Opportunity

Chapter 9: Opportunity

Ding!

[Hua Lian has reached Qi Gathering Ninth Layer. Do you want to receive rewards now?]

[Hua Lian has reached Foundation Building Second Layer. Do you want to receive rewards now?]

[Hua Lian has reached Foundation Building Fifth Layer. Do you want to receive rewards now?]

The Yu Family Estate was unusually quiet, the early morning sun casting long shadows over the estate walls. Aerich stood near the boundary, his gaze fixed on the towering mountain in the distance.

Today was the day. The system's rewards were ready, and he was eager to claim them. With his father and the other family heads summoned to the Qinglong Dominion, no one was around to notice his absence.

Excitement surged through him. Breaking through to the Foundation Building realm at his age would solidify his standing, even with his Earth Fate.

Aerich made his way to a secluded spot on the mountain trail, avoiding the guards as best as he could. Drawing from his reading about cultivation techniques and worldly experiences, he carefully maneuvered past watchful eyes. He didn't want anyone disturbing this moment.

As he reached a small clearing near the mountain's peak, Aerich issued the command in his heart. Receive Rewards.

"Host, rewards are being integrated..."

Instantly, he felt the surrounding spiritual energy rushing toward him.

He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to focus on his breakthrough. The energy surged through him like a torrent, filling his meridians. His body broke through the shackles of mortality as immense spiritual energy flooded him.

Qi Refining First Layer.

The energy continued to climb.

Second Layer. Third Layer. Fourth Layer...

It didn't stop. Fifth. Sixth. Seventh.

The progression began to slow as he neared the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. Just when it felt like his body would burst under the pressure, a loud boom resonated within him. The imaginary barrier blocking him from the Foundation Building Realm shattered under the relentless force.

Foundation Building First Layer.

But it didn't stop there. The energy surged higher and higher, pushing his cultivation to the Second Layer and climbing further when—

Clink.

Aerich's eyes snapped open as the sound broke his concentration. He looked down and saw a dull, ancient-looking locket resting on the ground, as though it had appeared out of nowhere.

"What the..." Aerich muttered, reaching for it.

The moment his fingers touched the locket, a surge of energy exploded from it, drawing in the cultivation he had just gained.

"Warning! Host's cultivation has been partially absorbed!" the system announced.

Aerich's face darkened. He watched helplessly as his hard-earned Foundation Building Realm cultivation plummeted back to the peak of the Qi Refining Realm.

"What?! Absorbed? By what?" His gaze darted to the locket, now glowing faintly with an eerie, otherworldly light.

Suddenly, a cold, ethereal voice echoed in his mind.

"...Who dares awaken me?"

Aerich froze. A soul remnant?

The voice spoke again, this time with more clarity. "Child, you are fortunate beyond measure. You have awakened Daoist Starry Sky, a Sovereign of the Upper Realm. My essence has been sealed within this locket for eons, awaiting someone worthy to release me."

Aerich frowned. He couldn't even identify the speaker's gender from the voice. His instincts screamed trouble.

"What do you want from me?" he asked cautiously.

"Release me. Combine your Qi with the essence of this locket, and I shall grant you knowledge, power, and fortune beyond your imagination. Together, we can ascend to heights unknown," the voice promised.

Aerich narrowed his eyes. This sounds exactly like the kind of protagonist nonsense that leads to endless trouble.

"You want me to resurrect you?" Aerich asked, his tone sharp.

"Yes. And in return, I shall make you a force to be reckoned with, even in this lower realm. A bargain few would refuse."

Aerich hesitated. Power was tempting, but he had no desire to walk the path of a stereotypical protagonist. He liked his life peaceful, without ancient cultivators or cosmic battles disrupting his plans.

"Fine," Aerich said after a long pause, masking his reluctance. "But I'll only agree temporarily. If I find someone more suitable to inherit this opportunity, I'll hand it over to them. I'm not interested in becoming a pawn in your grand schemes."

The soul within the locket chuckled darkly. "You are cautious... Perhaps too cautious. But no matter. For now, our interests align. I shall guide you toward power, and you may decide your path when the time comes."

Aerich forced a smile. "Great. Can we start with explaining why you just stole my cultivation?"

"It was necessary to stabilize my soul's presence. Do not fret, child. You shall recover your strength soon enough."

The locket's glow dimmed, and the voice faded into a quiet hum in Aerich's mind. He looked down at the artifact in his hand, his expression conflicted.

"This isn't what I wanted," Aerich muttered. "A peaceful life, free of drama and schemes. Why do I keep running into trouble?"

He sighed, standing up and slipping the locket into his pocket.

"But if I meet someone who's crazy enough to chase power and fate, I'll gladly dump this thing on them," he said under his breath.

As he began his descent back to the estate, Aerich resolved to tread carefully. The locket might be an opportunity for someone else, but for him, it was nothing more than an unwanted burden.

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