The ruins of Lotus Valley had settled into an uneasy silence. Smoke still curled lazily from burned rooftops, the scent of charred timber lingering in the air. Yet Yuexin did not feel peace. Power thrummed in his veins, the pulse of the Heavenly Map sharp and insistent. Mortal Vein Realm had awakened, but it felt like a stepping stone, a faint glimmer of what lay ahead.
Lian Yue sat nearby, sharpening her blades with a practiced rhythm. Her dark eyes never left Yuexin, and for once, her usual teasing smile was gone.
"Tomorrow," she said finally, breaking the silence, "we begin Spirit Vein training. And I promise… it won't be like Mortal Vein. You will face pain, hunger, fatigue, and fear you've never known."
Yuexin clenched his fists, feeling the map's glow beneath his skin. "I'm ready. I've survived worse today. I will endure whatever comes."
Lady Yuenei stepped forward, her silver robes flowing with quiet authority. "Spirit Vein is not merely an increase in power. It is a shift in perception, in understanding, in your very soul. Mortal Vein awakens the body. Spirit Vein awakens the mind. And only those who balance both will survive the trials of Celestial Martial and beyond."
Yuexin's chest heaved. He had felt the power of Mortal Vein surge through his veins, had fought a real opponent, and had even survived Ren Kai's probing strike. Yet he knew this next step would not be forgiving.
"Then teach me," he said simply. "I cannot wait."
The next morning, Yuexin and his companions departed the ruins of Lotus Valley, traveling to a plateau high above the mountains, where the energy of the world converged. Silver clouds swirled around them, carrying the faint hum of qi from the Spirit Vein currents that ran unseen to the mortal eye.
Lady Yuenei halted at the plateau's edge. Below stretched a vast expanse of floating islands, jagged cliffs, and swirling clouds—a natural training ground crafted by centuries of cultivation.
"This is the Spirit Vein Convergence Plateau," she explained. "It is where mortal blood, spiritual energy, and celestial remnants collide. Here, you will awaken Spirit Vein within yourself. But heed this warning: the process is dangerous. Many have died, even saints of the Celestial Martial Realm."
Yuexin's eyes narrowed. The wind carried energy that made the hair on his neck stand on end. The Heavenly Map pulsed in response, lines of silver and gold glowing with anticipation. "Then let it begin," he whispered.
Lady Yuenei extended her hands, tracing complex symbols in the air. Silver light poured from her fingertips, coiling around Yuexin. The Heavenly Map responded, pulsating violently, sending spikes of energy along his veins.
"You will feel your soul stretched, your body pushed, and your mind tested," she said. "Close your eyes, focus on the flow, and let the map guide your spirit."
Yuexin closed his eyes. Pain erupted immediately. His veins burned, qi twisted in unfamiliar directions, and his body screamed. The map's light flared, illuminating paths through his consciousness, revealing blockages, fractures, and corrupted channels.
"This… this is impossible!" he gasped, staggering. "I cannot… control it!"
"Control is not the goal," Lady Yuenei said calmly. "Understanding is. The map shows the paths, but you must feel the currents yourself. Spirit Vein is not power—it is perception."
Hours passed—or perhaps days. Each wave of energy tore at his body and mind, forcing him to confront fear, pain, and the memory of his destroyed clan. He could see fragments of their faces in the energy streams, hear echoes of their voices pleading, cursing, or screaming.
"I will… I will not fail," he whispered, gripping his chest as veins pulsed violently. "I am Yuexin… the Devourer of Heaven!"
A sudden ripple in the air drew his attention. From the swirling clouds, a figure descended gracefully—a man clad in black and crimson armor, with eyes like molten steel. Mo Renshu, a renowned cultivator of the Celestial Martial Realm, had come to observe the boy with the map.
"So this is Yuexin," Mo Renshu said, voice low and dangerous. "The last heir of the Yue Clan… and the Devourer of Heaven, according to legend. I must admit, your presence is… intriguing."
Yuexin's chest heaved with exhaustion, yet he squared his shoulders. "If you're here to challenge me, know this: I will not hesitate."
Mo Renshu smirked. "I am here to test you… not kill you. But if you cannot awaken Spirit Vein, you will die to the world, sooner or later. Consider this a lesson."
The ground trembled as Mo Renshu descended fully, his aura a suffocating presence of raw cultivation. The Heavenly Map pulsed violently in Yuexin's chest, illuminating every vein and channel, warning him of the danger.
Lady Yuenei gestured for Yuexin to focus. "Spirit Vein is not about fighting him, yet. It is about perceiving your own essence and the energy around you. You must awaken your mind before your body can follow."
Yuexin inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. His mind became a river, twisting and flowing with the currents of the Spirit Vein energy. Mo Renshu's presence pressed against him like a tidal wave, and the Heavenly Map flared to life, creating luminous paths to guide him.
Pain lanced through every vein. His thoughts fragmented. Memories of his destroyed clan, the battle in Lotus Valley, and his vow to devour heaven collided, threatening to break him. Yet through it all, he clung to the pulse of the map.
"Balance," he whispered to himself. "Flow… do not resist…"
The energy began to align, twisting into a single, cohesive current. Light flared in his vision, then darkness. Then, clarity.
He felt it: Spirit Vein had awakened.
Suddenly, silver and gold light erupted from Yuexin's body, forming spectral afterimages that mirrored his movements. He could sense energy not only within himself but across the plateau—the flow of qi, the pulse of clouds, the rhythm of floating islands.
"Incredible," Lady Yuenei murmured. "You've awakened Spirit Vein faster than expected. Few can achieve this in their first trial."
Mo Renshu's expression shifted from amusement to intrigue. "Hm… the map indeed guides him well. But perception is one thing—application is another."
Yuexin opened his eyes. He could see everything now: the currents of qi across the plateau, the flow of wind and clouds, the subtle weaknesses in Mo Renshu's stance. He could anticipate movements before they happened.
"I feel it… the flow of everything," he whispered. "The map… the Spirit Vein… I can see it all."
Mo Renshu struck, and Yuexin moved with uncanny precision. The strike barely grazed him as the map's afterimages and Spirit Vein perception guided his movements. Each punch, each step, each shift of energy was perfectly timed.
"Not bad," Mo Renshu said, launching a counterattack. "You have raw talent… but raw talent alone will not survive the Celestial Martial Realm."
Yuexin's fists glowed with energy, and the air around him vibrated with the flow of qi. He blocked and countered, feeling the map guide him, yet relying more on instinct than before.
The clash of energy created shockwaves that scattered rocks, shattered floating islands, and lit the clouds with streaks of gold and silver.
Lian Yue watched, impressed. "He's… actually keeping up. But this is just the beginning. If he doesn't learn control soon, he'll burn himself out."
Lady Yuenei's voice rang clear. "Focus, Yuexin. Spirit Vein allows you to perceive the currents, but mastery requires precision. You must integrate mind and body, map and instinct, flow and strike. Only then will you rise to Celestial Martial."
The confrontation ended with Mo Renshu withdrawing, his curiosity satisfied for now. Yuexin staggered but stood, his body exhausted yet alive with a newfound clarity. The Heavenly Map's pulse had slowed, yet it remained a constant guide, a silent mentor etched into his veins.
"Spirit Vein… it's only the beginning," Yuexin murmured, eyes blazing. "Celestial Martial, Abyssal Realm… I will rise through them all. I will devour heaven itself."
Lian Yue approached, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're reckless, Yuexin. But… there's no one else I'd rather fight beside."
Lady Yuenei nodded. "Rest for now. Tomorrow, we train again. Spirit Vein mastery is not a single step. It is a path of endless refinement, danger, and challenge. And the world will not wait for the Devourer to catch up."
Above the plateau, the clouds swirled like a storm waiting to break, a distant echo of the trials to come. Yuexin gazed at the horizon, feeling the pulse of destiny beneath his skin. He was no longer just a survivor. He was a rising force, a boy who would challenge gods, saints, and fate itself.
"Let the heavens come," he whispered. "I am Yuexin… the Devourer of Heaven."
And in the far reaches of the Celestial Martial Realm and the shadowed Abyssal Realm, whispers of his awakening began to spread. The Devourer of Heaven had taken his first true step beyond Mortal Vein, and the world, both mortal and divine, would never be the same.