It was Friday afternoon, and classes had been dismissed. Qin Xuan wandered through the campus, breathing in the long-forgotten aura of his memories, a wave of melancholy washing over him.
In his previous life, he had returned to Earth, only to find that in this era, spiritual energy was exceedingly sparse. Cultivation was nearly impossible unless one stumbled upon a hidden paradise or a land of abundant qi. Under such feeble spiritual conditions, cultivators were virtually nonexistent.
Sensing the faint traces of qi in the air, Qin Xuan took advantage of the holiday to search for half a day before finally stopping by a lakeside.
The water shimmered under the sunlight, clear and blue, nestled between emerald mountains. The reflections along the shores stretched like a ten-mile gallery of paintings, a breathtaking sight.
Mingxin Lake was a key environmental protection zone in Jingshui City and one of the few serene spots within the urban sprawl. Not only that, but the neighboring Yueming Mountain also boasted the most exclusive villa district in the entire city, where properties were worth tens of millions and inhabited solely by the elite—high-ranking officials and the ultra-wealthy. Ordinary citizens were a rare sight here; those who appeared were invariably either rich or influential.
Qin Xuan arrived at the location and finally nodded in approval. The earth veins here remained largely intact, and although the spiritual energy was sparse, it was just sufficient to meet the requirements for Foundation Establishment.
He surveyed his surroundings and found a secluded spot. Sitting upright with palms facing the heavens, he assumed the posture of embracing primordial unity.
Though revered in the immortal realm as the Green Emperor—a sovereign who once dominated an entire domain—Qin Xuan's original foundation-building method from his past life had been remarkably ordinary, so unremarkable that even minor sects with some heritage would have disdained it. It wasn't until he ascended to the immortal realm and inherited the Green Emperor's legacy that he remedied those early shortcomings, gradually refining his foundation to perfection.
But now, things were different. He possessed the Green Emperor's inheritance, a legacy so coveted that even celestial emperors would burn with envy. Naturally, he no longer needed any ordinary method to establish his foundation.
If one looked closely, they might even discern an intangible aura swirling around him. The lake's surface shimmered with rippling light, gently pulsing toward Qin Xuan as if drawn by an unseen force. His very breathing synchronized with the rhythms of heaven and earth, carrying a profound and mysterious cadence.
Cultivation is divided into eight major realms: **Qi Refining**, **Golden Core**, **Spirit Transformation**, **Nascent Soul**, **Void Return**, **Dao Unity**, **Great Ascension**, and **Tribulation Transcendence**.
The most fundamental stage, **Qi Refining**, is also known as **Foundation Establishment**, with each realm further divided into **lower, middle, and upper tiers**.
At the **Qi Refining** stage, cultivators absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, condensing it into a **Spiritual Sea** within their bodies. This marks their divergence from mortals—granting them **300 additional years of lifespan** and the ability to wield mystic arts.
The **Everlasting Verdant Art**, however, was no ordinary method. It cultivated **both body and spirit simultaneously**. Once Foundation Establishment was complete, Qin Xuan could **absorb spiritual energy to temper his flesh**, forging a physique as formidable as a demonic beast's.
His eyes snapped open, a fleeting glimmer of spiritual light flashing deep within his pupils—a glimpse of unyielding dominance that lingered for several breaths before fading into tranquility.
"Foundation Establishment… complete?"
Qin Xuan raised his gaze to the heavens, a faint smile gracing his lips.
The Spiritual Sea within his dantian was still less than three meters wide—pitifully weak by most standards—yet satisfaction settled in his heart.
This success marked his official entry into the ranks of cultivators, separating him from mere mortals. Compared to his past life, he had achieved this **a full decade earlier**.
*"In my previous life, flaws in my state of mind allowed the Annihilation Tribulation to corrupt my immortal heart and imperial will, leaving me grievously wounded. But this time… I will forge a perfect foundation. No regrets remain."*
His eyes sharpened like unsheathed swords, brimming with unshakable resolve. Bathed in the pale moonlight, his figure stood tall by the lakeshore, draped in an ethereal glow—as though divinity itself had touched him.
*"Returning so late… He Yun will worry again, won't she?"*
Qin Xuan sighed inwardly. As a student in Jingshui City, far from his parents, his daily life was overseen by He Yun—a close friend of his mother's.
A Flicker of Memory
Fragments of the past surfaced in his mind—He Yun was six years his senior, now twenty-four this year. By familial hierarchy, Qin Xuan ought to address her as "Auntie," but the small age gap had led him to call her by name all these years.
He Yun had treated him with exceptional kindness, even more so than her own younger sister. For that, Qin Xuan had always been deeply grateful. Yet after leaving for university, he never returned to Jingshui City—until tragedy struck. The next time he saw her was at his parents' funeral, a fleeting encounter amidst grief.
The thought of He Yun drew a quiet sigh from Qin Xuan as he turned to leave Mingxin Lake.
*"Will there even be taxis available at this hour?"*
Just then, his footsteps halted. Two figures approached—one an elderly man with snow-white hair, his frail frame belied by an air of authority, the mark of someone long accustomed to command. The other, a young man in his twenties, supported the elder with a guard's attentive deference.
*Who would come to Mingxin Lake so late at night?*
Qin Xuan's eyes lingered on the old man, curiosity piqued.
With just those two glances, Qin Xuan noticed something unusual about the old man. Despite his seemingly robust physique, his footsteps were unsteady, and a faint dimness lurked deep within his eyes.
If his perception wasn't mistaken, this old man was likely some kind of cultivator—there was a faint trace of qi within him. However, he seemed to be suffering from hidden internal injuries, which explained these anomalies unbecoming of a true practitioner.
*"So, there* are *cultivators on Earth? Judging by his demeanor, he should be a martial artist. Pity… the energy within him is pathetically weak."*
A spark of interest flickered in Qin Xuan's eyes as he contemplated silently.
He needed someone to question—a guide of sorts.
In his previous life, he had been nothing more than an ordinary mortal on Earth, completely unaware of cultivators. By the time he returned a century later, everything had changed. Back then, any cultivator below the Spirit Transformation realm was beneath his notice, hardly worth his attention.
But now, having just succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he was curious to learn more about the practitioners of this era.
As the old man and his young companion entered Mingxin Lake, they were equally surprised to see Qin Xuan.
*"It's rare to see a young man wandering Mingxin Lake at this hour,"* the old man remarked with a faint smile, studying Qin Xuan with keen interest. Deep down, he sensed something extraordinary about the youth—an aura so profound that it stirred his long-dormant soldier's instincts, evoking memories of his battlefield days when death lurked behind every gunshot.
*Danger.*
The old man's gaze sharpened. He recognized this feeling, though it had been decades since he last experienced it.
Beside him, the younger man grew wary as he noticed Qin Xuan's focused stare. *"Probably just some heartbroken kid,"* he muttered. *"Elder Mo, it's late—you should be careful not to catch a chill."*
But Elder Mo remained fixated on Qin Xuan, raising a hand slightly. *"Age has weakened me, but not so much that a breeze could fell me."*
*"It's been ten years since I last returned to Jingshui City,"* he mused aloud. *"Yet the one thing unchanged is this very lake."*
Just then, Qin Xuan strode decisively toward them.