly died in his throat when his spade struck something unusually hard in the dirt.
Crouching down, he brushed away the soil to reveal a small, pulsating stone, glowing with colors that seemed to dance in the sunlight. Lin Xuan blinked. "Uh… that can't be… right?"
He poked it gently. The stone shivered under his touch, and suddenly a warm, tingling energy surged through his body. His hair stood on end, and he stumbled back, almost tripping over his own feet.
"What… the—?" he stammered, clutching the stone. A voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "Only those with the purest potential may awaken me."
Lin Xuan froze, eyes wide. "Uh… hi?" He waved a hand in front of his face. "Hello? Are you, like… a talking rock or something?"
The stone pulsed again, almost as if it was laughing. Lin Xuan flinched. "Great. Just great. My first magical encounter, and it already hates me."
By nightfall, Lin Xuan had attempted meditation, energy absorption, and even politely asking the stone to "maybe, please, not explode." To his surprise, he began to feel different—his senses sharper, his movements quicker, and a strange warmth filled his chest. For the first time, Lin Xuan realized he might actually be… special.