The morning air was thick with the scent of damp earth and incense, curling from the temple halls in the distance. The courtyard of the training grounds stretched wide, surrounded by tall stone pilrs engraved with ancient inscriptions of long-forgotten techniques. A soft wind rustled the leaves overhead, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow onto the stone floor.Xu Wang stood firm, his body still aching from his previous wounds. The scars of battle remained fresh in his memory, but his determination burned brighter than ever. Across from him, Yang Shen crossed his arms, studying Xu Wang with an unreadable expression.

  "You recovered too fast," Yang Shen finally spoke, his sharp gaze locked onto Xu Wang’s stance. "Even among high-level cultivators, healing at such a pace is impossible."

  Xu Wang tensed but forced himself to appear unfazed. He couldn't afford to reveal the secrets of his rapid recovery.

  "I don’t know," he replied ftly.

  Yang Shen smirked slightly. "You really are an interesting one," he said, before taking a sudden step forward.

  Without warning, Yang Shen’s figure blurred, and in the next instant, he was right in front of Xu Wang. His palm shot forward like a spear, aimed straight at Xu’s chest.

  Xu barely had time to react. He twisted his body to the side, avoiding the full impact but still feeling the sting of the dispced air as the strike grazed past his ribs. Before he could counter, Yang Shen spun, delivering a lightning-fast kick to his side.

  Xu Wang staggered backward, gritting his teeth. His arms tingled from the force of the impact. He had fought skilled opponents before, but Yang Shen’s speed and precision were on another level entirely.

  "Too slow!" Yang Shen barked, his movements fluid as he pressed the attack.

  Xu Wang didn’t back down. He adjusted his stance and threw a counterattack, his fist cutting through the air toward Yang Shen’s jaw. But Yang Shen was faster—his body swayed effortlessly, avoiding the strike by mere inches.

  Then, without hesitation, Yang Shen grabbed Xu Wang’s wrist and twisted, using the momentum to sm him to the ground. Dust rose around them as Xu grunted in pain.

  "You're strong, but strength alone won’t make you invincible," Yang Shen said, releasing his grip and stepping back. "You ck refinement. You fight with raw instinct, but instinct without control is a weakness."

  Xu Wang forced himself to his feet, wiping blood from his lip. His mind was racing. He had fought many battles, faced life-and-death situations, but against a disciplined martial master like Yang Shen, he felt the gap in skill.

  "I can’t afford to lose," he thought. "I have people I need to protect."

  Pushing past the pain, he took a deep breath and steadied his stance. "Again," he said firmly.

  Yang Shen raised an eyebrow. "Good," he said, before unching another attack.

  The training continued for hours, the sound of cshing limbs echoing through the courtyard. Each time Xu Wang was struck down, he got back up. His arms ached, his legs felt like lead, but he refused to yield.

  As the sun rose higher, Yang Shen finally called for a halt. "Your persistence is commendable," he admitted. "But if you truly want to protect the people you love, you must cultivate your core."

  Xu Wang wiped sweat from his brow, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "How do I do that?"

  Yang Shen gestured for him to sit. "Close your eyes. Focus inward. Draw in the surrounding aura, let it flow through you, and strengthen your core."

  Xu Wang did as he was told, crossing his legs and shutting his eyes. He tried to sense the qi around him, to pull it in—but nothing happened. The energy felt distant, unresponsive. He furrowed his brows, frustration bubbling inside him.

  Yang Shen sighed. "Your body is resisting qi flow. Something is blocking your cultivation."

  Xu Wang exhaled sharply. "So what do I do?"

  "For now, rest," Yang Shen said. "Overexerting yourself will only make things worse."

  That night, as Xu Wang sat alone by the window, watching the stars, a notification flickered before his eyes.

  [System Notification: Shop Access Granted]

  A translucent screen appeared in front of him, listing various items—books, potions, and strange artifacts. His gaze moved over them until one title caught his attention:

  [Law of Cultivation and Cultivation of Aura]

  "This could help me…" he murmured. His fingers hovered over the purchase option—only to see another notification appear.

  [Insufficient Gold Coins]

  Xu Wang scowled. "Of course."

  Before he could close the interface, another message blinked onto the screen.

  [Mission Avaible: Learn Mudhara Qi to Advanced Level. Reward: 100 Gold Coins]

  His heart pounded. A mission—his path forward had just revealed itself.

  Meanwhile, in another room, Yang Rui y in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her face burned with embarrassment as she recalled what she had seen earlier in the streets—Xu Wang and Wang Li, close, too close.

  Her breath hitched as the memory repyed in her mind. She quickly pulled the bnket over her face, trying to shake the thoughts away.

  "What were they doing…?" she whispered, gripping the fabric tightly.

  Outside, the night stretched on, and Xu Wang unknowingly took his first step toward unlocking the power that would change everything.