The afternoon sun hung high over the Wen Clan estate, casting golden shafts of light across the sprawling training grounds. The courtyard was alive with movement: disciples swung staffs, leaped over obstacles, and channeled their qi in rhythmic bursts. Yet to Wen Chen, all of it seemed almost muted, background noise to the rhythm he felt pulsing beneath his skin.
A subtle shimmer at the edge of his vision caught his attention. His heart skipped a beat.
[Luck Points +1]
It was unlike the smaller orbs he had absorbed before. This shimmer was heavier, almost alive, radiating a golden warmth that made the hairs on his arms stand on end. It hovered near the central training plaza, above a worn stone path. Its presence felt deliberate, as if it had been waiting for him all along.
Wen Chen's chest tightened with anticipation. A big Luck Orb… The rarest, most potent type, capable of magnifying talent far beyond natural limits. Only a handful appeared in a lifetime, and the legends said that those who absorbed even one would see a dramatic shift in their cultivation journey.
He moved forward cautiously, weaving between the distracted disciples. His eyes never left the orb, which pulsed gently as if calling to him. The air around it vibrated faintly, almost humming in resonance with his own qi.
[Luck Points +3]
Wen Chen crouched slightly, letting his breathing slow and steady. He could feel his pulse synchronizing with the golden glow. Every muscle in his body tensed, every sense sharpened. The world seemed to narrow, leaving only him, the orb, and the currents of power swirling invisibly around it.
He extended a hand slowly, trembling with anticipation. The orb pulsed in response, its light intensifying. It hovered for a brief moment, then shot toward him like liquid sunlight. Wen Chen's body recoiled slightly, the force of its energy sending a shiver down his spine.
[Luck Points +5]
A blinding golden flare enveloped him. Warmth surged from his chest to his arms, legs, and head. His vision sharpened. Colors seemed brighter, sounds crisper, and even the faintest stirrings of qi around the courtyard became perceptible. He could feel the latent potential of every disciple, every leaf, every stone underfoot.
The panel appeared in his mind, flickering violently as numbers climbed:
[Luck Points +50 → 86]
Talent Progress: 5% → 12%
Wen Chen staggered slightly but caught himself. His chest glowed faintly with golden warmth, and an exhilarating energy coursed through him. He lifted his arms experimentally, testing the newfound flow of qi. His fingers tingled as if every nerve had awakened simultaneously.
He took a cautious step forward. The other disciples had not noticed anything unusual. To them, he appeared to be moving normally, though his steps felt impossibly light and precise. Every movement was measured, efficient, and carried a subtle flow of hidden energy.
A faint shadow flickered at the edge of the courtyard, drawing his attention. Wen Chen froze, instincts flaring. Someone was watching.
From the corner near the Elder Hall, a figure lingered, tall and cloaked, completely still. The face was hidden, but the presence was undeniable — sharp, deliberate, and calculating. The observer did not move closer, did not speak. He simply watched, like a hawk tracking prey.
Wen Chen's pulse quickened. Powerful. Observant. Careful…
Yet he did not flinch. Instead, he exhaled slowly, letting the energy from the orb settle into his body. Each heartbeat reinforced a new awareness: he was no longer a powerless Mortal Root child. He now possessed something rare — an edge that few could even imagine.
He turned back to the training dummies, letting his body test the limits of the new surge. A strike that would have taken weeks to perfect now flowed naturally. Every blow resonated with a faint golden aura, subtle enough to be invisible to the others but undeniable to him.
[Luck Points +2]
Wen Chen crouched low, focusing on his footwork. He could sense even the smallest disturbances in the air around him — a staff swinging too forcefully, qi pulses colliding, the rhythm of exertion from each disciple. It was overwhelming, yet exhilarating. He felt like a child standing at the edge of a vast ocean, finally able to glimpse the depths below.
A slight gust of wind rustled the leaves along the courtyard's perimeter. The figure from the shadows had vanished, leaving only a cold, lingering sense of scrutiny. Wen Chen's gaze swept over the empty space, his instincts warning him that this was no ordinary observer. Whoever it was, they had noticed the surge of power — noticed him.
He smiled faintly. Then let them watch. Let them see. I will grow stronger, step by step, point by point.
Another faint shimmer appeared — this time near the bamboo grove. He approached it carefully, mindful of his surroundings. [Luck Points +1] flickered in his mind. The smaller points felt insignificant compared to the big orb, yet they carried the same promise: growth, potential, and the ability to step beyond the limitations of his Mortal Root.
Wen Chen absorbed the orb. A surge of warmth pulsed through him, and his vision sharpened further. Colors, shapes, even the faint traces of qi around him became more distinct. He could almost see the energy flowing through the courtyard — the ebb and flow of power invisible to everyone else.
He stepped back, letting the golden warmth settle in his chest. The first big Luck Orb had been absorbed. The first taste of real, transformative fortune. He could feel it settling into his bones, his muscles, his mind.
From the shadows, the cloaked figure lingered no longer. The presence remained, distant but palpable. Wen Chen didn't know who it was, didn't know their intent, but he understood instinctively: the world had shifted. Someone powerful was aware of him now.
And that knowledge only strengthened him.
Wen Chen's lips curved into a confident smile. They may watch. They may judge. But only I can see the path of luck before me. Only I can grasp the advantage. And I will not be caught unprepared.
The courtyard stretched around him, alive with the normal clamor of disciples, oblivious to the golden pulse now settled in his chest. Wen Chen clenched his fists, feeling the warmth of the orb coursing through him like liquid fire. Every step he took from this day forward would be guided by this hidden advantage, by this secret fortune no one else could see.
The first great Luck Orb had marked the beginning of something extraordinary. And somewhere in the shadows, someone powerful had already noticed.
The game had begun.