I nodded quickly.
"The Murim is divided into two major factions," Master explained. "The Orthodox Faction and the Demonic Faction."
As he spoke, his tone became noticeably more serious.
"The Orthodox Faction is led by the Five Great Masters. Yulong, the Sword Saint. Maxim, the Fist King. Baud, the Pillar. Laudona, the Heavenly Fan. And finally, Delvi, the Beastial Guardian."
Even hearing the names made the atmosphere feel heavier.
"They are monsters among cultivators," Master continued. "True powerhouses."
He slowly clasped his hands behind his back as he walked.
"Opposing them is the Demonic Faction, ruled by the Heavenly Demon Akuma. Beneath him stand four generals. Unlike the Orthodox Masters, those generals abandon their former identities upon inheriting their positions. Their names are erased completely. Now they are known only as Left Hand, Left Fist, Right Hand, and Right Fist."
The atmosphere around us seemed to grow colder.
"These two factions have warred against one another for decades due to their opposing ideals."
I listened carefully, trying to absorb everything he said.
"And now onto cultivation itself," Master continued. "There are ten major realms, each one more difficult to attain than the last. For now, however, you only need to understand your own condition."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You have already surpassed Body Tempering despite never consciously cultivating before. However, you have yet to properly enter Ki Refining. At the same time…"
He paused briefly.
"Your core has already formed."
I blinked several times.
"That… sounds important."
"It is," he replied immediately. "Frankly, it shouldn't even be possible."
My confusion only deepened.
"I believe your grandfather unknowingly taught you how to gather ki throughout your life," he continued, "but for some reason, he never taught you how to consciously control it."
My thoughts immediately drifted toward my grandfather.
The breathing exercises.
The meditation.
The discipline.
The self-defense lessons.
So none of it had been meaningless.
"He was teaching me Murim techniques?" I muttered. "But how? Grandpa was just a fragile old man…"
Master slowly stroked his beard.
"I cannot say for certain. But if your story about another world is true…"
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Then perhaps your grandfather was once a cultivator who ascended beyond this realm and somehow reached your world."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Hold on… are you saying people can actually travel between worlds?"
"So the legends claim," Master answered calmly. "Though I myself have yet to reach a level capable of such a feat."
A small grin crossed his face.
"Now enough questions. Sit."
I quickly obeyed and crossed my legs.
Master stepped behind me and placed a hand against my back.
"I'm going to guide my ki through your meridians," he explained. "Do not resist it. Simply feel it. Follow it. Understand it."
The moment his ki entered my body, warmth spread through me like standing beside a fire during winter.
It flowed gently through pathways I never knew existed, moving throughout my body before eventually returning toward the center of my chest.
My core.
Again.
And again.
And again.
I naturally closed my eyes and focused entirely on the sensation. Slowly, I began tracing the path myself.
The warmth became clearer. Easier to follow.
Without realizing it, I had begun circulating my own ki alongside Master's.
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"Good. Very good, kid."
I didn't respond.
I couldn't.
Every ounce of my focus remained locked onto the flow moving through my body.
Eventually, Master's warmth faded away completely.
But mine remained.
I continued circulating the ki over and over without stopping. One circulation became ten. Ten became fifty. Fifty became hundreds.
By the time I finally opened my eyes, I realized I was alone.
A small note rested in front of me.
Anthony. Keep circulating your ki. Never stop. Learn to maintain circulation while moving, eating, training, and fighting. A cultivator's ki should flow as naturally as breathing itself.
I stared at the note silently before taking a slow breath.
Then I stood.
The circulation immediately destabilized the moment I moved. Some areas sped up while others slowed painfully. It felt like my insides were being stretched apart.
Still… I kept going.
I had already taken my first step.
There was no turning back now.