Yi Yang awoke with the first light of dawn. His sleep had been restless, filled with strange dreams—fragments of Lian's past life mixed with Yi Yang's old memories. But what truly woke him was the seal in his palm, pulsing powerfully as if calling out to him.
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his palm. The Yin-Yang symbol still rotated slowly, but something new had appeared around it: small numbers glowing with a faint blue light.
Current Level: 1
Progress: 0/100
Yang: 5 points
Yin: 5 points
Balance: Perfect
Beneath these numbers, small words appeared:
"Level 1: Foundation Stone. Everything begins here. Everything you knew before is worthless."
Yi Yang felt a pang in his heart. Even in this new world, he was at the bottom. But this time, at least there was a ladder to climb.
He stood up and walked to the window. The palace's rear courtyard was quiet at this early hour. The cold morning air entered his lungs, and he felt a strange energy flowing with each breath.
"Natural Qi energy detected. Beginning automatic absorption."
Blue text appeared in his field of vision. He felt a gentle flow of energy entering his body through points in his palms and the soles of his feet. The numbers on his seal changed:
Progress: 1/100
"So even breathing raises my level," he whispered to himself.
---
The First Training Session:
Yi Yang decided to take advantage of the morning quiet. He went out to a deserted corner of the rear courtyard where old trees blocked the view.
He sat in a meditation posture, trying to remember what he had read in previous novels about Qi training. He closed his eyes, attempting to concentrate.
"Unorganized training attempt detected. Automatic guidance system activated."
Suddenly, he felt strange guidance. The energy within his body began moving along specific pathways. In his mind, he saw a diagram of a human body with glowing energy lines.
"First Pathway: Lung Meridian. Begin with deep breathing."
He followed the instructions. Long inhale, slow exhale. With each breathing cycle, he felt energy accumulating in his chest.
Progress: 3/100
Yang: 5.1 points
Yin: 5.1 points
After an hour, he had completed ten cycles. Progress reached 10/100. But he felt exhausted. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and his lungs ached.
"Warning: Current body extremely weak. Recommended to stop."
"No," Yi Yang said aloud. "Not yet."
He continued. Another cycle. Then another.
By the fifteenth cycle, he began to feel dizzy. At the eighteenth cycle, he heard a voice behind him.
"You're killing yourself this way."
He turned quickly. Standing there was a girl who appeared seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing simple maid's clothing, but her eyes... they weren't a maid's eyes. They were sharp, intelligent, holding knowledge beyond her years.
"Who are you?" Yi Yang asked, still sitting.
"I'm just a maid," she said, but her tone wasn't that of a maid. "But even a maid knows that Qi training without a solid foundation is suicide."
"How do you know I'm training Qi?"
She looked at his forehead where the wound mark still remained. "Because the blood is still fresh on the Yin-Yang amulet. And you're sitting where the last seal-bearer died."
Yi Yang fell silent. "Died?"
"Exploded from within," the girl said quietly. "Level 1 only holds a small cup of energy. You're trying to fill an ocean."
"How do you know all this?"
She smiled a mysterious smile. "Palace maids hear a lot. Especially when no one thinks they're listening."
She walked a little closer. "My name is Mira. A maid in the Third Wife's wing."
"Lian," said Yi Yang.
"I know," said Mira. "Everyone knows the weak boy, son of the Second Wife."
But her way of saying it wasn't mocking. It was simply factual.
"So, what do you advise, O knowledgeable maid Mira?"
She took out a small rice paper scroll from her clothes. "Basic pathways. The simplest breathing exercises. Start with this. When you can circulate energy through all twelve basic pathways without pain, come back to me."
She gave him the scroll, then turned to leave.
"Why are you helping me?" Yi Yang asked.
She stopped, looking at him over her shoulder. "Because the last seal-bearer was my friend. And because I think you're different."
"Different how?"
"Because when you looked at me, you didn't look at me as a maid." Then she disappeared among the trees.
---
Encounter with Kai:
Upon returning to his room, Kai was waiting for him at the door.
"Where have you been?" Kai asked in an accusatory tone.
"Walking in the courtyard," Yi Yang answered with partial honesty.
"Walking? You could barely stand yesterday."
"Yesterday was yesterday," Yi Yang said, entering his room.
Kai followed him. "What happened to you? Really. You're... different."
"Maybe I decided to change."
"Change doesn't happen overnight," Kai said, his eyes examining Yi Yang carefully. "Unless there's... external intervention."
Yi Yang stopped. "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Kai whispered. "The amulet. The blood. The light. All the servants are talking about it."
"So you know."
"Of course I know," Kai said, sitting on a chair without invitation. "Father gave me strict warning. Don't talk about it. Don't ask about it. Pretend nothing happened."
"So why are you disobeying him now?"
Because Kai looked at him strangely. "Because I want to know. Because... my mother was also interested in these matters. And before she died, she warned me."
"Warned you about what?"
"About seeking easy power," Kai said. "She said: 'Power that comes quickly, leaves quickly. And more importantly, comes at a high price.'"
Yi Yang sat on his bed. "What do you want from me, Kai?"
"I want to know the price," Kai answered honestly. "Everything has a price. This divine seal... what will it cost you?"
Yi Yang didn't answer. Because he didn't know the answer.
Kai stood up. "I'll be watching you. If you start losing your mind... I'll stop you myself."
"And do you really care?"
"No," Kai said as he left. "But Father will punish me if something happens to you. And I hate being punished."
---
Night and Secret Training:
As night fell, Yi Yang opened Mira's scroll.
It contained simple diagrams of energy pathways and breathing instructions. But in the bottom corner, there was a small note:
"The Nine Levels aren't just a measure of power, but a measure of balance. Each level has its own test. Level 1: Dual Control. You must prove you can use Yang and Yin together, not just alternately."
He opened his room window and quietly climbed to the roof. The moon was full, its silver light bathing the rooftops.
He sat in the moonlight and tried the exercises.
Inhale... golden Yang energy flowed.
Exhale... silver Yin energy spread.
But trying to use them together... was disastrous.
"Warning: Energy conflict. Stop immediately."
Sharp pain in his chest. He coughed and found light blood on his hand.
"I won't know unless I try," he whispered to himself.
He tried again. This time, he started more slowly. Instead of trying to merge the energy, he tried to make it flow in parallel pathways.
Right hand: Yang.
Left hand: Yin.
He raised his hands, trying to make the two energies meet at a point between them.
At first, they resisted. Like similar magnetic poles repelling each other.
Then... something changed.
Perhaps it was the moonlight. Perhaps it was his concentration. Perhaps it was the seal itself.
The two energies began to rotate around each other. A small vortex of gold and silver formed between his hands.
"Discovery: Initial Balance. Progress +20"
Progress: 30/100
The vortex lasted for several seconds, then quietly dissipated.
Yi Yang fell onto his back, breathing heavily. But he was smiling.
He had done it.
---
The Surprise:
The sound of soft clapping.
He sat up quickly. On the edge of the adjacent roof sat Mira, her legs swinging in the air.
"Not bad," she said. "But you're still far from Level 2."
"How long does it take an ordinary person to reach Level 2?" he asked.
"A year. Maybe two if talented," she answered.
"And if not talented?"
"Five years. Or never."
"And you? What level are you?"
Mira smiled. "A simple maid at Level 3."
But her way of saying it made him suspect she was deliberately downplaying herself.
"Why are you really helping me?" he asked again.
This time, she answered. "Because this world... is unbalanced. Power is concentrated in the hands of a few. The weak are crushed. And when I heard about the return of Tian Wu's seal... I hoped that maybe, this time, someone would use it differently."
"Differently how?"
"To create true balance. Not for control, but for balance."
Yi Yang looked at the seal in his palm. "Level 1 of 9. It's a long road."
"Every journey begins with a step," Mira said as she stood. "And you've taken your first steps. But beware, Kai isn't your only enemy. The entire clan will start noticing you soon."
"What will they do?"
"Either exploit you. Or destroy you," she said, preparing to leave. "Train well, Lian. Or should I say... Yi Yang."
His heart stopped for a moment. "How..."
"Palace maids hear a lot," she repeated, smiling. "Especially strange names you whisper in your sleep."
Then she jumped from the roof and disappeared into the darkness.
---
End of Chapter Two:
Yi Yang remained sitting on the roof, looking at the seal in his palm.
Current Level: 1
Progress: 30/100
Yang: 5.5 points
Yin: 5.5 points
Balance: Fluctuating
Only Level 1. Out of 9.
But for the first time since his death and awakening in this world, he felt something resembling hope.
Hope... and fear.
Because he was beginning to understand: this journey wouldn't be easy.
And he wouldn't be alone in it.
End of Chapter Two
---
What awaits in Chapter Three:
· The official Level 1 test
· The first public opposition within the clan
· Beginning of suspicions about Yi Yang's true identity
· Unveiling part of Mira's mysterious past
· The first real confrontation with a Level 2 fighter