Midnight passed, and noon arrived.
It was finally time to leave for Zhongyuan.

Feeling the passage of time, I opened my eyes in the prepared quarters.

Huuuuu.

As I exhaled the breath I had been holding, energy accompanied it, slowly dispersing.
The circulating energy settled and seeped into my heart.

“Hmm.”

It was a strange sensation.
Something similar to inner energy, yet distinctly different.

If I were to describe it, it wasn’t unpleasant, but it felt awkward—an odd fit.

‘Peculiar.’

Truly peculiar.

Several hours ago, in the underground chamber with the Palace Lord, I had gained the …