Near the summit, nestled on the mountainside, was a cozy home where a family of three enjoyed breakfast together. The scene was peaceful and heartwarming, a perfect picture of domestic bliss.
This was none other than Jin Eryndor's home.
Now one year and seven months old, Eryndor stood tall at 80 cm. His once-soft body, covered in baby fat, had transformed into a sturdy frame thanks to his daily physical training and rigorous exercise. His long hair brushed his shoulders, and his lively, healthy complexion shone with vigor.
The faint outline of muscles on his small frame, coupled with his adorable and energetic face, gave him an irresistible charm. It was hard not to feel affection for him at first glance.
It would be such a remiss not to mention Serene’s daily contributions. Her tireless preparation of spiritual meals played a vital role in Jin Eryndor’s development. For martial practitioners, especially those focusing on external techniques, the initial phase of training involves converting physical strength into inner energy—“refining essence into qi.” Eating well is essential for sustaining the grueling process of external body training and generating internal energy.
Eryndor’s three meals a day were all meticulously prepared by Serene herself. Every meal was different, with no repetition over two weeks. This variety kept his appetite stimulated, making him eat more with each passing day, further fueling his rapid physical growth.
After finishing their breakfast, the family of three moved to the main hall to enjoy tea together. The dishes and utensils were cleared away by the household’s mortal servants, leaving the family undisturbed.
Jin Valen glanced at Eryndor, who sat calmly sipping tea, and remarked:
“Dori, don’t you think it’s time you stepped outside to see the world a little? Staying at home all day reading books or training isn’t necessarily the best approach, you know.”
Eryndor looked at his father, puzzled. “Father, isn’t being diligent in my studies and training what makes me a good child? Why are you suggesting I go out and play? My time is precious!”
“Ahem! I’m not telling you to loaf around! I’m saying you should step outside, enjoy the scenery, and take in the world. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Besides, you’re still young—it’s fine to have some fun occasionally!”
“But Father, books contain everything I need to know. And my training is about building a strong foundation for my future cultivation. Besides, it doesn’t seem like there are any kids my age in the sect!”
Eryndor wasn’t wrong. The Skyshade Sect only recruited disciples six years old or older. Talented disciples who earned the favor of the elders were often sent out on missions to oversee various regions. Others with exceptional gifts would enter seclusion to cultivate and strive for breakthroughs in the endless struggle against the heavens.
Disciples with poor aptitude often failed to make significant progress after long years of cultivation. Such individuals would typically request to leave the sect and establish cultivation families, which became a stable source of fresh blood for the sects.
Only middle-aged disciples or outer sect elders were permitted to marry and have children within the sect. As for the inner sect? That was an entirely different story. Within the inner sect, Jin Eryndor was the only child—truly an anomaly.
In this environment, children of Eryndor’s age were indeed rare. His maturity, coupled with the sect’s rigorous standards, left him feeling somewhat isolated. The idea of Eryndor playing with a group of children seemed laughable. His time was far too valuable to waste on childish games when he was already concerned about finding enough hours to train. How could he spare a moment for such trivialities?
If there were spare hours in his day, he’d much rather spend them poring over books like the Compendium of Herbal Lore or the Artifact Refinement Codex. At least those activities contributed to his growth and future cultivation. For Eryndor, every moment counted, and frivolity simply wasn’t part of his plans.
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Jin Valen looked at Eryndor for a moment before sighing. “Alright, do whatever you think is best. After all, you haven’t done anything wrong.”
With that, Jin Valen stood up and left the house, heading off to attend to his many sect responsibilities.
Eryndor turned to Serene, grinning cheekily. “Mother, you agree with me, don’t you?”
“Haha, how could I not? My little Dori is so well-behaved, I couldn’t be happier!” Serene replied, her eyes crinkling with a warm smile.
“Alright, Mother, I’m off to train! If you need anything, just call me—I’ll be right in the courtyard!” Eryndor said, his cheerful voice trailing off as he headed outside.
Eryndor always chose to train in the front yard of his home and read books under the big old tree. In the left corner of the yard stood a large tree with sprawling branches and wide, leafy shade. He loved sitting beneath its canopy, often daydreaming or contemplating life.
Now, at the age of 1 year and 7 months, Eryndor had spent his time rigorously training his body to grow stronger and adapt to intense physical activity. Simultaneously, he had voraciously absorbed knowledge about this world and its cultivation system, deepening his understanding and refining his perspective.
Previously, Eryndor had focused on basic exercises like sprinting, frog jumps, jump rope, push-ups, pull-ups, bench presses, sit-ups, and more. As long as it wasn’t overly weight-intensive, he had tried it all. However, his body had now developed to near its current limits. These basic exercises, once a challenge, no longer pushed him sufficiently and yielded diminishing returns.
It was clear: to continue progressing, he needed to either change his training methods or step into the realm of official cultivation.
It would be a mistake to underestimate the benefits of those simple exercises. When Eryndor was younger, his body couldn’t handle intense training without risking injury. The foundational exercises had been essential for strengthening his physique, improving his digestion, and supporting rapid growth. Stronger bones and muscles had laid the groundwork for him to take on more rigorous physical training in the future.
Now, standing in the middle of the yard, Eryndor began warming up. He ran sprints, did push-ups, and followed with frog jumps—all to get his body loose and prepared.
Exhaling deeply, Eryndor decided that today would mark the beginning of his cultivation journey. His mind raced as memories of the cultivation knowledge he had absorbed flooded his thoughts. Each detail he had read replayed vividly in his head.
“What should I focus on for my foundation? Fist techniques, palm techniques, or claw techniques?” Eryndor muttered, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
He hadn’t practiced any martial arts before. Without experience, it was hard to know which path would suit him best.
The Foundational Fist Technique, Foundational Palm Technique, and Foundational Claw Technique were all martial arts manuals Eryndor had studied in the first-floor archives of the sect's library. Each had its strengths, but among them, the most widely practiced and favored by cultivators was the Foundational Fist Technique.
Why was it so popular?
Throughout history, humans had relied most heavily on their fists in combat, with claws and palms coming afterward. Fist techniques were also the easiest to learn, with abundant resources, manuals, and skilled teachers readily available.
Moreover, many cultivators who trained extensively in fist techniques eventually developed their unique fist intent, which could vary greatly from person to person but served as a powerful tool in their arsenal.
“If I’m unsure which to choose, I’ll just try each one and see which feels most natural,” Eryndor decided swiftly.
Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly to calm his mind and body.
Memories of the foundational fist techniques he had read about flowed through his mind like a vivid stream. He began to visualize the stances and movements as if the pages of the manuals had come to life before him.
The Foundational Fist Technique consisted of 12 moves—basic techniques that formed the roots of all fist-based martial arts. Every advanced fist technique was derived from these fundamental movements, with the addition of internal energy circulation.
- Move 1: "Crouching Step, Heavy Fist"
- Move 2: "Turning Step, Smashing Fist"
- Move 3: "Retreating Step, Breaking Fist"
...and so on.
Eryndor diligently practiced each foundational move, flowing seamlessly from one to the next.
After completing the sequence, he exhaled deeply and stood straight.
“Hmm… nothing feels particularly special,” he muttered to himself.
“Alright, next! Let’s try the Foundational Palm Technique.”
The Foundational Palm Technique also contained 12 moves, with some similarities to the fist technique. However, one key difference was that the palm techniques often required using both hands together, unlike the singular, focused force of the fist techniques that symbolized the intent of "One Fist to Rule Mountains and Rivers."
Eryndor carefully performed each move, but by the end of the sequence, he shook his head.
“Palm techniques don’t feel right for me,” he mused. “I can’t seem to connect with them—they feel awkward and unnatural.”
Now, only the Foundational Claw Technique remained. Despite his initial disappointment with the previous techniques, Eryndor found himself a bit eager to test the claw style, sensing it might resonate with him more.
“Let’s give it a shot,” he thought, anticipation building.