Rebirth Immortal-Chapter 40: The Mysterious Elder

The air was heavy with silence. The old man's presence alone was like a mountain pressing down on everyone's chest. Ye Chen, Zhao Ming, and Lin Xia stood frozen, their eyes locked on the mysterious elder who had effortlessly erased the curse on Ye Chen's body.

Ye Chen clenched his fists. "Who are you?"

The old man stroked his long white beard and smiled faintly. "A mere wanderer."

His voice was calm but carried a weight that made it impossible to doubt his strength. Ye Chen wasn't naive. The way the woman had fled without hesitation proved that this man was someone to be feared.

Zhao Ming took a deep breath. "Senior, why did you help us?"

The old man glanced at him before looking back at Ye Chen. "Because he interests me."

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. "Me?"

The old man nodded. "The power inside you... it should not exist in this world, yet here you stand, wielding it so naturally."

Ye Chen tensed. He had felt the change after absorbing the crystal's energy. His body had become stronger, his mind clearer, and his speed far beyond what he had before.

But what did the old man mean by it should not exist in this world?

The old man suddenly waved his hand. A golden light appeared in front of Ye Chen, forming a small floating symbol.

"This is the energy that now flows inside you." The elder's eyes flashed with curiosity. "Do you understand what this means?"

Ye Chen frowned. "No."

The old man chuckled. "It means... you are walking a path that has been lost for thousands of years."

Ye Chen's heart pounded. A lost path?

The elder continued. "The crystal you absorbed is not an ordinary treasure. It carries the will of an ancient being—one that was erased from history."

Lin Xia and Zhao Ming exchanged nervous glances. They had never heard of anything like this before.

Ye Chen remained silent, processing the information. If what the elder said was true, then the power inside him wasn't just rare—it was something that had disappeared from the world entirely.

The old man studied Ye Chen's reaction. "Are you afraid?"

Ye Chen met his gaze and shook his head. "No."

The old man smiled. "Good."

Then, he turned serious. "But you must be careful. That woman was only the beginning. If word spreads that you have inherited this power... true monsters will come for you."

Zhao Ming swallowed hard. "Monsters?"

The elder's eyes turned cold. "People who will stop at nothing to take what Ye Chen now possesses."

Lin Xia clenched her fists. "Then what should we do?"

The old man looked at Ye Chen. "That depends on him."

Ye Chen exhaled slowly. He already knew the answer.

"I will keep moving forward." His voice was firm. "No matter who comes after me, I will not back down."

The elder's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Good. Then I will give you something to help you on your journey."

He raised his hand, and a golden scroll appeared out of thin air.

"This technique will help you control your newfound power. Without proper guidance, you will lose control and destroy yourself."

Ye Chen took the scroll with both hands. The moment he touched it, he felt a strange warmth spread through his body.

"This is..."

The elder's voice softened. "The Heavenly Origin Scripture. It will stabilize your energy and guide you in mastering the path you have inherited."

Ye Chen's fingers tightened around the scroll. This was no ordinary gift. It was something priceless.

He bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior."

The elder waved a hand. "No need for thanks. Just remember—power without control is destruction. Master the scripture, or you will become a danger to yourself and those around you."

Ye Chen nodded seriously.

The old man then turned away. "We will meet again, young one."

Before anyone could say another word, his figure blurred and disappeared into the night.

The forest was silent once more.

Lin Xia finally let out a breath. "That... was terrifying."

Zhao Ming nodded. "Who was that old man? His strength was beyond anything I've ever seen."

Ye Chen remained quiet, staring at the scroll in his hands. He didn't know who the elder was, but one thing was certain—his journey had just taken a new turn.

He had inherited something ancient. Something dangerous. And now, he had to master it before it consumed him.

The next morning, Ye Chen sat alone at the edge of a quiet riverbank. The sun was rising, casting golden light over the water.

He slowly unrolled the Heavenly Origin Scripture. The ancient characters glowed faintly, as if alive.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Chen began to read.

The first page described something called the Foundation of the Origin Body.

To wield the power of the lost path, one must first refine their body into an unshakable foundation...

Ye Chen frowned. He had already strengthened his body through cultivation, but this technique was different. It required him to break his body down and rebuild it—stronger, purer, and completely harmonized with the mysterious energy inside him.

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It was dangerous. If he failed, he would cripple himself.

But if he succeeded...

His strength would rise to a completely different level.

Ye Chen took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He focused inward, guiding the new energy within him according to the scripture's instructions.

His body immediately reacted.

Pain shot through him as his bones trembled. His muscles burned as if they were being torn apart and reforged at the same time.

Sweat dripped down his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and endured.

Time passed.

One hour.

Two hours.

By the time he finally opened his eyes, the sun had risen high in the sky.

Zhao Ming and Lin Xia, who had been watching from a distance, ran over.

"How do you feel?" Lin Xia asked.

Ye Chen clenched his fists.

A powerful force surged within him. His senses were sharper than before. His body felt lighter, faster. Even his breathing had changed, becoming smoother and more controlled.

"...I did it."

Zhao Ming's jaw dropped. "You mean you completed the first stage already?!"

Ye Chen nodded.

Lin Xia was stunned. "It's only been a few hours..."

Normally, techniques like this would take months—if not years—to master. But Ye Chen had already taken his first step in just one morning.

He looked down at his hands, feeling the power coursing through him.

But he wasn't satisfied yet.

This was only the beginning.

The true battle was still ahead