Elder Fan's intuition, as usual, proved to be spot on. Relief washed over Han Ye a day after his visit. A crisp, white scroll arrived at his doorstep, bearing the Wind Spirit Sect's insignia and an inscription requesting his presence at the Medical Pavilion for an examination by Healer Lin.

Healer Lin, a seasoned physician with a calming demeanor and a face etched with the wisdom of years, looked younger than his forty years. He put Han Ye through a series of tests, meticulously probing his consciousness and inspecting the integrity of his soul. Finally, the healer leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Well, Han Ye," he began, his voice a soothing rumble, "I'm happy to report that your soul appears to be in perfect health. No lingering damage from your… unusual experience, I presume."

Han Ye nodded, a wave of relief washing over him. The possibility of lasting repercussions from his abrupt soul exploration had been gnawing at him.

Healer Lin chuckled, a warm sound that filled the room. "In fact," he continued, a hint of intrigue in his voice, "there might be something quite interesting going on. It's a hunch, mind you, but I sense a faint echo within your aura, a potential sign of a legacy awakening."

Han Ye's eyebrows shot up. A legacy? One can only obtain such things in ancient scrolls, passed-down abilities, or talents from a distant ancestor that lay dormant until triggered by a specific event.

"A legacy, you say?" he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

"A possibility," Healer Lin cautioned. "Identifying legacies is a delicate matter. Don't get too excited though, it's just a minor legacy. Any more would have caused quite a stir in the surroundings themselves if they awakened. Unfortunately, I don't have the specialized tools or the expertise necessary to pinpoint the exact nature of this one. It seems… unique."

The healer's words piqued Han Ye's interest even further. A unique minor legacy? What could that entail? Healer Lin suggested rest and introspection, hoping the legacy would reveal itself in due time. With a parting smile, he sent Han Ye on his way, leaving him with a head full of swirling questions.

Two days passed in a blur of anticipation and restless contemplation. Han Ye stayed mostly inside his room. Apparently, no one in the outer sect knew about a girl named 'Lan Feng'. Which was suspicious, to say the least. And Han Ye didn't want to be bothered by everyone asking how he had defeated someone higher in cultivation than himself. He didn't know that himself after all.

At least the 'him' of the missing week hadn't done anything else so outrageous.

Finally, on the third day, a week before his scheduled induction into the Wind Spirit Sect's inner sect, Han Ye decided to delve back into his soulscape. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused his will, willing himself to enter the swirling mists of his own being.

This time, however, the transition was different. A spark ignited within him, a sense of connection he had never experienced before. As he emerged into the familiar landscape of his soulscape, a feeling of clarity washed over his senses. The swirling mists seemed sharper, the colors more vibrant. It felt as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a world unseen before.

At that moment, Han Ye knew that he had completed the integration process for sure. Any denial he might have felt about it blew away. He could feel the soulscape as his own. It moved, welcoming him. Even the legacy buried within did. Curiously, it wasn't in any shape but a ball of blue light. And as Han Ye reached out to the legacy, it responded. It awoke, feeling his touch, and Han Ye instinctively understood.

Exiting his inner world, Han Ye felt different. He couldn't quite explain it, but a tingling sensation prickled at his fingertips. It was as if his senses had been heightened, attuned to something he couldn't quite grasp.

Curiosity gnawed at him. He sat by his window, gazing out at the bustling courtyard below. A group of outer sect disciples sparred, their movements sharp and practiced. They were familiar faces, friends he had trained alongside for years. Yet, there was something new about them today.

With a tentative focus, Han Ye zeroed in on one of the sparring disciples, a young woman with long, flowing black hair and eyes that held a spark of determination. As he did, the world around her seemed to shimmer. A faint, swirling aura materialized, its color a vibrant crimson like a burning ember. Embedded within the aura, a symbol flickered –with characters and scripts in it.

Name: Xiao Yu Talent: Flame perception Rank: Extremely low Note: Interaction not recommended

'Ah, so this is what...'

Han Ye realized now. This legacy, this newfound ability, not only allowed him to perceive the hidden potential within others but also the rank of their talents. The young woman possessed a natural affinity for fire-based techniques, but her talent was still in its early stages or maybe just low.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

'This... This is something else. The amount of things I can do with this is just mind-blowing.'

Overcome with a different kind of excitement, Han Ye shifted his focus to another disciple, a wiry young man with lightning-fast reflexes who danced around his opponent, leaving a blur of afterimages. This time, the aura was a vibrant blue, reminiscent of a crackling bolt of lightning. Han Ye concentrated and saw the familiar panel again.

Name: Feng Xiang Talent: Sound Manipulation Rank: Extremely Weak Note: Interaction not recommended

At that moment a sense of realism settled over Han Ye. While his legacy was undeniably powerful, it seemed most cultivators around him possessed only rudimentary talents. This wasn't a world of dazzling, high-ranking abilities at every turn.

Han Ye toned down his excitement a notch and thought

'How can I use this ability?'

If what this ability showed was true, he could pinpoint those who had high talent beforehand. He could even form deep bonds with them early and could be friends with the most talented among people.

'But is that truly fine?'

Friendships based on talent. Wasn't that just taking advantage of them? Even if those 'friends' of his ever rose high enough that Han Ye could only look at them from behind, Even if they walked at the same pace or never advanced at all.... could a bond created based on 'talent' ever last? Would it be true friendship?

'Wait.. I'm overthinking again. That's a problem for later. And it's not like I'll never be able to help them. I might be able to guide them to their talent which they weren't aware of.'

Wondering about it will not really do anything. And although Han Ye could currently think of just this direct use of his ability, he might think of more in the future. With that, he decided one more thing.

'I'll keep this a secret.'

That was likely the most sensible thing to do. He was sure that he would be taken advantage of if this ability ever became known. And Han Ye suspected that recognizing talents was most definitely not a minor legacy.

'I don't have any benchmark to compare to though.'

If the truth about his legacy ever got out, Han Ye was also sure that his background would be investigated to uncover his bloodline.

'I can't let that happen.'

That was one thing he couldn't afford.

'Well, it'll be fine.'

Hiding his legacy wasn't really difficult... probably. And although his partial memory loss had been giving him nightmares these days, Han Ye was sure that with this good news, he would sleep a comfortable sleep today.

'It's a bit early, let's sleep. I'll start investigating my ability tomorrow morning. Especially the 'Note' part, about what it means.'

With that resolution, Han Ye lay on his bed and drifted off to sleep.

* * * * * *

Han Ye was on a ship. The ship rose and fell, swayed by the waves. The water was splashing against the hull, creating a peculiar sound.

Then Han Ye realized that he was in a dream. Why? Because he was sure that he had never been on a ship before. And as soon as the realization sunk in, something changed.

The rhythmic rise and fall of the dream world had morphed into a terrifying reality. Han Ye's stomach lurched violently, mirroring the sickening sensation of the dream ship. He gasped awake, a strangled cry escaping his lips. Relief washed over him as he thought he saw his familiar room bathed in the golden glow of the rising sun. But the relief was short-lived.

The sun? He blinked, his heart hammering against his ribs. Sunrise painted the peaks that should have been obscured by the walls of his room. Panic clawed at his throat as he realized he wasn't in his bed. A howling wind whipped past his face, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. He looked down.

Down.

His blood ran cold. He wasn't lying on the comforting familiarity of his mattress. He was… falling? No, not falling. Soaring. But not on his own accord. He was perched precariously in the massive, razor-sharp talons of a giant bird. Its magnificent form, a majestic blend of browns and grays, stretched out before him, dwarfing even the towering mountains they soared above.

Han Ye: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

The primal fear of heights gripped him. His body went rigid, a strangled scream trapped in his throat. Then, a voice cut through his terror, crisp and clear.

???: "Calm down, buddy, you'll have a heart attack at this rate."

The voice, gruff but surprisingly calm, startled Han Ye. He tore his gaze away from the dizzying panorama below and focused on the source of the sound. There, beside him, clinging to another claw of the colossal bird, was a man. Not just any man, but probably a cultivator.

He was tall and lean, his face weathered and sun-baked. A thick brown hair hid a pair of black eyes that held a glint of amusement despite the bizarre situation. He wore some weird blue clothes, that looked tighter than a cultivator's robes but looser than a soldier's.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Han Ye forced himself to speak, his voice barely a whisper.

Han Ye: "Wh-where… what's happening?"

But then, he realized that the blowing wind was drowning his voice. Han Ye took a breath and shouted again.

The man chuckled, a clear sound despite the howling wind, that resonated deep within his chest.

???: "Looks like you've been chosen, little one. Chosen for what, I don't know yet, but that's the thrill of it all, isn't it?"

The man winked, his amusement growing.

Han Ye's mind reeled. Chosen? By whom? Why? And this bird… where were they even going? A million questions swirled in his head, threatening to drown him in a sea of uncertainty. He looked at the other man, his only lifeline in this surreal situation.

Han Ye: "Who are you? Where are we going?" he stammered, a flicker of desperation creeping into his voice.

The man gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, kid. They wouldn't kidnap someone for nothing, right? Well, maybe they will... I don't know. Besides, the name's Wei. And as for where we're going… well, that's part of the adventure, isn't it?"

The guy winked again, and Han Ye shuddered.