The day began like any other. Liang Chen woke before sunrise, the soft hum of the city stirring around him. His morning routine was simple but precise: light exercise to awaken the body, a few deep breaths to center his mind, and a quick glance at the herbs laid out neatly on the table.
Today, he wasn't just making pills. He was experimenting — carefully pushing the faint pulse of energy in his dantian, trying to stretch it, feel it, and control it more consciously.
With closed eyes, he focused inward. The warmth pulsed, like embers glowing in a dark hearth. He guided it gently, letting it flow through his limbs, tracing every channel he remembered from his past life.
His fingers tingled. His legs felt lighter. Even his senses seemed sharper, attuned to the faintest vibrations in the alleyway outside.
Progress, he reminded himself. Step by step.
After breakfast, he walked to school, carrying a small pouch of pills for sale.
He blended in effortlessly with the other students. Handsome, calm, polite — the kind of student who drew no suspicion, yet could sense more than most could imagine.
During lunch, he noticed a familiar scene: the girl whose family he had been helping struggled again, this time carrying a basket far too heavy for her small frame.
Without thinking, Liang Chen moved to her side.
"Let me help," he said, lifting the basket.
She looked up, startled. "Oh… thank you, Liang Chen."
"No problem," he replied calmly.
As he walked with her, he felt the pulse of energy in his body respond — slightly stronger than usual. A faint warmth in his limbs, an almost imperceptible surge that made his steps lighter, his grip steadier. Small, subtle, yet undeniable.
Returning her basket, she smiled. "You always seem so calm… like nothing can shake you."
Liang Chen's lips curved faintly. "Calm is a choice. Focus is a skill. Strength is the result."
Back at the alley, he continued his work. Grinding, mixing, and refining herbs had become more than just a way to earn money — it was practice. Focused concentration on his tasks allowed the energy within him to flow more freely. He felt it stretching, the pulse stronger, the warmth spreading further into his limbs.
Then it happened. A sudden mishap — a small shelf of jars toppled, crashing to the floor. One of the heavier vials rolled toward the edge. Instinctively, Liang Chen lunged, catching it just before it shattered.
His heart pounded. A spike of adrenaline surged through his body, and along with it, the faint energy in his dantian flared, spreading a strong, warm pulse through his limbs. He felt it like fire, invigorating him, sharpening every nerve.
Breathing heavily, he steadied himself. This… this is what I need, he thought. Moments like these push energy to awaken faster. Danger, even minor, strengthens the soul.
Night fell, and Liang Chen sat at the window, looking at the city lights. His muscles ached slightly, his mind buzzed from the day, but the warmth in his body remained.
The pulse in his Energy Sea was stronger than ever before, the ember growing brighter.
He smiled faintly to himself. Slow progress, yes. But each step, each action, each risk — it brings me closer to awakening. Step by step, day by day, I will become stronger.
Chapter Ending Quote:
"Energy responds to focus, and focus responds to courage. Every heartbeat, every risk, strengthens the soul."