48. Star Immortal

The night sky stretched overhead, dotted with stars, and eight among them shone brighter than all, seeming to compete in their brilliance. Rain sat by the window, watching the city below. The streets were dark, with only the soft glow of lamps carried by the occasional passerby breaking through the shadows. Lights flickered from houses, gradually dimming as the city fell into quiet darkness. A cold wind swept through, signalling that it was time.

Rain blew out the light in his room, then carefully jumped from the inn window to the road below. He moved quietly, mindful of the city guards patrolling the streets at night, and began making his way north, where the wealthier families lived. Bypassing the patrols with ease, he soon reached the gate of Yun Ting's family home.

The large courtyard, surrounded by wall inside there are gardens, ponds, and separate house for each family members with servants, and guards, lay still and silent in the night. Rain slipped into the courtyard, climbing over the wall, and made his way quietly toward Yun Ting's parents' quarters. Noticing light coming from his father's study, he decided to ease their worry by showing himself. He approached the door, carefully opened it, and stepped inside.

Yun Ting's father's eyes widened after his father fall upon him. he whispered, "Yun Ting… I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"No, Father," Rain replied gently.

His father quickly stood, reaching out to embrace him. "Where were you? Your mother and Yunxi were so worried! Come, let's go to your mother's room."

Rain held up a hand. "Wait, Father. Please, listen to me first."

As his father's worried gaze softened with attention, Rain recounted the events that had unfolded since Yun Ting had left the city to hunt. He carefully omitted anything about Yun Ting's consciousness disappearing or his body being inhabited by another soul, one not even from their world. Rain told him he'd only returned that morning from the forest and had stayed at an inn before sneaking home to check on the family.

As Rain finished, Yun Ting's father sank back into his chair, relief on his face mixed with lingering worry.

"So, you didn't write the letter to cancel the engagement with Yun Xi?" his father asked, his voice uncertain.

"No," Rain replied, "I didn't write any letter. I left only to hunt a snow fox to give its fur as a gift to Yun Xi."

Rain watched as Yun Ting's father seemed to sober, his worry sharpening. "It was wise of you to come home discreetly. Your suspicion about the immortals is justified; perhaps they did want you out of the way. But I doubt Yun Xi had any part in it. When she stayed in your room for two days, I found her crying and overheard the immortals urging her to leave with them, reminding her that after she start to practise the immortal method her life span will be different from mortals and cutting the worldly ties will be inevitable as the long life she will lose all her mortal close ones. Breaking the engagement with you may ultimately be best for her."

Rain nodded. "But then, she didn't respond to the letter. She stayed in my room for two days."

His father sighed. "No. After reading the letter, she went silent. And on the day that was supposed to be your wedding, she came to stay in your room—as if she were already your bride."

From Yun Ting's memories, Rain knew Yun Xi well—they had grown up together. She was never one to stay silent if someone wronged her. If Yun Ting had truly written that letter and after she read, she would have sent her brothers to drag him back, scolding him for being a coward and demanding he say it to her face. Her unusual silence hinted that she suspected something amiss. Rain thought about her two-day stay at their house, recalling the hidden places they'd used to stash things. 

"Father, what did Yun Xi do while staying in our house for those two days?" Rain asked.

His father considered. "She mostly stayed with your mother or wandered in the gardens."

Rain nodded. "Father, I'll be leaving the city tomorrow. After some time, you can tell Mother that I'm alive."

As he rose to go, his father stopped him, walking over to a drawer and pulling out a small pouch. "Here's some money. Be careful out there and try to visit us when you can."

Rain accepted the pouch gratefully—he was indeed short on money. He hugged his father, then slipped outside, moving stealthily toward the hidden spot they had often used. Climbing a tree in the garden, he found the hollow in the trunk where the branches split. Inside was a large bag, and within it, a letter, two books, and four crystals. These must be the reason stay at our home.

Rain took the bag and returned the way he came, back to his room at the inn. Settling down, he opened the letter and read it carefully. His suspicions were confirmed: Yun Xi suspected he hadn't written the engagement-breaking letter. She recognized the difference in style and was certain he would never end things with her in such a manner. She wrote that she hoped he was safe and that she still loved him.

The letter contained instructions, asking him to break the companion crystals in a specific order if he read her letter: first, the crystal in her favourite colour, then his, and finally, the colour they both disliked. She explained that these companion crystals came in pairs, so breaking one would simultaneously break its counterpart, wherever it might be, so she would know he was alive and well.

Rain examined the crystals: red, yellow, purple, and black. Following her instructions, he broke them in order: purple, white, red, and then yellow. Once done, he turned his attention back to the letter.

In the remaining lines, Yun Xi explained that she was leaving him two books: one detailing the world of immortals and another, a practice manual that she hoped he could use. She wished for him to possess the qualifications for becoming an immortal, and for these teachings to aid him on his path.

Rain turned his attention to the books, feeling detached from Yun Xi's letter, as she remained a stranger to him despite Yun Ting's memories. He picked up the book labelled *Immortal* on the cover. Grateful for the holiday—allowing him extended time in this world without needing to rush. In his own world, thanks to a citywide holiday granted for Lord Martin's recent breakthrough to A-rank. 

The holiday announcement had also included news of an upcoming fighting competition in a month, with a note for Rain to prepare as he would be competing in the C-group for participants under twenty. Turning back to the book, he began reading and learned that this world was called the *Star Immortal World, * a vast land with a single large continent surrounded by various islands. 

The text continued, describing the three dominant races of the Star Immortal World: the Human Race, the Feather People, and the Beast Race. The Human Race controls the southern plains and western desert, the Beast Race holds sway over the vast central wilderness and oceans, while the Feather People command the northern mountains and eastern forests.

 For the Human Race, the ultimate cultivation goal is to achieve the status of a Star Immortal. The first stages of cultivation were detailed as follows: Gathering Strength, Refining Energy, Human Base, Earth Pillar, Sky Palace, Divine Throne, and, finally, reaching Star Immortal status.

The book explained that the Gathering Strength Realm, the starting point of cultivation, aligns closely with the martial arts realms Rain was familiar with. This realm is divided into 12 levels: the first nine correspond to the martial arts Gathering Strength stages, while the last three make up the Strength Realm.

The next realm, Refining Energy, involves drawing in and refining the world's energy with one's inner power and is also divided into 12 levels. Following Refining Energy comes the Human Base, which has five tiers—White, Black, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each of these is further divided into Beginning, Middle, Late, and Peak stages.

The final note emphasized the rarity of those capable of cultivating. Only a small fraction—about 1 in 1,000—are born with the necessary spiritual body to practise immortal method.

Rain quickly dove into the next book, keenly aware that Yun Ting had reached the 10th level of Gathering Strength in the immortal realms. Now, with his consciousness in control, his realm had even advanced to the peak of Gathering Strength. This final stage emphasized mastering the body's full strength and being able to release it from any part—equivalent to an E-rank in his main world.

Reading through the book carefully, Rain learned the cultivation technique in depth. Following its instructions, he sat cross-legged, breathing in rhythm to begin absorbing the world's energy. This was also a test used in this world to verify a spirit body, even the lowest grade. If one couldn't absorb energy, they could still feel its presence around them, offering a way to gauge their potential.

If he couldn't absorb or even sense the world's energy, it would confirm that the clone's body lacked a spirit body. Accepting this limitation, Rain lay on the bed, considering ways to boost his strength since he'd already reached the body's martial limit. Avenging Yun Ting was a necessity; even if he didn't seek out conflict, he knew Yun Ting's enemies would pursue him simply due to the body he now inhabited.

Rain began focusing inward, exploring the body for any potential to enhance its strength. However, this world had no genetic medicine, nor was he certain if this body even possessed genetic locks.

As Rain absentmindedly circulated true energy within the body, a sudden thought sparked. Genetic energy in the radiation world forms from gene energy, derived from all cellular energies, while true energy here is a fusion of cellular energy and soul energy. Currently, true energy uses only about 10 percent of each cell's energy. But if he could gather all cellular energy, the true energy might evolve into something even more potent, potentially unlocking a new path for martial arts.

To attempt this, he would need resources—specifically, the energy-rich pond in the cave. Rain decided he could train for the upcoming competition while leaving the clone body in the pond for cellular energy cultivation. His subconscious, which had first awakened when healing the injuries, could take over while his main consciousness returned to his own body.