Chapter 2: Hidden Currents

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the narrow alleys of the small town, casting a soft glow. Xishan Wu stepped out of his small rented room, breathing in the cool morning air as he made his way to the tavern. After a night of meditation, he felt the flow of spiritual energy in his body becoming smoother, as if each breath connected with the surrounding qi. He knew that this daily cultivation, even in such a resource-poor place, would gradually increase his strength. Though far from the riches of his family's estate, Xishan Wu remained determined to keep himself in peak condition.

As he entered the tavern, the owner was busy organizing the front hall. With a brief glance, the owner greeted Xishan Wu with a slight nod. Without a word, Xishan Wu began clearing the tables, collecting the cups and dishes left behind, and bringing them to the back to wash. Since beginning his work here, he had realized that this tavern served as an excellent spot to observe the town's goings-on. Although not many patrons came and went, there were always a few individuals, plain in appearance yet sharp in gaze, whispering about things that others might easily overlook.

Rumors from the Streets

That evening, a group of strangers arrived at the tavern. They appeared to be outsiders, and after sitting down, they began speaking in hushed tones. Xishan Wu quietly moved closer, cleaning the area near their table while keenly listening to their conversation.

"Have you heard? Strange things have been happening at the old temple in the west of town. Even some local cultivators are too scared to go near it."

"The old temple? Hasn't that place been abandoned for years? Those guys must be cowards—what could possibly scare them?"

"They say someone's set up a formation there. Last night, people saw shadows moving and heard eerie whispers."

Xishan Wu's interest was piqued, though he kept his expression neutral. He continued wiping down the table as if uninterested, but he filed the information away. Though he'd been in this town for several days, he had yet to find a suitable opportunity to establish himself. It seemed that the strange occurrences in town were signs of impending turmoil.

Investigating the Temple

That night, after the tavern had quieted down and the patrons had left, Xishan Wu finished his work, excused himself, and headed toward the old temple in the west of town. The night wind was cold, sweeping through the deserted streets. A few stray dogs scavenged near piles of trash, occasionally lifting their heads to glance at Xishan Wu with fearful eyes before darting away.

The temple lay in a desolate patch of woodland, its windows broken and its walls covered in moss. Xishan Wu approached the entrance and, through a crack in the door, saw dust-covered statues and scattered offerings inside. It was clear that no one had worshipped here in a long time.

He gently pushed open the door and stepped inside, his movements cautious as he sensed a faint ripple of spiritual energy in the air. After searching the temple, he finally discovered a hidden formation in a corner behind the statues. Though simple, the formation exuded a sinister aura, one that reminded him of the Shadow Gate's dark presence. Carefully, he touched the markings, feeling the faint trickle of dark energy seeping from beneath the ground, as if someone had deliberately set up a spell here.

"So, this too is the work of the Shadow Gate," he thought, growing more alert. Just as he was about to leave, he heard footsteps at the door. Swiftly, he concealed himself in the shadows, holding his breath and watching closely.

A First Encounter

The temple door creaked open, and several figures stepped inside. Leading them was a middle-aged man in a gray robe, his eyes sharp like a hawk's. Two young men, likely his guards, followed closely behind. They scanned the room, and the middle-aged man chuckled coldly. "This temple may be rundown, but it's perfect for setting up a formation. Now we just need to wait for those fools to walk right into our trap."

Xishan Wu's heart raced, but he remained hidden, listening intently. The group hadn't noticed his presence and began setting up more formations inside the temple. The man pulled out several talismans, muttering incantations before placing them around the walls. Almost instantly, black mist began to rise from the symbols, emitting a foul stench of decay.

Xishan Wu watched quietly, memorizing the intricate details of the formation. These dark symbols were filled with corruptive energy—witnessing the Shadow Gate's methods firsthand revealed just how wicked their practices truly were.

After completing the setup, the middle-aged man ordered his two guards to keep watch outside, while he moved to the center of the temple. He gently held a talisman between his fingers, slowly channeling his spiritual energy into it. The talisman began to glow with a cold, eerie light, illuminating the temple as the black mist started to coalesce, as if awakening some malevolent force.

Xishan Wu observed cautiously. Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the mist, filled with pain and anguish. He realized the sound came from some kind of imprisoned creature, likely the result of a forbidden experiment conducted by the Shadow Gate.

Before he could think further, a commotion erupted outside the temple. Recognizing the distraction, Xishan Wu seized the moment, retreating quietly to avoid detection. He slipped past the guards and disappeared into the night.

Returning to the Town

Back in the town, Xishan Wu moved silently through the streets, returning to his small room without drawing attention. Lighting a small oil lamp, he sat on his bed and reflected on everything he had witnessed at the temple. The formation and dark mist had raised his suspicions about the Shadow Gate's larger plans. He realized that this seemingly quiet town was not as peaceful as it appeared—something far more sinister was brewing beneath the surface.

He spent a long time in thought before pulling out the ancient manual passed down by his family. Opening it to the section on formation analysis, he began studying the complex symbols. Though his current strength was limited, the intricate details of the formation had sparked his determination. Xishan Wu resolved to accelerate his cultivation and gather more information about the Shadow Gate's activities in the town.

As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, Xishan Wu opened his eyes, filled with renewed purpose. He knew this small town was just the beginning of his journey. The road ahead would undoubtedly be fraught with challenges, but no matter how perilous, he would face it with unwavering resolve. This was only the start of his path to rise.Chapter 2: Hidden Currents

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the narrow alleys of the small town, casting a soft glow. Xishan Wu stepped out of his small rented room, breathing in the cool morning air as he made his way to the tavern. After a night of meditation, he felt the flow of spiritual energy in his body becoming smoother, as if each breath connected with the surrounding qi. He knew that this daily cultivation, even in such a resource-poor place, would gradually increase his strength. Though far from the riches of his family's estate, Xishan Wu remained determined to keep himself in peak condition.

As he entered the tavern, the owner was busy organizing the front hall. With a brief glance, the owner greeted Xishan Wu with a slight nod. Without a word, Xishan Wu began clearing the tables, collecting the cups and dishes left behind, and bringing them to the back to wash. Since beginning his work here, he had realized that this tavern served as an excellent spot to observe the town's goings-on. Although not many patrons came and went, there were always a few individuals, plain in appearance yet sharp in gaze, whispering about things that others might easily overlook.

Rumors from the Streets

That evening, a group of strangers arrived at the tavern. They appeared to be outsiders, and after sitting down, they began speaking in hushed tones. Xishan Wu quietly moved closer, cleaning the area near their table while keenly listening to their conversation.

"Have you heard? Strange things have been happening at the old temple in the west of town. Even some local cultivators are too scared to go near it."

"The old temple? Hasn't that place been abandoned for years? Those guys must be cowards—what could possibly scare them?"

"They say someone's set up a formation there. Last night, people saw shadows moving and heard eerie whispers."

Xishan Wu's interest was piqued, though he kept his expression neutral. He continued wiping down the table as if uninterested, but he filed the information away. Though he'd been in this town for several days, he had yet to find a suitable opportunity to establish himself. It seemed that the strange occurrences in town were signs of impending turmoil.

Investigating the Temple

That night, after the tavern had quieted down and the patrons had left, Xishan Wu finished his work, excused himself, and headed toward the old temple in the west of town. The night wind was cold, sweeping through the deserted streets. A few stray dogs scavenged near piles of trash, occasionally lifting their heads to glance at Xishan Wu with fearful eyes before darting away.

The temple lay in a desolate patch of woodland, its windows broken and its walls covered in moss. Xishan Wu approached the entrance and, through a crack in the door, saw dust-covered statues and scattered offerings inside. It was clear that no one had worshipped here in a long time.

He gently pushed open the door and stepped inside, his movements cautious as he sensed a faint ripple of spiritual energy in the air. After searching the temple, he finally discovered a hidden formation in a corner behind the statues. Though simple, the formation exuded a sinister aura, one that reminded him of the Shadow Gate's dark presence. Carefully, he touched the markings, feeling the faint trickle of dark energy seeping from beneath the ground, as if someone had deliberately set up a spell here.

"So, this too is the work of the Shadow Gate," he thought, growing more alert. Just as he was about to leave, he heard footsteps at the door. Swiftly, he concealed himself in the shadows, holding his breath and watching closely.

A First Encounter

The temple door creaked open, and several figures stepped inside. Leading them was a middle-aged man in a gray robe, his eyes sharp like a hawk's. Two young men, likely his guards, followed closely behind. They scanned the room, and the middle-aged man chuckled coldly. "This temple may be rundown, but it's perfect for setting up a formation. Now we just need to wait for those fools to walk right into our trap."

Xishan Wu's heart raced, but he remained hidden, listening intently. The group hadn't noticed his presence and began setting up more formations inside the temple. The man pulled out several talismans, muttering incantations before placing them around the walls. Almost instantly, black mist began to rise from the symbols, emitting a foul stench of decay.

Xishan Wu watched quietly, memorizing the intricate details of the formation. These dark symbols were filled with corruptive energy—witnessing the Shadow Gate's methods firsthand revealed just how wicked their practices truly were.

After completing the setup, the middle-aged man ordered his two guards to keep watch outside, while he moved to the center of the temple. He gently held a talisman between his fingers, slowly channeling his spiritual energy into it. The talisman began to glow with a cold, eerie light, illuminating the temple as the black mist started to coalesce, as if awakening some malevolent force.

Xishan Wu observed cautiously. Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the mist, filled with pain and anguish. He realized the sound came from some kind of imprisoned creature, likely the result of a forbidden experiment conducted by the Shadow Gate.

Before he could think further, a commotion erupted outside the temple. Recognizing the distraction, Xishan Wu seized the moment, retreating quietly to avoid detection. He slipped past the guards and disappeared into the night.

Returning to the Town

Back in the town, Xishan Wu moved silently through the streets, returning to his small room without drawing attention. Lighting a small oil lamp, he sat on his bed and reflected on everything he had witnessed at the temple. The formation and dark mist had raised his suspicions about the Shadow Gate's larger plans. He realized that this seemingly quiet town was not as peaceful as it appeared—something far more sinister was brewing beneath the surface.

He spent a long time in thought before pulling out the ancient manual passed down by his family. Opening it to the section on formation analysis, he began studying the complex symbols. Though his current strength was limited, the intricate details of the formation had sparked his determination. Xishan Wu resolved to accelerate his cultivation and gather more information about the Shadow Gate's activities in the town.

As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, Xishan Wu opened his eyes, filled with renewed purpose. He knew this small town was just the beginning of his journey. The road ahead would undoubtedly be fraught with challenges, but no matter how perilous, he would face it with unwavering resolve. This was only the start of his path to rise.