Chapter 5: Awakening in the depths

Consciousness returned to Uzun slowly, like emerging from the depths of a dark lake. The first sensation was pain a deep, throbbing ache that seemed to emanate from every bone in his body. The second was the absolute, suffocating darkness that surrounded him. Not the mere absence of light that he had experienced in the mine tunnels, but a darkness so complete it seemed to have weight and substance, pressing against his eyes like a physical thing.

For a moment, panic threatened to overwhelm him. The last thing he remembered was the clawed arm reaching for him, the sensation of falling, and then... nothing. By all rights, he should be dead. A fall of unknown distance onto what was presumably solid stone should have shattered every bone in his body, leaving him as nothing more than a broken corpse in the depths of the mountain.

But he was alive. Battered, aching, and trapped in absolute darkness, but undeniably alive.

Uzun forced himself to remain still and take inventory of his condition. His breathing was labored but steady. His limbs responded when he tried to move them, though every motion sent waves of pain through his body. His head throbbed with what felt like the worst headache of his life, but his thoughts were clear enough to function.

Slowly, carefully, he began to feel around his body, checking for serious injuries. His clothes were torn and dirty, but still mostly intact. His left shoulder felt tender and swollen, probably bruised from the impact, but nothing seemed to be broken. His legs were scraped and sore, but functional. Whatever had broken his fall whether a loose rock, perhaps, or some kind of debris—had saved his life.

His satchel was still strapped across his chest, its familiar weight providing a small measure of comfort in the alien environment. With trembling fingers, Uzun opened the leather flap and began to feel around inside, hoping to find something that might help him understand his situation.

His fingers closed around several familiar objects—the small collection of mineral fragments he had been gathering from the mine, a piece of dried bread he had saved from his last meal, and the small hand pick that he always carried for his work. The tool's weight felt reassuring in his hand, a tangible connection to the world above and a potential weapon if he encountered any threats in the darkness.

But it was the last object his fingers found that made his heart race with sudden hope.

The grayish-blue jade stone that he had found in the narrow passage above was still there, its smooth surface unmistakable even in the darkness. As his fingers wrapped around it, Uzun felt that same strange resonance he had experienced when he first discovered it was a subtle warmth that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.

But as he lifted the stone from his satchel, something extraordinary happened. A dim, gray-blue light began to emanate from its surface, soft and ethereal but bright enough to illuminate his immediate surroundings. The light extended only a few feet in any direction, creating a small bubble of visibility in the vast darkness, but after the absolute blackness he had been experiencing, it felt like a miracle.

Uzun stared at the stone in wonder, turning it over in his hands and watching the light dance across its polished surface. He had never heard of gemstones that produced their own light something like such things were the stuff of legends and fairy tales, not the reality of a mining town like Qingshan. Yet here he was, holding undeniable proof that such wonders existed.

The light revealed that he was in another cave chamber, though this one was different from the ones the survey team had explored above. The walls were rougher, more natural, with none of the flowing, water-carved formations they had seen in the upper levels. Loose rock and debris were scattered across the floor, evidence of the collapse that had brought him here. The ceiling was lost in shadows above, but the chamber seemed to extend beyond the reach of the stone's light in several directions.

More importantly, the light showed him that he was alone. Whatever creatures had attacked the survey team above, they had not followed him into this deeper level of the cave system. For the moment, at least, he was safe.

Uzun carefully made his way to the nearest wall, using the stone's light to guide his steps. The surface was solid and reassuring against his back as he settled into a sitting position, the hand pick within easy reach beside him. The small amount of cultivation energy he had gained from his previous experiment with the mineral fragments was still there, a tiny reservoir of warmth in his chest, but it felt insignificant compared to the power he could sense within the jade stone.

He knew nothing about jade cultivation he knew it existed most people knew the basic list of potential gemstones in the region, but had never even heard of such a thing. The Kanzaki clan used fire-based techniques, and most of the other cultivation methods he had heard about involved earth, water, or metal affinities. But jade was rare, that much was certain. The very fact that he had never encountered anything like it suggested that it might be valuable beyond his wildest dreams.

More importantly, it might be his only chance of survival.

Uzun bit his lip, considering his options. He was trapped in an unknown cave system, with no clear way back to the surface and no guarantee that rescue would come. The jade stone was clearly more than just a pretty rock the ability to produce light was proof of that, but attempting to cultivate with an unknown material was incredibly dangerous. His previous experiment with the mixed mineral fragments had nearly killed him, and that had been with materials he at least partially understood.

But what choice did he have? He could sit in this chamber and wait for rescue that might never come, slowly starving to death in the darkness. Or he could take the risk and try to use the jade stone's power to improve his chances of survival.

The decision, when it came, felt inevitable. Uzun had spent his entire life being told that he was worthless, that his circumstances would never change, that he should accept his place at the bottom of society's hierarchy. But he had never accepted those limitations, and he wasn't about to start now.

Taking a deep breath, Uzun closed his eyes and began to focus on the small reservoir of cultivation energy within his chest. It was a technique he had developed through trial and error during his previous experiments, a way of directing his inner energy toward specific purposes.

The process was crude and unrefined compared to what he imagined proper cultivation techniques would be, but it was his own method, born from necessity and desperation.

Slowly, carefully, he began to push that energy toward the jade stone in his hands. The response was immediate and overwhelming. Where his previous cultivation attempts had felt like trying to light a fire with damp kindling, this was like touching a flame to oil-soaked wood. The jade stone seemed to drink in his energy eagerly, resonating with a power that made his previous experiments seem like child's play.

The sensation that followed was unlike anything Uzun had ever experienced. Energy began to surge through his body, but not the chaotic, destructive force he had encountered with the mixed mineral fragments. This was different it was controlled, purposeful, as if the jade stone itself was guiding the process.

He felt the energy wrap around his soul like a cocoon, layer upon layer of power building up around the core of his being. It was as if something was being constructed within him, a structure of incredible complexity and beauty that he could sense but not fully comprehend. The sensation was intense but not painful a bit more like the feeling of muscles growing stronger through exercise, but applied to parts of himself he had never known existed.

The process seemed to last for hours, though Uzun had no way to measure time in the absolute darkness of the cave. Wave after wave of energy flowed through him, each one adding another layer to the structure forming around his soul. He could feel it taking shape a hard, crystalline, like a gemstone being formed under immense pressure and heat.

Then, suddenly, the process reached a crescendo. The energy that had been flowing through him condensed into a single, brilliant moment of transformation. Uzun felt something click into place within his soul, a fundamental change that altered the very nature of his being. When he opened his eyes, gasping from the intensity of the experience, the world around him had changed completely.

The cave chamber was no longer shrouded in darkness. Instead, it was filled with a soft, gray-blue light that seemed to emanate from the very walls themselves. Wisps of energy danced through the air like ethereal smoke, pulsing and flowing in patterns that spoke of hidden currents and invisible forces. The stone walls themselves seemed to glow with an inner light, revealing details and textures that had been completely invisible before.

But it was the living things that truly amazed him. Patches of moss and lichen that he hadn't even noticed before now blazed with energy, their life force visible as streams of gray and blue light that flowed across the cave walls like living rivers. The very air seemed alive with tiny motes of power, dancing and swirling in currents that followed laws he didn't understand but could somehow perceive.

Uzun stared in wonder at his transformed vision, trying to comprehend what had happened to him. The jade stone in his hands was no longer just glowing—it was practically blazing with power, its light now so bright that he had to squint to look at it directly. And within his chest, where once there had been only a small reservoir of energy, he could now feel something solid and substantial it was a core of crystallized power that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.

He was still marveling at his new abilities when a sound from above shattered the peaceful silence of the chamber. It was a screech. A high-pitched, inhuman, and filled with pain and rage. The sound echoed through the cave system, bouncing off the walls and creating a cacophony that made Uzun's newly sensitive hearing ring with discomfort.

"Damn," he muttered, instinctively reaching for his hand pick. The sound meant that the creatures were still active somewhere above him, and where there were creatures, there might be. His thoughts were interrupted by a wet, heavy thud as something large fell from the opening high above where he had originally fallen. The object hit the cave floor with a sickening crunch, and Uzun's enhanced vision immediately revealed what it was: one of the eyeless beasts that had attacked the survey team, its chest completely caved in as if it had been struck by a massive fist.

The creature was clearly dead, its black, chitinous hide split open to reveal the strange, dark fluid that served as its blood. But even in death, it was a terrifying sight the beast was easily seven feet tall, with elongated limbs that ended in razor-sharp claws and a mouth full of jagged teeth that looked capable of tearing through steel.

Before Uzun could fully process what he was seeing, another body fell from above. This one landed closer to him, and he could see that its head had been split open by what looked like a sword blow. Dark ichor pooled around the corpse, steaming slightly in the cool cave air.

A third creature followed moments later, this one bearing obvious signs of fire damage. Its hide was charred and blackened, and the acrid smell of burned flesh filled the chamber. Unlike the others, this one was still twitching slightly, not quite dead but clearly dying.

The implications hit Uzun like a physical blow. The creatures were being killed and thrown down from above, which meant that cultivators had arrived to deal with the beast infestation. Real cultivators, with the power and training necessary to fight these monsters and win. He might actually have a chance of getting out of this alive.

Hope surged through him, and he opened his mouth to call out, to let the cultivators above know that there was a survivor down here who needed rescue. But before he could make a sound, movement in his peripheral vision made him freeze.

The creature with the caved-in chest the one he had been certain was dead was now moving. Slowly, painfully, it was pulling itself upright, its ruined torso making horrible wet sounds as damaged organs shifted within its body cavity. Its eyeless head turned toward him with predatory focus, and despite its grievous injuries, it let out a low, threatening growl.

Uzun's blood ran cold as he realized the truth. These creatures were incredibly resilient, capable of surviving injuries that would kill any normal living thing instantly. The beast might be dying, but it was still dangerous, and it had clearly identified him as prey.

The creature took a lurching step toward him, its movements unsteady but determined. Dark fluid dripped from its ruined chest with each labored breath, but its claws were still sharp and its teeth still gleamed with predatory hunger. It might not be at full strength, but in his current condition, Uzun wasn't sure he could outrun it even if he tried.

There was nowhere to run anyway. The chamber had several passages leading out of it, but he had no idea where they led or whether they would provide any safety. His only option was to fight, using whatever power his new jade cultivation had given him.

The creature roared again, a sound that echoed through the chamber like thunder, and charged.

Uzun's hand closed around the handle of his hand pick, and immediately he felt the difference that his jade cultivation had made. The tool, which had always been nothing more than a simple mining implement, now felt alive in his grip. Energy flowed from the crystalline core in his chest down through his arm and into the metal, causing it to glow with the same gray-blue light that emanated from the jade stone.

But this was different from the normal cultivation energy he had heard about. Where fire cultivators might enhance their weapons with heat and flame, and earth cultivators might make them harder and more durable, the energy flowing through his hand pick felt... hungry. It was as if the tool had developed an appetite for something intangible, something that existed within living beings but was normally invisible and untouchable.

The wounded creature was almost upon him now, its claws extended and its mouth open in a silent snarl. Despite its injuries, it moved with surprising speed, covering the distance between them in a matter of seconds. Uzun had just enough time to raise his enhanced hand pick in a defensive position before the beast's claws raked across the metal surface.

The impact sent shockwaves up his arm, but the hand pick held firm. More than that—where the creature's claws had touched the glowing metal, wisps of gray-blue energy began to rise from its flesh like steam. The beast let out a shriek of pain and confusion, jerking back as if it had been burned.

Uzun didn't waste the opportunity. He lunged forward, driving the point of his hand pick toward the creature's already damaged chest. The tool pierced the chitinous hide easily, sliding between broken ribs and into the soft tissue beneath. But it was what happened next that truly shocked him.

The gray-blue energy that had been flowing through the hand pick suddenly intensified, pouring into the creature's body like liquid fire. But instead of burning or cutting, the energy seemed to be draining something essential from the beast. It was something that Uzun could see with his enhanced vision as a silvery light that flowed from the creature's body into his weapon.

The beast's struggles became weaker almost immediately. Its claws, which had been raking at his arms and shoulders, began to lose their strength. Its roars faded to whimpers, then to silence. Within moments, what had been a terrifying predator capable of killing experienced miners and guards had become nothing more than an empty husk, its little life left completely drained away.

Uzun staggered backward, pulling his hand pick free from the creature's corpse. The tool was still glowing with absorbed energy, pulsing with a rhythm that matched his own heartbeat. He could feel that energy flowing back into his own body, strengthening the crystalline core within his chest and enhancing his already improved physical capabilities.

The realization of what had just happened hit him like a physical blow. His jade cultivation didn't just allow him to see energy—it allowed him to drain it from other living things of some sort. He had essentially consumed the creature's life force or soul he wasn’t entirely sure as of yet, using it to strengthen himself.

But there was no time to contemplate the implications of his new abilities. Even as the first creature's corpse hit the ground, he could hear more sounds of combat from above. The cultivators were still fighting, which meant there were more beasts to deal with. And if more creatures fell down into this chamber, he would need to be ready to defend himself again.

Uzun was still catching his breath from the fight when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps from one of the chamber's passages. But these weren't the heavy, clumsy steps of another beast. These were lighter, more controlled—the footsteps of someone who knew how to move quietly and efficiently.

A moment later, a figure emerged from the shadows at the edge of his enhanced vision. It was a middle aged man in red and black robes, his long black hair bound up in an simple hair clasp despite the obvious signs of recent combat. His clothes were torn and dirty, and there was a cut on his left cheek that had bled down onto her collar, but he moved with the strong movement of a trained cultivator.

More importantly, he was wreathed in flames, not the destructive fire of a burning building, but controlled, purposeful flames that danced around her body like living things. The fire provided its own light, creating a warm glow that contrasted sharply with the cool gray-blue radiance of Uzun's jade energy.

Their eyes met across the chamber, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Uzun could see the surprise and confusion in his expression as he took in the scene. The dead creatures, the glowing hand pick in his hands, and the obvious signs that he had been fighting for his life in the depths of the cave system.

Then, just as he opened his mouth to speak, to explain what had happened and ask for help getting back to the surface, exhaustion finally caught up with him. The combination of his fall, his cultivation breakthrough, and the intense combat had pushed his body beyond its limits. His vision began to blur, his legs gave out beneath him, and consciousness faded as he collapsed to the cave floor.

The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the fire-wreathed cultivator rushing toward him, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he realized Uzun was injured and in need of help.