Night had fallen over the city once again.
The bright lights of the streets slowly dimmed as people returned to their homes. Cars disappeared from the roads, and the noise of the day faded into quiet silence.
Above the city, the sky was deep and dark.
Thousands of stars shone faintly in the distance.
On the hill outside the city, Lin Tian sat calmly beneath the open sky.
The cool night breeze moved gently through the trees around him.
His eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady.
Once again, he was practicing the technique he had recently rediscovered—absorbing cosmic energy from the stars.
A faint stream of invisible energy flowed down from the sky, slowly entering his body.
Although the amount was small, the quality of the energy was extremely high.
Inside his meridians, the cosmic energy mixed with the spiritual energy he had already cultivated.
The combination strengthened his body further.
Lin Tian carefully guided the energy through his body.
His control was precise and calm.
Compared to the previous night, he was slightly more comfortable absorbing the cosmic energy.
His body was slowly adapting.
Minutes passed quietly.
Then suddenly—
Lin Tian opened his eyes.
His sharp senses had detected something unusual.
Someone was nearby.
He stood up slowly and looked around the forest.
The hill was quiet.
The trees swayed gently in the wind.
But Lin Tian could clearly feel a faint presence hidden in the distance.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who's there?" he said calmly.
For several seconds, there was no response.
The forest remained silent.
Then—
A soft voice came from behind one of the large trees.
"You noticed me."
A young girl slowly stepped out from the shadows.
She looked around the same age as Lin Tian.
Her long black hair moved gently in the wind, and her clear eyes seemed unusually sharp.
She wore simple clothes, but there was something strange about her presence.
Her aura was calm but powerful.
Lin Tian quietly observed her.
Although she appeared ordinary, his instincts immediately told him something important.
This girl was not normal.
The girl also studied Lin Tian with equal curiosity.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, the girl broke the silence.
"You were cultivating just now," she said.
Lin Tian's expression did not change.
But inside, he was slightly surprised.
Most people on Earth could not sense spiritual energy.
Yet this girl had not only sensed it—she had recognized it.
"You understand cultivation?" Lin Tian asked calmly.
The girl tilted her head slightly and smiled.
"A little."
Her answer was vague, but it confirmed Lin Tian's suspicion.
This girl possessed knowledge of cultivation.
That meant one thing.
Earth might still have hidden cultivators.
The girl walked a few steps closer.
Her eyes carefully examined Lin Tian.
"You're interesting," she said.
Lin Tian remained calm.
"In what way?"
The girl crossed her arms and looked up at the stars briefly before answering.
"The energy around you is different."
She pointed slightly toward him.
"Most cultivators use spiritual energy from the earth."
"But you…"
She paused for a moment.
"You're drawing power from the stars."
Lin Tian's eyes sharpened slightly.
This girl's perception was incredibly strong.
Even though he had hidden his aura carefully, she had still sensed the difference.
"You're quite observant," Lin Tian said.
The girl smiled again.
"I've been watching you for the past two nights."
Lin Tian did not show any reaction, but inside he was surprised.
Two nights?
That meant she had been nearby while he practiced cosmic absorption.
Yet he had only sensed her tonight.
Her ability to hide her presence must be very strong.
The girl sat down on a nearby rock.
"So," she said casually, "who are you?"
Lin Tian did not answer immediately.
Instead, he asked his own question.
"Who are you?"
The girl laughed softly.
"Fair enough."
She looked toward the distant city lights before speaking.
"My name is Su Mei."
Her voice was calm and confident.
"I guess you could say I'm a… traveler."
Lin Tian studied her expression carefully.
"Traveler?"
"Yes," she said simply.
"I move from place to place."
Lin Tian could tell she was not telling the whole truth.
But he also understood that she probably felt the same about him.
Neither of them were ready to reveal their secrets.
Su Mei suddenly looked back at him with curiosity.
"You're strong for someone your age."
Lin Tian said nothing.
Su Mei continued speaking.
"Most cultivators I've seen can barely sense spiritual energy."
"But you…"
She pointed toward the sky again.
"You're absorbing cosmic energy directly."
Her eyes shone slightly with excitement.
"That's rare."
Lin Tian finally spoke again.
"How do you know so much about cultivation?"
Su Mei shrugged slightly.
"I've met some interesting people."
Her answer was mysterious, but Lin Tian could sense she was not lying.
For a moment, both of them looked up at the night sky.
The stars continued shining quietly above them.
After a few seconds, Su Mei spoke again.
"You should be careful."
Lin Tian turned his gaze toward her.
"Why?"
Su Mei's expression became slightly serious.
"The energy you released tonight was strong."
"Strong enough that someone else might notice."
Lin Tian's eyes narrowed.
"Someone else?"
Su Mei nodded.
"There are people who watch for unusual energy fluctuations."
Her tone became quieter.
"And not all of them are friendly."
Lin Tian considered her words carefully.
If what she said was true, then revealing his power too early could attract dangerous attention.
That would complicate his plans.
But instead of showing concern, Lin Tian simply said,
"I'll keep that in mind."
Su Mei stood up from the rock.
The wind moved through her hair as she looked at him one last time.
"You're interesting, Lin Tian."
Lin Tian's eyes widened slightly.
"You know my name?"
Su Mei smiled playfully.
"It wasn't hard to find out."
She turned and began walking toward the forest path.
After a few steps, she stopped and looked back.
"Try not to die too early."
Lin Tian raised an eyebrow.
"That's an unusual farewell."
Su Mei laughed softly.
"Just a feeling."
Then she waved casually.
"See you around."
A moment later, she disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Lin Tian stood silently on the hill.
The night became quiet again.
Only the sound of the wind and distant city lights remained.
He looked toward the direction where Su Mei had vanished.
"A mysterious girl…"
Her presence raised many questions.
How did she know about cultivation?
Why was she watching him?
And what did she mean by "others noticing his power"?
Lin Tian looked up at the stars once more.
Earth was clearly more complicated than he originally thought.
Hidden cultivators.
Ancient ruins.
And now a mysterious girl who could sense cosmic energy.
A faint smile appeared on Lin Tian's face.
"Interesting."
His journey had just begun.
And already, the world was revealing unexpected secrets. 🌌⚔️