The sun had already begun its slow descent when Ling Shen stepped out of the grand library. His stomach growled faintly. For the past three days, he had survived on nothing but medicinal water—an alchemical mixture that sustained the body with energy but did nothing to satisfy hunger.
He headed toward a small food stall near the academy gates. The warm steam rising from freshly cooked rice and vegetables felt almost heavenly. Shen ate quietly, savoring each bite as if it were a treasure. Only after finishing did he finally feel truly alive again.
Today was his favorite class.
He walked toward the academy grounds, and the familiar sound of steel slicing through air echoed across the courtyard.
On the training platform stood Ling Ruu.
Ruu's sword flashed in smooth arcs, cutting through the air in precise patterns. Each movement flowed into the next like water—controlled, powerful, elegant. His footwork was steady, his breathing calm. He looked every bit the genius heir the family praised.
After finishing a final sweeping strike, Ruu exhaled and sheathed his sword.
His sharp eyes caught sight of Shen standing nearby.
"Yo, little brother!"
Before Shen could react, Ruu rushed forward and lightly smacked him on the head.
"What are you doing at the academy so early?" he teased.
Even though the family often compared them—calling Shen weak and Ruu gifted—Ruu never cared about such words.
To him, Shen was simply his little brother.
While others treated Ruu with respect mixed with fear, Shen treated him like family. No titles. No distance. Just warmth.
When Shen was only three years old, his mother had died from illness. The world had felt cold and empty ever since. It was Ruu who had stepped forward, pulling him out of loneliness. He protected him, trained him gently, and spoke to him like an equal.
From that moment, their bond became unbreakable.
Shen smiled faintly.
"It's nothing. I'm just heading to class," he said. "Your sword technique looked amazing, brother."
Ruu grinned proudly. "Of course it did."
He slung an arm over Shen's shoulder and walked beside him toward the classroom.
Ruu wasn't just strong—he was intelligent. He understood that cultivation required both combat training and knowledge. Strength without wisdom was incomplete.
They entered the classroom together.
A few minutes later, the academy's principal walked in. The room instantly grew silent.
The elderly man stood tall despite his age, his gaze sharp as if he could see through each student's soul.
"Today," he began calmly, "we will speak about the world you live in."
The students leaned forward.
"In this world, humans are not alone. There are countless creatures—beasts, spirits, and entities beyond ordinary understanding. Some cultivate instinctively. Some are born powerful. And some… claw their way to strength."
He paused.
"Cultivation is the path by which mortals transcend their limits. It is the refinement of body, energy, and soul. Those who understand it may rise beyond the ordinary."
Shen's eyes darkened slightly.
He listened more carefully than anyone else in the room.
Because unknown to all of them—
He had already begun to awaken.