The Reward and the Burden

Chen Yu's body still trembled from the Trial of Fear. His breathing was sharp. Blood clung to his skin. But his feet remained planted, steady.

The black lake had vanished. The beasts had fallen silent. Now, only the faint glow of the Guardian hovered in the dark.

"You have passed the trials."

The Guardian's deep voice carried across the ancient ruins.

"But what you have earned… is not everything."

Chen Yu's sharp eyes narrowed. His fists tightened.

"What do you mean?" His voice was hoarse but unshaken.

"Didn't I claim the full legacy?"

The Guardian shook his head slowly. His ancient gaze bore into Chen Yu's soul.

"The legacy you seek cannot be granted in full. It is too vast. Too dangerous."

"You have not even set foot on the true path of cultivation."

His hand lifted.

An ancient power surged toward Chen Yu, flooding his body like a river of stars. It carved deep into his bones, into his soul, as if branding him with the weight of destiny itself.

Chen Yu's body trembled, but he refused to collapse.

His breathing sharpened as the flood of power imprinted itself within him.

"You will receive only the first three techniques."

"The rest will remain sealed. They will awaken as you grow. As you cultivate body, qi, and soul together."

The Guardian's voice thundered through the ruins, each word pressing into Chen Yu's heart like a heavy brand.

The Three Techniques:

True Martial Body

A supreme method to temper the flesh, allowing it to withstand forces beyond mortal limits. When mastered, even mountains may crumble beneath one's fists.

Void Qi Sutra

A profound qi cultivation method that refines energy to its purest, granting unmatched control and devastating power.

Soul Burning Nine Hells

A soul cultivation technique that ignites the spirit, allowing the soul to burn with infernal might—capable of shattering illusions and suppressing weaker minds.

The Guardian's sharp gaze did not waver.

"When you step into the Body Refining Stage, the True Martial Body will reveal itself."

"When you reach Qi Condensation, the Void Qi Sutra will awaken."

"And when you form your Nascent Soul, the Soul Burning Nine Hells will emerge."

"Your path will not be like others. You must grow body, qi, and soul together. Favor one over the others, and you will collapse. Walk the path with balance, or all three will fall together."

Chen Yu's fists slowly unclenched. He could feel it—the techniques now sealed deep within his soul. They were silent, dormant, but alive.

His sharp eyes glowed with quiet determination.

The power was his, but the road had only just begun.

The Guardian's form began to fade. His final words thundered like a scar across Chen Yu's bones.

"The True Martial Body is not just a technique. It is your fate. Whether you rise or vanish… depends on whether you can conquer it—completely."

As the light dimmed, Chen Yu stood alone in the ancient ruins.

The silence pressed against him.

He did not yet understand what he had truly gained.

But his feet moved forward without hesitation.

This was only the beginning.