Chapter 5: The First Lesson of Cultivation

 

The days that followed Lin Zhan’s first trial were a blur of exhaustion and discovery. He spent most of his time training, learning how to control the strange energy flowing within him. The mysterious man—who had yet to introduce himself—was an enigmatic but patient teacher. Every day, Lin Zhan would wake up before dawn, begin his meditation to sense the Qi around him, and then train his body with physical exercises designed to enhance his strength and endurance.

The first few days were grueling. Lin Zhan’s body was sore, aching in places he didn’t even know could hurt. But each day, the pain became more familiar, and he grew more accustomed to the rhythm of cultivation. The Golden Finger system in his mind would occasionally chime in, offering tips and guidance on controlling the energy.

He was learning, but there was still so much to grasp.

Today, as the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the dense forest, Lin Zhan sat cross-legged in the clearing where he had first faced the Shadow Beast. The air around him was still, but he could feel the subtle hum of energy as it swirled in the space. His eyes were closed, his body still, and his mind as empty as he could make it.

This was the moment for cultivating Qi—the first real test of his connection to the world around him. The man had explained it as a form of spiritual alignment. If he could feel the Qi and draw it into his body, he would begin to strengthen not just his physical body but also his spirit. He had to learn to merge with the world’s natural flow.

“Focus on your breath,” the man’s voice broke through Lin Zhan’s thoughts. “Clear your mind. Let go of any distractions. Only then can you open yourself to the energy.”

Lin Zhan exhaled deeply, focusing on his breath. Slowly, he let his thoughts dissolve, focusing only on the rhythm of his body, the rise and fall of his chest. He felt the breeze on his skin, the warmth of the sun still lingering in the air, the faint hum of life all around him. He wasn’t sure how long he meditated, but time felt irrelevant now. All that mattered was the flow of energy.

And then… he felt it.

It was like a subtle current, a faint, invisible current of power that surrounded him. At first, it was so faint that Lin Zhan wasn’t sure it was real. But then, as his focus deepened, he could feel it—coursing through the air, through the ground, through every leaf, every blade of grass. It was all around him.

Qi, he thought. This was Qi—the energy of the world.

“Good,” the man’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “You’ve found it. Now, focus on it. Reach out with your senses, and draw it into you.”

Lin Zhan’s heart raced at the thought. He had never done anything like this before, and the idea of pulling such a powerful energy into his body felt like it could be dangerous. But there was no turning back now. He took a deep breath, and slowly, carefully, he tried to reach out, extending his awareness into the energy around him.

At first, nothing happened. The Qi was elusive, like trying to grab mist with his bare hands. He could sense it, feel its presence, but it was like it was just beyond his reach. He could feel the Qi flowing through the earth beneath him, the trees, the air—but it was not coming to him.

He pushed harder, concentrating. Focus.

And then, the sensation shifted. It wasn’t just the air anymore; the Qi began to flow toward him, like a tide answering a beckoning. The energy, alive and vibrant, moved into his body, sinking into his muscles, his bones, his very soul. It was warm, intoxicating, a flood of raw power coursing through him. His body tingled with the energy, every cell alive with its presence.

But then it came too quickly, too intensely.

Lin Zhan gasped as his body was overwhelmed by the sudden rush. The energy surged through him, and he felt as if he might explode from the inside out. His heart raced, his breath shallow, and his body locked in place as the Qi swirled wildly within him. His eyes shot open, panic flashing through him. He tried to breathe, but it was like he was drowning in power.

“Control it!” the man’s voice rang out, urgent. “You must control it or it will consume you!”

The words snapped Lin Zhan back to reality. His body was on the verge of collapse, but he forced himself to focus. He had to calm the energy, had to guide it. With every ounce of willpower, he focused on his breath again. Slowly, carefully, he tried to draw the energy into a single, steady stream, guiding it through his body. He imagined it like a river, flowing gently but powerfully, not chaotic but controlled.

It took what felt like an eternity, but gradually, the energy settled. His breath became less ragged, and the overwhelming surge of Qi began to subside. Lin Zhan’s heart calmed, his body relaxed, and the sensation of the Qi was no longer suffocating. Instead, it was like a warm embrace, circulating through him, strengthening him. His body felt alive in a way it never had before, charged with power.

“Well done,” the man’s voice broke through the stillness, soft but approving. “You’ve learned to control the flow of Qi.”

Lin Zhan opened his eyes, his pulse still quick, but the power within him no longer felt like a threat. He could feel the Qi circulating through his body—he could even sense it in the air around him. The energy was no longer something to fear. It was part of him now.

But the man wasn’t done. “This is just the beginning, Lin Zhan. What you’ve done is to sense the energy and allow it to flow within you. But now, you must learn to direct it. Directing Qi is the key to unleashing its full power.”

Lin Zhan’s mind raced. He thought back to the battle with the Shadow Beast. The energy had flowed through him then, too, but it had been chaotic, wild, and uncontrolled. He had been lucky to have survived. But now, if he could learn to direct the energy, then he could use it as a weapon, not just a force of nature.

“How do I direct it?” Lin Zhan asked, his voice steady despite the excitement coursing through him.

The man’s eyes gleamed with approval. “The first lesson of Qi control is learning to manipulate it for different purposes. You’ll use it to enhance your physical abilities, your speed, and your strength. But you must also learn to channel it into attacks, like you did with the Shadow Beast.”

Lin Zhan nodded, determined to master this. “What’s the first step?”

The man stood up and began to demonstrate, his movements fluid and precise. “You must learn to draw the energy into your palms, to condense it and focus it. When you focus Qi into a single point, you can release it with devastating force. Try it. Let’s see what you’ve learned.”

Lin Zhan rose to his feet, facing the man. He could feel the Qi swirling inside him, buzzing with potential. He placed his palms facing each other, slowly drawing the energy toward his hands, just as the man had demonstrated. The Qi flowed into his palms, and he focused, trying to condense the energy.

At first, nothing happened. Lin Zhan’s brow furrowed. He had felt the energy before, but this was different. He had to gather it, shape it, form it into a solid power.

The man’s voice cut through his concentration. “Don’t force it. Let the energy move through you naturally. Relax your mind.”

Lin Zhan took a deep breath, calming himself. He relaxed his hands, letting go of his tension, and allowed the energy to flow freely, gradually condensing it. Slowly, the space between his palms began to glow with a faint light. The light pulsed gently, growing stronger with each passing moment. Lin Zhan’s eyes widened. He was actually doing it.

“Good,” the man said. “Now, release it.”

Lin Zhan hesitated for a moment. This felt different than the chaotic bursts of power he had used before. But with a steady exhale, he thrust his palms forward, unleashing the concentrated energy. A burst of light shot out from his hands, sending a shockwave through the air.

The energy collided with a nearby tree, leaving a visible scorch mark on the bark. Lin Zhan staggered back, startled by the force of his own attack. But there was a sense of satisfaction in his chest. He had done it. He had learned the first step to controlling Qi.

The man nodded, his face impassive, but Lin Zhan could see the approval in his eyes.

“You’re learning quickly, Lin Zhan. This is only the beginning. You’ve taken the first step toward becoming truly powerful. But there’s still much more to learn.”

Lin Zhan looked down at his palms, still tingling from the energy. He had only just scratched the surface of his potential, and already, he could feel the weight of what he had just unlocked. The Golden Finger system had given him a chance to grow, to rise, and now he was on the path to understanding this new world.

He wasn’t sure where this path would lead, but one thing was certain: Lin Zhan was no longer just a helpless outsider. He was a cultivator. And he would stop at nothing to uncover the true power hidden within him.