Morning sunlight streamed gently through the windows of the Lu residence, its golden rays falling upon Lu Chen's sleeping figure.
He stirred slightly, then slowly opened his eyes.
The warmth of the sun brushed against his face, and the soft scent of jasmine lingered in the air. Beside him, Yun Li and Yun Mu lay curled up quietly, their delicate features serene and peaceful in slumber.
Lu Chen glanced at them, a rare softness flickering in his gaze.
He recalled the events of the previous night—how devotedly they had served him, how tireless they were in their affection and loyalty.
"They've worked hard," he thought silently, brushing a stray lock of hair from Yun Li's cheek.
As the sunlight grew stronger, the two girls stirred. Their long lashes fluttered, and upon seeing Lu Chen already awake, they immediately sat upright in panic. In one graceful motion, they knelt by the bed and kowtowed three times.
"Forgive us, Young Master," they said in unison. "We've failed in our duty… we woke later than you."
Trained under the strict discipline of the Lu family, servants were expected to rise before their master. To wake after him was a rare mistake.
But Lu Chen merely waved his hand calmly.
"It's fine," he said, his tone gentle. "Last night, you gave your best. You've earned your rest."
Both girls blushed faintly, lowering their heads in gratitude.
Lu Chen stood, his robes swirling as he walked to the open window. His gaze lifted to the horizon, where the sun rose steadily in the east.
"Three days," he murmured. "Chen Fan will arrive at the Royal Academy in three days. The real game begins soon."
There was no time to waste.
Turning back, his voice returned to its usual calm authority.
"Yun Li, Yun Mu," he said, "I will enter closed-door cultivation for the next three days. Without my command, no one is to disturb me."
"Yes, Young Master," they answered immediately, their voices filled with devotion.
Lu Chen nodded once, then strode toward the secluded cultivation chamber. Each step echoed with purpose.
It was time to prepare.
Because when Chen Fan arrived… the heavens themselves might shake.
---
Lu Chen stepped into the secluded chamber, the heavy doors closing silently behind him. The moment they shut, the world outside seemed to vanish, leaving behind only stillness and silence.
With a single thought, he called out within his mind:
"System—integrate the Saint-level cultivation technique."
Ding!
[System Notification: Integrating Saint-Level Cultivation Technique…]
A torrent of radiant light flooded his consciousness.
In an instant, countless ancient runes, mysterious diagrams, and profound chants surged into his mind. The cultivation method—so deep and vast it seemed to stretch across heaven and earth—etched itself into his soul.
Lu Chen clenched his fists, his eyes trembling with excitement.
"This… This is the true path of the heavens!"
In the entire Western Region, the most powerful cultivation techniques known barely reached the Tenth Level—a realm common among elite sects and great families. But what he now possessed was far beyond that.
A Saint-level cultivation technique—a method so exalted, so rare, that it had likely vanished from the mortal world altogether.
"If word of this ever got out," Lu Chen thought coldly, "the entire continent would turn to ash just to take it from me."
And not only that—his body, the Chaos Body, the most supreme physique known to exist, capable of harmonizing with any element, devouring heaven and earth, and breaking through all known bottlenecks.
A Saint technique combined with the Chaos Body…
Even the gods would tremble.
Lu Chen sat cross-legged, his breathing slowing as he entered a trance-like state. The cultivation technique activated within him, and a radiant halo slowly formed behind his back.
The spiritual energy in the air surged wildly, rushing toward him like a tide.
His robes fluttered though no wind blew.
His aura began to change, rise, evolve—like a dragon awakening from its slumber.
And in the sealed chamber, unseen by the outside world, a storm of power began to gather.
The cultivation had begun.