Inside the dimly lit living room of his residence, a quiet stillness settled beneath the soft glow of a Qi lamp. Warm amber light spilled across the room, illuminating the figure seated calmly upon the couch.
Li Yan sat cross-legged with an ancient book resting open across his lap, his expression composed yet intensely focused as his eyes moved steadily across the aged pages.
The parchment carried a faint scent of time and dust, its script written in an archaic style far older than the modern language commonly used throughout the sect.
This was no ordinary manual.
It was the Body Cultivation book Yao Fuhuo had personally entrusted to him.
Not merely a technique.
An entire cultivation path.
His eyes moved steadily across the text, absorbing each line with focused clarity. There was no haste in his reading, only careful understanding, each concept anchored firmly before he moved to the next.
Now, with only two weeks remaining before Yao Fuhuo's return, Li Yan had finally chosen to step fully onto the path of body cultivation.
The decision was deliberate.
For the next part of the task, Tier-3 Hunting Grounds awaited, filled with beasts far stronger, more dangerous, and more unpredictable than anything he had faced so far. Entering such a place without proper preparation would be reckless.
Body cultivation was no longer optional.
It was necessary.
The pages turned slowly beneath his fingers as he continued reading in silence.
The concepts within differed completely from traditional Qi cultivation. There were no discussions of spiritual absorption, elemental circulation, or meridian expansion.
Everything centered around the body itself.
Skin. Muscles. Bones. Marrow.
Every section emphasized the same brutal truth.
Body cultivation demanded suffering.
The body had to be broken repeatedly, strained beyond comfort, and reforged through pressure until strength became instinct rather than borrowed power.
Li Yan's gaze sharpened slightly.
He understood immediately why this path was so rare.
Few cultivators possessed the patience—or the endurance—to walk it properly.
A faint breath escaped him as he closed the book momentarily, leaning back against the couch while his thoughts settled into quiet contemplation.
He originally intended to resume alchemy after completing part of Yao Fuhuo's task.
Li Yan had already collected the alchemy ingredients from the treehouse, which he had asked Yao Fuhuo to arrange. When he arrived there using the teleportation crystal, he was surprised to find a storage ring filled with a wide variety of herbs and ingredients, both common and rare.
The quantity was substantial as well; it was enough to keep Li Yan busy for six or more months, even if he focused solely on alchemy. But he set them aside for now and focused on completing the task.
The thought of returning to refinement still lingered within his mind.
But priorities had changed.
Yao Fuhuo's earlier warning remained clear in his memory.
A weak body could never withstand Heavenly Flames. Without a body capable of enduring extreme forces, refining Heavenly Flames in the future would not only fail—it would destroy him.
If he wished to walk that future path, then strengthening his physical vessel was not a choice—it was a requirement.
And Li Yan had no intention of failing before he even reached the beginning.
Alchemy could wait.
It would always be there.
But this…
This was preparation for something far greater.
Li Yan opened the book again and continued.
As Li Yan continued reading deeper into the manual, the world around him gradually faded into silence. The soft glow of the Qi lamp, the quiet room, even the passing of time itself became distant beneath his concentration.
Every page revealed something heavier than ordinary cultivation knowledge.
"Body Cultivation is not merely a supplement to Qi cultivation," he read silently. "It is a complete path of its own—ancient, brutal, and absolute."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued.
Yet the book also revealed a harsh reality.
According to the records, most people turn toward body cultivation only after failing on the path of Qi cultivation. The brutality of the system alone was enough to discourage nearly everyone.
Because survival demanded strength.
And strength demanded suffering.
Li Yan's brows furrowed thoughtfully as he studied the structure of the cultivation realms outlined within the scripture. Unlike ordinary body tempering techniques, this path possessed a complete progression system divided into realms and stages.
But this book recorded only the first four realms.
- Skin Tempering Realm (Body Practitioner)
- Flesh Tempering Realm (Body Warrior)
- Bone Forging Realm (Body Captain)
- Marrow Refinement Realm (Body Commander)
Each realm contained nine stages, and every advancement focused on refining the body deeper than the last—from the outer skin all the way into the marrow hidden within the bones.
The system was methodical.
And merciless.
Unlike the Steel Body Tempering technique he had previously purchased for five thousand Shadow Points, this cultivation path did not focus solely on external endurance or physical resistance.
It refined everything.
External fortification.
Internal strengthening.
Every part of the body became part of the refinement process.
Li Yan leaned slightly back against the couch, thoughtful calculation flickering behind his calm expression.
"If I had obtained this earlier…" he murmured, "I wouldn't have needed to purchase the Steel Body Tempering technique."
Still, the thought faded quickly as he continued to read further.
The tempering technique had not become useless.
Instead, the book explained that external tempering methods could serve as supplementary support for true body cultivation, further strengthening the overall refinement process.
That realization eased part of his earlier regret.
What interested him even more, however, was the book's integration of natural resources into cultivation itself.
Medicinal herbs.
Spirit roots.
Beast blood.
Natural energy.
The manual described dozens of materials used throughout the early realms of body cultivation, many of which Li Yan already recognized from his time gathering herbs and studying herbalism.
Several ingredients were already stored within his own collection.
Others, however, were far rarer.
The names alone suggested greater difficulty—materials unlikely to appear within Tier-1 or Tier-2 Hunting Grounds. Acquiring them would eventually require exploration into more dangerous regions or direct exchanges through the sect's channels.
Li Yan noted each one carefully.
Nothing in the book felt exaggerated.
Everything carried purpose.
As time passed, he continued studying without interruption until the final page was turned. Only then did he slowly close the ancient manual resting upon his lap.
A quiet breath escaped him.
"So the Steel Body Tempering technique wasn't wasted after all," he concluded calmly. "It can still function as support for true body cultivation."
With a wave of his hand, the scripture disappeared into his storage ring.
His thoughts shifted immediately toward the next step.
"The first requirement…" he murmured, "is forming a Martial Core within the middle dantian."
Unlike Qi cultivation, which centered around the lower dantian and elemental absorption, body cultivation required a completely different energy source.
Martial Energy.
A purer, denser form of energy focused entirely on strengthening the body itself.
And to absorb it properly, he would need an environment rich enough to sustain the formation process.
Li Yan fell silent for several moments, his mind searching through possibilities.
Then suddenly—
His eyes brightened slightly. "The treehouse."
The answer settled into place immediately.
Yao Fuhuo's treehouse possessed incredibly dense energy, far purer than most locations within the sect. If any nearby place could safely support Martial Core formation, it would be there.
And he possessed the teleportation crystal required to reach it.
A faint smile appeared briefly on his lips before fading back into calm focus. "But before going there…" he thought carefully, "I need to prepare first."
With that conclusion made, Li Yan rose smoothly from the couch and walked toward the door of his residence, already planning the preparations needed for the next step on his cultivation path.
*****
Far from the sect, deep within the lush southern valleys of the Blue Moon Kingdom, time itself seemed to move more slowly beneath endless fields of flowers and drifting fragrance.
At the heart of those valleys stood Flower Rain Town, a settlement known throughout the region for its herbal fields, medicinal trade, and peaceful atmosphere cultivated over generations.
Clusters of tiled rooftops stretched across the landscape, their dark oak frames and pale stone walls blending naturally with the surrounding scenery. Elegant multi-story buildings lined the streets, balconies draped with flowering vines cascading downward in waves of color.
A winding river curved gently through the center of town, its surface reflecting sunlight like scattered gold. Rows of lanterns stood quietly along the riverbanks, unlit beneath the noon sky, while drifting petals danced across the water.
Beyond the settlement, vast herbal and floral fields spread outward in near-perfect rings around the town. Crimson, lavender, emerald, and gold stretched endlessly beneath the sunlight like a living ocean of color.
Twin mountain ranges stood farther in the distance, towering protectively over the valley. Their slopes were terraced with rare medicinal herbs, natural springs, and hidden gathering grounds sought after by herbalists and alchemists alike.
Unlike places driven by conquest or conflict, Flower Rain Town thrived through refinement, trade, and cultivation rooted in patience rather than violence.
Peace lingered here.
Measured. Cultivated. Protected.
The noon sun bathed the town in warm golden light as merchants called from shaded stalls and children ran laughing along the riverbanks. Older men sat beneath flowering trees, leaning thoughtfully over carved strategy boards while quiet conversations drifted through the air.
Stone-paved roads carried the slow movement of carriages, their wheels humming softly against the polished streets while petals continued falling lazily from the trees overhead.
At the center of the town stood a grand temple-like structure commissioned directly by the Daryn Empire itself. The building rose elegantly from polished white stone, with floral patterns carved carefully into every pillar and archway.
Upon its massive entrance doors rested a lotus-shaped insignia, deeply engraved into the surface.
Today, a large crowd had gathered outside.
Families stood together in anticipation while young cultivators waited nervously among them, their expressions shifting constantly between excitement and anxiety.
The Awakening Ceremony.
An event held once every three months for youths who had successfully opened all fifty-two meridians and formed their Qi Cores.
For many families, this day would shape their children's futures.
Two guards clad in silver armor stood motionless at the temple entrance, spears planted firmly beside them as they silently observed the incoming crowd.
Inside, the ceremonial hall stretched wide beneath high marble ceilings decorated with elegant floral carvings. The design was neither excessive nor extravagant, relying instead upon quiet refinement and balance.
At the center stood a raised rose-colored platform surrounded by seated families and observing elders.
Floating above the platform, a massive spherical orb is suspended entirely without support. Multicolored energy swirled faintly beneath its translucent surface like liquid light trapped within a crystal.
Beside the orb stood a middle-aged man dressed in white robes trimmed with gold embroidery. A jade scroll rested within his hand as he calmly called forward the participants one by one.
"Liu Chen," he announced clearly. "Step forward."
A lean black-haired boy approached the platform with visible nervousness, his footsteps hesitant beneath the countless watching eyes fixed upon him.
When he reached the orb, the elder spoke again.
"Place your hand upon the Elemental Crystal and circulate your Qi."
Liu Chen obeyed immediately.
The moment his palm touched the crystal, rainbow-colored light erupted outward, surrounding his body in streams of radiant energy that flowed like liquid across the platform.
Gradually, the colors began fading.
Until finally, only a steady brown aura remained surrounding the boy.
The elder nodded slightly. "Earth Element," he announced calmly. "Congratulations."
Polite applause spread through the hall as Liu Chen bowed respectfully before stepping down from the platform with visible relief upon his face.
The elder glanced back toward the jade scroll. "Next," he called, "Yan Fei."
A subtle murmur immediately spread across the gathering.
From the waiting area stepped a young girl whose appearance drew attention the moment she moved. Though only thirteen or fourteen years old, her beauty already possessed a quiet elegance difficult to ignore.
Yan Fei walked forward calmly, her long light-blue hair tied neatly into a high ponytail that flowed behind her like water beneath sunlight. Her clear blue eyes reflected calm determination despite the countless eyes following her as she moved through the hall.
Snow-white and pale azure robes draped gracefully over her slender figure, embroidered delicately with floral patterns that suited the atmosphere of Flower Rain Town perfectly.
When she reached the platform, the hall gradually quieted. Yan Fei raised her hand slowly and placed her palm against the Elemental Crystal.
Then she circulated her Qi.
Rainbow-colored light erupted once more around the platform, illuminating the hall in shifting brilliance as waves of elemental energy flowed outward from the crystal.
The colors began fading one after another.
Red disappeared first.
Then white.
Green followed.
Until only blue remained.
Pure. Bright. Steady.
The elder's voice echoed clearly throughout the hall. "Water Element," he declared with visible approval. "Congratulations."
Soft applause followed immediately as Yan Fei gave a graceful bow before stepping down from the platform, her expression calm despite the emotions stirring quietly behind her eyes.
The ceremony continued as the elder called the next participant forward.
But Yan Fei no longer heard the surrounding voices clearly. Her thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
Toward someone far beyond this hall, town, and even this valley.
Her lips moved faintly beneath her breath, quiet enough that no one nearby could hear. "Brother Yan Tian…"
A trace of longing flickered through her gaze. "Can you see me now?"
Her fingers tightened slightly against her sleeves. "I awakened my element," she whispered. "I'm getting stronger… just like you said I would."
"Where are you?" The noise of the hall faded further around her. "Why don't you send any word of your situation as you promised?"
"I'll keep cultivating hard," she murmured. "And one day… when I become strong enough…"
Her blue eyes lowered briefly before rising once more with quiet resolve. "I'll find you."
"No matter where you are."