Morning came quietly.
A pale light slipped through the narrow stone window, landing on the cold floor of the room. The sounds of breathing filled the space, uneven and heavy. Someone turned in their sleep, muttering something unclear before going silent again.
Li Chen opened his eyes.
For a moment, he did not move.
His body felt different from last night. Not lighter, not stronger, but smoother, as if something inside him had finally found a place to rest. He focused inward, following the faint sensation toward his lower abdomen.
There a thread of warmth lingered in his dantian.
It was Thin, Fragile and Almost nothing.
Li Chen slowly sat up.
Across from him, a youth with broad shoulders was already awake, tying the belt of his grey robe. Noticing Li Chen's movement, he glanced over and gave a quick smile.
"You cultivated last night too?"
Li Chen nodded slightly.
The youth chuckled. "I tried, but halfway through I fell asleep. Guess my talent's not great."
His tone was casual, without bitterness.
"My name's Zhang Wei. From the eastern plains."
"Li Chen. Shuanghe Village."
"Nice to meet you."
There was no more conversation. Zhang Wei finished tying his belt and left the room, moving quickly as if afraid of being late.
The other two were still asleep.
Li Chen stood, adjusted his robe, and followed.
Outside, the outer disciple area was already stirring. Disciples walked along stone paths, some alone, some in small groups. Most faces carried a mix of tension and excitement, as if they were afraid of missing something important.
A bell rang from somewhere higher up the mountain.
Not loud, but clear.
Li Chen followed the crowd toward a wide open area where a middle-aged cultivator stood with his hands behind his back. His robe was darker than those of the disciples, his aura restrained but firm.
"Outer disciples," he said, his gaze sweeping over them. "Morning duties first. Cultivation comes after."
A few disappointed expressions appeared, but no one complained.
Tasks were assigned quickly.
Li Chen was sent back to Lingxi Field.
The path felt familiar now. The morning mist clung low to the ground, dampening his shoes. As he walked, he subconsciously circulated the Clear Heart Breathing Method, matching his steps to his breath.
The faint warmth in his dantian responded slowly.
At the field, he began working again.
This time, he paid closer attention.
When his fingers touched the soil, the same subtle reaction appeared. The spirit qi here was weak, scattered, and restless, as if it had nowhere to settle.
Li Chen paused.
He closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing, slowing it further, letting it sink deeper. The Clear Heart Breathing Method emphasized calm, not force. He had thought it was only meant for beginners, but now he felt something else.
The soil's qi shifted.
Barely.
So faint that if he had not been focusing, he would have missed it entirely.
Li Chen's heart beat slightly faster.
He did not try to guide it. He simply maintained the rhythm.
After a few breaths, the sensation faded.
He opened his eyes, hands slightly numb.
So it wasn't his imagination.
By noon, sweat soaked through his robe again. When the overseer dismissed them, Li Chen returned to the quarters, ate quickly, then went back out.
This time, he did not go to the field.
He followed a narrow path leading toward a small cliff overlooking the lower slopes. Few people came here. The stones were uneven, and weeds grew freely between cracks.
Li Chen sat down.
He took out the jade slip again.
Clear Heart Breathing Method.
The information felt more familiar now. He went through it slowly, not rushing, not trying to improve. He only wanted to understand.
Breath in, Breath out.
Qi stirred.
This time, it lasted longer.
The warmth in his dantian gathered slightly, no longer dispersing immediately. It was still weak, but more stable.
Suddenly, a faint sound echoed in his mind.
Not a voice.
More like… a notification.
Li Chen's breathing faltered.
He froze.
Then—
[Host :- Li Chen]
[Spirit Sensitivity Detected]
[Environment Interaction Threshold Reached]
[System Initializing...]
Li Chen's eyes snapped open.
His surroundings were unchanged. The cliff. The wind. The distant sounds of disciples moving about.
But his heart was pounding.
System?
Before he could think further, lines of text appeared before his eyes, translucent and faint, as if projected onto the air.
[Initialization Complete]
[Heavenly Balance Cultivation System Activated]
Li Chen did not move.
He waited.
Nothing else happened.
After a moment, he cautiously focused his mind.
The text shifted.
[Heavenly Balance Cultivation System]
[Function: Analyze, Stabilize, Optimize]
[Current Realm: Body Refinement — Early Stage]
[Spirit Root Evaluation: Undetermined]
Li Chen swallowed.
He had heard of inheritances, of ancient formations, of seniors leaving behind wills. But a system that directly interacted with the mind?
He had never heard of such a thing.
"Status," he thought, testing.
The panel changed.
[Host :- Li Chen]
[Realm: Body Refinement Early Stage]
[Qi Stability: 12%]
[Meridian Condition: Ordinary]
[Environment Affinity: Low]
Li Chen stared.
Twelve percent, Low, Ordinary.
If someone else saw this, they might feel despair.
But Li Chen felt calm.
Maybe because he had never expected much to begin with.
"What can you do?" he asked silently.
[System Function Explanation]
[Stabilize: Reduce Qi Dispersion during Cultivation]
[Analyze: Identify Environmental Qi Patterns]
[Optimize: Improve Efficiency Based on Current Conditions]
Li Chen's gaze darkened slightly.
"Show environment analysis."
The world shifted.
Not visually, but perceptually.
Thin lines appeared in his awareness, flowing through the land like faint currents. They were weak, broken, uneven.
Spirit qi.
But now, he could see how it moved.
[Analysis Result]
[Lingxi Field Qi Flow: Fragmented]
[Cause: Minor Vein Deviation]
[Recommendation: Low-Intensity Harmonization]
Li Chen's breath slowed.
Low-intensity.
That matched Clear Heart Breathing Method.
He understood.
The technique wasn't just for beginners.
It was for balance.
Evening arrived.
Li Chen returned to the field once more. As he worked, he maintained the breathing rhythm, not consciously directing anything, only stabilizing himself.
The soil felt different.
The qi did not increase.
But it stopped scattering.
By the time the sun set, the leaves of the spirit crops looked slightly brighter.
Only slightly.
No one noticed.
Back in the quarters, Li Chen lay on his mat.
The system panel hovered quietly at the edge of his awareness, inactive unless he focused on it.
He did not feel excitement.
He felt caution.
If this thing truly existed, it was not something he could reveal.
Not yet.
Outside, the night settled over Qingyun Sect.
Far above, in the inner sect, an elder paused mid-step and frowned faintly, glancing toward the outer slopes.
"Strange," he muttered.
Then shook his head and continued walking.
The night passed.
And Li Chen slept, unaware that his path had already shifted, just a little, away from everyone else's.