The city looked peaceful during the day.
People hurried along the streets, cars filled the roads, and the sounds of daily life echoed everywhere. For most people, life followed a simple routine—work, study, rest, and repeat.
But for Lin Tian, life had become very different.
Ever since discovering the ancient ruin beneath the forest, his nights had taken on a completely new meaning.
Every evening, after finishing his daily responsibilities, he quietly left his home.
No one noticed the calm young man slipping through the streets.
No one suspected that he was heading toward a hidden cultivation site buried deep underground.
The forest outside the city had become his secret training ground.
Tonight was no different.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting pale silver light across the trees as Lin Tian walked through the quiet forest path.
The air was cool and calm.
A gentle wind rustled the leaves above him.
When he reached the large stone formation, Lin Tian stopped.
To ordinary eyes, the rocks appeared completely natural.
But he knew the truth.
He walked to the carved symbol at the base of the stone and placed his palm against it.
Spiritual energy flowed from his body into the ancient mark.
A soft click echoed from inside the rocks.
The heavy stone slowly moved aside, revealing the hidden tunnel.
Lin Tian stepped inside.
Moments later, the stone entrance closed behind him again.
Darkness surrounded the narrow tunnel, but Lin Tian walked forward confidently.
His senses had grown much sharper after days of cultivation.
He could clearly feel the faint spiritual energy flowing through the underground passage.
After a few minutes, he reached the ancient chamber.
The familiar stone pillars stood quietly under the dim light.
The air here was thick with spiritual energy.
Compared to the outside world, the difference was enormous.
Lin Tian stepped onto the stone platform at the center of the chamber.
The faint cultivation formation beneath his feet was still partially active.
Although damaged by time, it continued gathering spiritual energy from the surrounding earth.
Lin Tian sat down cross-legged.
For the past several nights, he had followed the same routine.
Training.
Refining energy.
Strengthening his body.
Slowly rebuilding the power he once possessed.
He placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes.
His breathing became calm and steady.
Soon, the Heavenly Origin Breathing Technique began operating.
The spiritual energy in the chamber responded immediately.
Tiny streams of invisible energy gathered around his body.
They flowed into his pores and entered his meridians.
Lin Tian guided the energy carefully through his body.
Each circulation strengthened his foundation slightly.
Each breath purified his muscles, bones, and internal organs.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
The chamber remained silent except for the faint humming of spiritual energy.
Over the past few nights, Lin Tian's cultivation had progressed steadily.
His body had already become much stronger than before.
Even his senses had changed dramatically.
He could hear distant movements.
Feel the flow of energy in the air.
And detect subtle changes in the environment.
Suddenly—
Lin Tian opened his eyes.
He stood up slowly.
Instead of continuing meditation, he began practicing physical training.
Cultivation was not only about absorbing energy.
A cultivator's body must also become strong enough to control that power.
Lin Tian stepped forward and threw a punch into the air.
Whoosh.
The movement was fast.
A small shockwave formed in front of his fist.
He followed with another punch.
Then another.
Soon, he began practicing a series of combat movements.
His body moved smoothly across the stone platform.
Each step was controlled.
Each strike was precise.
Even though the techniques looked simple, they were actually ancient combat methods he had learned in his previous life.
These techniques helped control energy while improving physical strength.
Lin Tian's punches became faster.
His movements became sharper.
The air around him vibrated with each strike.
Boom.
One of his punches created a loud echo in the chamber.
Dust fell from a nearby pillar.
Lin Tian stopped and looked at his fist.
His expression remained calm, but he could clearly feel the difference.
"My strength has increased again."
Just a week ago, his body had been weak and ordinary.
Now, he could easily break stones with his bare hands.
His muscles were stronger.
His reflexes faster.
His endurance greater.
But Lin Tian was not satisfied.
Compared to the power he once possessed in the cosmic battlefield, this was still only the beginning.
He resumed his training.
This time he practiced footwork.
His body moved quickly across the platform.
Step.
Turn.
Strike.
Dodge.
Every movement flowed smoothly into the next.
The training continued for nearly an hour.
Finally, Lin Tian stopped.
A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead, but his breathing remained steady.
He returned to the center of the platform and sat down again.
Meditation was still the most important part of cultivation.
He closed his eyes once more.
Spiritual energy gathered around him again.
The cultivation formation beneath the platform began glowing faintly.
Although weak, the ancient array still helped concentrate energy.
Lin Tian carefully circulated the spiritual energy through his meridians.
Each cycle refined his body further.
Over time, the energy inside him became more stable.
This process continued quietly.
Night after night.
Day after day.
Lin Tian maintained the same disciplined routine.
School during the day.
Cultivation at night.
He never skipped training.
Never allowed himself to become lazy.
Because he understood something important.
Power was not given freely.
It was earned through effort and perseverance.
Hours later, Lin Tian slowly opened his eyes.
The night was almost over.
Soon, the sun would rise again.
He stood up and stretched slightly.
His body felt light and full of energy.
He looked around the ancient chamber thoughtfully.
"This place is perfect for training."
But Lin Tian also knew something else.
Eventually, he would outgrow this ruin.
As his cultivation increased, he would need more powerful resources.
More spiritual energy.
More treasures.
More knowledge.
Which meant he would need to find the other ruins marked on the ancient map.
But that would come later.
For now, he needed to focus on building a strong foundation.
Lin Tian walked toward the tunnel entrance.
Before leaving, he looked back at the chamber one last time.
His eyes were calm but determined.
"Tomorrow night, I will return."
The stone entrance slowly opened again as he approached.
Cool night air flowed into the tunnel.
Lin Tian stepped outside.
The forest was quiet under the fading moonlight.
Far away, the city lights flickered softly.
He began walking back home.
As he moved through the silent forest, Lin Tian looked up at the sky.
Countless stars filled the darkness above.
Those distant stars reminded him of the universe he once knew.
A universe filled with powerful cultivators and endless challenges.
One day, he would return there.
But until then—
He would continue training.
Every night.
Without fail.
Because the path to the stars began with small, steady steps.
And Lin Tian had no intention of stopping. 🌌⚔️