The morning haze over Jiangnan clung to rooftops and narrow canals, the city bathed in pale sunlight that reflected off the rippling waters. Tang Wanru moved silently through the courtyard of her family's estate, her palms tracing precise circles in the air. Each motion hummed with controlled Qi, a subtle pulse that aligned her internal rhythm with the world around her. Though her cultivation was still in its early Qi Gathering layer, the latent potential within her resonated with the stirring of the Golden Era.
Nearby, servants and minor instructors watched her carefully, whispering in subdued tones. "Miss Wanru's talent… unmatched for her age," one murmured, eyes wide with awe.
Tang Wanru, however, remained focused. Her gaze flickered to the horizon, sensing faint disturbances in the air—threads of Qi that did not belong to her immediate environment. Some were crude, unrefined, yet unmistakably strong. A subtle thrill ran through her. Others were awakening too.
Far to the west in Shanghai, Li Meng's office was illuminated by countless screens, each displaying energy fluxes, city grids, and anomalous reports. He tapped a key, overlaying historical patterns. Every spike, every irregular fluctuation told a story. He leaned back, glasses catching the morning light. "It's accelerating," he said, voice calm but sharp. "Untrained, scattered, yet persistent. Those who endure these early waves will shape the future."
Across Xi'an, Qin Jingsheng's reckless progress was already the subject of whispered videos and social media clips. Netizens debated endlessly:
"Someone saw a kid literally ripping a warehouse floor in Xi'an!"
"Unbelievable. Could it be… Qi?"
"Don't tell me the government's keeping this quiet too."
These ripples reached Fang Ze's awareness even in Beijing. From a quiet corner of his rooftop, he observed the currents of energy, the subtle surges across Jiangnan, Shanghai, Xi'an, and beyond. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, scanned the threads of nascent talent. Each prodigy had a rhythm, a flaw, a potential—and he cataloged them quietly in his mind.
Beside him, Su Qingxue mirrored his calm. Though she was still ascending the 3rd layer, her senses caught the resonances of Tang Wanru, Li Meng, and even the faint traces of Nangong Yu. She tilted her head slightly.
"They're awakening faster than I expected," she said, a hint of unease in her otherwise composed tone.
Fang Ze's lips curved into a faint, unassuming smile. "Let them awaken," he replied softly. "Some will survive the chaos, most will stumble. By the time they understand the Golden Era, the ones meant to rise will already have their foundation."
Meanwhile, minor urban cultivators stirred across the cities—students, street fighters, and hidden family members experimenting with their Qi. Authorities from the Huaxia Special Bureau Authority (HSBA) monitored quietly, avoiding public panic while dispatching subtle interventions to contain disturbances.
Online, the chatter was growing:
"Shanghai energy anomalies again."
"Xi'an kid's warehouse incident—how is he even alive?"
"Jiangnan girl? Someone filmed her Qi loops… mesmerizing."
Fang Ze exhaled slowly, letting his awareness extend further. The currents were forming patterns, threads connecting prodigies across the nation. Soon, subtle ripples would converge into waves. And when they did, the Golden Era would no longer be whispered in fear—it would announce itself with a presence no one could ignore.