Half a Month Later

  The days had passed in steady rhythm—silent cultivation sessions, sparse meals, and the occasional guidance from Xiao Fang. The temporary training grounds had become a strange sort of home, bnketed in gentle mist, humming faintly with essence. Time blurred in such a pce, unmarked by the usual flow of the sun or seasons.

  Sitting cross-legged on his mat, Zhang Tian slowly exhaled.

  It’s only been fifteen days… and yet—

  His thoughts drifted as he focused inward. His dantian, once a hollow space below his navel, now held a mist-like pool that swirled quietly. The Four Elements Origin Technique continued to draw in the ambient essence, separating and circuting it through faint pathways that had grown clearer with each passing day.

  My body… feels lighter.And my mind… clearer.

  There was a strange freshness to his thoughts now, as though a fog had lifted. His sleep had shortened, but he awoke more rested than ever before. His muscles, which once ached after a day of running or climbing, now healed quickly, humming with a quiet strength beneath his skin.

  Even his senses felt more alive—the scent of damp stone, the rustle of distant robes, the subtle crackle of essence in the air. It was as if the world had grown sharper.

  Yet something stirred beneath the surface.

  Sometimes, in the quiet moments between breaths, Zhang Tian would sense… something.

  Faint. Fleeting.

  Like a whisper at the edge of his consciousness. A tug—so soft he wasn’t sure if it was real. It never lingered, and no matter how still he became, how deep he sank into meditation, it slipped through his grasp like water through his fingers.

  What is that…?A presence? A memory? Or something deeper…?

  He shook his head gently, trying not to lose himself in the thought.

  Despite his reluctance to chase power, to walk the same bloodstained path as countless cultivators before him, the changes within him were undeniable.

  Is this what it means to become more than mortal?

  But the thought wasn’t accompanied by pride. It came with a quiet unease. Because for all the crity in his body… something inside remained cloudy.

  And the deeper I go, the less I feel like turning back.

  Half a month passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. The group had settled into a steady routine, each disciple focusing diligently on their cultivation. Xiao Fang called them together for an update on their progress. As usual, the youths gathered in a circle, their faces a mixture of curiosity and determination. Zhang Tian sat with the rest, quietly observing, but inwardly, his thoughts were consumed with his progress.

  Xiao Fang surveyed the group, her expression calm but expectant. "Alright, let’s go over your progress," she began. Her gaze moved methodically from one disciple to the next, taking in the subtle shifts in their energy. "First, let’s start with Lin Xian."

  Lin Xian, as expected, was further along than anyone else. He stood with quiet confidence, his demeanor calm and composed. His cultivation was nearing the second rank of Qi Circution, and Xiao Fang noted that he was only half a step away from the breakthrough.

  "Lin Xian has made excellent progress," Xiao Fang continued. "His superior talent has led to faster development, and he is close to reaching the second rank of Qi Circution."

  Zhang Tian couldn’t help but gnce at Lin Xian. While Lin Xian was clearly talented, Zhang Tian couldn’t deny that his own progress was not far behind. Maybe I’m not too far off from that level either, Zhang Tian thought, a sense of optimism creeping in. My talent is good enough for me to catch up. I can do this.

  "Now," Xiao Fang shifted her attention to the others, "the rest of you have made solid progress as well. While you may not be as fast as Lin Xian, remember that everyone progresses at their own pace. The early stages of cultivation are subtle; differences in talent don’t always show immediately. It’s all about the steady accumution of essence."

  Zhang Tian, now feeling more at ease with his cultivation, listened carefully. He could feel the change in his body—his essence was circuting more smoothly, his mind and body becoming clearer with each passing day. I can feel it, he thought. I’m getting closer. The second rank is within reach.

  Xiao Fang's eyes lingered on the disciples with inferior talent, but her words were encouraging. "For those with inferior or lower talent, don’t be discouraged. You’re all progressing well, and with time, the differences will become more apparent. Cultivation isn’t a race—it’s about persistence."

  Zhang Tian’s chest swelled with pride. He may not have the superior talent of Lin Xian, but he wasn’t inferior either. His medium-grade talent was propelling him forward at a steady pace. I’m not the fastest, but I’m moving quickly. And that’s good enough, he thought, a quiet confidence settling over him.

  Xiao Fang continued, now addressing the group as a whole. "As a reminder, for those of you nearing the second rank of Qi Circution, the change will feel more tangible. Your essence will flow more freely through your dantian, and you’ll feel lighter, more energetic. But remember, even if you don’t feel the effects immediately, every step forward counts."

  Zhang Tian couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. I’m close, he thought. I can feel it in my bones. Maybe a little more time, and I’ll break through the second rank, too.

  "Alright," Xiao Fang said, her voice turning more serious. "There are no shortcuts in cultivation. But what you need to remember is that the real test comes ter, when you reach higher ranks. The difference in talent will become more apparent as you ascend, but for now, it’s important to focus on strengthening your foundation. You’re all doing well."

  Zhang Tian’s chest swelled with a faint sense of pride. His progress might not be as fast as Lin Xian’s, but it was good. And for the first time since he began this journey, he was beginning to feel like maybe, just maybe, he could make it. Cultivation didn’t seem like an endless struggle anymore—it felt like a path that was opening up before him.

  "Now," Xiao Fang continued, "I want to remind you that you should keep refining your dantian and circute your essence. You’ll feel a difference soon enough, especially those of you who are close to the second rank of Qi Circution."

  Zhang Tian stood up, feeling more energized than he had in the past few weeks. His steps felt lighter, his mind sharper. If I keep this up, he thought, I’ll make it. The second rank... It’s just a matter of time.

  Xiao Fang’s expression turned more focused as she added, "And remember, the technique you are using is a general one—the Four Elements Origin technique. It is solid, steady, and will help you y a good foundation. But don't expect it to be extraordinary. It won’t allow you to break through the ranks quickly or easily. It’s not suited for rapid progression, but it is a very reliable way to build strength over time. As you progress, you may even decide to seek out other techniques more suited to your elemental affinity."

  Zhang Tian nodded, the words resonating in him. The Four Elements Origin technique... It’s not meant for rapid breakthroughs. But that’s fine. I don’t need to rush. I just need to build a strong foundation.

  With a renewed sense of certainty, Zhang Tian couldn’t help but smile as he walked away. His uncertainty about the future of cultivation, about his pce in this world, had slowly been repced with a quiet confidence. He wasn’t rushing to be the best, but his steady progress felt like a sign. The path ahead, though long, was no longer as daunting. If I keep going at my own pace... I'll get there.

  Through the st couple of days, the senior named Xiao Fang handed out temporary identity tokens. These tokens were a rite of passage for all new disciples. Slightly cool to the touch and gray in color, they were unassuming but critical. Known as cultivator identity tokens, they held more than symbolic value—they were crafted to resonate subtly with the essence in the air. In areas rich with spiritual energy, they would gently warm or pulse, guiding fledgling cultivators toward safety and alerting them to regions of spiritual danger.

  The origins of these tokens stretched back hundreds of years, born from a tragic history where young cultivators lost their lives by unknowingly straying into pces where the spiritual essence was too strong, unstable, or too barren. The Qi Condensation realm, especially in its early stages, left one vulnerable—too much essence could rupture the meridians, while too little could starve the dantian’s growth. These tokens acted as a safeguard, a silent protector during the earliest, most fragile step on the path to immortality.

  “They won’t do much for you in terms of privilege,” Xiao Fang had said ftly, passing the tokens out one by one. “They are anonymous and temporary. Once we arrive at the sect proper, your formal identities will be inscribed upon the official jade tokens.”

  Zhang Tian turned his over in his hand that night as he sat alone beneath a tree, staring at its smooth, dull surface. Simple, but effective, he mused. The thought that such small tokens could contain essence-reactive properties fascinated him. He’d begun to feel the difference between mortal and cultivator life in subtle ways—things like this token reminded him that he was already walking on a different path, even if he hadn't fully accepted what y ahead.

  Meanwhile, Xiao Fang occasionally pulled out a pale gold talisman inscribed with tiny, glowing runes and whispered into it. She did so discreetly, often turning her back to the disciples as she spoke. Her expression was unreadable, but not entirely serene—more than once, her brows furrowed, and her jaw tensed ever so slightly. While she said nothing of the matter to the group, the tension in her demeanor didn’t go unnoticed by the more observant among them.

  Ten days before the end of the month, just as the sun had begun its slow descent behind the tree-dotted hills, a figure arrived. The man had a sturdy build, with short-cut bck hair and pin brown robes dusted from travel. He moved with purpose but bowed respectfully the moment he reached Xiao Fang. The gesture was practiced, but earnest.

  He whispered something low and brief. Xiao Fang listened in silence, her expression darkening by a shade, before giving him several concise instructions. She did not raise her voice, nor did she show urgency, but something shifted in the air. Whatever she was told wasn’t trivial. After receiving his orders, the man gave another short bow and retreated without a word to the gathered disciples.

  Zhang Tian, sitting not far from the interaction, noticed the way Xiao Fang’s gaze lingered on the horizon a moment longer than usual. Her fingers clenched slightly before she tucked the talisman back into her robes.

  What’s going on…? he wondered, not with fear, but with the slow stirring of a growing curiosity. It was a different kind of uncertainty now—less rooted in doubt, more in the realization that this world he’d entered was much rger and deeper than he'd first imagined.