Chapter 2: The Legacy of Di Yongheng

The cold, dim light of the cave barely illuminated its vast interior, the shadows dancing along the ancient carvings that lined the walls. Long Tian stood in the center of the cavern, his heart still racing from the encounter with Di Yongheng. The jade pendant hung heavy around his neck, its subtle warmth a constant reminder of the presence that had awakened within this hidden sanctuary.

"You are not yet ready to leave this place," Di Yongheng's voice echoed within the cavern, resonating with an authority that sent shivers down Long Tian's spine. "There is much you must learn before you step back into the world outside. For now, you will remain here and listen to what I have to teach you."

Long Tian nodded, the weight of Di Yongheng's words sinking in. The initial fear and confusion he had felt were slowly giving way to a determination he had never known. He had spent years being told he was nothing, a mere servant with no potential. But now, for the first time, someone saw something in him—something worth cultivating.

"Before we begin," Di Yongheng's voice softened slightly, "you should understand why I took an interest in you. The name you bear, Tian, is not just a coincidence. It is a fragment of a much greater destiny, one that is intertwined with my own."

Long Tian looked up, his eyes wide with curiosity. "What do you mean? How are we connected?"

"My true name," Di Yongheng began, "is Dì Yǒnghéng, which means 'Eternal Emperor.' In my time, I was a ruler who sought to transcend mortality and reach the highest realms of cultivation. I succeeded, but at a great cost. My name, 'Yǒnghéng,' carries the meaning of eternity, of endless existence. But I was born with the name Tianming, 'Heaven's Mandate.' When I saw that you bore the name 'Tian,' symbolizing the heavens and the divine will, I realized that perhaps the heavens had chosen you for me to continue my legacy."

Long Tian absorbed the explanation, the realization settling into his mind like a puzzle piece clicking into place. "So… you think I'm meant to continue what you started?"

"Perhaps," Di Yongheng replied, his tone contemplative. "Or perhaps it is just an ironic twist of fate. But regardless of the reason, you now carry a responsibility—one that you must prove yourself worthy of."

Long Tian clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. "I will prove myself. I won't let this opportunity slip away."

Di Yongheng's spectral form materialized before him, a towering figure cloaked in ancient robes, his eyes burning with an intensity that matched the fire in Long Tian's heart. "Very well," he said, his tone taking on a sharper edge. "But first, you must overcome a challenge. Only then will you be ready to begin your training."

Long Tian's heart skipped a beat, a mixture of excitement and apprehension flooding through him. "What must I do?" he asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at him.

Di Yongheng's gaze bore into him, unyielding and stern. "Within this cave lies a hidden force—a remnant of my past, sealed away for millennia. It is a manifestation of my power, but also of my wrath. You must face it, conquer it, and prove that you are worthy of carrying my legacy."

The air around Long Tian grew heavy, the weight of Di Yongheng's words pressing down on him. He knew that this would be no simple test—this was a trial designed to break him, to push him beyond his limits. But there was no hesitation in his heart. He had come this far, and he would not falter now.

"I'm ready," Long Tian said, his voice resolute.

Di Yongheng extended his hand, and the ground beneath Long Tian trembled. The walls of the cave shifted, revealing a hidden passage that seemed to descend into darkness. A faint, ominous glow emanated from within, casting eerie shadows that flickered across the ancient carvings.

"Enter," Di Yongheng commanded, "and face what awaits you. If you emerge victorious, you will have taken your first step on the path to greatness. But know this—if you fail, there will be no second chance."

Long Tian took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. He stepped forward, the pendant around his neck pulsing with a faint warmth as if urging him onward. With each step, the darkness seemed to close in around him, the glow growing stronger until it bathed the passage in an eerie, crimson light.

The passage led him to a vast chamber, its walls lined with jagged rocks and ancient runes that seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy. In the center of the chamber stood a towering figure—an ethereal being wreathed in flames, its eyes burning with an otherworldly fury. It was a manifestation of Di Yongheng's power, a fragment of the Eternal Emperor's might left behind to test those who would seek his legacy.

Long Tian's breath caught in his throat as the being's gaze locked onto him. The air around him crackled with energy, the sheer intensity of the being's presence threatening to overwhelm him.

"Prove your worth," the being's voice echoed through the chamber, its tone a mixture of challenge and contempt. "Show me that you are not just a child playing at cultivation."

The being surged forward, its flames roaring to life as it unleashed a torrent of fire upon Long Tian. The heat was intense, searing the air around him, but Long Tian stood his ground, his mind racing as he tried to find a way to counter the onslaught.

Instinctively, he reached within himself, seeking the faint ember of energy that he had awakened earlier. But as he tried to draw upon it, he felt a sharp pain in his chest—a sudden, agonizing pressure that brought him to his knees. His Dantian, the core of his cultivation, was blocked, preventing him from accessing the power he so desperately needed.

"You are weak," the being's voice taunted him, the flames growing ever closer. "You will never succeed as you are now."

Long Tian gritted his teeth, the pain in his chest intensifying. He knew that the being was right—he was powerless, unable to tap into the energy that lay within him. But even as the flames closed in, he refused to give in to despair.

"I won't give up," Long Tian growled, his voice strained but determined. "I can't give up… not now."

His mind raced, searching for a solution, and then he remembered Di Yongheng's words—"The path to power is forged through suffering." This pain, this trial, was part of that path. He could not overcome it by force alone; he needed to understand, to find a way to unlock his potential.

As the flames licked at his skin, Long Tian forced himself to focus. He shut out the pain, the fear, and the doubt, reaching deep within himself, searching for the source of the blockage in his Dantian. He could feel it—a knot of energy, twisted and gnarled, preventing the flow of power. It was a flaw, a defect that had been with him since birth, the reason he had never been able to cultivate.

"There!" Di Yongheng's voice cut through the chaos, his tone urgent. "You have found it. Now, listen carefully. This blockage is the result of a deep-seated imbalance within your body. To remove it, you must channel the energy around you, use it to cleanse your Dantian and restore the flow of Qi."

Long Tian nodded, his mind locking onto the task at hand. He could feel the energy of the chamber—the flames, the power of the being before him—all swirling around him, just out of reach. He needed to draw it in, to use it to break the chains that bound his potential.

With a deep breath, Long Tian began to focus on the energy around him. He reached out with his mind, willing it to flow toward him, to surround him. At first, it resisted, the flames lashing out at him as if trying to push him away. But he persisted, his will unwavering, and slowly, the energy began to respond.

It was a delicate process, the energy around him wild and untamed, but Long Tian guided it with a steady hand, pulling it toward his Dantian. As the energy gathered, he felt the pressure in his chest increase, the blockage straining against the force that threatened to tear it apart.

"Good," Di Yongheng's voice was steady, guiding him through the process. "Now, use that energy. Focus it on the blockage, force it to break apart. This will not be easy, but you must endure."

Long Tian gritted his teeth, the pain in his chest reaching unbearable levels. The energy swirled around him, a storm of power that threatened to consume him. But he held on, pushing it toward the knot in his Dantian, willing it to shatter.

The flames roared, the being's eyes burning with intensity as it watched the struggle unfold. Long Tian could feel the energy converging on the blockage, the pressure building until it felt like his chest would explode.

Suddenly, the flames surrounding the being flickered, and in the midst of the chaos, Long Tian saw something unusual—a scroll materializing above his head, glowing with a radiant light. The scroll unfurled slowly, ancient characters written in a script that seemed to hum with power. The characters danced and shifted, as though alive, weaving patterns that resonated deep within Long Tian's soul.

"This…" Long Tian whispered, his voice barely audible. "What is this?"

"It is the Qi method you will use," Di Yongheng's voice echoed in the chamber, carrying a weight of ages. **"This technique is known as the Jiǔ Tiān Lóng Xīng Jīng—the 'Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension Scripture.'"

"Nine Heavens?" Long Tian's curiosity got the better of him, but Di Yongheng's tone grew sharp.

"It's a good thing, boy. Stop asking questions and focus."

The scroll hovered above Long Tian, its light bathing him in a warm, golden glow. The ancient script began to flow into his mind, etching itself into his memory as though it had always been a part of him. He could feel the knowledge taking root, the complex patterns and sequences of the technique unfolding within his consciousness.

The Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension Scripture Qi technique was a method that involved channeling the energy of the heavens themselves, drawing upon the power of the nine heavens to cleanse and purify the Dantian. It allowed the practitioner to convert chaotic, impure energy into pure, refined Qi, ensuring that the flow of power within the body was unblocked and free from corruption.

As Long Tian absorbed the technique, he understood its importance. The method was a foundation for his cultivation, enabling him to harness the raw, untamed energy around him and transform it into a source of immense power. It was not just a way to cleanse his Dantian, but a means to ascend through the realms of cultivation with a strength that few could rival.

"This method," Di Yongheng continued, his tone slightly less severe, "is not meant for the ordinary. It's a way to ensure that your Qi remains pure, no matter what kind of energy you encounter. Now, use the energy of the flames around you and convert it using the Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension Scripture Qi technique. Cleanse the blockage in your Dantian and allow the flow of power to be restored."

Long Tian closed his eyes, the scroll's knowledge still fresh in his mind. He could feel the energy of the flames surrounding him, wild and untamed, but he reached out with his consciousness, guiding it toward his Dantian. The ancient technique began to take shape within him, the sequences of the Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension Scripture Qi technique unfolding like a carefully woven tapestry.

As the energy entered his Dantian, the pain intensified, the blockage resisting with all its might. But Long Tian did not waver. He focused on the technique, the patterns of the Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension Scripture Qi technique guiding him as he began to convert the chaotic energy into something pure, something refined.

The process was excruciating, the pressure in his chest building to unbearable levels. But as he continued, he could feel the energy slowly beginning to change. The wild, chaotic flames began to stabilize, the knot of energy in his Dantian slowly unraveling as the purified Qi flowed through it.

Minutes felt like hours, but Long Tian persevered. The flames roared around him, their intensity growing as they were drawn into the conversion process. The technique required absolute focus, every fiber of his being dedicated to the task at hand.

And then, just as the pain reached its peak, the knot in his Dantian finally gave way. The blockage shattered, the purified Qi flooding through his Dantian like a river breaking free of a dam. The flow of power was restored, the energy within him now pure and refined, coursing through his meridians with a newfound strength.

Long Tian gasped for breath, his body trembling from the exertion. He could feel the power within him, coiled and ready, the Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension Scripture Qi technique now a part of him, its sequences forever etched into his mind.

Di Yongheng's voice echoed through the chamber once more, filled with a quiet satisfaction. **"You have done well. The blockage in your Dantian is gone, and the flow of power has been restored. But this is only the beginning. The path ahead is long and fraught with danger. But with the Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension Scripture Qi technique, you now possess a method that will allow you to ascend to heights you have never imagined."

Long Tian nodded, his heart filled with a newfound determination. He had taken the first step on the path to greatness, and with Di Yongheng's guidance, he would continue to push forward, determined to find his path.