Alex let his words settle in Evelyn's mind for a few moments before he spoke again.
"You're right—cultivation is about gaining power. Without strength, immortality is just a dream." His voice was steady. "In the cultivation world, strength is measured in stages. Each one brings you closer to defying death."
"Tell me, Evelyn—do you know what those stages are?"
Evelyn hesitated, her mind scrambling to recall the teachings she had overheard in the sect.
Then, nervously, she spoke.
"Body Tempering… Qi Cultivation… Foundation Building… Core Formation… and the Nascent Stage," she said, the words tumbling out quickly, as if afraid they would vanish if she waited too long.
Alex raised an eyebrow, a faint glimmer of amusement in his otherwise impassive gaze.
"At least you know the names," he said.
"What do you understand about each stage?" Alex inquired again.
The mountain wind stirred again, cool against her flushed skin.
Evelyn bit her lip, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her.
She took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts.
"Well… um, Body Tempering is when you… train your body? To be stronger. Like, make it tougher to withstand battles and injuries," she said, fidgeting a little.
Alex said nothing, only watching her with that same sharp gaze, so she hurried on.
"Then, Qi Cultivation is when you start… gathering qi into your body? Like absorbing it from the world and storing it in your dantian?" she guessed, voice uncertain.
"For Foundation Building…" she hesitated, trying to remember the scraps of conversation she'd overheard back in the outer sect. "It's, uh, about creating a foundation for higher cultivation. Like building a strong base to hold more power."
She glanced up at him anxiously, but Alex's face gave nothing away.
"Then there's Core Formation. That's when you condense your qi into a… a core inside your body. It's supposed to make your cultivation more stable and your strength grow by a lot."
Her voice faltered slightly.
"And the Nascent Stage…" She bit her lip, hesitating. "That's when… I think you form a little… spirit? Or baby soul or something? And you get really, really strong. Like, enough to destroy mountains."
By the end, she sounded completely unsure, her words trailing off into a whisper.
The silence that followed stretched thin.
Alex's lips twitched, not quite a smile.
"At least you have an idea," he said, finally breaking the tension. His voice was calm, not mocking. "Not completely right… but not completely wrong either."
Evelyn relaxed slightly, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Alex rubbed his chin.
"Listen carefully," he said. "The first mistake most people make is misunderstanding the nature of the early stages."
He looked back at her, his tone sharp again.
"Body Tempering is also called Foundation Establishment—but not the foundation you think. It's not a stage of cultivation at all. It's pre-cultivation."
Evelyn blinked.
Alex continued without giving her time to interrupt.
"Before you can cultivate qi, you must prepare your body. The body must be strong enough to withstand the burden of qi. Otherwise, the first surge of power you absorb would tear you apart from the inside out."
His voice was low, serious.
"That is why Body Tempering exists. It's a method to refine the flesh, blood, bones, and organs—to make them strong enough to accept the force of the heavens."
He stepped forward again, his voice steady like a hammer striking iron.
"Cultivation truly starts from Qi Cultivation. Everything before that is only preparation."
Evelyn's eyes widened.
She had never heard it explained like this.
"In fact," Alex said, "there are people that skipped Body Tempering entirely and started directly with Qi Cultivation. However, such examples are rare."
Even he himself had to start from Body Tempering.
"Im modern times, tempering the body has become tradition"
"A strong body is the true first step toward immortality."
The mountain wind howled behind him, as if the heavens themselves were agreeing with his words.
Evelyn, still seated, bowed her head low in acknowledgment.
"I understand, Master."
Alex watched her for a moment longer, then gave a slight nod.
"Good."
A faint smile finally tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Good. Then we move on."
"Qi Cultivation is what most people think of when they hear the word 'cultivator.' It is the stage where you begin to absorb the qi of the heavens and the earth, refining it into your dantian—the core of your internal power."
"At this stage, quantity matters. The more qi you absorb and refine, the stronger you become. But it's not just about stuffing yourself full. You must purify it, circulate it, temper it with each breath. Impurities left unchecked will poison your growth later."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And remember this well, Evelyn: a sloppy foundation will cripple your future."
Evelyn's heart pounded. She nodded quickly, committing every word to memory.
Alex continued without pause.
"Once your dantian is filled and your control over qi is firm, you move on to the next great hurdle: Foundation Building."
"This is where true cultivation begins."
Evelyn held her breath.
"Foundation Building is not just a name. It is literal. You break down your qi, your dantian, even your own body—and rebuild it. You create a new, stronger foundation that can hold ten, a hundred, a thousand times the power you once could."
He let the words sink in for a moment before continuing.
"It is a painful, dangerous process. Many fail. Some cripple themselves permanently. Others... die."
Evelyn shivered slightly.
"But if you succeed," Alex said, voice sharpening, "your body, mind, and spirit will transform. You will step beyond mortal limitations. Your life span will increase. Your strength will multiply."
"For you, Evelyn, Foundation Building is your goal right now. Nothing beyond that matters yet. Core Formation, Nascent Soul… those are dreams for another day."
Alex paused.
"Your path is simple: strengthen your body, master the flow of qi, and prepare to tear yourself apart and rebuild it better."
He smiled—not kindly, but fiercely.
"Can you do that, Evelyn?"
Evelyn's throat was dry.
But she clenched her fists and nodded, her voice firm despite the fear curling in her belly.
"Yes, Master. I can."
"Good. Stand up."