The morning sun rose gently over Dawnshadow Mountain, brushing the Supreme Void Sect with warm light. Mist floated lazily from the waterfall, and the plateau carried a calm stillness that made the world below feel distant.
Nathan stepped into the courtyard with silent steps, Lumen perched on his shoulder like a furry silver sentinel. The little fox yawned, stretched, and flicked its tail proudly—as if it owned the sect already.
The disciples were gathered… in their own unique ways.
Ash was hunched over, exhausted, as though meditation had personally wronged him.
Cyril stood tall, performing slow breathing exercises with practiced focus.
Lia wiped the dew from her sleeves, face glowing with early-morning determination.
Nathan scanned them once and nodded.
"Good. You're all here."
Ash raised a trembling hand.
"Master… I didn't want to be here… but I'm here."
Nathan ignored him.
"Yesterday, we began understanding your stances and movements. Today, you will begin understanding Qi itself."
Ash froze.
"You mean… the thing that almost made me throw up?"
"No," Nathan said calmly. "That was you forcing your mind to work for once."
Cyril covered a faint smirk with a cough.
Lia giggled softly behind her sleeve.
Nathan gestured for them to follow.
They moved toward the center of the arena, stone tiles warming beneath their feet.
Nathan stood before them, hands clasped behind his back.
"Listen carefully. Awakening Qi is not mastery. You may feel warmth or vibration, but that does not make you cultivators yet. Today, you learn the beginning of control."
Ash muttered, "Beginning of control… beginning of doom…"
Nathan raised an eyebrow.
"Ash."
"Yes, Master?!"
"Silence."
Ash fell silent immediately.
Nathan closed his eyes and inhaled slowly.
"First, breathe."
The disciples mirrored his posture.
"Qi is born from your breath," Nathan continued. "Your breath shapes your mind, and your mind shapes your energy."
He tapped his lower abdomen.
"Begin from your core. Feel the warmth there. Do not force it to move. Let it rise naturally."
The disciples closed their eyes.
For a moment, the plateau fell silent.
Cyril steadied his breathing—calm, consistent, controlled.
Lia's chest rose and fell softly, her aura gentle and bright.
Ash struggled to match the rhythm, breathing like someone trying not to drown while sitting on land.
A soft chime echoed in Nathan's mind.
*DING*
[Monitoring disciples' cultivation.]
[Status:
— Cyril: Excellent stability. Smooth internal circulation.
— Lia: Balanced energy flow. High sensitivity.
— Ash: Core located… losing focus… distracted by hunger.]
[Recommendation:
Continue guidance. Introduce basic Qi circulation.]
Nathan hid his amusement.
"Now," he said, opening his eyes, "guide that warmth upward. Slowly. Imagine it flowing along your spine."
Ash groaned.
"It doesn't want to go up… it wants to escape…"
"That is because you are panicking," Nathan replied calmly.
Cyril managed a smoother transition of energy.
Lia's flow moved quietly, almost elegant.
After several minutes, Nathan raised his hand.
"Open your eyes."
Cyril bowed slightly. "It is clearer now, Master."
Lia nodded with a soft smile. "It feels warm… steady."
Ash scratched his head. "I feel dizzy. And also hungry."
Nathan exhaled through his nose.
"That is progress."
Ash brightened.
"Really?"
"No."
Ash slumped.
Nathan stepped back and motioned for them to rise.
"You will now learn to circulate Qi through the rest of your body. This strengthens your meridians and prepares you for actual combat."
Ash's eyes widened in fear.
Cyril's expression sharpened.
Lia's gaze brightened with quiet determination.
"Begin again," Nathan said. "Guide the Qi from your core… to your spine… across your shoulders… and down your arms."
They obeyed.
Cyril's flow was taut and precise.
Lia's smooth and consistent.
Ash somehow sent his Qi downward, jolting his leg.
Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Ash. What did I say?"
"Upwards, Master! But it likes going down… unlike me!"
Nathan considered whether patience was part of cultivation training.
He decided it must be.
"Relax. Guide it gently. Do not force it."
Ash took a deep breath and tried again.
This time, the Qi grudgingly moved in the correct direction.
Nathan nodded.
"Better."
Lumen let out a smug chirp, as if taking credit.
The training continued until the disciples' breaths steadied and their bodies warmed from the inside out.
Finally, Nathan stepped forward.
"Good. You've taken your first steps into understanding Qi."
Ash looked proud.
Cyril looked focused.
Lia looked serene.
Nathan continued, "Now you must understand what Qi can do."
He lifted his hand and flicked two fingers.
A thin ripple of air cut across the arena—gentle, invisible, but sharp enough to stir their clothes.
The disciples stared in awe.
"That," Nathan said, "is a basic Qi strike."
Ash gasped. "Master made the air angry!"
"No," Nathan said. "I guided it."
He lowered his hand.
"You will not attempt Qi strikes today. You are not ready. But you must grasp the idea that intention becomes motion through Qi."
Cyril nodded deeply.
Lia's eyes gleamed with inspiration.
Ash looked overwhelmed, but alive.
Nathan was about to dismiss them when Lumen suddenly stiffened.
The fox leapt onto Nathan's shoulder, fur rising, teeth bared toward the forest.
Nathan's expression darkened.
"What is it?"
The system answered instantly.
*DING*
[Alert:
Minor beast approaching the sect boundary.]
[Distance: 400 meters]
[Rank: Mortal Beast – Stage 2]
[Intent: Investigating the new Qi presence.]
So it had come again.
"Disciples," Nathan said quietly, "stay behind me."
Cyril's hand drifted toward his wooden sword.
Lia stepped back nervously.
Ash hid behind both of them, trembling.
A low growl echoed from the trees.
Leaves rustled.
Branches cracked.
The beast approached slowly, sensing unfamiliar energy.
A wolf-like figure emerged—a creature the size of a large boar, crimson eyes glowing among the shadows.
It sniffed the air.
Growled.
Stepped toward the invisible barrier.
And slammed its paw against it.
A ripple shimmered across the boundary like water struck by a stone.
Ash squealed.
Lia flinched.
Cyril tensed.
Nathan stepped forward calmly.
"You want to test me?"
The beast growled again, louder this time.
Nathan met its gaze without blinking.
"You are too small for that."
The beast faltered.
It sniffed again—
hesitated—
then retreated step by step…
Before bolting back into the forest.
Ash collapsed dramatically.
"It left! Thank the heavens, it left!"
Cyril exhaled slowly.
"It is testing the area. This will not be the last time."
Lia looked worried.
"What should we do, Master?"
Nathan faced them.
"We grow stronger."
He folded his arms calmly.
"Your progress today was important. But tomorrow…" His eyes sharpened with a rare intensity.
"…tomorrow, you begin learning how to fight for real."
Ash fainted upright.
Cyril looked determined.
Lia nodded, swallowing her fear.
Nathan glanced toward the forest one last time.
The beast had retreated—
but something deeper remained watching.
Dawnshadow Mountain was stirring.
And so were its dangers.