A large vortex of air suddenly appeared in the still of the night, causing the windows to rattle and the wooden gates outside to bang in the wind. At the center of this vortex was Tianyu.
The air itself seemed drawn toward him as if pulled by a magnet. Tianyu inhaled deeply, feeling as if his body had been starved of oxygen until now. The air felt crisper and more invigorating, with a denseness that seemed to infuse his every breath.
Tianyu sat on his bed in the lotus position, savoring the sensation. Each breath he took felt different than before as if the air itself had transformed. It was as if he had discovered water in a desert; his body craved more of this new atmosphere.
The vortex gradually diminished until it faded entirely. Despite this, Tianyu remained still, sitting in meditation, his focus on his breathing.
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However, this phenomenon did not go unnoticed. In various places throughout the surrounding areas, people felt the shift in the air. Elders of clans and families across the town took note of this occurrence. While a foundation realm awakening wasn't typically noteworthy, this time was different due to the scale of the phenomenon.
A few elders opened their eyes and looked in a particular direction, sensing something unusual about the event. Some dismissed it as insignificant, while others felt a bit of envy that it wasn't someone from their own families who had caused this phenomenon. Still, others saw an opportunity or threat and decided to investigate further.
One elder, in particular, looked shocked. He recognized the aura responsible for the vortex, an aura he was intimately familiar with. Wide-eyed, he shouted urgently, "Investigate this immediately!" A shadow darted out of the room, acting on his command. The reason for his shock was the aura's familiarity, as it matched his own.
Pacing back and forth in his room, the elder anxiously awaited the shadow's return. When the masked figure reentered, he promptly kneeled.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"Sir!" the masked man addressed him.
"Speak!" the elder growled.
"It is as you suspected," the figure reported dutifully.
Taken aback by the confirmation, the elder slammed his fist onto the table beside him, causing it to shatter. He then roared, "Bring me the doctor!"
Moments later, a nervous-looking man in his fifties entered the room. He bowed with concern. "Sir, you summoned me?"
"I want you to explain something to me," the elder said, his voice strained. "Almost a decade ago, you made a diagnosis. Do you recall?"
The doctor searched his memory, his back covered in a cold sweat. "I do, sir."
"Good, good," the elder nodded. "Then tell me, how is it that my son has just ascended to the Foundation Realm when you told me it would be impossible?!" He roared at the doctor.
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The night passed, and the morning light finally arrived. Qin Tianyu opened his eyes, having maintained the same lotus position throughout the night. As he opened his eyes, he was once again taken aback.
Everything appeared remarkably clear. He could distinguish individual grains of wood on his dresser with precision. The flapping of Xiao Lei's wings, the bustling sounds of the market, even his mother's movements in the kitchen—everything was distinct. If he focused, he could hear, see, and sense with unprecedented clarity.
He closed his eyes and focused, allowing himself to feel the world around him more deeply. It was as if everything had come alive, and he could feel its energy. He sensed the rhythm of the tree outside, the vibrations of a stag beetle on a branch, and even the distant calls of birds.
Tianyu checks the notification he received.
[Congratulations Host for ascending to the Foundation Realm!]
[You have gained the following:]
[1x Ticket for a Free Gacha Spin]
[1x Avatar Upgrade Token]
[1x Low-Tier Mount Token]
[1x Ticket to redeem Qi Cultivation Manual]
[Your Soul Weapon has upgraded from Bronze-Tier to Iron-Tier]
[The potency of your Venomous Needle Technique has increased]
[Unlocked from the system shop: Spiritual Formations]
Wide-eyed in amazement over the number of rewards, he wants to look at these in detail, however, his excitement is getting the better of him, so he decides to come back to this a little later.
Energized, Tianyu leaped out of bed, only to accidentally pull the door off the dresser as he went to change his clothes. Panicking slightly, his mother would not be pleased with the broken furniture. He knew things had changed, but he was unaware of the extent of it. He felt an immense power coursing through his veins, invigorating him. He felt as though he could crack a mountain with a single punch.
Excited, he decided to test his newfound strength. Carefully descending the stairs to avoid breaking anything else, he made his way outside. The strength coursing through him was overwhelming, and he walked up to an oak tree in the courtyard. After clearing the area to avoid causing damage to anything after the tree fell, he assumed a stance, drew back his fist, and unleashed a punch with all his might.
A resounding thud echoed as his fist collided with the tree, followed by a loud snapping sound.
"ARRGHHH!" Tianyu roared in pain. The snapping sound wasn't from the tree; it was the sound of his own bones breaking.
It turns out that just because you feel powerful, it doesn't mean you actually are.