The news spread through the village faster than anyone expected.
By afternoon, almost everyone knew that Lin Tian would be leaving for Iron Ridge City.
And Chen Yu would be going with him.
For the small farming village, this felt like an enormous event.
Many villagers gathered near the central well, whispering excitedly.
"Chen Yu is going to the city!"
"He might become a real cultivator!"
"That traveler must be a powerful master."
Chen Yu himself was standing near the training field, trying to act calm.
But his excitement was obvious.
He had never traveled beyond the nearby farms before.
Iron Ridge City, three days away, felt like another world.
Lin Tian stood quietly nearby.
Compared to Chen Yu's excitement, his expression remained calm as always.
But inside his mind, he was analyzing something important.
This journey would allow him to observe the true structure of this world's cultivation society.
Villages like this one represented the lowest level.
Cities, sects, and powerful clans would reveal far more information.
For someone seeking to understand a new civilization's energy system—
This was the natural next step.
Footsteps approached.
Old Master Zhang walked slowly toward them.
The elderly man carried a small cloth bag in his hands.
"Sir," Zhang Wei said respectfully to Lin Tian.
"You are leaving tomorrow morning?"
"Yes," Lin Tian replied.
The old man nodded.
"That is good."
Chen Yu looked surprised.
"Good? I thought you'd be sad!"
Old Master Zhang chuckled softly.
"Young people are meant to explore the world."
Then he handed the cloth bag to Chen Yu.
Chen Yu blinked.
"What's this?"
"Travel supplies," the old man said.
Chen Yu opened the bag.
Inside were dried meat, flatbread, and a small water container.
Chen Yu smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhang."
The old man nodded.
Then he looked at Lin Tian again.
"Sir, I have a question."
Lin Tian waited.
Zhang Wei spoke slowly.
"Chen Yu… does he truly have talent for cultivation?"
Chen Yu froze.
He had wondered about this too.
Lin Tian answered honestly.
"Yes."
Chen Yu's eyes widened.
"Really?!"
"Yes," Lin Tian continued. "But talent alone is not enough."
Chen Yu's excitement settled slightly.
"Of course."
Lin Tian looked directly at him.
"Cultivation requires patience."
Chen Yu nodded seriously.
"I understand."
Old Master Zhang smiled faintly.
"That's good to hear."
Then the old man turned toward the distant mountains.
"Still… the world outside this village is dangerous."
Chen Yu grinned.
"That's why I'll train hard."
Lin Tian said nothing.
But internally, he agreed with Zhang Wei.
The cultivation world was rarely peaceful.
Competition for resources.
Rival sects.
Political struggles.
All of these were common in energy-based civilizations.
And if this world followed similar patterns—
Iron Ridge City would likely reveal the first glimpse of that reality.
Just then, Zhao Ren approached again.
He had spent the afternoon resting in the village.
Now he stood beside them calmly.
"We leave at sunrise tomorrow," Zhao Ren said.
Chen Yu nodded eagerly.
"Got it!"
Zhao Ren looked at Lin Tian.
"The road to Iron Ridge City passes through forest territory."
Lin Tian waited for him to continue.
"There are occasionally bandits… and low-level spirit beasts."
Chen Yu swallowed.
"Spirit beasts?"
Zhao Ren nodded.
"Animals that absorb spiritual energy can become extremely dangerous."
Chen Yu looked slightly nervous now.
Lin Tian observed Zhao Ren carefully.
"Your city manages this territory?" Lin Tian asked.
Zhao Ren nodded.
"Yes."
"But controlling every area is impossible."
Lin Tian understood.
Even large civilizations struggled to manage wilderness regions.
Spiritual energy often caused unpredictable mutations in wildlife.
This phenomenon existed in many worlds.
Chen Yu suddenly looked excited again.
"Maybe we'll see one!"
Zhao Ren gave him a strange look.
"Most travelers prefer not to."
Chen Yu laughed awkwardly.
"Right… probably dangerous."
As the sun began to set, the village slowly prepared for the night.
Many villagers came to say goodbye to Chen Yu.
Some wished him luck.
Others gave small travel gifts.
Chen Yu accepted everything with gratitude.
For someone who had never left the village before—
This felt like the beginning of a great adventure.
Later that evening, Chen Yu sat near the training field again.
Lin Tian stood nearby, watching the sky.
Stars slowly appeared above them.
Chen Yu looked up.
"Senior…"
Lin Tian turned slightly.
"Yes?"
Chen Yu hesitated.
"Have you traveled a lot before coming here?"
Lin Tian's gaze remained on the stars.
In truth—
He had observed countless galaxies.
Watched civilizations rise and fall.
Studied cosmic energy patterns for millions of years.
But explaining that to Chen Yu would be meaningless.
So he answered simply.
"Yes."
Chen Yu smiled.
"Then this must be just another trip for you."
Lin Tian paused.
Then he said quietly,
"No."
Chen Yu blinked.
"No?"
Lin Tian looked back at the small village around them.
"This journey may be different."
Chen Yu looked confused.
"Why?"
Lin Tian thought for a moment.
Then he answered with quiet honesty.
"Because this time… I am part of the world I am studying."
Chen Yu did not fully understand the meaning of those words.
But he nodded anyway.
"That sounds important."
Lin Tian looked back at the stars.
In the vast universe, countless worlds existed.
Yet now—
For the first time in millions of years—
He was walking within one of them.
Not as an observer.
But as a participant.
And tomorrow…
The journey would truly begin.