A New Beginning

The sky was thick with clouds, as if mirroring the deep sorrow surrounding the abandoned mountain.

Lin Tian had begun his descent, his steps slow but steady, his breath calming with each step. The cold air whipped across his face, but despite the chill in the atmosphere, he felt a warmth rising within.

It wasn't a warmth from his surroundings, but rather one that came from within, from his firm resolve and unbreakable will.

He gazed at the body he now inhabited, weak and frail.

Muscles were nearly nonexistent, and the bones seemed like they would snap under any real pressure.

Yet despite this, he didn't feel despair; instead, he viewed this body as an opportunity.

Lin Tian, who had lived for thousands of years and dominated worlds, knew that every journey began with a small step, and every great power was once weak.

Each step he took deepened his resolve. The wind howled around him as though nature itself was challenging him, but Lin Tian was not a man easily broken.

He had faced storms far greater than this and walked through hells beyond imagination.

He looked at his hands and took a deep breath, then raised his head to gaze at the distant horizon, where the peaks of other mountains disappeared beneath the clouds.

"It's a new beginning..." he muttered quietly. He knew he had to regain his strength, but before that, he needed to improve the current state of his frail body.

As he neared the foot of the mountain, the environment around him gradually changed. The tall trees that once obscured the sky thinned out, and traces of life began to appear on the path.

There were a few footprints in the mud, evidence that someone had passed through recently.

Lin Tian wasn't sure where this path led, but he knew that the destination didn't matter for now.

What was important was that he needed shelter, resources, and perhaps a place where he could recover his strength without drawing attention.

As he continued walking, he felt exhaustion creeping into his body.

The distance he had covered so far, though short, felt like a long journey.

This body wasn't accustomed to any form of physical exertion, and Lin Tian hated this fact.

But he knew that progress would come slowly. He had to be patient.

He sat beneath a large tree, resting his back against its sturdy trunk.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to refocus his mind.

Although his body was weak, his soul remained that of the immortal who had defied death itself.

He knew that he had to improve his body as soon as possible, or even the slightest threat could end his new life.

He decided to meditate briefly. Despite his weakness, he could still gather some basic spiritual energy.

Sitting with a straight back, he took a deep breath, trying to recall the simplest techniques he had used in his early days as a trainee.

The technique was simple, but effective for restoring vitality and cleansing the body of toxins.

He began drawing in spiritual energy from around him, but it was slower than he had expected.

The air here was nearly devoid of spiritual energy, which made sense.

Remote mountains and areas far from cities or major sects were often poor in spiritual resources.

Nevertheless, he was determined to continue. If he could gather even the smallest amount of energy, it would be enough to slowly improve his body.

Minutes passed slowly, and time seemed to freeze.

Each breath brought with it a small surge of spiritual energy, but it barely made him feel any better.

His body was rejecting the energy due to its weakness, but Lin Tian had no intention of stopping.

"That's enough for now..." he muttered after a while, opening his eyes.

He looked at his hands again, then clenched his fists. Though the progress was slow, it was real.

He knew that building up this body would take time, but once he regained a fraction of his former power, he would be able to accelerate his pace.

After regaining some of his energy, he stood up again and began walking slowly along the path.

He continued walking for hours until signs of human settlement started to appear in the distance.

It wasn't a large settlement, just a small village. The houses were made of wood, and the narrow road was filled with mud.

Some farmers were working in the nearby fields, and there was no sign of wealth or luxury in this place.

"A simple village..." Lin Tian thought as he approached.

Despite its simplicity, the village was a good place to start.

Here, he could get some food and perhaps rest for a short time before deciding on his next move.

He didn't want to draw attention to himself, at least not at this stage.

He needed time, and time would help him regain his strength.

As he entered the village, a few of the locals noticed him. Their gazes were a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

His torn clothes and disheveled appearance didn't fit someone from a major sect, and his weak frame made them wonder about his story.

But no one approached him or asked any questions. It seemed the villagers were used to ignoring strangers.

Lin Tian approached one of the simple huts, where an elderly man was sitting at the entrance, looking at him curiously.

"Are you looking for something?" the man asked in a raspy voice, his eyes narrowing at the strange young man.

Lin Tian bowed slightly in respect and said calmly,

"I'm just a weary traveler. May I rest here for a while?"

The old man stared at him for a moment, then gestured to an empty spot beside him.

"Sit here then. But don't bother me with too many questions. I don't have much to offer."

Lin Tian sat beside him silently, trying to gather his thoughts.

This wasn't the place where he expected to find any real help, but he knew he still had to take cautious steps.

If he wanted to survive in this new world, he first had to adapt to his current situation.

He took a deep breath and looked at the horizon.

In this quiet village, far from the eyes of the great sects and politicians, the opportunity was ripe for him to slowly plan his next steps.

It wouldn't be easy, but over time he had learned that patience was the key to success.

He had to start small, but in his mind, he saw a clear picture. One day, he would return to the top, and he would reclaim everything he had lost.

And until then, he would never forget the betrayal that had destroyed him.

…