Chapter 1 – Part 2: Cloud Awakening
Wei Lian collapsed inside a hollowed-out sky carriage, coughing through the metallic stench of rust and ancient blood. His vision blurred, muscles screaming, he barely managed to drag the half-broken door shut behind him. His fingers trembled as they clutched the SpiriPhone like a sacred relic. Cold sweat trickled down his back, soaking into his torn robes. The chaos of the chase still rang in his ears—the screech of drones, the burst of plasma, the wet crunch of a cultivator's fall.
The SpiriPhone flared to life once more, casting the dim interior in a pale, golden glow. It hummed low, like a sleeping beast stirring to life.
> [Status: Soul Binding Complete. Initiating low-tier system functions...]
A series of holographic icons spiraled into view before him—sleek, semi-transparent, and entirely alien to anything Wei Lian had encountered in his brief life. One icon blinked rapidly in a rhythmic pulse: Storage Ring Interface.
He hesitated. The term rang bells in old legends—spatial artifacts from the high sects, treasures locked behind generations of warfare and bloodshed. He reached forward, index finger trembling, and tapped it.
> [No storage ring linked. Scanning surroundings...]
The SpiriPhone buzzed quietly. A faint ripple shimmered in the air around him. Lines of invisible energy radiated outward, searching, probing. Then:
> [Artifact located: Thunder Storage Ring – Tier 1. Condition: 19% Functional. Estimated repair time: 7 minutes. Begin integration?]
Wei Lian's breath caught. He looked down, and something stirred beneath the sky carriage's floorboard. With a small crackle, a dull silver band lifted itself upward, floating gently into the air. Sparks danced across its surface like fireflies at dusk.
"Begin," he said hoarsely.
The ring shimmered and rotated slowly. The SpiriPhone projected a matrix of golden code around it, analyzing every crack, every inch of ancient runes etched onto its surface. A stream of data poured across the screen, numbers and symbols that made no sense but felt... right.
> [Artifact bound. Initiating Qi-link synchronization...]
> [SpiriCloud Storage Activated. Current Plan: Bronze Tier. Max Capacity: 2 cubic meters. Upgrade available upon Foundation Tier Cultivation.]
Wei Lian blinked at the glowing text. "Cloud... storage?"
He watched in awe as the phone displayed a virtual inventory grid. It wasn't just lines and squares—it was alive. Each compartment was shaped and labeled: Scrolls, Weapons, Artifacts, Mystical Beasts, and even Essence Fragments.
He reached into his sash and pulled out a cracked jade talisman. Faint spiritual lines shimmered across its surface, but it had long since lost its power.
He placed it into the floating ring. With a soft hum, the talisman vanished. A moment later, the SpiriPhone pinged:
> [Item Uploaded: Spirit-Traced Talisman – Degraded. Estimated Value: 12 Credits. Stored under: Artifacts > Tier 0 > Damaged.]
His heart thumped. "It even assesses value..."
A few more icons appeared, prompting exploration. One caught his attention: Soul Circuit Builder.
Upon opening it, the SpiriPhone displayed an interactive map of his meridians and dantian—his internal cultivation pathways. Colored nodes flickered like stars in a constellation. Red represented fire Qi, blue for water, gold for lightning. Each pulsed in sequence, forming arcs and spirals.
A notification popped up:
> [Recommended Technique: Lightning Palm v1.0. Drag nodes to form circuit. Estimated Sync Success: 89%.]
Wei Lian hesitated for only a second before selecting a path. He dragged gold nodes into a circuit, connecting through key meridian points across the virtual body. As the last node clicked into place, a pulse of warmth flooded his arm.
The sensation was surreal—electric energy crawling under his skin like living lightning. He lifted his palm instinctively. A spark danced across his fingers. With a snap, a thin bolt of lightning arced outward, striking the rusted wall. A loud crack echoed as metal warped from the impact.
Wei Lian gaped. "That's... that's real."
> [Technique Unlocked: Lightning Palm. Cooldown: 18 seconds. Upgrade available after Soul Tier evolution.]
> [Auto-save engaged. Data backed up to SpiriCloud.]
It was beyond comprehension. He was holding the future—the divine fused with technology.
But before he could catch his breath, the SpiriPhone pulsed ominously. The screen darkened for a moment, then a warning appeared:
> [Warning: Unauthorized signal detected nearby. Deploying Firewall Cloak... Estimated concealment time: 2 minutes. Begin evasive protocol?]
Wei Lian's eyes snapped to the screen. "Signal? What signal?"
Above the Scrap Abyss, high in the smog-choked skies, a lone Hunter-Class drone paused in its patrol. Its red eye flickered. Its sensors whirred and recalibrated.
It had found something.
A signature.
Unregistered spiritual-tech resonance.
It locked on.
Wei Lian's heart thudded. "They're coming... for me."
He looked back at the SpiriPhone. It was more than a relic, more than a tool.
It was a beacon.
And now, it was also a target.
But Wei Lian wasn't the same powerless scavenger anymore.
He now had lightning in his palm, the clouds in his pocket, and the first spark of rebellion in his soul.
And if they wanted this SpiriPhone...
They'd have to tear it—and him—from the storm.