The golden ripple faded from the courtyard.
The blossoms drifting around the peach tree slowly settled onto the ground, and the night regained its normal darkness. But nothing felt normal.
Not the air.
Not the silence.
Not the trembling in Hao Wuya's fingertips.
Xueyi held him tightly by the shoulders, afraid he might collapse again.
"Wuya, say something… you're okay, right? You're not disappearing? You're not turning into mist? You're not—"
He placed a hand lightly on her head.
"I'm… here."
Xueyi trembled with relief and buried her face against his chest.
"You scared me again…"
Wuya blinked slowly.
"…Sorry."
Tianhai approached them, eyes calm but heavy.
"Wuya."
Wuya looked up.
Tianhai studied him for a long, long moment.
"Describe what you feel."
Wuya closed his eyes.
Inside his body—deep within his chest—
was a pulsing warmth.
Not painful.
Not hot.
Not overwhelming.
Just a steady, rhythmic beat—
like a fire that knew it was supposed to burn, but was waiting for permission.
"…Something changed," he whispered. "I can feel my body. Clearly. Too clearly."
"How so?" Tianhai asked.
Wuya inhaled.
"…I can feel the air moving through my lungs.
I can feel the blood flowing in my arms.
I can feel the beating of my heart.
I can feel… something opening."
Tianhai's eyes sharpened.
"Your first vein."
Xueyi gasped.
"His what?!"
"His first spirit vein," Tianhai explained softly.
He knelt in front of Wuya and placed two fingers gently on his wrist.
A faint vibration passed through Wuya's arm.
Tianhai closed his eyes.
"…It's true."
He lifted his gaze slowly.
"Wuya, your first spiritual vein has awakened."
Xueyi's jaw dropped.
"That's— That's the start of cultivation, isn't it?!"
Tianhai nodded.
"For most humans, awakening the first vein takes years of training and spiritual nourishment. But you…"
He looked at Wuya with a complex expression.
"You awakened it from a single breath of the Codex."
Wuya frowned.
"…Is that good?"
Tianhai sighed.
"Good? It's… monstrous."
Xueyi slapped Wuya's shoulder lightly.
"Congratulations! You're officially impossible!"
"…Is that praise?"
"No!"
Tianhai smiled faintly.
"Wuya. This is the beginning of your Mortal Foundation Realm. The path every cultivator must take before even touching Qi."
Wuya nodded slowly.
"…I understand."
Xueyi beamed.
"It means you're not a normal mortal anymore."
Wuya blinked.
"…But I was never normal."
Xueyi froze.
"…I walked right into that."
Wuya nodded.
"Yes."
---
THE HUNTERS RETREAT
The eight hunters who had surrounded the courtyard earlier now lay unconscious or trembling beyond the gate.
The golden light from the Codex had thrown them back, not through force but through rejection—
rejection from a power not meant for them.
When they woke, they staggered into the shadows and fled.
Whispering:
"What was that power…?"
"He absorbed a Heaven Seal—he DEVOURed it—!"
"His bloodline… impossible…"
"He must be taken alive!"
"Report back… report to the Sect… the Clan… the Temple… all of them!"
Different factions.
Different motives.
One target.
Hao Wuya.
---
THE PEACH TREE'S GIFT
Wuya sat beneath the peach tree again, Xueyi at his side and Tianhai standing behind him.
The golden glow had faded, but the bark still shimmered faintly.
Wuya placed a hand on his chest.
The Codex whispered inside him—
Silent to others.
Clear only to him.
[First Vein: Activated]
[Mortal Foundation Path Opening…]
[Body Adaptation: 2%]
[Bloodline Stability: 1%]
Wuya felt warmth spreading through his limbs.
Tianhai's eyes flashed.
"…Your bloodline is settling. Good. Very good."
Xueyi leaned closer.
"Wuya, do you feel stronger? Faster? Smarter? Handsomer?"
Wuya blinked.
"…No."
"Why not?!"
"Because… this is just the beginning."
Tianhai nodded approvingly.
"Correct. First Vein grants awareness, not power. You are simply becoming capable of cultivation."
He turned toward the city.
"And we must use that capability soon."
Wuya tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
Tianhai exhaled slowly.
"This city can no longer protect you."
The words struck Xueyi like a knife.
"No… no, Uncle Tianhai, you're not saying— We're not— We're not leaving, are we? This is our home!"
"It is." Tianhai said gently. "But it will also become your grave if we stay."
Xueyi's eyes filled with tears.
Wuya held her hand.
"It's okay."
"No, it's not okay!" she snapped.
Her Moonveil Seal pulsed faintly beneath her clothing.
"…I don't want to leave this place," she whispered.
Wuya squeezed her hand.
"I don't want to leave you."
She froze.
Her face turned bright red.
"…S-say that again."
Wuya blinked.
"I don't want to leave you."
Xueyi looked like she was about to faint.
Tianhai cleared his throat loudly.
"Enough."
They jolted apart.
Tianhai continued:
"You both will leave this city soon—together. You will join a sect. It is the safest place to grow, learn, and hide."
Xueyi sniffed.
"…Which sect?"
Tianhai's eyes darkened.
"There are many in the mortal realm. But only one will accept Wuya without question."
Wuya asked:
"Which one?"
Tianhai answered:
"Clear Sky Sect."
---
THE NIGHT OF OMINOUS SIGNS
Before they could discuss further—
a distant sound echoed through the city.
A long, hollow horn.
Ancient.
Unnatural.
Tianhai's eyes widened.
"That is… impossible."
Wuya stood.
"What is it?"
Tianhai whispered:
"That sound… belongs to a Heaven-Seeking Beast."
Xueyi screamed.
"A WHAT—?!"
Tianhai's voice turned cold.
"They hunt forbidden fate. Their horns can detect anomalies in destiny."
Xueyi clung to Wuya.
"It's coming for YOU."
Wuya remained still.
"…Let it come."
"NO!" Xueyi yelled. "You're not fighting some heavenly monster!"
"I didn't say I would fight it."
"Then what?!"
"I will run if I must."
Xueyi blinked.
"…Good!"
Tianhai shook his head.
"No. Running won't save us tonight."
A low rumble shook the earth.
Something enormous moved in the distance.
Something breathing.
Something sniffing the air.
Tianhai's expression tightened.
"Wuya. Xueyi. Inside. Now."
They obeyed immediately.
But when they reached the doorway—
The ground cracked.
A massive claw slammed into the city street outside.
A beast formed of clouds, smoke, and bone stepped into view.
Eyes glowing gold.
Body shifting like mist.
Massive horns curving backward.
A Heaven-Seeking Beast.
The creature sniffed the air—
And instantly turned toward Tianhai's courtyard.
Xueyi screamed.
"It senses Wuya!"
Tianhai placed himself between the house and the beast.
"Wuya," he said without turning. "Do not exit this house."
Wuya's fists trembled.
"…Uncle Tianhai."
"This thing is not meant for you."
"And you can defeat it?"
Tianhai didn't answer.
Which was frightening.
Xueyi's Moonveil Seal suddenly flared in her chest.
"W-Wuya!! My seal—! It's reacting again!"
The glowing crescent symbol pulsed stronger and stronger.
Wuya's eyes widened.
"Xueyi—"
Her body shook violently.
"It's— It's sensing something— It's—!"
Tianhai turned sharply.
"Wuya! Hold her! Now!"
Wuya grabbed Xueyi, supporting her as her legs gave out.
The seal on her chest glowed brightly—
shining through her clothes—
as if awakening instinctively to protect him.
Tianhai cursed under his breath.
"Not now. Not both of you at once…"
The Heaven-Seeking Beast roared.
The house shook.
The windows cracked.
Dust filled the air.
Wuya stood up slowly.
His heart pounded.
His bloodline throbbed.
His veins buzzed with new warmth.
He stared at the beast.
"…It's coming."
Tianhai whispered:
"Stay back."
But Wuya didn't.
Something inside him stirred—
and the Codex whispered:
[Second Sign-In Location Detected]
Wuya's eyes widened.
"…Now?"
The Codex answered:
[Yes.]
"Where?"
[Outside the courtyard.]
Wuya looked at the Heaven-Seeking Beast.
At the city.
At the sky.
At the moon.
The Codex whispered again—
very softly.
[Run.]
Wuya exhaled.
"…Uncle Tianhai."
Tianhai turned.
"I have to go."
"NO!" Xueyi screamed. "You're staying RIGHT HERE!"
Wuya touched her cheek.
"I'll come back."
She shook her head violently.
"No you won't—!!"
"…I will."
He pulled her into a quick embrace.
Xueyi held onto him like a lifeline.
"Promise…" she whispered, voice breaking.
Wuya whispered back:
"I promise."
Then he turned—
And ran.
Out of the courtyard.
Toward fate.
Toward danger.
Toward the Heavenly beast.
Toward the next Sign-In.
And the moment he stepped into the darkness—
The Supreme Sign-In Codex opened its second page.