"Focus."
"Feel the power at the center of your being—not in your muscles, but in your dantian, the core where all energy gathers."
"Now, guide it upward slowly, with discipline. A perfectly still body is the doorway to the power of the cosmos."
"With every breath, draw in the energy of the heavens and let it flow through your body's eternal cycle. Empty your mind… and let the power find its path."
Master Jian Feng sat calmly in the center of the hall as he spoke. This was the foundation of the Immortals' cultivation: connecting with one's inner power, a method to awaken and strengthen the spirit.
The new disciples sat silently with eyes closed. Only the sound of birds outside and the master's calm voice filled the hall.
But among the twenty-four students… one wasn't paying attention at all.
Mo Zhan, scratching his ear, let his gaze wander around the group. Even Han was focused—unlike him.
"Mo Zhan… focus."
He straightened up at the sound of his name. These lessons felt like slow torture to him.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes—pretending to meditate. But after a few moments, the outside world faded into nothingness… until every sound disappeared.
Suddenly, a cold shiver ran deep through his body. His eyes snapped open.
He was standing inside a circle of light.
Everything around him was dark—endless, suffocating.
No students.
No hall.
Just himself.
He rubbed his eyes. Was he dreaming? But it all felt too real.
"H-hello? Anyone here? Master? Where am I?"
His voice trembled.
Maybe… maybe this was the "inner connection" technique working?
Then a cold voice echoed behind him.
"I've been waiting a long time."
Mo Zhan spun around—and froze.
His breath caught. His heart hammered.
"Lu… Wang."
The true owner of the body stood there.
"What? Surprised to see the real owner of your body?"
Every word pierced Mo Zhan like a blade.
"You… you're not real… right?"
Lu Wang laughed—a harsh, merciless sound.
"Oh, I'm real."
He stepped closer.
"I never imagined some idiot would take over my body and ruin all my plans right in front of me."
Mo Zhan stared, stunned and hurt. He had spent all this time trying to change Lu Wang's fate—and now he was an idiot?
He forced himself to speak.
"I ruined your plans? If I hadn't shown up, you would've fallen into the Immortals' trap and been tortured for years! I… I saved you from that future."
Lu Wang replied instantly: "You think I didn't know about the trap?"
Mo Zhan blinked.
"You… knew?"
Lu Wang smirked bitterly. "The Immortal Realm's barrier is as strong as mine. Breaking it would've destroyed half my power. And besides… I never meant to break it. I knew they'd open it themselves—for me. But in return, I'd be their prisoner for a while."
Mo Zhan froze. In the original story, Lu Wang never knew any of this.
So why… why walk into the trap?
"If you knew… then why pretend?"
Lu Wang's eyes darkened. "To force a certain person to reveal themselves."
Then, tilting his head slightly, he added in a cold, threatening voice:
"And thanks to you… I finally know who that person is."
Mo Zhan swallowed hard. "Who?"
A thin, icy smile spread across Lu Wang's lips. "I can't just tell you."
He paused, then asked—a mix of anger and sorrow in his voice:
"That friend of yours… do you trust him?"
Mo Zhan stiffened. He had only one friend—Han.
"Yeah… I trust him."
"Are you sure he won't stab you in the back someday?"
Mo Zhan was completely confused.
Han? Why would he ever—
"That's impossible. We grew up together. He'd never—"
Lu Wang let out a bitter laugh. "I used to believe that too… but now?" His eyes turned cold. "When I return… he'll be the first one I deal with."
He stepped closer—so close Mo Zhan instinctively backed away.
Lu Wang whispered beside his ear: "It's time for me to return."
Mo Zhan froze in terror. He couldn't even hear his own breathing.
Lu Wang slid his hand from Mo Zhan's chest up to his neck… tightened his grip…
"It's time for me to come out."
And Mo Zhan—helpless, powerless—whispered back, voice faint and strangled:
"It's… time… to come out."
"Mo Zhan!… Mo Zhan!… Mo ZHAN!"
Han's terrified face was inches from him. Mo Zhan had been sitting there trembling for over an hour. His body was ice-cold. A dark vein ran down his neck. A few strands of his hair had turned white. A black aura surrounded him.
The other students stared in fear. The cultivation instructor had left; it was break time. No other master was nearby.
If Lu Wang's inner power had awakened on its own… the entire realm would sense it any moment.
Han shouted desperately: "Mo Zhan! Wake up!"
Youlin wanted to suppress the demonic energy, but doing so would expose her identity.
Lan Sizui pretended to read, but his attention was fixed on Mo Zhan's dark aura.
A power far stronger than it should have been.
He finally decided to intervene.
He approached, lifted his hands. A blue glow wrapped around his fingertips. He pressed them against Mo Zhan's chest.
His expression changed instantly.
Two souls.
One pure.
One corrupted.
And the corrupted one was overwhelming the other—right now.
Without hesitation, Lan Sizui unleashed a powerful anti-demon spell—even knowing the price.
Moments later—
Mo Zhan gasped violently, eyes snapping open, coughing blood onto the floor.
Terrified and disoriented, he looked around.
Blood slipped from the corner of Lan Sizui's lips as well. Pain burned through his organs, but he didn't move.
Han cried out, hopeful: "Mo Zhan!"
But Mo Zhan could only whisper three faint, broken words:
"I'm… not… alone…"
Then he collapsed in Lan Sizui's arms.
[تغییر جزئی اعمال شد]
Lan Sizui's eyes widened at the sudden intimacy, and a sudden heat spread through him. He suppressed the turmoil and pain, fighting the inexplicable pull toward Mo Zhan.
He shut his eyes tightly. Then, he abruptly pushed Mo Zhan aside; the unconscious body fell to the floor.
He grabbed his sword and rushed out of the hall, desperate to escape the feeling.
Han shot him a sharp look, then quickly lifted Mo Zhan onto his back.
With Youlin's guidance, he carried him to the infirmary.