For a moment, Li Xuan and Yan Ling stood beneath the tall pine trees in complete silence.
Wind moved gently through the branches above them. The early morning sunlight broke through in thin lines, touching the ground in soft patches of gold.
Li Xuan breathed quietly.
His dantian pulsed gently with every heartbeat.Each pulse felt like a promise.Like a beginning.
Yan Ling watched him with calm, steady eyes.
"You should stabilize it," she said. "Opening the dantian is only the first step. If you don't anchor the flow, it will scatter."
Li Xuan nodded. "I know."
He didn't truly know.But the Grand Immortal did.
Yan Ling stepped back, giving him space.
Li Xuan sat down again beneath the pine tree, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes.
At once, the Immortal's voice guided him.
—Now that your dantian is open, you must draw Qi from the outside world. Slowly. Carefully. Like breathing.—Do not force anything. Let the Qi come to you.
Li Xuan steadied his breath.
He opened himself slightly — just a little.
And then…
Something subtle shifted.
He felt the world.
The gentle Qi of the trees.The faint energy in the morning air.The warmth of sunlight touching the earth.
It wasn't strong.Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
—Good. Pull it in. Let it drip into your dantian like a drop of water.
Li Xuan guided the faint Qi toward the new empty space inside him.
It moved… slowly.Weakly.Like trying to pull a thread through a needle.
But it moved.
A single drop of energy entered his dantian.
His chest tightened.
His breath stopped for a moment.
He felt something fill him — tiny, fragile, but undeniably real.
His first breath of Qi.
His first true step into cultivation.
He didn't speak.Didn't move.
He only guided another faint strand.
And another.
And another.
Time passed slowly.
When he opened his eyes again, the world felt different. His senses sharper. His body lighter.
Yan Ling was still watching him, leaning against a tree.
"You stabilized it," she said simply. "You're a cultivator now."
Li Xuan looked down at his hands.
For ten years, these hands were worthless.Weak.Mocked.
Now… they held the first spark of real strength.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Yan Ling looked away. "I didn't do anything."
But her voice softened.
Li Xuan stood up slowly.
His body still hurt, but the pain felt cleaner, easier to bear. The Qi inside him soothed the bruises with each pulse.
The Immortal spoke again.
—This is only the beginning. You are now at the very first stage of Qi Refining… the lowest point. But even this makes you stronger than you were yesterday.
Li Xuan nodded slightly.
He knew.
Even if it was tiny, even if it was just the first step —it mattered.
Yan Ling stepped closer, her expression serious again.
"Be careful today," she said. "Your improvement may not be obvious to most disciples… but Elder Qiu is sharp. So is Zhao Ren."
Li Xuan lowered his gaze. "I'll hide it."
"No," Yan Ling shook her head, "you can't hide everything. Not forever. But you can avoid showing sudden changes."
She pointed at his stance.
"Your posture is straighter now. Your steps will be lighter. You need to act tired. Weak. The same as before."
Li Xuan understood.
"I will."
Yan Ling looked him over carefully, then nodded. "Good."
She turned to leave.
But before she walked off completely, she said over her shoulder:
"Be ready for lunchtime. Something will happen."
Li Xuan frowned. "Something?"
Yan Ling didn't turn around.
Instead, she whispered:
"Elder Qiu received a visitor early this morning."
Li Xuan's breath caught.
"A visitor… who?"
Yan Ling paused.
"…Someone you must avoid. For now."
And without another word, she disappeared through the trees, leaving Li Xuan with more questions than answers.
Li Xuan looked at the rising sun.
His dantian pulsed again, stronger this time.
Today…he had awakened a new strength.
But today…new enemies may have awakened too.