— LESSONS ON THE ROAD
The sun had climbed higher, burning faintly through the smoke that still lingered from Willowmist. Lei Wei walked with the Silverflame pup cradled gently in his arms. Elder Yun's steps were steady, but the weight of age and battle pressed heavily on him. The quiet road stretched ahead, seemingly endless.
After a long stretch of silence, Elder Yun finally spoke.
"The world beyond these hills… it is not as you've known it, boy. Villages, forests, and beasts are only the beginning. Cities rise like mountains of stone and wood, ruled by clans, sects, and powers beyond mortal comprehension."
Lei Wei's eyes widened.
"Clans? Sects? What do they do?"
The elder sighed, his gaze distant.
"They cultivate. Humans who understand the flow of qi, the life energy of the world, can grow beyond their natural limits. They seek strength… power… sometimes knowledge… and sometimes… immortality. Each city, each sect, has its own rules, its own ambitions."
Lei Wei's grip on the pup tightened.
"So… Greenleaf City is one of these… places?"
"Yes," Elder Yun nodded. "It is modest compared to the great capitals, but it is large enough to conceal you. And dangerous enough that you must be vigilant. Strength alone will not protect you; knowledge, patience, and caution are equally important."
The Silverflame pup stirred in his arms, letting out a soft, almost human-like whine. It seemed to sense the weight of Elder Yun's word.
Lei Wei's chest tightened. The pup lifted its head, gazing into his eyes with molten-blue determination. He could feel the faint pulse of its power, like a dim star waiting to burn bright.
Elder Yun's voice dropped, solemn. "understand this… power is not given. It is earned, forged through struggle and survival. And the outside world… the cities, the forests, even the beasts… will test you at every step."
---
The Human Path of Cultivation
They continued down the winding road, the ruins of Willowmist shrinking behind them. Elder Yun began to speak of something more pressing—the path that Lei Wei himself would eventually walk.
"There are stages to human cultivation," he explained, walking slowly. "Each step shapes your body, mind, and spirit. Every cultivator begins at the Mortal Stage. From there…"
He paused, letting the wind carry his words.
"Mortal Stage: The awakening of your life energy. At first, it is faint—just a whisper. Those who reach even the peak of this stage can feel the pulse of the world and exert minor influence over their surroundings. Most are content here… but this is merely the beginning."
"spiritseed Stage: Once your internal veins condense and grow strong enough, you can store life energy in your body. Early, mid, late, peak—each level increases your power, durability, and perception. Your strength will no longer be that of ordinary men."
"veinforge Stage: The true spark of a cultivator. Early, mid, late, and peak. Here, you can manipulate your energy, influence small elements around you, and connect your will with beasts and the environment. It is here that a bond with a companion like the Silverflame becomes possible."
Elder Yun's gaze hardened.
"After Spirit Seed comes veinforge stage , coreglow stage … then spirit veil stage , ether heart stage ,Void Ascension… astral apex stage , Divine Stage… and finally, the Ancient or Transcendent Stage. Beyond these, few have even dreamed. Many die seeking them. All you need to know now is that there is more above, far above what your eyes have yet seen."
Lei Wei's head spun. Every word painted a world more vast than he could imagine. Every stage promised power… but also responsibility.
"And each stage… has levels," the elder added. "Early, mid, late, and peak. A cultivator can spend decades, sometimes centuries, within a single level. Strength cannot be rushed."
---
The Silverflame's Bloodline
Elder Yun gestured to the small pup, now perched on Lei Wei's shoulder.
"This wolf is suppressed, yes. But its bloodline… is Ancient. Even in its current state, it can manipulate energies that mortal men cannot fathom. Flames, life energy, even the threads of the natural world bend to its will—though only briefly, and at great cost."
Lei Wei looked down at the pup. Its tiny frame seemed fragile, yet he could feel the weight of untapped power vibrating beneath its silver fur.
"Do you understand?" Elder Yun asked.
Lei Wei nodded, a mixture of awe and fear curling in his chest.
"I… I will protect it. Help it grow."
The elder smiled faintly.
"Good. It will be your companion… your familiar. It will share your path, and in turn, it will teach you things no mortal teacher can."
Lei Wei whispered, more to himself than anyone else, "I won't fail you. I won't fail Willowmist."
The fragment stirred faintly in his chest. THUM.
Dormant, but aware. Watching. Waiting.
---
The City Ahead
By afternoon, the road dipped into a shallow valley. In the distance, walls rose against the horizon—stone and wood intertwined, spires reaching toward the sky. Smoke from chimneys rose like threads of silver into the bright blue. The hum of life drifted toward them: merchants calling, carts rolling, horses stamping, the faint clang of metal on metal.
"Greenleaf City," Elder Yun murmured. "It is modest, but strong enough to have its own wards and guards. Many sects send disciples here. Many others… lurk outside, waiting for mistakes."
Lei Wei squinted. The city seemed calm, almost peaceful. But after Willowmist… he knew better. Danger waited in every corner.
"Once we enter," the elder continued, "you must follow my guidance. You will see factions, some openly hostile, some hidden. Knowledge of cultivation, observation, and restraint… these will keep you alive longer than strength alone."
The Silverflame pup growled softly, sensing something unseen. Lei Wei's hands itched with energy, though he didn't understand why.
"Remember," Elder Yun said, voice low but firm, "this city is only the beginning. Beyond its walls lie opportunities, enemies, and secrets. Your journey truly begins now… but survival must come first."
Lei Wei tightened his grip on the pup. Behind the calm gaze of the small creature, he could feel the faint pulse of its primordial bloodline.
Together, they had survived impossible odds. Together… they would step into a world that had no mercy.
And as the gates of Greenleaf City rose before them, Lei Wei realized something.
He wasn't just a boy from Willowmist anymore.
He was a cultivator.
He was the bearer of a god's fragment.
And he was about to walk a path that no ordinary mortal could endure.
The Silverflame pup yipped softly, and Lei Wei smiled faintly.
"Let's go," he whispered.
"For the future. For strength. For Willowmist."
The road ended at the gates. The city awaited.
And so did destiny.