When night fell, Bai Tian gazed at the hill always bathed in moonlight. His heart trembled as he watched the silver light reflect off the large rock at the hill's summit. Finally, with cautious steps, he decided to approach. There, he found only a flat stone that seemed perfect for meditation.
After surveying the surroundings, Bai Tian noticed various herbal plants growing around the rock, ranging from medium to tall in height. His breath quickened as he thought, "What would happen if I took them all? Is anyone watching?" Ultimately, he restrained himself, deciding to be more careful in facing any possible consequences.
With a long exhale, he sat upon the stone, closed his eyes, and began to meditate. That night passed in silence, accompanied only by the moonlight and the gentle rustle of the wind. Unbeknownst to him, that very night, he had successfully reached the peak of the Elementary Realm.
Bai Tian continued his routine work, returning to his residence each evening, and every night, he secretly crept to the hilltop bathed in moonlight. While there, he always remained vigilant, checking for potential guards nearby.
Time passed. Half a month later, Bai Tian realized that to break through to the Beyond Elementary Realm, he needed to reach an extreme condition. He began designing more intense and focused training. Each night, after sneaking to the moonlit hilltop, he not only meditated but also pushed the limits of his body and mind.
He slowed his breath, adjusted the flow of spiritual energy, and resisted hunger and fatigue to keep his body calm. Every movement, every inhalation, Bai Tian strove to harmonize the natural energy with his own. Night after night, he endured cold, wind, and even pain from extreme training.
Risk always loomed. Sometimes he heard footsteps of other disciples or the sudden cries of nocturnal animals, making his heart race. Yet Bai Tian learned to remain focused, undistracted by external sounds, and always assess the presence of guards nearby. This strategy allowed him to continue training without arousing suspicion.
In addition to meditation, Bai Tian began utilizing the herbs he had secretly gathered. He brewed simple potions to soothe his body, accelerate energy recovery, and maintain optimal stamina for nightly training. Each potion was used carefully, adjusting the dosage, and he mentally noted their effects.
Night after night, Bai Tian's spiritual energy became purer and more stable. He began to feel a stronger, deeper, and more controlled flow of energy than before. Hunger and fatigue now felt like parts of his training, not burdens. His body and mind supported each other, forming a synergy that brought him closer to the extreme condition required for breakthrough.
One night, atop the hill, Bai Tian gazed at the star-filled sky. Moonlight reflected off the stone where he meditated, illuminating his weary but determined face. He closed his eyes, regulated his breath, and allowed his spiritual energy to flow without obstruction. His body felt hot, cold, and tense all at once. Pain and extreme pressure struck, yet Bai Tian endured, still not reaching the extreme condition.
Bai Tian opened his eyes. The moonlight softly reflected on his face, highlighting every line of fatigue. He realized that the next steps would be even more arduous. The world of cultivation was never easy—but his heart was now filled with new determination. With firm resolve, Bai Tian finally sealed his cultivation at the initial stage of the Human Realm.
He returned to his residence to rest, letting his body recover from the exhaustion of long training and arduous effort.
The next day, Bai Tian overslept. Hastily, he prepared himself and rushed to his daily work. That day, fatigue felt heavier than usual. His body was sluggish, steps slow, and upon returning home, he collapsed onto his bed, falling into a deep sleep without even eating.
At midnight, he awoke. His eyes fixed on the hill always bathed in moonlight. With careful steps, he ascended to the familiar stone and sat down. Closing his eyes, he calmed his breath and began to meditate as he had on countless nights before.
Yet that night felt different. Silence enveloped the hill; there was no wind, no whispers of nature—only pure, endless stillness. Amid this silence, the gentle yet piercing sound of a sitar resonated, echoing through the air and penetrating every layer of consciousness. Every creature, even the plants, seemed to feel an emotion hard to comprehend—a mix of sorrow, longing, and profound wisdom.
Bai Tian, meditating, began recalling memories of his life from infancy to adolescence. Each memory sent vibrations through his heart. Tears fell as he held the pendant around his neck—a meaningful keepsake filled with memories. Slowly, he realized what had been missing all along, the reason he could not yet reach the extreme condition necessary to advance his cultivation.
The sitar's sound gradually faded, leaving a deeper silence. Bai Tian entered an extreme state, pushing his spiritual energy to its maximum. His body shook violently as a storm of spiritual energy raged around him, affecting his own gravitational field. The surge of power was so intense that he nearly lost control.
In a moment of panic, Bai Tian quickly sealed the raging energy within his body. He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and slowly opened his eyes. Looking around the hill, he realized how serene and peaceful the night had become once more. With calm steps, he rose from the stone and left the hill, his heart now lighter.
Back at his residence, Bai Tian sat for a moment, gazing at the evening sky from his small window, and began planning his next steps. He set a goal: to become an inner disciple within a month. His heart brimmed with determination and careful strategy, knowing that limited time demanded hard work and precise calculation.
During this period, Bai Tian regularly visited the Mission Hall, where disciples exchanged treasures and completed tasks to earn sect points. Carefully, he traded some of his remaining heirlooms—strategic items and small collections left by his parents—for points. Gradually, Bai Tian's points increased until he had more than several inner disciples, a success that boosted his confidence.
With enough points, Bai Tian approached the Sect Library, where disciples could exchange points for available skills or knowledge. He gazed at the towering building, its walls adorned with ancient symbols, the air infused with the scent of old books and gentle spiritual energy.
Bai Tian approached the entrance, presented his student ID, and underwent a scanning inspection. A soft blue light swept over the card, and the heavy glass doors automatically opened with a gentle sound. He stepped inside, greeted by towering shelves filled with ancient scrolls, tomes, and cultivation artifacts. Every step Bai Tian took on the marble floor echoed, underscoring the sacred silence of the place.