Chapter 5: I Will Become Strong

After saying this, Tian Han succumbed to the stress of leaving home and the exhaustion of everything he had experienced, falling asleep. 

... 

The sun slowly began to rise, shining brightly and illuminating its surroundings. With the dawn of the sun, birds awoke and started chirping. 

Tian Han woke up with the sunrise, a habit he had inherited from his father. In fact, his father had a saying for it: 

"The early riser gets ahead in the journey." 

After waking up and gathering his thoughts, he began reflecting on the events of the previous day. He realized that the path to immortality was not as smooth as he had once imagined. 

But there was no point in dwelling on it now—the most important thing was that he had to become stronger. 

He got out of bed and walked toward the living room. Since he had been too exhausted the day before, he hadn't taken much time to examine his surroundings. After glancing around in surprise, he had simply found his room and gone straight to sleep. 

Upon entering the living room, he noticed a bag on the table. This bag hadn't been there yesterday! Tian Han's curiosity was piqued. What could be inside? 

With quick steps, he approached the table. His eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement. He picked up the bag and opened it. 

Inside was a book with the title "Floating Leaf Breathing Technique." 

Tian Han had no idea what it was, so he decided to open it and take a look. Thanks to his childhood love of reading, he could read and write well—something that was now proving useful. 

The book's contents were exactly as its title suggested—it contained a breathing technique. It was the Floating Leaf Breathing Technique, the fundamental cultivation method of the Floating Leaf Sect. 

The book provided a detailed explanation: the purpose of the technique, how it should be performed, and the ideal environments for better results. 

Its main goal was to become aware of Arcen energy. 

Yes, Tian Han knew about Arcen energy in theory, but he had no idea what it actually looked like, how it felt, or how to absorb it. 

The Floating Leaf Breathing Technique explained all these steps in detail. But of course, just because it was detailed didn't mean everyone could understand it. If that were the case, immortals wouldn't be so rare. 

Tian Han read every detail carefully, making sure not to skip a single step and engraving it into his mind. 

He spent a long time reading. When he had started, the sun had just risen, but by the time he finished, it was already noon. 

He had been so absorbed in the book that he hadn't even noticed how much time had passed. 

Closing the book, Tian Han placed it on the table and turned toward the window, looking outside. 

"It's already noon?! How long have I been reading the Floating Leaf Breathing Technique?!" 

He was confused—he was sure he hadn't been reading for that long. But clearly, that wasn't the case. 

He didn't dwell on it too much and instead began processing what he had learned. He visualized the steps in his mind, considering how he should proceed and what to do if he encountered difficulties. 

After organizing everything in his head, he confidently sat in a lotus position. 

Then, he began following the instructions. He emptied his mind and relaxed his body. 

Minutes passed, yet Tian Han still felt nothing. He remained sitting there. He thought to himself: 

"Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. I need to keep trying." 

An hour passed—still nothing. 

Two more hours—no change. A dissatisfied expression formed on Tian Han's face. 

Three more hours—unsurprisingly, nothing had happened. 

A full six hours had passed. Apart from stiff joints and soreness from sitting for too long, he had gained absolutely nothing. 

Of course, this was to be expected. How could it be easy? If reaching the Arcen Awareness realm was so simple, wouldn't the world be full of immortals? 

Realizing he wouldn't achieve anything for now, Tian Han stood up with frustration. Six hours of effort, and all he had to show for it was joint pain and a sore waist—how could he be satisfied? 

"But Shen Long became an immortal in just a few minutes! What does he have that I don't? Didn't the Sect Master say I was talented?! Or was he just mocking me?!" 

Shen Long was the protagonist of the novel Tian Han had loved since childhood. He had always been extraordinarily gifted, never losing a single battle, overcoming every challenge with ease. Even achieving immortality had only taken him a few minutes! 

But was that realistic? Absolutely not. How could immortality be attained so easily? How could someone be so naturally talented? 

Most people spent decades trying to reach the Arcen Awareness realm, and some never succeeded at all! The sect's fourth division was proof of that—countless individuals were desperately struggling just to reach this stage, but only a rare few ever made it to the outer sect. 

Even the one-year deadline Ye Feng had given him was astonishing! 

But Tian Han knew none of this. In his mind, Shen Long was real. After all, he was still just a child—treating fictional stories as reality was natural for him. 

Tian Han was dissatisfied and exhausted. He had remained still for too long, exerting immense mental effort. He needed rest. 

The Floating Leaf Breathing Technique book had mentioned this—rest was part of training. Those who pushed past their limits recklessly would harm themselves more than they would benefit. 

Understanding this well, Tian Han decided to step outside for fresh air and to explore the sect. 

He quickly changed his clothes in his room, then looked at himself in the mirror. His black hair had grown slightly, falling over his blue eyes and covering part of them. His height only reached the waist of an adult woman, and his face still carried the softness of a child, with slightly plump cheeks that made him look cute and innocent. 

Yet, his features showed the promise of growing into a strikingly handsome face in the future. In a few years, many girls would likely chase after him—but for now, that future was still far away. 

Leaving his house, Tian Han walked toward the outer gate. As he approached, he pushed the door open and took a step outside. 

The moment he stepped out, sunlight hit his face, momentarily blinding him. He instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes. 

Although he had stepped outside, a lingering unease filled him. The encounter with the tall, muscular boy from yesterday had left a bad impression. That boy had targeted him for no reason, and if Li Shan hadn't stepped in, Tian Han knew he wouldn't have gotten away with just being pushed to the ground. 

But he couldn't hide inside his house forever. 

He had to explore the sect, familiarize himself with the world of immortals, and adapt to this new life. 

If he wanted to become the kind of immortal he had dreamed of, this was the only way. 

Maybe he wasn't as naturally gifted as Shen Long, but he could be just as determined. 

With that thought, Tian Han stepped out into the sect. 

As he walked into the courtyard, he glanced at his garden. It was in a sorry state—overgrown and neglected. Against the fence, there was a bag full of seeds. 

At some point, he would have to take care of it. 

Walking past the garden, he stepped out into the sect grounds. Unlike the previous day, when a crowd had gathered around him, today, the roads were mostly empty. 

As he continued exploring, he realized something—there were many houses like his, but most were larger and more extravagant. 

With a bitter smile, he thought to himself: 

"So when the Sect Master said this was one of the smallest houses, he wasn't just trying to reassure me." 

His house being smaller and simpler than the others wasn't a problem. After all, his old home had been even smaller, and he had shared it with his parents. 

He continued walking, slowly familiarizing himself with the sect. 

As he wandered, he noticed how quiet the area was. Unlike the bustling crowd from yesterday, today, everything felt calm and peaceful. 

As he continued walking, Tian Han encountered new places and buildings. Some were grand and extravagant, while others were quite simple. As he moved forward, some students whispered among themselves, pointing at him and saying he was "that kid from yesterday." However, most ignored him and didn't bother engaging with him. In general, everyone in the sect seemed focused on their own business. 

Although Tian Han felt slightly uncomfortable being pointed at and talked about, he didn't express it in any way. It wouldn't be wrong to say he was afraid of angering someone and getting beaten up. 

He kept walking until he came across a sign that read "Training Grounds." This building was much larger than the others, and a guard stood at the entrance. The guard was tall and muscular, wearing armor and holding a spear. 

This piqued Tian Han's interest, and he walked toward the guard. As he got closer, the guard noticed him and spoke. 

"You must be the kid the Sect Master brought in. The rumors are spreading like wildfire through the outer sect." 

The guard had recognized him because Tian Han was the only child in the outer sect. Even the youngest genius, Chun Hai, was already sixteen years old. 

Tian Han scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile. He hadn't expected to gain this kind of notoriety. 

Seeing his reaction, a look of disdain appeared in the guard's eyes. He disliked Tian Han. 

Of course, he did! 

He had spent eight years in the fourth division, struggling through pain, sweat, and blood. At times, he had been forced to do filthy, humiliating tasks just to survive. Only after enduring all of that had he finally reached the Arcen Awareness realm. 

Yet, this kid had been handpicked by the Sect Master and, for some unexplained reason, had been placed directly into the outer sect. 

Did that mean his eight years of struggle were meaningless? Did his efforts hold no value? 

It was only natural for him to resent Tian Han. In fact, most of the outer sect disliked him. They saw Tian Han as an insult to their hard work, a sign that their struggles were worth nothing. 

Unaware of the guard's thoughts and feelings, Tian Han took a few more steps forward and, with curious eyes, asked a question. 

"Big Brother, can you explain what this training ground is?" 

The guard clicked his tongue. He didn't want to explain, but this was his duty. Those who neglected their duties were harshly punished by the sect. 

Sure, he could refuse to answer the kid—he disliked him anyway. But if someone reported it to an elder, he would be in serious trouble. 

Not willing to take that risk, the guard reluctantly answered Tian Han's question. 

"The training grounds are exactly what the name suggests—a place for students to train. But it's not the same as training at home. Some rooms contain a denser concentration of Arcen energy, allowing for faster cultivation. Other sections allow students to spar and gain battle experience. To enter any of these areas, you need contribution points. The denser the Arcen energy, the more contribution points required. Anyone who wants to enter must register their name with me and pay the fee. When their time is up, I warn them to leave. If they refuse, I forcibly throw them out and report them to the elders, who then ban them from using the training grounds for six months." 

After listening carefully, Tian Han nodded, showing that he understood. 

He made a mental note to remember this place—it would be useful later. But first, he needed to reach the Arcen Awareness realm and earn contribution points. 

He clasped his hands and bowed slightly toward the guard before turning to leave. 

However, just as he was about to walk away, he saw a tall and muscular man emerge from the training grounds. 

Immediately, his body tensed. His instincts screamed at him to turn and run. 

But it was too late. 

The towering figure had already noticed him. 

With a swift and practiced movement, he grabbed Tian Han by the collar before the boy could escape. 

Tian Han had no chance to resist—he was still far too weak. Capturing him was effortless for this man. 

Suspended in the air, Tian Han resembled a helpless kitten being grabbed by the scruff of its neck. It might have been an adorable sight, but the muscular young man had no interest in such things. 

Seeing this, the guard lazily glanced over and spoke indifferently. 

"Guang Mu, I don't care what you do, but don't cause trouble in my area. Take the kid and leave, or I'll have to stop you myself." 

Guang Mu gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. Tightening his grip on Tian Han, he dragged him away. 

Tian Han was pulled along the ground, bumping into things and letting out pained groans. His body was already covered in scratches and bleeding wounds. 

After walking for a long time, Guang Mu finally stopped in front of Tian Han's house. 

Then, without hesitation, he flung him to the ground. 

Tian Han's small body bounced once before crashing down hard. The impact tore his wounds open even further, causing him to bleed even more. 

A cruel smile spread across Guang Mu's face as he looked down at him. 

He was merciless. 

Because he was angry. 

And, in a way, he had every right to be. 

Just like the guard, he had struggled for years. He had survived countless life-and-death situations, shedding blood, sweat, and tears. At times, he had been forced to eat filth just to stay alive. 

And now? 

A small child had suddenly appeared in the outer sect. 

A child who hadn't even reached the Arcen Awareness realm. 

How couldn't he be angry? 

Had all his years of suffering been meaningless? 

At first, he had approached the boy out of curiosity. He had asked about his cultivation level, suspecting that someone so young couldn't have reached the Arcen Awareness realm. If, by some miracle, the boy had, then he would have to tread carefully. 

But his suspicion was correct. 

The kid was utterly ordinary. 

He had no talent. 

He had planned to teach him a lesson before, but Li Shan had interfered. That only made him angrier. 

So, he had promised himself—if they ever crossed paths again, he would make sure the boy suffered. 

And now, the boy was completely at his mercy. 

Tian Han, still lying on the ground, tried to get up. 

But just as he was about to rise— 

A powerful kick landed in his stomach. 

His small body was sent flying, tumbling across the ground before coming to a stop. 

A sharp, agonizing scream tore from his throat. 

"AHHHHHH...!" 

Hearing the scream, some students peeked outside. 

They saw Guang Mu beating Tian Han. 

Many of them had been waiting for this moment. 

They had considered punishing the boy themselves, but they had been too afraid since the Sect Master had personally brought him in. 

But now, this muscle-brained Guang Mu was doing it for them. 

"This is fun to watch," they thought, slowly gathering around. 

Tian Han saw the growing crowd and felt a flicker of hope. 

Would someone save him? 

No. 

Help wasn't coming. 

Guang Mu took a few steps forward and stomped down on Tian Han's hand. 

CRACK! 

"AHHHHHHHHH...!" 

A bone-shattering sound echoed as Tian Han let out another pain-filled scream. 

His voice carried agony and despair. Yes, the students were angry. Yes, they felt wronged. But did a child deserve this? To them, it didn't matter. 

Guang Mu pressed his foot against Tian Han's head, crushing it into the ground. 

The boy wanted to scream, but with his face smashed against the floor, he couldn't make a sound. 

Then, Guang Mu suddenly lifted his foot and kicked him away. 

Tian Han tumbled several times before landing on his back. 

Lying there, trembling, he didn't understand. 

"Why am I being beaten? What did I do wrong? I just wanted to be an immortal..." 

His eyes welled up with tears. 

"Is he going to kill me? No... I don't want to die! Mother, Father... I'm scared!" 

As Tian Han lay there, crying and covered in blood, the students around him laughed. 

Only a few felt pity, thinking this had gone too far. 

Guang Mu sneered. He had vented his frustration—there was no need to waste any more time. 

He turned around and walked away. 

One by one, the students left as well, until only Tian Han remained. 

Alone. 

Utterly alone. 

"Mother... Father... I miss you..." 

Tian Han, weeping in pain, eventually lost consciousness. 

At that moment, an old man appeared in the area. 

It was Ye Feng. 

With slow, measured steps, he approached Tian Han's bloodied and unconscious body. 

When he reached the boy's side, he stopped and silently observed him for a moment. 

Then, with a wave of his hand— 

Tian Han's body rose into the air. 

The blood and dirt covering him vanished, and his wounds were gently wrapped in bandages. 

As his body slowly descended, Ye Feng extended his arms and caught him. 

Without a word, he carried Tian Han back to his house. 

Entering the room, he laid the boy on the bed. 

He stood there for a moment, silently watching Tian Han's bandaged body, before 

 vanishing without a sound. 

Tian Han, despite being asleep, did not rest peacefully. 

The sun rose. 

The birds began to sing. 

Hearing their chirping, Tian Han's eyes slowly opened. 

Confusion filled his gaze. 

His mind struggled to make sense of everything. 

And... how was he back in his house? 

Someone must have treated his wounds, wrapped them in bandages, and carried him to bed while he was unconscious. 

The first person that came to his mind was Li Shan. 

After all, he was his Big Brother now, right? 

Helping him wouldn't be unusual. 

But... why hadn't he come sooner? 

Maybe he had been busy. 

Ever since arriving, Tian Han had slowly realized that the "immortals" he had dreamed of were nothing like the ones in reality. 

But this time— 

This time, it was like a slap to the face. 

Now, he understood completely. 

He was just a child, but he was not a fool. 

These immortals respected only one thing—power. 

If he wasn't strong enough, he would be humiliated, beaten, and treated like dirt. 

If that was how the game was played— 

Then he would play by their rules. 

A fire burned in his eyes— 

A mix of rage, frustration, and determination. 

"I will become strong."