The villagers murmured in surprise as Wu Chen stepped forward. He closed his eyes, focusing his energy.
A faint, silvery smoke began to emanate from his body, swirling and coalescing into a humanoid form.
When the smoke cleared, standing before them was an exact replica of Wu Chen—his apparition.
The villagers gasped, their eyes wide with awe. The apparition was indistinguishable from Wu Chen in every way, from his stance to the aura he radiated.
It was as if they were looking at twins, but the connection between them was deeper than mere resemblance.
"This is my gift to you," Wu Chen explained. "My apparition will remain here, protecting the village even in my absence. It possesses the same strength as I do and will grow in power over time. It will ensure that peace reigns here forever."
The apparition smiled at the villagers, its expression warm and reassuring. Then, with a graceful motion, it dissolved into smoke and drifted toward the statue.
The smoke seeped into the stone, and for a moment, the statue seemed to come alive, its eyes glowing faintly before returning to normal.
"The statue will house the apparition," Wu Chen continued. "The spiritual energy in the air will sustain it. You need not fear any threat, for it will guard this village as I would."
The villagers erupted into cheers, their faces filled with relief and joy. They had not only gained a protector but also a symbol of hope that would stand for generations to come.
As the celebration continued, Li Wei stepped forward. He bowed deeply, his expression filled with determination. "Teacher," he said, his voice steady, "allow me to follow you. I wish to serve and learn from you forever."
Wu Chen regarded him carefully. He had grown fond of Li Wei during their time together, admiring the young man's obedience, steadfastness, and resolve.
But he wanted to ensure Li Wei understood the gravity of his decision.
"If you follow me," Wu Chen said, "you may never be able to return to this village. I cannot control where my journey will take us, nor do I know if we will ever find our way back. Are you prepared for that?"
Li Wei nodded without hesitation. "I understand, Teacher. My place is by your side. I am ready."
Wu Chen sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Very well. We leave together."
Li Wei's father stepped forward, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. His eyes were filled with pride and approval. "Go, my son. Make us proud."
The villagers, though sad to see Li Wei go, understood his decision. Some looked at him with envy, wishing they, too, could follow Wu Chen.
But they knew this was his path, and they respected it.
Later that night, in a quiet room, Wu Chen prepared for their departure. He turned to Li Wei, who stood ready, his belongings packed and his resolve unwavering.
"Are you sure about this?" Wu Chen asked one last time.
Li Wei nodded. "I am ready, Teacher."
Wu Chen placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then let us go."
He closed his eyes, willing the light to take them. A brilliant glow enveloped them, and in an instant, they vanished from the room.
When the light faded, Wu Chen and Li Wei found themselves standing in a cave. The air was cool and damp, the faint sound of dripping water echoing in the distance.
Wu Chen looked around, a sense of familiarity washing over him.
"This is the cave where I hid when I was pursued by those guards," Wu Chen murmured, a smile spreading across his face. "How things have changed."
Once, this cave had been a place of fear and desperation. Now, it was a reminder of how far he had come. He had expected to return to Trinity Palace, the place where the voice had spoken of the trial.
But instead, he found himself here, at the beginning of his journey.
As he stood there, memories of Trinity Palace and the events that had led him to this moment flooded his mind. He glanced at Li Wei, who was looking around with wide-eyed curiosity.
"Come," Wu Chen said, his voice filled with determination. "Let's go out journey has just begun."
And with that, they stepped out of the cave.
.....
The streets of Azure Flame Capital bustled with life as merchants called out their wares, beggars sat in shadowed corners, and warriors in fine robes strode with confidence.
The scent of roasted meat and incense mingled in the air, but Wu Chen barely noticed. His mind was elsewhere.
He had disguised himself immediately after entering the kingdom he doesn't want any one to recognize his past been the poor helpless boy he once was.
He had spent the past hour searching for an inn—a decent one where Li Wei could stay and recover properly. But every time he inquired, the answer was the same.
"One night? Five hundred gold coins."
"A week? Three thousand, no discounts."
And that was just for a basic room. The more respectable inns charged five times that amount.
Wu Chen glanced at the few gold coins left in his pouch. It was barely enough for two nights.
His past as an orphan, constantly pursued and forced to fight for survival, meant he had never accumulated wealth.
Unlike noble sect disciples who had family fortunes backing them, Wu Chen had relied solely on his self.
He exhaled sharply. "We need gold. A lot of it."
"Master?" Li Wei, standing beside him, looked concerned. "Did we not find a place?"
Wu Chen shook his head. "Not yet. But I have an idea."
His gaze drifted toward a massive golden building in the heart of the marketplace, its walls adorned with glowing inscriptions and banners.
Golden Sky Pavilion—the most famous gambling house in the kingdom.
A place where fortunes were made and ruined in moments.
Wu Chen's eyes narrowed. "We're going there."
Li Wei hesitated. "Isn't that a place for the wealthy?"
Wu Chen smiled slightly. "It's a place for those who know what they're doing."
The Gambling Den....
The moment they stepped inside, Wu Chen was greeted by lavishness and luxury.
Rows of tables stretched across the hall, each one displaying Stone Orbs—ordinary-looking rocks, yet inside, they might hold priceless treasures.
Cultivators and merchants huddled around, shouting bets as appraisers carefully examined the orbs.
At the center of it all, a grand stagedisplayed the most expensive Stone Orbs. A purple-robed elder, one of the gambling house's top appraisers, oversaw the Event.