CHAPTER 38: CULTIVATION (2)

"Brat, do you know where you are?" Wei Feng suddenly asked Kyrian, who was engrossed in reading the first page of the book he had received.

Kyrian turned, replying briefly.

"The Country of Valor."

Wei Feng looked with slight disdain.

"That can be hardly called a country."

"We are at the far north of the northern region of the great continent Atherno. Mortal lands. A place completely forgotten by everyone. Where the Qi is so scarce that even someone like you would take countless years to break through a minor stage."

"This place is a natural prison. Surrounded by stormy mountains to the south and frozen lands to the north. They prevent both entry and exit."

Kyrian absorbed the information in silence.

’It is indeed an isolated place. As Mother said, this world really is much larger than any of the fifteen countries could imagine. Those born here as mortals are destined to die without ever seeing what lies beyond.’ Kyrian thought, without realizing that perhaps this isolation was a blessing in itself.

"Even though it’s difficult, with your talent, I believe you will be able to cultivate and break through the first cultivation realm quickly. You will cultivate every day as we search for the exit from this cursed place."

"When you enter the real world, you will understand what it truly means to breathe pure air."

"This is the technique I used in the past. It is trash compared to the true superior techniques of the continent, but it will serve as a foundation for you. Read it. Understand it. Feel it. Discover how the Qi reacts within your body, since even I have no idea how it will work for you." Wei Feng finished.

Kyrian then ran his fingers over the pages. The text was complex, speaking of meridians, circulation, breathing, and exercises. But as he read, he realized something was wrong.

’I don’t have these meridians, these channels through which the Qi flows. Is it because I’m a mortal?’

Kyrian sat cross-legged as described in the book and tried to sense his body. But indeed, none of what was described existed. He furrowed his brow for a moment until he decided to focus on what truly made him special.

’There they are. Yes, it’s similar.’

Wei Feng watched him silently, wondering if Kyrian would understand quickly, and if he did, whether he would discover for himself how to cultivate. After all, mortals with innate talent had their own ways, they just had to find them.

He looked at Kyrian as if he were rare prey.

"I understand," Kyrian said, suddenly opening his eyes.

Wei Feng chuckled softly.

"Good. This is only the beginning."

Kyrian closed the book, having already memorized everything in his mind.

Wei Feng sat on the stone, arms crossed, expression calm, but his red eye fixed on Kyrian. Waiting for something.

Kyrian took a deep breath. He clenched his fists. His eyes had always made him different. Within them were his unique perception, the particles, the cold, the blood, and the intent. This was his path, he had found the channels his eyes possessed.

He sat in the posture the book taught. Legs crossed, back straight. But instead of following blindly, he redirected his perception entirely to his eyes.

The moment he focused completely, he opened his eyes. Then he saw them, unlike the others who sensed Qi around and absorbed it. Kyrian could see it.

This time, he looked at all those points, the particles , no, it was the Qi, scattered across the skies. He focused through his eyes, trying to draw it in. Like a call.

A shiver ran down his spine to his eyes.

The Qi began to move. Slow at first, but increasingly faster. Converging like moths to a flame.

The Qi didn’t enter through his skin or pores as the book said. It was being drawn directly into his eyes.

Kyrian took a deep breath, maintaining his focus. The energy penetrated and accumulated, not throughout his whole body, but in his eyeballs, like two small vortices.

It was a new and completely strange sensation. It didn’t hurt nor affect his vision, it was silent.

"Hmph..." Wei Feng, nearby, let out a sound, narrowing his eye.

He was surprised, despite not wanting to admit it. The Qi from the forest and from several meters above was sparse and slow. But it was being entirely pulled into Kyrian’s eyes. It was unnatural. It shouldn’t have been possible. If it were anyone else, their eyes would have exploded long ago.

Kyrian remained motionless, breathing slowly, absorbing more and more.

’Yes... this is the path. Not through the body, but through the eyes. This is how I must cultivate.’

Kyrian was already instinctively adjusting the flow, something others would take many attempts to achieve. The book said energy should circulate through meridians in cycles, moving throughout the body.

Kyrian didn’t have them, so he circulated through his eyes until reaching a limit. Then, when that happened, all the Qi suddenly transformed into pure energy and spread throughout his body. It dispersed like a mist through his muscles and bones.

His body suddenly felt firmer, lighter.

Wei Feng observed from the side, his face incredulous, silently, yet a storm raged within.

’He broke into the 2nd stage of the Body Refinement Realm. How? How was it so fast? Where are the impurities of his body? Why didn’t they come out?’

Wei Feng didn’t understand. This wasn’t supposed to happen, no, he hadn’t expected it to occur so quickly.

Yet still, his lips curved into a faint, imperceptible smile.

Kyrian didn’t see the expression, he was fully immersed in the new sensation.

His eyes burned for a moment, but in an instant, his vision seemed to expand slightly. High in the sky, he could see Qi that he hadn’t noticed before.

Also now, when he thought, the particles disappeared. Refocusing, he could see them in the sky above.

’So this is it... finally, I don’t need to use my hands to absorb anymore. This is cultivation.’

Kyrian felt much better, his senses seemed enhanced. He clenched his fist and felt his bones crack with a smile.

Wei Feng, nearby, uncrossed his arms.

"Good. You really found your path on the first attempt. This way, we won’t waste much time." His deep voice broke the silence.

"I did it," Kyrian said, breathing deeply.

"You didn’t do it, brat. You just began. This is the first step to using Qi to your advantage. Don’t be deluded."

"You are only at the second stage of the first of eight great realms."

Kyrian didn’t respond. He already knew he was still weak. But when he heard the last sentence, he looked at Wei Feng with wide eyes.

"Eight?"

"Yes, brat, do you think it’s easy? Cultivation is like swimming through a sea of lava. Every advancement is achieved through hardship, time, and resources. It requires talent, determination, and understanding."

"If any of these are lacking, you’re destined to remain trapped in some realm until you rot, which I refuse to let happen and which you must also refuse. Or I’ll tear you apart myself."

Kyrian listened silently, expression unchanged. But he knew Wei Feng wouldn’t do anything. He no longer felt any hostility from Wei Feng, but there was also no kindness.

At least Wei Feng seemed neutral, willing to truly teach him.

"You, brat. You have an innate talent. You don’t yet know what that truly means, but you will soon. But it doesn’t matter, genius or not, without discipline, without a clear goal, you will get nowhere."

Kyrian nodded.

"Do you have a goal?" Wei Feng asked seriously.

"Yes. I will become the strongest. No matter the means," Kyrian answered without hesitation.

"Then keep training every day until absorbing Qi becomes as natural as breathing."

"You must break through the last three stages of the Body Refinement Realm within four years," Wei Feng added, entering the cave.

Kyrian sat down again, trying to feel the changes in his body. Everything seemed fine, but he decided to focus on his eyes.

The book said that every time one broke through, they should consolidate their new power without excess. Kyrian then realized that his eyes were fine but seemed to have reached the limit of what they could absorb for now.

He would have to wait, he didn’t know how long, until he could cultivate again.