Test of power

Chapter 2- Test of power

Lingtian assumed a meditative pose, fully engrossing himself in his environment. His spirit appeared to connect with the bountiful energy of the heavens and earth, drawing it into his own being. This process continued for an hour, with Lingtian maintaining his intense focus.

However, his concentration wavered as he began to notice an anomaly. Despite his efforts, the Qi he had been absorbing seemed to disappear within his body, leaving no discernible trace.

'The hell?' Confused and with a growing sense of unease, Lingtian's eyes widened, "No, let me try again…." His voice trailed off as he delved deep into the recesses of his consciousness. Upon entering this mental realm, he meticulously examined every corner within.

His mental space was rather shrouded in darkness, but his scrutiny soon brought to light as he turned back to look at the obstructive force that had been hindering his progress, preventing him from advancing to the next realm.

Black hole.

A black hole loomed within his mental space, its absorption force voraciously devouring his Qi, causing his cultivation to stall.

"So, this is what…." Lingtian quickly identified this obstruction as the source of his problems, realizing that it was responsible for halting his progress. However, before he could do anything else, he found himself subject to an overpowering force.

His body began absorbing energy autonomously, without any conscious effort on his part. The influx of energy surged through him, causing his body to tremble and strain under the immense pressure. "Kuh-!" he grunted, feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected surge of power.

"This..."

"Don't tell me this was what killed the previous owner of this body?" Lingtian securitize as he felt his body swelling, on the verge of imploding. That aside for now.

Exerting his willpower, Lingtian endeavored to regain control over his own faculties, gradually reining in the chaotic influx of energy that had surged into his body.

With each passing moment, the rapid absorption began to subside, allowing Lingtian to assert his dominance over the energy flow. As he stabilized the overflow of energy, he was seemingly pulled back into his mindscape.

Much like a celestial entity satiated by its feast, the black hole was gradually stopping its absorption, leaving behind a residue of Qi that Lingtian could now harness for himself.

As the energy flowed into his body, Lingtian experienced an exhilarating surge of power. After years of stagnation, his cultivation level finally began to rise. With each passing moment, he could feel the energy catalyzing profound changes within him.

It wasn't long before he broke through his previous bottleneck and progressed from the sixth stage of Qi condensation to the seventh.

Yet, this was just the beginning. The newfound energy propelled him even further, breaking through the eighth and ninth stages with unprecedented ease. The radiant glow enveloping his body seemed to signify a profound transformation, as if long-held barriers were being shattered.

Overwhelmed by the exhilarating rush, Lingtian's voice trembled with disbelief, "Foundation establishment..." The words escaped his lips in a hushed whisper, the breakthrough he had achieved with ease surprised him.

His heart swelled with joy and determination. Finally, after years of setback, he was on the path of cultivation once again.

Having read countless tales of immortals in his previous life, Lingtian had nurtured a deep yearning to attain such transcendence himself.

However, he was all too aware that such dreams were unattainable in his former world. The limitations of his reality had kept him grounded.

But now, in this new world he had been reborn into, a world where the pursuit of immortality was a tangible possibility, his excitement was boundless.

This new world offered him the chance to chase after the very aspirations that had once flickered within the pages of his novels – to embark on the journey of cultivation and ascend to unparalleled heights, beat up young masters, conquer geniuses and capture the heart of beauties begin.

__

The morning sun cast its gentle glow as Lingtian opened his eyes. His eyes flickered with a hint of golden radiance as he stretched his body and let out a contented sigh. The warm rays of sunlight filtered through the room, illuminating his surroundings.

As his gaze swept across the room, it landed on his bed and his own body. A dark, viscous substance covered his form and stained the bed. A surge of realization coursed through him, and he muttered with excitement, "So, this is the legendary marrow cleansing?" Eager to freshen up, he promptly headed for the exit to clean himself.

After a few minutes, Lingtian emerged wearing different attire. His appearance was quite presentable: black short hair, black eyes, and an ensemble of black clothing adorned with intricate golden patterns. Stepping out of his house, he headed towards the training hall with purpose.

The Duan clan, one of the most influential families on the continent, stood prominently, rivaled only by clans of similar stature. With a rich history behind them, the Duan clan mansion was exceptionally grand – large enough to rival even that of a sect.

The estate was composed of numerous houses and halls, including the imposing main hall, a vast library, martial training facilities, and multipurpose halls.

During his walk, Lingtian noticed a few people murmuring and casting glances his way. Some held disdain in their eyes as they observed him.

"Look, it's him." "Wasn't it him that…."

"Yeah, the useless young master of the Duan family." Lingtian paid no mind to their murmurs. Let them talk all they want; he wouldn't let their opinions affect him.

Finally reaching his destination.

The training hall stood before him, an immense and grand structure in the style of ancient Chinese architecture. Its imposing presence was enough to convey the wealth and power of the Duan family, evident even from just a glance at its exterior.

As he walked through the estate towards the training hall, he recognized someone up ahead. "Good morning, Elder," he greeted the distinguished-looking old man before him.

Despite his age, the elder appeared to be in his forties, with a head of black hair and beard, and he was dressed in white clothes adorned with intricate blue patterns across his clothes.

"Hmm," the elder grunted dismissively, not sparing a glance at Lingtian, prompting Lingtian to enter the hall as the elder handed him a token with a casual wave of his hand.

However, as Lingtian entered, the elder mused, 'The last time I saw him...' the old man's thoughts trailed off. Memories of their last encounter floated through the old man's mind.

After Lingtian's progress had stalled, he had stopped attending practices, sinking into depression and only occasionally cultivating.

The elder was taken aback; the Lingtian he had last seen seemed utterly defeated. But the current version was distinctly different – brimming with renewed hope and determination. Reflecting on this transformation, a smile slowly crept onto the old man's face.

"Seems like your son is more than what we originally thought," the man contemplated inwardly as he traced a line in the air, letting it linger before it slowly dissipated.

Stepping into the training hall, Lingtian's gaze fell upon the corridors lined with numbered doors. Earlier, the elder he encountered outside had handed him a plate, bearing the number seven. Wasting no time, he made his way toward the designated training area.

Upon entering his assigned space, he was greeted by a collection of training dummies, the room around in a square with solid concrete wall. "Alright, first things first, let me test how strong I've become," Lingtian mused to himself.

With measured steps, he approached one of the dummies and delivered a single punch.

The dummy shattered upon impact, leaving Lingtian momentarily stunned. "Hold on, if I recall correctly, that dummy is designed to endure strikes from foundation-level beginners. Doesn't this mean my power should rival those in the middle stage?"

This achievement filled him with a sense of triumph. "Just as I thought," he muttered to himself. Despite his newfound confidence, he couldn't overlook the issue with his body. His body would need major work.

Letting out a sigh, Lingtian acknowledged that he had a considerable amount of work ahead of him.

___

After several hours of intense training, Lingtian encountered the same elder as he exited the hall, the elder observing him with keen interest. "It seems you have grown stronger. Congratulations," the elder commented lightly, stroking is beards.

Lingtian was taken aback by the elder's words but quickly composed himself. "Thank you, elder," he replied respectfully, suppressing his surprise.

As Lingtian left the training hall, he couldn't avoid the encounter he had anticipated. It was Duan Feng and his group of followers waiting for him.

'Hmph,' Duan Feng sneered as he saw Lingtian approaching, 'It's just gravel, he's not as good as me.' Bolstering his ego, he carried himself with grace as he walked towards the training hall, where Lingtian was coming out from.

Lingtian maintained his composure, ignoring their presence. Duan Feng walked past him, completely disregarding him, but Lingtian remained unfazed. He had a clear goal in mind: to cultivate to immortality and fulfill his desires.

He was determined to concentrate on his path rather than waste his time on arrogant young masters.

"That trash... You dare ignore me," Duan Feng's voice erupted, filled with anger. Despite the provocation, Lingtian continued walking past him, paying him no heed.

"Trash bastard, you dare!" Duan Feng's frustration grew louder as he shouted at Lingtian, who remained unaffected by his words. After all, he no longer considered himself as worthless as Duan Feng claimed.

"Hmph, show your face if you dare!"

"He's probably scared of young master Feng!"

"Hmph, in the end, a trash is a trash!"

Then, unexpectedly, Lingtian's voice cut through the air, laced with a mocking tone, "Hmm, I seem to hear someone barking behind me. Who could it be?"

Lingtian turned around without a word, facing the surprise that was evident on Duan Feng and his goons' faces. "You bastard, you dare!!!" Feng's voice thundered in anger. Lingtian responded by casually spreading his arms, his demeanor showing boredom.

"I have a name, you know? It's not trash, nor am I a bastard. Do you understand?"

Duan Feng's face flushed with even more anger at Lingtian's words. "Trash doesn't have the qualifications to be given a name if you aren't satisfied then beat me! Let me see if you have the guts!"

"Eh? But it wouldn't be fair for me, or are you simply a weakling who only picks on those weaker than him?, hmm?" The elder, who had been eavesdropping, couldn't help but let a smile form on his lips. He quickly composed himself and approached the scene.

"Enough of this, what is going on?" The elder quickly intervened, adopting a faux stern expression as he questioned them.

"Elder... this...."

His gaze shifted between the two, but before one of Duan Feng's lackeys could speak up, Lingtian took charge of the situation.

With a respectful gesture of his folded hands, Lingtian addressed the elder, "You don't need to worry about this matter, Elder. We have resolved the issue."

"I see," the elder responded with a knowing look. He skillfully picked up on Lingtian's subtle signal and allowed the young man to excuse himself. The elder after dispersing them looked towards the afternoon sun in the sky. 'That boy... interesting. The young lord seems to have undergone a change. Truly fascinating.' a faint smile adorned on the elder's face.