Morning swept over Zhu Tian gently. Warm sunlight began to filter through the trees, dancing across the dew still clinging to the green leaves. The air was so fresh it felt as though it flowed deep into his lungs, washing away the lingering traces of drowsiness. From afar, birds chirped back and forth, completing the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the morning.
Zhu Tian slowly opened his eyes. For a moment, he stared at the natural ceiling of the cave before letting out a long breath. In front of him, food had already been prepared, still warm and giving off an appetizing aroma. Qin Yuan had arranged everything before he woke up.
"A comfortable life," Zhu Tian muttered with satisfaction.
He smiled faintly, yet there was a subtle trace of surprise in his eyes. When he thought back to his life in the modern world, food had merely been a necessity for survival. No one prepared breakfast for him. He had to cook for himself, or more often, buy whatever was convenient. His home was messy, rarely cleaned, and his life moved forward without any clear direction.
In the modern world, comfort like this felt impossibly distant. Yet here—in the cultivation world—he had inadvertently received attentive care from Qin Yuan.
After Zhu Tian gave instructions three days ago for Qin Yuan to prepare meals every day, the man showed not the slightest objection. In fact, to carry out his duties without interfering with the healing of his true body, Qin Yuan created a clone. That clone was tasked with guarding the area and attending to Zhu Tian's needs.
Whenever Zhu Tian needed something, he only had to call, and the clone would appear. At the beginning, Qin Yuan had asked for Zhu Tian's permission to create a clone while his main body focused on healing its internal injuries. Zhu Tian accepted without hesitation—after all, Qin Yuan was seriously injured, and he had no desire to see the man force himself.
Qin Yuan's clone possessed cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage—extremely low compared to his original body, which was far stronger. However, given Qin Yuan's current injuries, this was the highest level of clone he could create. Even so, the clone's abilities could not be underestimated. Under the right circumstances, it could still hold off a Nascent Soul cultivator for several moves.
Zhu Tian slowly rose from where he slept. His movements were relaxed yet filled with confidence. He walked out of the cave toward the pool directly in front of it. The sound of water flowing from the waterfall beside him created a soothing atmosphere.
He stood by the pool and looked at his reflection. His face was now clean and unblemished, as smooth as white jade. His eyes were deep black, sharp yet profound. His black hair fell to his waist, neatly flowing in the wind. The clothes he wore were now those of a cultivator—plain black, with subtle engravings on the chest and sleeves.
Yesterday, he had asked Qin Yuan to make such clothing for him. In his mind, plain black robes with simple patterns resembled the attire of a sage—dignified, mysterious, and sacred. Of course, this was influenced by the many cultivation novels he had read in the modern world. To Qin Yuan, the request was somewhat puzzling, but he still complied.
Zhu Tian washed his face, feeling the cold water touch his skin. After that, he stepped into a simple yet sturdy building. He named it the Ancestral Hall—not because it held any special meaning, but simply because he found it strange to keep calling it "the building" over and over again.
He sat down and began to enjoy his breakfast while gazing at the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Since what happened a few days ago, he had been able to see spiritual energy with the naked eye. Thin lights drifted through the air—sometimes blue, sometimes green, sometimes like white mist—moving in harmony, as if coexisting with all things.
"So spiritual energy really exists alongside us," he murmured softly, idly turning the wooden spoon in his hand.
According to the information Qin Yuan had provided, spiritual energy on this planet was fairly dense, though it varied by region. The Eastern Continent, where they were currently located, ranked lowest in terms of energy density. Even so, the energy here was still noticeable and carried health-enhancing effects. Even ordinary humans could benefit from it without realizing it.
In the modern world, the average human lifespan was around eighty years. Only a few reached a hundred—and those could be counted on one's fingers. Here, however, it was considered normal for ordinary humans to live beyond a hundred years.
This was because spiritual energy naturally entered the bodies of ordinary people, even without meditation or cultivation techniques. It strengthened their organs, slowed aging, and enhanced vitality. Yet ordinary humans never perceived its presence. To them, life simply flowed on as it always had.
After finishing his meal, Zhu Tian slowly stood up and went out for a walk, clearing his mind. Over the past few days, he had been able to see spiritual energy, but he did not yet feel that his body was ready to receive its flow. So he decided to start from the basics—training his body once again.
In the modern world, he had been accustomed to pushing his body to its limits through exercise. But after several years of living irregularly—especially after losing his motivation and failing to sense spiritual energy—his body had deteriorated. He felt a slight sense of regret over that.
"How was I supposed to know I'd end up in a cultivation world?" he muttered weakly, followed by a small, self-mocking laugh.
He walked westward, toward the mountain range. The scenery was breathtaking: clouds rolled beneath the cliff where he stood, like a vast white sea slowly in motion. The formations created by Qin Yuan were so perfect that the flat green hills he had seen a few days ago now seemed to have vanished, replaced by an endless expanse of towering mountains.
"One gives birth to many halls…," he murmured in awe.
The wind sweeping across the mountain peaks made his mind feel light. From such a height, everything seemed small, and the world felt immensely vast.
Zhu Tian then began performing the basic physical training he once practiced in the modern world: push-ups, sit-ups, running, jumping, and other exercises. His movements were steady and filled with perseverance. Sweat began to drip down, yet his face showed focus and determination.
Each movement felt heavy, as his body had yet to return to its optimal state. But that only spurred him on further. He was determined to rebuild his body before truly stepping into the world of cultivation.
He did not want to become a cultivator who relied solely on spiritual energy without a strong physical foundation. He believed a solid body was the foundation of everything—especially in a world as dangerous as this one.
As he trained, his thoughts drifted to the past. How different his life was now. How strange fate was, to bring him to such an impossible world. But one thing was certain—he would not waste this chance.
Because for the first time in his life…
He felt that he truly had a chance to start over.