Sitting in the train, his expression solemn, he whispered softly,
"The cultivation in this body is completely lost but the Nine Heaven Slaying Emperor's Sutra remained.... It seems that it is not an illusion"
Thinking about his cultivation, he closed his eyes and gently touched his forehead with his hand, whispering softly.
"I never thought I could return to earth at the age of 20...now I just need to re-cultivate my spiritual body and build a strong foundation"
"In the meantime I will find the heavenly seeds hidden in the various parts of the earth...And between heaven"
"There is no one else who can compete with me"
He opened his eyes, cold emotion swirling within them, and whispered as memories of the disciple who betrayed him resurfaced
"Disciple... your master is looking forward to seeing you again"
Breaking the heavy silence, his phone rang. He answered—and was met with a voice he hadn't heard in years, yet knew all too well
"Hello, Luo Chen it's me Zhang Zhenyi"
Zhang Zhenyi's mother let out a series of irritated coughs—dry, deliberate, and filled with the same sharp disapproval that always seemed to cling to her voice
"When you arrive, send a message, me and my mom will pick you up at station"
Zhang Zhenyi ended the call abruptly. Luo Chen stared at the screen for a moment, then smirked, a glint of amusement flickering in his eyes. He whispered
"Zhang Zhenyi... There is a account need to be settled with you"
An old man sat beside Luo Chen, his granddaughter next to him. The girl, eyes narrowed in irritation, looked at Luo Chen and said angrily...
"What do you mean? "
Luo Chen, knowing nothing, simply looked at her, unsure of what she wanted to say.
"Don't pretend but I have seen you staring at this picture. And then shakes your head in pretentious manner"
Luo Chen, knowing nothing, simply listened calmly.
"Let me ask you, can you understand it how dare you shake your head here? I'm afraid you have never seen this 20 million dollar painting in your life"
Her grandfather placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and said.
"Meng'er don't be rude"
Cradling the weathered painting in his gnarled hands, the grandfather regarded Luo Chen with gentle eyes and spoke in a tone that carried both kindness and quiet reverence.
"Young man you shook your head just now, what do you think about this painting? "
Luo Chen glanced at the painting, his expression calm and cold. With a faint smirk, he whispered, "Heh, fake." Then he looked up and said to them, his voice steady and sharp...
"It's fake"
The grandfather froze, eyes wide with shock, unwilling to believe what he'd just heard. On the other hand, Meng'er's face twisted with anger, her hands clenched at her sides as she glared at Luo Chen.
The old man turned his gaze to Luo Chen, a flicker of warning in his eyes, and said in a measured tone,
"Young man, you can't speak such nonsense," the grandfather said firmly, his voice tinged with pride. "A professional master has already confirmed this painting's authenticity."
Luo Chen met the old man's gaze with an icy stare. His voice was low, almost dismissive, as he said, "So what?...i said fake so it's fake"
Meng'er's eyes blazed with fury as she stepped forward, pointing at Luo Chen. "You... bastard!" she shouted. "Are you looking for death?"
Blinded by rage, Meng'er lunged forward, her fist swinging toward Luo Chen in a burst of impulsive fury.
Luo Chen didn't move. He stood there, calm and unmoved, as Meng'er's punch flew straight toward him. Just as her fist neared his face, a faint shimmer pulsed in the air.
A transparent barrier materialized around him with a soft hum, halting her strike inches away. The impact sparked a wave of energy, forcing her back a step.
Both she and her grandfather stared in shock—eyes wide, unable to comprehend what they had just seen.
Luo Chen smirked, unbothered.
Meng'er stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief. "What...?" she breathed, her voice trembling with shock.
Beside her, the old man narrowed his gaze, his expression darkening as he whispered under his breath, "Internal energy... at this age?"
Her grandfather stepped in front of Meng'er, his expression grave as he faced Luo Chen.
Seeing this, Meng'er called out, "Grandfather!"
But the old man raised a hand without turning back and said firmly, "Meng'er, stand down."
To Meng'er's astonishment, her grandfather lowered himself into a respectful bow beside Luo Chen.
"I'm sorry, sir," he said solemnly. "I was rude—please don't take it to heart."
Meng'er's eyes widened in disbelief. "Grandfather? What the hell—why are you apologizing to him?" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of confusion and outrage.
The old man, still bowing slightly, whispered under his breath, "A man who can release such inner strength without moving… he stands above most martial artists."
Meng'er's face paled as realization dawned. She took a step back, whispering to herself, "That aura... if he had even a hint of murderous intent, Grandfather would've been dead in an instant."
The old man turned to Meng'er with a hardened gaze. "Enough! Cut the crap and apologize to this gentleman—immediately."
Meng'er gritted her teeth, her pride unwilling to yield. "But, Grandfather…"
Before she could continue, Luo Chen let out a quiet chuckle, barely a whisper. "Hm… this old man is a bit interesting."
Face flushed with frustration and shame, Meng'er finally looked at Luo Chen and muttered stiffly, "Sorry."
Luo Chen didn't even spare her a glance. His tone was calm, distant. "Never mind. Just make sure it doesn't happen again."
Meng'er stood frozen, her face flushed with embarrassment. Shame coiled in her chest like a tightening knot. She lowered her head, clenching her fists.
Damn it… since the day I was born, I've never seen Grandpa act so respectful to anyone. This kid… who the hell is he? she thought, biting her lip.
The old man bowed respectfully, his voice sincere. "Thank you, sir. Thank you so much for your kind words."
Meng'er stared at her grandfather, stunned. She had never seen him so humble—especially not before someone so young.
Lifting his head, the old man hesitated for a moment, then asked, "May I know your name, sir?"
Luo Chen's eyes remained cold, his expression unreadable. "Luo Chen," he said flatly, the name falling like ice between them.
The old man carefully lifted the painting in his hands, then stepped forward and offered it to Luo Chen with both respect and hesitation.
"Mr. Luo," he said sincerely, "please forgive me for taking the liberty… but may I ask, on what basis do you claim this painting is a fake?"
Luo Chen took the scroll from him without a word. His fingers brushed lightly over its surface as he replied calmly, "I'll show you."
----------------------------------------------
Note about "Heavenly seed"
Heavenly Seed is a divine artifact embodying the Dao's essence and a vast reservoir of spiritual energy. When a cultivator absorbs it into their dantian, its power dissolves and floods their meridians, shattering the barrier between realms and enabling breakthrough. This surge refines their spirit, sharpens their senses, and empowers techniques. Only those with unwavering focus and purity of heart can safely harness its power; any doubt risks energy reflux and destruction. Heavenly Seeds are protected by ancient guardians and represent the pinnacle of cultivation resources—a chance for a mortal to transcend his current limits and ascend to strength.