A new day had dawned over the Northern Region. As the soft light of m spread across the Evernight Sect's grounds, a clear, resonant bell rang from the ter of the courtyard—a signal for all disciples to gather for training.

  Adrian, already dressed in his pristine white sect robe, stepped out of his modest room. In a passing reflective surfaight have seen the image of a boy with jet-bck hair, a well-toned build, and an air of quiet fidence—like a true prince. Yet Adrian paid little mind to his refle, his thoughts fixed firmly on the day ahead.

  Without dey, he gathered his belongings: he carefully picked up the training manual and secured his jade slip, then joihe flow of disciples ier corridor. As he walked, he noticed a few young girls who were also heading toward the courtyard. They caught his eye, and when he looked back, their expressions quickly turned shy.

  Although he uood these looks—having seen simir moments in his past trail lives—he reminded himself that such matters could wait. If, iure, he reached a higher level and found someoruly equal to him, someone who could keep pace with his journey and truly apany him, then he might sider such feelings. For now, his focus remained firmly on cultivation.

  With steady steps, Adrian tioward the training area. The sound of the m bell and the orderly rhythm of the disciples filled him with a sense of purpose. Today marked the beginning of his formal training, a step forward on a long and challenging path.

  Adrian made his way toward the gathering pce. He entered a rge hall where the elder Elder Li Tian sat on a high ptform, addressing the assembled disciples. Along the edges of the hall, fortable seating arras—small futons—were arranged for the disciples to sit during the session.

  Adrian arrived a little early, and with only a few disciples present, he had a choice of where to sit. Not wanting to draw unnecessary attention by sitting in the ter, he opted for a spot on the right side of the starting rows. This position was ideal: it allowed him to hear the instrus clearly while keeping him out of the direct spotlight. Satisfied with his choice, he settled into the futon and waited for the assembly to begin.

  After a few minutes, every disciple had arrived. Elder Li Tian he punctuality of most, but a few stragglers were already marked by their teness—a mistake that, in cultivation, could cost precious time. With a measured gnce, Elder Li Tian began the session.

  "New disciples," he announced, his voice carrying clearly over the hall, "time is of the essen cultivation. If you are te, it is your own fault—every sed ts."

  He tinued, "I am aware that many of you have already begun reading the training manual, despite explicit instrus not to start cultivating on your own. This year, we have already lost three students in their courtyards due to premature cultivatiohat serve as a lesson. We could have withheld the manual to prevent these tragedies, but we provided it so that you might learn the importance of patiend caution."

  Elder Li Tian's tone grew stern as he addressed the assembly. "You must know when to be patient and when to retreat. Cultivation is not a race; it is a disciplined journey. If you do not uand these principles, then you might as well not cultivate at all."

  The hall fell silent as his words sank in. The weight of his warning was clear: only through careful, measured progress could a true cultivator survive—and thrive—in this path.

  Adrian was stunned by Elder Li Tian's harsh words. In that moment, he remembered the few rooms he had seen earlier—doors that remained closed, as if their octs had never left. A chilling thought crossed his mind: perhaps those were the disciples who had perished from premature cultivation. This realization served as a stark warning. Determined not to be swept away by impatience, Adrian resolved to proceed with caution, aware that every moment on this journey recious and that his path must be tread with care.

  Elder Li Tian raised his voice so that all the new disciples could hear. "Assume that some of you have already read the manual. For those who haven't, let me expin the first step on our cultivation path—the Ember Awakening Realm.

  "In this realm, you must establish a e with Qi—the vital energy that flows throughout the world. Here, you learn to sense Qi as it washes over your body, strengthening your muscles and internal ans whi return enhances your physical power. This initial e is the foundation of all that follows.

  "Talent is crucial in this process. Those with natural ability sense Qi quickly and clearly, while others without such talent may struggle to perceive it at all. That is why, during our assessments, we separated you: low-level talents have been assigo the affiliated branches, where they develop at a slower pace, while mid-level and high-level talents remain here in the main branch for advaraining.

  "Time is precious in cultivation. A disciple with medium talent might take as long as five months tress into the realm, while someoh high-level talent could advan just three months. This is why diligend precise practice are essential.

  Elder Li Tian tinued by sharing more key points that many people world and also mentions the istakes not to be made.

  Adrian listened ily, mentally noting every word. He was grateful that he had not rushed into cultivation earlier—now, he uood the importance of following these instrus carefully.

  "Now," Elder Li Tian said, "once you have ected with Qi, you must move on to the sed realm: Flowing Veins. Here, you el Qi into your internal ans, reinf them and enhang their ability to heal. This stage is vital because, while Ember Awakening boosts your external and internal strength, Flowing Veins repairs and strengthens your inner body. In fact, with proper training, the healing of injuries bees signifitly faster and more effective."

  The elder expined further, "sider this: in the first realm, your body bees twice as strong as that of a normal human. In the sed realm, not only do you improve your internal healing, but your overall power nearly increase's once again. This is why these two realms form the foundation of your cultivation—they prepare your body for the advaages to e. Many cultivators fail tress because they damage their internal structure. Teiques for inner healing are rare, even among high-level sects.That is why you must be cautious and not get damaged internally."

  Adrian quietly absorbed every detail, mentally rec the importance of each stage. He realized that his progress depended on both strengthening his body and ensuring that his internal systems remained robust.

  Elder Li Tian spoke clearly, "The stage on your path is called Tempered Meridian." He paused, letting his words settle among the gathered disciples before tinuing.

  "Iempered Meridian realm, you focus on refining your internal meridians—the els through which Qi flows. While Ember Awakening and Flowing Veins have allowed you to ect with and circute Qi tthen your muscles and heal yans, they did not fully develop the pathways needed for advanced trol.

  "Tress in this realm, you must ect a work of 36 vital meridians. These 36 els form an intricate system that enables you to direct Qi with precision. By f Qi through these meridians under high pressure, as detailed in your manual, you will strehem and make them more effit.

  "This rigorous training not only enhances your healing and resilie also allows you to el Qi outward—be it to imbue a on with energy or to unleash powerful bursts of force. Remember, if you fail to properly ect these 36 meridians, you will not be able to advance further."

  "These are the realms where you have to establish your foundation. If you have any questions during your progress feel free to e to this hall as I will be present here."

  Adrian listened ily, itting every word to memory. The expnation filled him with determination. He uood that mastering these 36 meridians was a crucial step toward unlog greater power and that every moment of disciplined practice would bring him closer to his true potential.

  After Elder Li Tian finished his instrus and dismissed the assembly, a hush fell over the hall as the disciples began to file out toward their rooms. Yet, Adrian lingered a moment longer, his mind alive with questions that set him apart from his peers.

  He thought quietly, Is there a subtle essen Qi that determines whether it truly strengthens my body or simply passes by unnoticed? the process of Qi enhang our healing capabilities ever reach its limit, or it be perfected with enough practice? Is there some secret within ourselves that we have yet to discover? And why must we ely 36 meridians—wouldn't more els unlock eveer potential?

  These questions swirled in his mind, fueling a sense of determination and curiosity. Though the elder had id out the steps clearly, Adriahat there was more to learn—mysteries that only his own path could reveal. He khat every sed in cultivation ted, and these questions were his silent promise to himself to search deeper, to practice carefully, and to never settle for simple answers.

  With the elder's warning still eg—reminding all to be cautious and mindful as they returo their rooms—Adrian finally rose. He walked out of the hall with a thoughtful expression, carrying these questions like a private map of his future journey, ready to face the challehat y ahead.

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