Chapter 4: Trial of the Spirit Stream
Dawn broke over the endless forest, painting the canopy in shades of gold and emerald. Lin Tian stood atop a jagged rock formation, eyes scanning the expanse below. Every leaf, every ripple of shadow, and every stray spirit energy in the air was visible to him now. The forest no longer felt like a tangle of dangers—it was his domain, a living canvas to practice, refine, and expand his abilities.
> [System Message]
> Daily Sign-In Available
Without hesitation, he pressed his wrist. Light poured out, illuminating the surrounding forest in a surreal glow. Power surged, flowing into every fiber of his being, reshaping muscles, nerves, and aura into a state of pure efficiency.
> [Sign-In Successful]
> Reward: Celestial Spirit Core ×2
> Martial Power Increased: Exponentially
> New Technique Unlocked: Spirit Wave Strike
He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw, untamed energy bubbling beneath his skin. A thought flicked through his mind. *The forest may be mine, but I need to push harder. There has to be something here capable of testing me.*
Far to the north, he spotted a thin ribbon of water glinting in the sunlight—the Spirit Stream. Legends whispered that these streams contained concentrated spiritual energy, distilled over centuries, a trial for cultivators daring enough to absorb their essence. Most sect disciples spent months tracing their flow and purifying their bodies to handle even a fraction of the energy. Lin Tian smirked. *Months? I'll do it in hours.*
He leaped from the cliffside rock with effortless grace, his aura rippling in concentric waves that flattened smaller trees beneath him. As he approached the stream, the water itself seemed alive, glowing faintly with qi, responding to his presence. He crouched at the edge and dipped a hand into the sparkling current.
Immediately, the Spirit Stream roared, lashing out with an invisible force. The water swirled, charged with centuries of condensed energy, attempting to overwhelm him. Most cultivators would have screamed, been burned, or flung backward, their bodies incapable of handling even a tenth of the stream's essence.
Lin Tian, however, grinned. "Child's play." He focused, letting the stream crash against him, flowing into his veins, amplifying his Martial Foundation instead of damaging it. A surge of ecstasy shot through him as Spirit Wave Strike activated automatically, harmonizing with the stream and dispersing excess energy harmlessly into the air.
> [System Message]
> Spirit Energy Absorbed: +10
> Martial Power Magnified
> Technique Mastery Improved: Gale Palm, Thunder Kick, Spirit Wave Strike
The water's surface calmed instantly, leaving only a faint ripple behind. Lin Tian stood, wet but untouched, muscles and aura pulsing with an intensity that would have burned any ordinary cultivator to ash. He laughed softly. "Even the trials of ancient sects are nothing to me."
Minutes passed. He dove deeper into the stream, exploring its winding path and absorbing every concentrated qi deposit he could find. Small spirits swirled around him, attempting to resist, test, or flee, but none dared confront him directly. He could feel the history of the forest, the hidden power embedded in each drop of water, and he absorbed it like a sponge, his Martial Power climbing at an exponential rate.
By mid-afternoon, Lin Tian had not only absorbed the Spirit Stream but also unlocked a subtle mastery over the flow of spiritual energy itself. His aura now rippled with waves of destructive potential, each movement capable of shattering mountains, toppling forests, or annihilating armies. Yet he had barely broken a sweat.
> [Hint: Mastery of natural energy accelerates cultivation progression. Solo practice recommended for maximal growth.]
He stepped onto the bank, surveying the stream's shimmering path. Around him, the forest pulsed with energy, acknowledging the presence of a cultivator whose strength defied understanding. The Spirit Stream, once a natural trial for sect disciples, now lay under his complete control. Even if dozens of high-level cultivators appeared, they would be unable to challenge him meaningfully.
Lin Tian flexed his hands, feeling the fusion of Spirit Wave Strike and Gale Palm overdrive. The techniques were now instinctive, effortless extensions of his body. Power hummed in perfect harmony, and every fiber of his being screamed potential.
> [System Message]
> Nearby Threat Detected: Forest Guardian Spirits
> Estimated Combat Power: Negligible
A group of translucent guardian spirits materialized, their forms ethereal, eyes glowing faintly with residual intelligence. They were meant to test intruders, challenge potential heirs of the forest, or simply punish those unworthy of its secrets. Lin Tian blinked. "You're cute," he muttered, stepping forward casually.
With a thought, Gale Palm overdrive swept through the guardian spirits, sending them spiraling into the air before dissolving into harmless qi fragments. The system absorbed them automatically, amplifying his power further. Not one guardian dared resist.
> [Spirit Energy Absorbed: +15]
> Martial Power Amplified Exponentially
Lin Tian walked along the Spirit Stream, meditating, absorbing, testing, and refining. By evening, he had not only mastered the stream's energy but also discovered a latent pathway to his first cultivation realm breakthrough. The forest itself seemed to pulse with approval, as if acknowledging that its most recent visitor had transcended what even ancient cultivators had once feared.
He sat atop a cliff overlooking the Spirit Stream, the sunset painting the water gold and crimson. Lin Tian's thoughts were calm, deliberate. The forest had been tamed, the Spirit Stream mastered, and his body, mind, and aura honed to perfection. Soon, he would break the first of the 20 cultivation realms, stepping into a plane few mortals could ever comprehend.
> [Hint: Solitude accelerates growth. Challenge all obstacles selectively. Your dominance is unchallenged.]
He closed his eyes, letting the forest's energy flow through him, feeling the pulse of centuries, the essence of life, and the promise of absolute strength. Lin Tian smiled faintly. The world was vast, dangerous, and filled with treasures and challenges—but none of it mattered. For now, he was alone, untouchable, and ascending faster than anyone could imagine.
Tomorrow, the forest would face storms, predators, and unseen dangers—but Lin Tian would face them all alone, and he would do so effortlessly.