Chapter 10: Strength in Defiance
He clenched his fist, testing the sensation. The air itself seemed lighter, clearer. His senses were sharper, his heartbeat steady and powerful.
"I did it," he whispered. His voice trembled, not with fear, but with exhilaration.
For the first time in his life, he had control over his fate.
Wu Tian turned his gaze toward the distant Emerald Moon Sect, nestled high in the Silent Mist Mountains. He was still nothing in their eyes, just an orphan, a janitor unworthy of even stepping onto the outer disciple training grounds.
But that would change.
He walked back to the orphanage with newfound determination. The bullies, the humiliation, the suffering—it no longer mattered. He would endure it all, for he had something now. Power.
The following days were spent in intense self-exploration. Wu Tian tested his new abilities, discovering subtle yet profound changes in his body.
His reflexes were sharper. Movements that once felt sluggish were now precise. He could dodge, weave, and react instinctively. His strength had also improved—nothing overwhelming, but enough to notice. The most incredible part was his endurance. Where he would once tire from carrying water up the sect's endless stairs, he now moved effortlessly.
The First Gate had truly changed him.
But it wasn't enough.
"The First Gate—Unshackled Flesh" was merely the beginning.
Each night, he revisited the book in his dreams. The silver chains binding its pages had loosened ever so slightly. More words appeared, guiding him forward:
"The Second Gate—Rooted Bones."
His journey was far from over.
One evening, as he was cleaning the sect courtyard, two outer disciples approached, their gazes sharp with disdain. Wu Tian knew them well—Liu Heng and Zhang Wei, senior disciples who took pleasure in tormenting the weak.
"Well, if it isn't the little janitor," Zhang Wei sneered. "Still pretending to be something more?"
Liu Heng chuckled. "I heard he still tries to cultivate. Can you believe that?"
Wu Tian remained silent, continuing his work.
Zhang Wei kicked over a bucket of water. "Oops."
Wu Tian froze. The old him would have cowered, bowed his head, and cleaned up the mess without a word.
But now, something inside him burned. He looked up, his eyes meeting Zhang Wei's. There was no fear in them—only a quiet defiance.
Liu Heng frowned. "What's with that look?"
Wu Tian slowly straightened. His hands no longer trembled. His breath was even. The energy within him surged, and for the first time, he realized something.
He was no longer powerless.
He smiled.
"Nothing," he said. "Just… remembering something important."
A storm was brewing, and Wu Tian was ready.