Feng Chan, after the collapse of the Divine Ascension Pool, found himself surrounded by an aura of chaos. The energy veins that had once been a source of divine power were now unraveling. The pool that had held the power of the ancient gods had turned into a dangerous, unstable zone. The world around him seemed to collapse, but within this destruction, something extraordinary was happening within Feng Chan himself.
His body was glowing with a divine light, as though the divine energy had awakened in him. Every inch of his being felt different; it was as though his entire body was absorbing the ancient energies flowing through the broken pool. His hands, his mind, his soul—everything was in sync with an unfamiliar power. For the first time, Feng Chan felt the bloodline of a long-forgotten ancestor coursing through him, giving him strength unlike anything he'd ever known.
His breath slowed as he focused on the energy inside him. Divine energy—it wasn't just a fleeting sensation, but something tangible. It was as though the heavens themselves were blessing him with their power. Feng Chan could feel his cultivation growing rapidly, surpassing the limits he had once thought impossible. This wasn't the man he had been before; he could feel his transformation deep within, and he knew that this was only the beginning.
"This is it..." Feng Chan muttered to himself, his voice filled with determination. "I'm not just surviving anymore; I'm going to make the world bow before me with this power."
His confidence was unwavering, but what he didn't realize was that this transformation was only going to draw attention. His new power was a double-edged sword—both a blessing and a challenge that would change his path forever.
---
Nearby, Ying Yue, though a silent observer, couldn't help but feel the shockwave of his newfound power. She had stood with her arms crossed, watching him from a distance. Her stoic expression remained unchanged, but inside, something was stirring. She had always been proud, always holding herself to the highest standards. To see Feng Chan—someone once considered talentless—now emanating divine energy was unsettling.
Despite herself, she felt a flicker of admiration deep inside, though she quickly quelled it. No. She could never show weakness. Not to him. Not to anyone.
Feng Chan opened his eyes, now glowing with the divine energy he had absorbed. He turned toward her. "Ying Yue," he said calmly, his voice carrying a weight she had never heard before, "I know you've been watching me. But I've changed. And you need to understand this—I'm not the same person anymore. You don't have to hide anymore."
Ying Yue's eyes narrowed. The words stung, but she didn't show it. She could never show it.
"I don't know you." Her voice was icy, her words precise. "As long as you don't prove yourself, your power is meaningless. You are still the same, a nobody from a no-name family. Don't get ahead of yourself."
Feng Chan's eyes hardened, but he didn't let the anger show. He understood where she was coming from—he had been nothing but a mere outsider in the cultivation world. But now, that was changing.
"Remember this, Ying Yue," he said, his voice calm but resolute. "You don't know me, but you will. And when the time comes, you'll realize just how wrong you were."
Ying Yue's expression didn't change, but she could feel a nagging discomfort growing inside her chest. She dismissed it quickly. "I'm not interested. Prove your worth, and then we'll see. Until then, we're strangers."
Feng Chan didn't respond. His gaze remained locked on her for a brief moment before he turned away, focusing on what lay ahead. He had bigger things to worry about now.
---
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake violently. The collapse of the Divine Ascension Pool had triggered something far more dangerous. Ancient beasts, long dormant, began to stir. They were being released from their centuries-long prison, set loose by the failing formation. These beasts, formed from divine energy itself, were unlike anything Feng Chan had ever seen—immense, powerful, and deadly.
With no time to think, Feng Chan's body reacted instinctively. His divine energy surged to the surface, and a sword made of pure energy materialized in his hand. The sword radiated a power so great that it seemed to cut through the very air, vibrating with divine might.
The beasts came charging toward him, their terrifying forms massive and terrifying. But Feng Chan was no longer the helpless boy he once was. His movements were swift, precise, and filled with a confidence he had never known before. He struck, his divine sword slashing through the air with ease, cutting down the beasts one after the other. Their roars of fury echoed in the air as they disintegrated before his might.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Feng Chan fought with a focused intensity. Each beast that fell only served to fuel his growing power. But this was no easy victory. The beasts were born of pure divine energy, and their strength was formidable. Feng Chan was pushed to the limits of his abilities, yet he kept going, his body absorbing more and more energy from the fallen beasts, growing stronger with each passing moment.
---
From a distance, Ying Yue watched, her cold demeanor beginning to crack. She had expected him to fail, to fall like so many others before him. But here he was—fighting with a strength and resolve she had never seen before. There was no denying it now. He was different.
Her heart fluttered—against her will—and she quickly turned her gaze away, shaking her head. "Focus, Ying Yue," she muttered to herself. "This is not the time."
But deep down, she couldn't help but feel an unfamiliar tug of admiration.
---
The battle raged on, and Feng Chan's divine aura grew even stronger. His sword flashed as he cut down the last of the beasts, their bodies fading into nothingness. The energy that had once threatened to consume him had now become a part of him. He stood amidst the ruins of the Divine Ascension Pool, breathing heavily but unbowed. His body was covered in sweat, and his heart raced with the adrenaline of battle.
As he caught his breath, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind—an ancient, ethereal voice that seemed to come from nowhere.
"Feng Chan," the voice intoned, "You are the chosen one. Your bloodline is ancient, and your destiny has always been to wield this power. But remember, this path will not be easy. You must walk it alone, for only then will you truly ascend."
Feng Chan stood tall, the words resonating within him. He had known that his journey would be difficult, but this... this was something else. It was as though the heavens themselves had chosen him for something greater.
"I understand," he whispered, determination hardening his resolve. "I will prove myself. I will not fail."
---
As the divine light began to dim, Ying Yue approached him. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something that hadn't been there before.
"You've changed," she said softly, her voice betraying a hint of something she had been trying to suppress. "I can see it now. But you're still not there. You need to prove yourself on a larger scale. Only then will you have my attention."
Feng Chan looked at her, and for the first time, a small, confident smile tugged at his lips. "You'll see, Ying Yue. I'm just getting started."
With those words, he turned and walked away, his journey now fully set in motion. The path ahead was unclear, filled with dangers and uncertainties. But Feng Chan had never been more ready.
He was no longer a nobody. The world would soon learn his name. Feng Chan was destined to defy the heavens.