Late at night, under a bridge in Lanning City, Xiao Chen, who was half asleep, suddenly woke up.

"Here is..."

Xiao Chen, the only top expert in Ziwai Immortal Realm who has reached the realm of Immortal Emperor, is unmatched throughout eternity. He is revered by both humans and gods.

That day, Xiao Chen tried to break through the heavens, seeking a higher realm. Unexpectedly, he encountered an accident and was attacked by an unknown force, falling into oblivion.

"Why am I still alive? Where am I?"

Xiao Chen stood up and intended to inspect the surroundings, but he was careless and almost tripped.

"His limbs were stiff, as if they wouldn't obey him!"

Xiao Chen muttered to himself, looking at the distant lights of a nearby village. A sense of longing welled up in his heart.

Immediately, he recalled past events, his brow furrowing.

"Earth? Have I come back again?"

In countless years of his ascetic practice, Xiao Chen had made countless enemies. The hardships he endured were unimaginable, falling into the abyss of despair many times.

Five hundred years ago, he was surrounded and attacked by his enemies. He fought desperately to escape, using an ancient seal found in an ancient ruin to forcefully break through the dimensional portal. As a result, he unexpectedly arrived on Earth.

The Earth's spiritual energy was depleted, and cultivators were scarce. This made it a planet dominated by technology where ordinary people ruled. Even though Xiao Chen was injured, no one on Earth could threaten him, so he stayed behind to recuperate peacefully.

Three years later, Xiao Chen found the Starry Sky Road and just left Earth. After decades of hardship, he finally returned to the Ziwei Immortal Domain.

From then on, he cultivated in seclusion for a hundred years, finally reaching the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao. He slew all his enemies, and no one in the world could stand against him.

However, what is unexpected is that he has now returned here again.

It seems I'm really destined to be on Earth!

Xiao Chen let out a wry smile. This time, the situation seemed worse than last time. To recover his peak strength, I'm afraid it would take quite some time.

Perhaps this also explains that my path is not yet complete. Starting anew, I will walk a more complete path.

Xiao Chen's eyes were resolute, just as steadfast as his initial Dao heart, never changing.

The path I choose, respects neither gods nor Buddhas, nor heaven and earth, nor fate, nor does it involve cause and effect!

The Immortal Emperor's realm in the Ziwei Immortal Domain was already the ultimate, yet Xiao Chen fell under that unknown power, proving he hadn't reached the state he desired.

He is not finished yet.

What's lost is gone, why dwell on it?

Building on his previous foundation and experience, he is sure to make even greater progress.

All that is needed is time!

……

Xiao Chen calmed his mind, sat cross-legged on the ground, discarding all thoughts, and focused on cultivating himself.

Though ravaged by that power, Xiao Chen's soul was severely depleted, not even a thousandth of its former glory. However, it remained far stronger than an ordinary person's.

Besides, Xiao Chen was once an Immortal Emperor of a realm, standing at the peak of the immortal way. Even though his cultivation was gone, his memories, experience, and Dao heart remained.

He closed his eyes to meditate, keeping his essence intact and one with the Tao.

Gradually, countless formulas and techniques appeared in my mind, like a slideshow playing automatically, flashing by rapidly.

These techniques, any single one taken outside would be enough to cause a frenzy and be fought over like a treasure, yet he merely glanced at them briefly before discarding them as worthless.

Finally, the scene freezes, a not-so-advanced martial arts technique appears in his mind.

"Nourish the soul and energy!"

……

Late at night, heavy rain poured down on Lanning City, but that had nothing to do with Xiao Chen huddled beneath the bridge.

As the name suggests, Shen Hun Yang Qi focuses on nourishing the soul and spirit to generate and refine Qi, thereby enhancing one's cultivation level.

Such methods are unorthodox and commonly referred to as "back alleys" or "shortcut paths". They demand extreme spiritual strength, yet ironically, they are perfectly suited for Xiao Chen's current state.

Three days have passed in the blink of an eye.

After two days of heavy rain, the sun finally came out today. The weather is beautiful and there are more people on the street than usual.

At this time, a man in a suit was helping an elderly man with white hair walk slowly onto the bridge.

"Dad, it's been half a day already, why don't we head back?" the man suggested.

"No rush, something seems to have happened ahead. Let's go take a look!"

Two people walked closer and saw seven or eight people lying on the bridge railing, pointing down at something below, as if discussing it.

The old man couldn't help but be curious, and he looked around.

Under the bridge was a wide lake. Due to heavy rain the past two days, the water level rose and the current seemed turbulent.

Under the bridge, in the only patch of empty space, sat a young man of seventeen or eighteen. He was unmoved, appearing oblivious to everything around him.

The elder knew everyone was discussing this year and asked, "What about that young man?"

A middle-aged woman glanced at the old man and replied, "That child doesn't know what's wrong. He's been sitting down there for three days and three nights, not eating or drinking, not a bit."

"Is that so?" the old man exclaimed in surprise.

An ordinary person can survive for seven days without food and only three days without water. This year, for three days without eating or drinking, he seemed to be fine, unlike ordinary people.

"He is pitiful!" someone said in agreement.

"Looking at his clothes, he doesn't look like a beggar. Maybe something happened to his family. What if we all help him?" someone suggested.

At that moment, a middle-aged man with square features came over and said, "Don't be fooled by that kid. I saw him sparring downstairs last night. He was full of energy and looked nothing like he did a few days ago."

The elder, upon hearing this, turned to the middle-aged man with a square face and asked, “You said you saw him practicing martial arts last night?”

"Back then, there were streetlights. The wires weren't good, but you could still see somewhat." The middle-aged man with a square face said, "That kid fought well."

Someone, upon hearing this, became angry, saying that it wasn't worth it for the previous act and declared, "He isn't possessed, he's just full of himself!"

"Come on, come on, this kid is probably messing with us. A lot of internet celebrities do this now, they just want to get attention."

"Yeah, last time I saw an influencer livestreaming themselves eating poop, it was outrageous! The world is going downhill!"

After learning the truth, people felt contempt and dispersed.

"Dad, shall we go too?" the man in a suit said boredly.

The old man pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Qing Song, let's go take a look."

"Huh?" Huo Qingsong exclaimed, "Dad, are you saying under the Tianqiao Bridge?"

"Well, let's go have a look at that young lad!" the old man said with a serious expression.

"No, the water downstream is rushing. What if we're not careful..."

“At your age, there’s no excuse for so many accidents. If you don't want to go, just stay here. I'll go down myself.”

The old man became angry, threw off Huo Qingsong, and walked down the bridge alone.

Ho Qingsong had no choice but to hurry after.

Soon, the two arrived under the bridge.

And just then, Xiao Chen, who was in a state of stillness, slowly opened his eyes.

"Whew… I think that's about it for today."

The old man saw Xiao Chen just happen to wake up and asked, "Young man, are you alright?"

Xiao Chen looked up at the two of them, and said in surprise, "What's the matter?"

"Uh..."

The elder was momentarily speechless.

Hu Qing Song thought to himself, "Since I've already come down here, regardless of whether Xiao Chen is a fraud or not, it's worth asking him first." He then said:

"Hey kiddo, is something bothering you? Tell your old uncle, and I'll help you out!"

Xiao Chen was a bit baffled, shaking his head and saying: "I don't need any help, you guys go, mind your own business!"

Hu Qing Song was a little angry at the boy's words. The boy was too impolite.

The old man stepped forward and asked, "Since there's nothing to do, why are you sitting here alone for three days?"

Of course it was intentional!

Xiao Chen didn't want to pay attention to them and gave vague answers.

He stood up and stretched, feeling the initial effects of his cultivation. Qi flowed through him, making him feel refreshed and invigorated, as if he'd been reborn.

But soon, a pang of hunger struck him.

"It's rare to not feel hunger at this time. After all, I'm still just a mortal and can't abstain from food!"

Xiao Chen sighed helplessly.

Then, he had another inspiration and turned to Huo Qingsong and the elder.

"If you want to help me, how about... taking me out for a meal?"

After a slight moment of surprise, the old man broke into a kind smile. “Of course, no problem. It's almost lunchtime anyway.”

"But Huo Qingsong muttered in dissatisfaction, 'It's just a trick to cheat and eat and drink!'"