Chapter Two: The Flame and the Jade of the Yellow Emperor
The elder in classical robes stroked his beard and smiled at Yun Yi. “Greetings, Daoist Yun Yi. My clan name is Ji, and I am known as Xuanyuan. You may simply call me Xuanyuan.”
This completely stunned Yun Yi.
He stared at the robed elder, eyes wide as copper coins, mouth agape, disbelief etched across his face as he muttered to himself, “Am I truly dead? I’ve actually encountered the progenitor of Huaxia!”
“Hahaha!”
At Yun Yi’s words, the elderly man laughed heartily before smiling gently and saying, “Daoist Yun, you are not dead at all. In fact, you are very much alive. This is the inner world of Yanhuang Jade. If you doubt it, feel free to see if it hurts.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Yi instantly slapped his own face.
“Smack!”
The crisp sound left Yun Yi even more bewildered—he felt pain.
Looking at the elder, a foolish light flickered in Yun Yi’s eyes as he pointed at himself, then at the elder, dazedly saying, “So I’m not dead? I’m real? Then... you’re real too?”
“Indeed, all real.”
The elder smiled kindly at Yun Yi’s incredulity and replied.
Yun Yi’s nervousness surged. “No way! I’ve actually met the First Emperor, the ancestor Xuanyuan!”
“Daoist Yun, there’s no need for such formalities. We are of the same kind.”
“We? What kind?”
Yun Yi’s curiosity deepened. Encountering the Huaxia First Emperor in a reborn world felt strange, even for his sharp mind.
The elder pondered briefly, then slowly spoke, “We refer to those who traverse realms—destined ones.”
“After I unified the tribes, the creator goddess Nuwa found me, transported me to this world, the Lingwu Continent, and told me that every few centuries, someone from Huaxia would be sent here. She also placed a fragment of my primordial spirit within the Yanhuang Jade, to save destined ones when they face life-threatening crises and to reveal everything to them.”
After the elder finished, Yun Yi was lost in deep thought. After a moment, he looked at the elder and asked, puzzled, “What is the mission of the destined ones?”
“To grow stronger.”
“How strong?”
“Very, very, very strong.”
Yun Yi fell silent for a while, then with bright eyes full of both hope and helplessness, he said, “Ancestor, what if I can’t cultivate?”
Seeing Yun Yi’s expression, the elder smiled warmly and said, “Daoist Yun, do not worry. The struggles you face are those every destined one experiences.”
With that, the elder pointed to Yun Yi’s forehead, and a golden light instantly entered Yun Yi’s mind.
Moments later, Yun Yi opened his eyes, joy and curiosity shining on his face. “What is this?”
“This is the Yanhuang Art, the fundamental cultivation technique for every destined one. It deepens and purifies your spiritual power, though it consumes quite a bit of resources.”
“How much is ‘quite a bit’?”
“A lot, a whole lot.”
“…”
Seeing Yun Yi’s stunned gaze, the elder pointed to the eight gates on the steps before them and continued, “These eight gates are legacies left behind by destined ones who have come before, ascending to higher levels. Each breakthrough allows you to step up one level and open a gate.”
At this, Yun Yi’s excitement surged. He had read plenty about legacies in books—no surprises, they were always filled with treasures and valuable knowledge.
“Daoist Yun, now that I’ve explained all this, my mission is complete. I will now use the last of my spiritual power to help you advance your realm.”
The elder looked at Yun Yi with kindness.
Moved by the elder’s benevolence, Yun Yi hurriedly asked, “Senior, will we meet again?”
“Hahaha, of course, Daoist Yun. This is but one of my manifestations. We shall meet again.”
With those words, a beam of light flashed as the elder transformed into pure spiritual energy and entered Yun Yi’s dantian.
“Do not be distracted. Activate the Yanhuang Art; how far you advance depends on your fate.”
Yun Yi, cautious not to waste his essence, slowly began to activate the Yanhuang Art. His cultivation steadily improved.
—Qi Refining Stage One—
—Qi Refining Stage Two—
...
—Qi Refining Stage Eight—
As time passed, the spiritual energy around Yun Yi gradually diminished, and his cultivation stabilized, nearing the completion of Qi Refining Stage Eight, just shy of Stage Nine.
“Strengthen yourself, Daoist Yun. Until we meet again!”
As the ethereal voice faded, Yun Yi took a deep breath, stood, and bowed deeply in gratitude to this human First Emperor.
Feeling the newfound power within, Yun Yi was thrilled—it reminded him of the first time he met Li Qian.
“It’s time to leave.”
Yun Yi gazed at the sky, murmuring. The sky projected the outside scene like a giant screen.
At the Burial Mound:
Three short, middle-aged men were digging through the ground.
“Boss, you said Yun Yi was thrown here, but where is he?”
A slightly taller middle-aged man slammed his shovel into the earth and growled, “Stop babbling. As long as we find Yun Yi’s corpse at the Burial Mound, we won’t have to worry for half our lives!”
“What if the boss isn’t dead?”
“A worthless cripple who can’t cultivate! Why worry about him? I could crush him with a finger…”
Before the three could continue their chatter, a white light flashed and Yun Yi appeared.
Seeing the three staring at him, Yun Yi’s lips curved into a faint, disdainful smile. “Are you looking for me?”
The three were clearly stunned by Yun Yi’s sudden appearance.
“Boss really isn’t dead!”
One man trembled as he spoke.
The atmosphere suddenly froze.
“Damn it! If he’s not dead, then he’ll die again!”
The tall one, knowing Yun Yi had no spiritual power, seized the moment and leapt forward, aiming a punch at Yun Yi’s throat.
“Dare to attack?”
Having cultivated, Yun Yi’s senses were greatly enhanced.
He instantly turned, spiritual power surging in his fist, and struck the tall man’s head.
“Boom!”
The explosive sound rang out as the head burst apart, blood and brain matter splattering wildly.
“Boss!”
In the flash of a moment, with their leader dead, the remaining two surged forward, chaos erupting immediately.
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