Kekuatan pemberian dewa

Pagi hari di sekte Tian Bao, Che Su dan Xiao Zhui sedang berlatih beladiri di ruang latihan sekte. Saat ini Che Su berada di ranah Penyucian Jiwa tingkat 2 sedangkan Xiao Zhui sudah berada di ranah Penyucian Jiwa tingkat 3. Mereka berdua pun memutuskan bertarung untuk menguji kemampuan beladiri mereka.

Keduanya berdiri saling berhadapan. Che Su memulai dengan serangan cepat, meluncurkan pukulan lurus ke arah Xiao Zhui. Namun, Xiao Zhui dengan mudah menangkisnya menggunakan lengan. "Cepat, tapi belum cukup kuat," ejeknya.

Che Su tidak menyerah. Ia melancarkan serangan bertubi-tubi, memanfaatkan kecepatan dan kelincahan. Namun, Xiao Zhui tetap mampu membaca gerakannya dan menghindar dengan mudah. Dengan satu tendangan yang terarah, Xiao Zhui berhasil menjatuhkan Che Su ke tanah.

"Che Su, kau tidak apa-apa?" tanya Xiao Zhui sambil mengulurkan tangan untuk membantu Che Su berdiri.

Che Su tersenyum, menerima uluran tangan itu. "Aku baik-baik saja. Teknikmu memang berada di level yang berbeda dariku saat ini," jawabnya sambil menghela napas.

Pertarungan itu berakhir, namun semangat Che Su untuk terus berkembang semakin membara.

---

Di sisi lain, seorang pemuda sekte Dao Xiang yang bernama Zhou Xin berlari terhuyung-huyung, tubuhnya masih lemah akibat luka pertempuran sebelumnya. Dengan napas terengah-engah, ia berhasil kabur dari sekte Dao Xiang.

Saat memasuki hutan yang gelap, Zhou Xin tiba-tiba dihentikan oleh bayangan besar yang muncul di hadapannya. Bayangan itu bukan manusia biasa; aura yang dipancarkannya begitu menakutkan dan membuat Zhou Xin terpaku di tempat.

"Aku adalah Feng Tianshui, seorang pemburu dewa," suara berat itu bergema, membuat Zhou Xin merinding.

Zhou Xin memandang bayangan itu dengan waspada. "Apa yang kau inginkan dariku?" tanyanya, mencoba mengendalikan rasa takutnya.

"Aku di sini untuk menawarkanmu kekuatan. Ada seorang pemuda yang menjadi penghalangmu, bukan? Aku bisa membantumu melewatinya," kata Feng Tianshui.

"Siapa yang kau maksud?" Zhou Xin bertanya, meskipun dalam hatinya ia sudah menebak siapa yang dimaksud.

"Seorang anak dewa yang bernama Che Su" jawab Feng Tianshui sambil tersenyum samar.

"Anak dewa?" Zhou Xin terdiam. Nama itu terus terngiang di kepalanya, membakar amarah yang ia pendam. "Apa yang harus kulakukan untuk mendapatkan kekuatan itu?" tanyanya akhirnya.

Feng Tianshui mengeluarkan sebuah pil merah kecil yang memancarkan cahaya redup. "Telan ini. Kekuatan yang kau inginkan akan menjadi milikmu, tapi ada syaratnya. Jika kau gagal menggunakan kekuatan ini untuk mengalahkan dia, harga yang harus kau bayar adalah jiwamu."

Zhou Xin menatap pil itu, ragu sejenak, namun akhirnya mengambilnya dan menelannya tanpa pikir panjang. Seketika, tubuhnya terasa seperti terbakar dari dalam.

"Arghhh... Apa yang terjadi padaku?!" teriak Zhou Xin, tubuhnya dilingkupi aura gelap yang kuat. Pohon-pohon di sekitarnya bergetar, beberapa bahkan tumbang terkena tekanan energinya.

"Kekuatanmu telah lahir. Pergilah, dan buktikan bahwa kau layak menggunakannya," ujar Feng Tianshui sebelum bayangannya perlahan menghilang.

Dengan mata yang kini menyala penuh kebencian, Zhou Xin mengepalkan tinjunya. "Che Su... Aku akan mengalahkanmu!"

--

[ English Version ]

Chapter 4: God-given power

Early morning at Tian Bao Sect, Che Su and Xiao Zhui were practicing martial arts in the sect's training room. Che Su was currently at the 2nd level of the Soul Sanctification while Xiao Zhui was already at the 3rd level of the Soul Sanctification. The two of them decided to fight to test their martial arts skills.

The two stood facing each other. Che Su started with a quick attack, launching a straight punch at Xiao Zhui. However, Xiao Zhui easily blocked it with his arm. "Fast, but not strong enough," he taunted.

Che Su did not give up. He launched a series of attacks, utilizing his speed and agility. However, Xiao Zhui was still able to read his movements and dodge easily. With one well-aimed kick, Xiao Zhui managed to knock Che Su to the ground.

"Che Su, are you okay?" Xiao Zhui asked as he reached out to help Che Su up.

Che Su smiled, accepting the outstretched hand. "I'm fine. Your technique is indeed on a different level than mine right now," he replied with a sigh.

The battle was over, but Che Su's desire to continue growing was even more intense.

---

On the other side, a Dao Xiang sect youth named Zhou Xin staggered, his body still weak from the wounds from the previous battle. With gasping breath, he managed to escape from the Dao Xiang sect.

As he entered the dark forest, Zhou Xin was suddenly stopped by a large shadow that appeared before him. The shadow was no ordinary human; the aura it exuded was so terrifying that it froze Zhou Xin in place.

"I am Feng Tianshui, a god hunter," the deep voice echoed, sending shivers down Zhou Xin's spine.

Zhou Xin looked at the shadow warily. "What do you want from me?" he asked, trying to control his fear.

"I am here to offer you strength. There is a young man who is blocking you, isn't there? I can help you get through it," Feng Tianshui said.

"Who are you referring to?" Zhou Xin asked, though he already had a guess in his heart.

"A child of the gods named Che Su," Feng Tianshui replied with a faint smile.

"Child of the gods?" Zhou Xin fell silent. The name kept ringing in his head, fueling the anger he had suppressed. "What must I do to obtain that power?" he finally asked.

Feng Tianshui took out a small red pill that emitted a faint light. "Swallow this. The power you desire will be yours, but there is a condition. If you fail to use this power to defeat him, the price you must pay is your soul."

Zhou Xin stared at the pill, hesitated for a moment, but finally took it and swallowed it without thinking. Instantly, his body felt like it was burning from the inside.

"Arghhh... What is happening to me?!" Zhou Xin screamed, his body enveloped in a powerful dark aura. The trees around him trembled, some even falling from the pressure of his energy.

"Your power has been born. Go, and prove that you are worthy of using it," Feng Tianshui said before his shadow slowly disappeared.

With eyes now burning with hatred, Zhou Xin clenched his fists. "Che Su... I will defeat you!"