Chapter 19
North of China, Hebei Province, Yehun Temple, March 23, 2030 — 8:30 PM
— Meilin...
Tiang's voice was weak, barely a whisper. Lying on his bed, his body bruised and paralyzed, he struggled to keep his eyes open. Around him, his friends were on the verge of tears. The atmosphere was heavy, filled with pain and despair.
Meilin, her hands trembling, leaned over him.
— Xuelan... How can I heal him?! How can I restore his limbs?!
The cold, emotionless voice of the Demon Queen Xuelan Mowang echoed in her mind.
— The apostle infused him with his Qi. Teach him to control his meridians... or the King will experience an eleventh life.
Meilin's heart tightened. She hesitated for a moment, then took a small red pill from her pouch. Without waiting, she pressed it against Tiang's lips.
— Meilin... What are you doing...?
His voice was weak, broken. But before he could protest, Meilin forced the pill into his mouth.
No sooner had he swallowed it than an intense warmth spread through his body. His veins seemed to glow beneath his skin. He felt something awakening inside him, a power he didn't yet understand. Slowly, he moved his fingers, then his arm. He tried to sit up, stunned.
— Tiang, I... I don't want you to die!
Meilin's voice broke. She hugged him tightly, her embrace filled with desperation.
Yin Na and Lijing approached, relieved to see their friend moving again. In the courtyard of the ruined temple, an old Buddhist monk silently watched them, a faint smile on his lips.
Tiang cracked a grin.
— Mei... Do you really think I'm going to die like this?
He attempted a laugh, but immediately broke into a violent coughing fit, spitting blood.
— Idiot... Meilin whispered, though relieved nonetheless.
She took a deep breath before placing a hand on his shoulder.
— Tiang, listen to me. In cultivation, there are several stages. Basic cultivators are a hundred times stronger than normal humans, capable of mastering martial arts. Intermediate cultivators are even more powerful and immune to diseases. If you want to survive... you must form your core.
Tiang raised an eyebrow.
— Easier said than done...
Meilin gave him a light tap on the head.
— Big head... she murmured.
Tiang sighed, exasperated, but closed his eyes. He focused.
Suddenly, he found himself in a vast dark plain, dotted with sparkling stars. At the center of this endless space floated a golden heart, pulsing with energy.
Meilin's voice echoed in his mind.
— Materialize it now, Tiang.
In reality, a golden sphere erupted from his body, emitting a blinding light throughout the temple. The brilliance spread for hundreds of meters, illuminating the night. The dead trees instantly regained their leaves, flowers bloomed again, lifeless animals came back to life... Even the sick regained their vitality.
Then, suddenly, blood began to flow from Tiang's orifices.
— Tiang, stop! You don't need to do more! Meilin cried, panicked.
But Xuelan Mowang remained unmoved.
— Let him awaken his Qi. She gave a sly smile. — I didn't think he'd reach core formation so quickly... It took me a hundred years when I was still mortal...
The two young girls around her exchanged a look, fascinated.
— Look at him... — Is it just me, or has he become even more handsome?
Their whispers betrayed their unease.
A monk suddenly appeared inside the temple, his face pale.
— Great Immortal, survivors are waiting for you at the bottom of the temple!
Tiang slowly sat up, now dressed in a long kimono. He grabbed a sword and strapped it to his waist before turning to Meilin.
— Alright, I'll go see them. Will you come?
He gently pulled her toward him before leaping out of the temple. Meilin immediately followed. With a single jump, they disappeared through the ceiling.