The morning sun cast a warm glow over the Azure-Jade Continent, bathing the landscape in soft light. Alex stretched his arms, feeling a wave of energy coursing through him. It was the best sleep he’d had in years, and as he inhaled the crisp morning air, he felt a sense of renewal.
Stepping into the courtyard, Alex began his daily exercise routine. Dropping to the ground, he completed a series of push-ups with steady breaths. He followed up with squats, the rhythm of his movements slow and deliberate, before finishing with a round of stretches to loosen his muscles. The exercises were second nature to him, carried over from his past life.
His family had always found his habits peculiar.
“Why not carry boulders like the rest of us?” his father had once asked, a mix of confusion and amusement in his voice.
To the people of this world, strength training meant lifting heavy stones, swinging logs, or sparring with physical opponents. By comparison, Alex’s calisthenics seemed almost childish—inefficient, even useless.
But Alex had his reasons. While he understood this world valued raw strength, he also knew the importance of balance, flexibility, and endurance. His methods might not have looked impressive, but they laid the groundwork for a body that could handle the rigors of cultivation.
By the time he finished, a sheen of sweat covered his skin. He stood in the cool morning breeze, letting it wash over him as his muscles relaxed. This was a daily ritual, a reminder of his determination to grow stronger, one step at a time.
The aroma of breakfast greeted him as he entered the house. At the table, his family had already gathered. His father, a man of sturdy build and quiet demeanor, was pouring soup into bowls. His mother placed freshly baked bread on the table, its golden crust still warm from the oven. Elsa, his younger sister, sat eagerly, her eyes darting between the food and Alex as he joined them.
The meal was simple but hearty—a rich soup filled with chunks of potatoes, tender meat, and a medley of fresh greens, accompanied by soft, slightly sweet bread. Alex savored each bite, appreciating the complex flavors.
Even the simplest food in this world carried a richness he couldn’t find in his previous life. He knew that the upper echelons dined on delicacies made with spiritual herbs and monster meat—ingredients that strengthened the body and replenished qi. While his family couldn’t afford such luxuries often, the occasional inclusion of such ingredients made their meals all the more nourishing.
His father glanced at him between bites, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You seem… different today.”
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Alex paused, looking up. “Different?”
His mother smiled gently, her gaze warm. “Your father’s right. There’s a spark in your eyes now. It’s good to see you like this.”
Alex hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He couldn’t tell them about the golden cube or the mysterious abilities it had granted him. Instead, he nodded. “I guess… I’ve been inspired. I just want to improve.”
His father nodded approvingly, though his eyes lingered on Alex, as if trying to understand the source of this sudden change.
Elsa, oblivious to the conversation’s undertones, grinned at Alex. “Big brother, does this mean you’re finally going to become a hero like the ones in the stories?”
Alex laughed softly, patting her head. “Maybe someday.”
After breakfast, Alex turned to his father. “Father, may I visit the library today?”
His father raised an eyebrow, surprised but pleased. “Of course. Use it well. The books there may be old, but they hold valuable knowledge.”
The family’s library was a modest room, tucked away in the corner of their home. Its shelves held only forty-eight books, each carefully arranged despite their worn spines and faded covers. To Alex, however, this room felt like a treasure trove.
He scanned the shelves, his fingers brushing over the titles, before selecting Basics of Cultivation. Sitting at the small wooden table, he opened the book, its pages slightly yellowed with age.
“Qi is the essence of heaven and earth,” the first page began, “an energy that permeates all existence.”
The text explained that qi flowed invisibly through the world, produced by vast networks of dragon veins that ran beneath the continent. These veins shaped the geography and prosperity of the land, their presence determining the abundance of qi in any given area.
Alex’s brow furrowed as he absorbed the information. While the golden cube had given him some understanding of qi, this book provided structure and context. The idea of dragon veins fascinated him—vast, ancient conduits of energy that influenced the very fabric of the Azure-Jade Continent.
The next section detailed the qi refinement stage, the first step on the path of cultivation. It described drawing qi from the environment, guiding it into the dantian, and using it to strengthen the body.Yet the book also warned of the dangers: overzealous refinement or improper control could cause internal injuries or worse.
Alex closed the book after an hour, his mind buzzing with ideas. This was only the beginning, he thought, a small step toward unraveling the mysteries of this world.
His next choice was Encompassing Cultivation Systems, a book that detailed the ranks of cultivation, techniques, pills, and other fundamentals. According to the text, cultivation realms were divided into several ranks: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Purple Palace, and Nascent Soul. Beyond the Nascent Soul realm, the book admitted, knowledge was scarce, likely held by powerful sects or ancient clans.
Cultivation techniques were similarly ranked, from Yellow rank,profound rank, earth rank and Heaven rank, each rank divided into four stages: Low, Middle, Upper, and Top. Pills, on the other hand, were classified into nine ranks, with the highest being Rank One—created only by master alchemists.
Alex was struck by how methodical the information was. The book’s clear and precise language made even complex concepts easy to grasp. As he finished, he felt a deeper appreciation for the vastness of cultivation.
Finally, Alex picked up a book titled Qi Refinement Techniques. He carried it outside, settling beneath a willow tree in the courtyard. The first chapter explained how to sense qi—a practice that required focus and patience.
Closing his eyes, Alex took a deep breath, allowing his awareness to extend outward. At first, there was nothing. Then, faintly, he began to sense it—a gentle hum in the air, like a soft breeze brushing against his skin.
He continued to read, learning a simple breathing technique to guide the qi into his body. As he practiced, he felt a strange sensation: his pores seemed to open, and a subtle warmth flowed through his meridians.
It was slow, almost agonizingly so, but Alex didn’t mind. This was the beginning of something extraordinary.
Determined to increase his absorption rate, he focused harder, his mind racing through possibilities. If he could combine his knowledge with the insights granted by the golden cube, perhaps he could find a way to progress faster than anyone could imagine.