The following morning, Alex woke with a newfound vigor. The previous day’s breakthrough in cultivation had left him restless, eager to see just how much further he could push himself. The golden light of dawn bathed the courtyard, casting long shadows across the ground as he stood and stretched.

His thoughts lingered on the newly merged technique, Celestial Flowing Qi. The results were more than promising. Not only had his qi cultivation accelerated, but his body also absorbed the energy around him with an almost unnatural efficiency. He could feel the power of his Flowing Steel Qifoundation growing firmer and more resilient with every moment.

Still, this wasn’t enough. Alex’s drive was relentless. He wanted to test the limits of his technique and see how quickly he could grow under optimal conditions. He knew that the faster he advanced, the greater his chances of standing out during the upcoming Lidra Sect selection.

After his morning warm-up, Alex closed his eyes and began to circulate his qi. He focused on drawing in energy from his surroundings, letting it flood his body with precision. The first wave of qi surged through him, and he felt the familiar warmth. But this time, it was different—more potent, more controlled.

The flow was effortless, each pulse of energy refining his meridians. His body responded with fluid ease, the power within him blossoming like a spring long dammed, now released. As he cultivated, the Celestial Flowing Qi didn’t just gather energy—it reshaped it, honed it, and aligned it perfectly within him.

Within hours, Alex was nearing the threshold of the Fourth Stage of qi refinement. His meridians expanded in response to the influx of energy, his reserves fuller with each breath. Though exhilarated by his rapid progress, Alex reminded himself not to become complacent. Raw strength alone wouldn’t guarantee success. Experience, control, and adaptability were just as crucial.

Opening his eyes, he gazed at his fists, visualizing the destructive force they could unleash. The Iron Flow Fist, now augmented by the fluidity of Celestial Flowing Qi, gave him an unparalleled blend of power and precision.

Taking a deep breath, Alex entered his stance, letting the technique guide his movements. His strikes were smooth yet devastating, combining the raw might of the Iron Flow Fist with the adaptability of the Azure Wave Palm. The air around him seemed to ripple in response, mist rising as though the world itself acknowledged his power.

By the time he stopped, sweat dripped from his forehead, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. Yet, despite the exertion, his body felt revitalized, his strength balanced and harmonious.

“I’m evolving,” Alex whispered to himself, clenching his fists. “Step by step, I’ll get there.”

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A week passed in a blur of training, meditation, and cultivation. The Celestial Flowing Qi technique proved invaluable. Alex reached the Fourth Stage within days, and the density of his qi rivaled that of Fifth Stage cultivators. His attacks grew sharper, his strikes heavier, and his confidence soared.

Despite his progress, Alex knew it wasn’t enough. The Lidra Sect’s selection process would be brutal. Only the best would make it, and he needed more than raw cultivation to succeed.

That evening, Alex sat beneath a willow tree in the courtyard, its cool shade offering him a moment of respite. He reflected on his journey, from his initial struggles with cultivation to the near mastery of techniques most would take years to perfect. But even now, the golden cube’s faint presence lingered in his mind—a tantalizing reminder of greater power yet to come.

As night fell, the courtyard grew cold, the mist curling eerily along the ground. Alex decided it was time to take his training to the next level. With the Fourth Stage reached, he could now attempt spellcasting.

He made his way to the family library, where his father sat surrounded by stacks of books. The elder cultivator looked up, surprise flickering across his face as he sensed Alex’s cultivation level.

“Alex, you’ve reached the Fourth Stage already?” his father asked, setting his book aside. “You’re going to be a monster when you advance further. Come, sit. Let me advise you on your next step.”

Alex grinned and sat across from him. “I’m thinking of starting with the fireball spell. It’s simple but powerful.”

“Good choice,” his father said with a nod, handing Alex a worn book. “The fireball is common in most sects, but don’t underestimate its destructive potential. Mastering it will give you a strong foundation in spellcasting.”

Back in his courtyard, Alex opened the book. The process of casting a fireball sounded straightforward: gather qi in your hand, compress it while making it move rapidly to generate heat, stabilize the flame with controlled qi, and release.

But simplicity in words didn’t translate to ease in practice.

Alex stood at the center of the courtyard and began following the instructions. Qi gathered in his palms, shimmering faintly. When he tried to compress it, however, the energy dissipated.

Again and again, he tried. Each failure burned at his patience, but he refused to give up. On his thirteenth attempt, the qi finally compressed. A small, glowing sphere of fire appeared in his hand, its heat distorting the air around it.

Sweat slicked Alex’s brow as he stared at the fiery orb. It was far from perfect, but it was a start. Over the next few hours, he repeated the process, refining his technique. By the time the moon hung high, he could form a fireball in seconds.

Yet Alex wasn’t satisfied. “This is just the beginning,” he muttered. “What happens if I approach this with what I know about science?”

The next morning, Alex sought out his father. “Where can I train without disturbing others?” he asked.

His father hesitated before handing Alex a small map. “The Forbidden Forest. It’s dangerous, but no one will bother you there. Be careful.”

The forest was a sprawling expanse of towering trees, their branches clawing at the sky. Strange cries echoed in the distance, and the air was thick with an unearthly silence. Many cultivators entered these woods, drawn by its rich qi and rare herbs, but not all returned.

Alex found a secluded clearing and began experimenting with the fireball spell. This time, he applied scientific principles, using his knowledge of combustion and thermodynamics.

Instead of merely compressing qi to generate heat, Alex experimented with increasing the speed of compression to raise the temperature further. By channeling qi to stabilize the flame at different points, he managed to concentrate the fireball’s heat into a smaller, denser core.

The results were staggering. His new fireball burned hotter, brighter, and was far more destructive than before. When he released it at a nearby boulder, the spell struck with explosive force, leaving a charred crater behind.

The forest around him grew silent, as if acknowledging the shift in power.

Alex’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “This is what happens when science and cultivation meet.”

But his triumph was short-lived. A low growl echoed through the clearing, and Alex froze. The shadows between the trees shifted, revealing a pair of glowing eyes. A beast of the forest had been drawn by the disturbance.

Gripping his fists, Alex prepared himself. His training wasn’t over yet.