The white-hot pain in my palm lingered long after the explosion of light had faded. My vision swam as I lay sprawled on the cold auction hall floor, surrounded by chaos. Shattered glass crunched underfoot as panicked bidders fled, their screams echoing like a storm breaking loose. Smoke hung heavy in the air, mingling with the sharp metallic tang of blood and fear. And through it all, that voice—a cold, mechanical presence—spoke directly into my mind.
**"Heir of Heaven's Flame detected. Unlocking sequence starting…"**
I blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what was happening. The jade pendant—the artifact I'd touched—was gone, but its mark remained burned into my skin. An intricate symbol resembling twisting flames now branded my palm, glowing faintly with an inner fire. It pulsed in time with my heartbeat, sending waves of heat coursing through my veins.
"What… is this?" I whispered hoarsely, clutching my hand.
No one answered—not aloud, anyway. Around me, people were shouting, running, tripping over each other in their haste to escape. Guards rushed toward me, weapons drawn, but something stopped them short. They hesitated, staring at the glowing symbol on my palm with wide eyes. Fear radiated off them like heat from coals.
Then came the gunshot.
Pain exploded in my shoulder as a bullet tore through flesh and bone. I cried out, collapsing backward onto the marble floor. Blood pooled beneath me, warm and sticky, spreading across the pristine surface like spilled ink. Through the haze of agony, I saw him—the shooter. Tall, immaculately dressed, with icy blue eyes that radiated malice. He stood apart from the fray, watching me with clinical detachment.
"You shouldn't exist," he said calmly, raising his gun again. "But don't worry. You won't for much longer."
His finger tightened on the trigger.
Time slowed.
Another voice echoed in my skull, colder and more commanding than before.
**"Combat Instinct: Activated."**
My body moved faster than I thought possible. Rolling sideways, I dodged the second shot just as it whizzed past my ear, embedding itself in the wall behind me. Adrenaline surged, sharpening my senses. Sounds became clearer—the click of reloading guns, the shuffle of boots against marble floors. Even the scent of gunpowder filled my nostrils with unnatural intensity.
More men closed in, weapons drawn. Bullets whizzed past my ears, embedding themselves in walls and furniture. Each near miss sent adrenaline spiking higher, fueling movements I didn't know I was capable of.
And then I saw him again—the man who'd fired the first shot. Tall, immaculately dressed, with icy blue eyes that radiated malice. He stood apart from the fray, watching me with clinical detachment.
"You're stronger than expected," he said, raising his gun once more. "But strength won't save you."
His finger tightened on the trigger.
Desperation took over.
**"System Alert: Emergency Power Surge Available. Warning: High Risk of Overload."**
Do it.
I clenched my fists, feeling heat surge through my veins. The fiery symbol on my palm flared brightly, burning hotter with every passing second. Energy coursed through me, raw and untamed.
When the next bullet came, I didn't dodge.
Instead, I caught it.
Inches from my face, the projectile halted mid-air, suspended as if held by invisible threads. Then, with a flick of my wrist, I redirected it back at its owner.
The man's eyes widened in shock.
The bullet struck true, piercing his shoulder. He staggered, dropping his weapon.
Silence fell over the room.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then the system spoke again.
**"Mission Complete: Survive Initial Threat. Reward: 500 XP. New Ability Unlocked: Qi Manipulation (Basic)."**
Qi manipulation? Basic?
I barely had time to process the implications before the remaining attackers regrouped, circling me warily.
"You'll regret this," one spat, brandishing a knife.
Regret?
I smirked, despite the blood trickling down my arm.
"No," I said softly. "You will."
And with that, I attacked.
The first attacker lunged at me with a knife, his movements clumsy but desperate. I sidestepped effortlessly, letting his momentum carry him forward. A swift kick sent him crashing into a display case, shattering glass and scattering priceless relics across the floor. Behind me, another goon swung a baton, aiming for my head. I ducked low, spinning on one foot to sweep his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard, groaning in pain.
Each movement felt instinctual, as though my body knew exactly what to do even when my mind lagged behind. The System chimed in periodically, offering snippets of information.
**"Skill Learned: Ghost Shadow Steps (Level 1). Description: Enhanced reflexes and evasion based on Qi flow."**
Ghost Shadow Steps? What did that even mean?
Before I could dwell on it, another wave of attackers charged. This time, I experimented with the newfound abilities flooding my system. Focusing on the glowing symbol in my palm, I channeled the strange energy coursing through me. My surroundings seemed to slow down, every motion exaggerated and deliberate. I darted between enemies like smoke, weaving through their attacks with ease.
One man managed to grab my hoodie, yanking me backward. Panic surged, but so did anger. With a growl, I twisted free, driving my elbow into his gut. He doubled over, gasping for air. Another tried to flank me, but I spun around just in time, delivering a swift palm strike to his nose. Bone crunched audibly; he stumbled back, clutching his face.
By now, the room was a mess. Broken furniture littered the floor, and unconscious bodies lay scattered everywhere. Only a few assailants remained standing, their confidence visibly shaken.
"Who sent you?" I demanded, panting heavily.
None answered. Instead, they exchanged nervous glances before retreating toward the exit. Cowards.
As they fled, the blue-eyed man reappeared, clutching his wounded shoulder. His expression was unreadable, but his voice carried a note of grudging respect.
"This isn't over," he said. "Next time, we won't underestimate you."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Once the danger passed, exhaustion hit me like a freight train. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor, clutching my bleeding shoulder. Pain throbbed in time with my heartbeat, a constant reminder of how close I'd come to death.
But I wasn't dead. Not yet.
The System chimed again, this time softer.
**"Health Status: Critical. Qi Channels Damaged. Initiating Self-Healing Sequence…"**
A warm sensation spread through my chest, radiating outward like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. Slowly, the pain in my shoulder subsided, replaced by a strange tingling. When I looked again, the wound was closing before my eyes.
"What the hell is happening to me?" I whispered, touching the scarred skin.
The System didn't answer directly, but instead, new information flooded my mind. Images of glowing lines crisscrossing human bodies appeared, accompanied by text overlays explaining how meridians worked—the pathways that allowed cultivators to channel Qi energy. And then came the kicker:
**"Ability Unlocked: Meridian Sight (Passive). Description: You can perceive others' cultivation levels and weaknesses."**
Great. So now I could see invisible energy channels? Fantastic party trick—but how would that help me survive?
Hours later, I found myself sitting on the rooftop of an abandoned building, staring at the city skyline. Neon lights reflected off wet streets below, painting everything in hues of electric blue and crimson red. It was beautiful in a broken kind of way, much like me.
My thoughts drifted to what the System had said earlier about being the "Last Heir of the Celestial Bloodline." Who—or what—was I supposed to be? A hundred years ago, my family had been erased, hunted down like animals. Now, all that remained was… me.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind me. I spun around, heart racing, only to find a young woman stepping out of the shadows. She wore a sleek black trench coat, her long hair tied into a ponytail that swayed with each step. Her eyes glinted dangerously under the moonlight.
"You're Jin Hao," she said, voice calm yet commanding. "The boy who caused quite the scene tonight."
"And you are?" I asked, wary.
She smirked. "Someone who wants to help you stay alive."
Before I could respond, she flicked her wrist, revealing a dagger hidden beneath her sleeve. Then, without warning, she lunged