"You will lose all your powers and abilities and become a normal human."

The words kept repeating in Zhelan's mind and he could not make out if it was all a dream or if he actually had been punished.

His eyelids refused to open and he found it hard to even move. It was as though he was bound completely and nothing could help him get out of it.

Even though he was unable to open his eyes, he could still hear and feel everything. And the words he heard next made him frown lightly.

"Who is this man?" He heard a sweet, melodious voice, one that had tingles spreading through his body. Whoever it was had the loveliest voice he had ever heard and if not for his helpless situation, he would have forced his eyes open to see who the lovely lady was.

"I do not know. Maybe he is a traveler." Zhelan heard another voice immediately after. Although it was not as sweet as the previous voice, it still sounded sweet and in his unconscious state, he smiled immediately.

"Why is he smiling?" The sweet voice continued.

"Maybe he is able to hear us." The other lady answered.

"What are we going to do now? Are we going to let him stay here?"

'No. Please take me with you.' Zhelan prayed and wished desperately for the two ladies to listen to his request. But it was all his wishful thinking.

"Let us inform the guards. They will take care of him."

Zhelan shook his head when he heard the not-so-sweet lady's unfriendly words.

"But…"

"Yazhu, he is a stranger. We cannot take a risk with him. Come, let us leave from here."

'No, no, no. Do not leave me alone. Take me with you.' Zhelan begged but his words fell on deaf ears and soon, all he heard and felt was silence and a strange sense of premonition.

Zhelan did not know how much time had passed since the two ladies left him. At first, it had been warm and pleasant. But as time passed, the blazing sun hit his body, burning him greatly. And to his dismay, he could neither move his eyes nor his limbs. It was as though he was getting roasted alive in the smoldering weather.

"He must be the one." He heard a voice after sweating and singeing in the sun for a long time. This time, it was a male, and even though Zhelan was disappointed, he was still elated that someone had come to his rescue.

'Maybe the two ladies informed the guards.' He thought and let out a sigh of relief. At least, he would now be free from the scorching heat.

"Does he belong to our kingdom?" It was another male's voice.

"I do not think so. What shall we do?"

"Let us bring him back first. We will inform the king and let him decide about this man."

"That seems possible." The first man replied.

The two men, then, without delaying any further lifted Zhelan, making him feel embarrassed about the situation he was in. But he could do nothing either. They carried him and after walking for quite some time, Zhelan was placed on a bed. Although it was not as soft as the ones in his house, it still was better than staying out in the open under the blazing sun.

A series of footsteps followed suit immediately after.

“Master.”

Zhelan heard the men’s admiration-filled voice and his curiosity was piqued instantly.

‘Now, who is it?’ He wondered and waited.

“You may leave now.” It was an unfamiliar man. From his voice alone, he could detect that he was not any ordinary human but one who held authority. He could faintly discern a strong aura around him, one that he was all too familiar with. The man was definitely a high-level cultivator, he was sure of it.

“Yes, Master.” The men replied before Zhelan heard them leave the room and close the door afterward.

Zhelan waited for a few moments, but there was no sound from the stranger. He could not even detect any movements from him and slowly, a frightening thought started to make its way into his mind. He had already come to accept that he had lost his power and that he had been punished for what he had done. It was only at this time that he understood what crisis he was in and how precarious it was for him.

“Zhelan.”

Zhelan was stunned when the man uttered his man. He then felt the man’s palm on his forehead.

“I know why you are here, all that you did and all that happened with you. Nothing is hidden from me.” He continued and Zhelan could not help but be shocked. However, he was in no state to express his shock.

“You will have a hard life from now on and you are all alone in this.” The man pressed on his forehead and Zhelan felt his body relaxing immediately. A calming sensation flowed through him and even though his mind was still in turmoil, he forgot about them momentarily.

‘What is this man talking about? Why will I have a hard life?’ Zhelan thought to himself. He had only lost his powers. He could still cultivate and attain immortality.

“You are wrong, Zhelan.” The man clicked his tongue and let out a sigh. “You will not be able to cultivate. It is not as easy as you think.”

‘What do you mean? And how are you able to hear me? I am not even speaking to you directly.’ Zhelan was baffled and he could not help but let out a gasp in his mind.

“I mean what I said. It will not be easy for you to start cultivating once you wake up. However….”

‘However?’ Zhelan was anxious and he wanted to find answers to his questions as quickly as possible.

“However, it is not impossible either. Do you not remember your punishment?” When Zhelan remained silent, the man continued. “You not only lost your powers but also your Qi. Unless you gain your Qi back, you will not be able to cultivate and to gain it, you will have to tread on a path which no human has ever passed alive.”

“I do not…understand. I….” Zhelan was at a loss for words. He had entirely forgotten his punishment in his qualms. It was only when the strange man reminded him that he recalled the other part of his punishment about him losing his Qi.

“You will understand everything once you wake up.”

“When will I wake up?” Zhelan was nervous, apprehensive and most of all, mortified. He could not discern what was happening and what would happen to him henceforth.

“The moment I step out of this room.” The man stayed silent for some time before he moved his palm away from his forehead.

“I am done with my job here. I am going to leave now. Remember what I told you before. You are all alone on this difficult path. I just hope you will be able to survive it.”

The man then departed from the room and the moment he closed the door after him, Zhelan woke up from his slumber.