Groan.

My body recoiled, thinking it was about to get hit with a wooden pipe, but there was no pain. There was only an ache in my neck as I awoke and saw a skeleton’s chin as I lay on its lap.

“AH!”

I jolted upwards and sprung on my heels, ready for the non-existent attack headed my way. Flight or fight was funny that way.

My eyes rapidly took in my surroundings and adjusted to the near darkness that clouded my vision. The only perceptible light source was the luminescent violet mist that was supposed to be lethal to me and the faint glow of water all around me. Other than that, small blue and violet flowers dotted the ceiling and rocks of the cave as if the cave was a fairy tale.

I saw the unmoving skeleton and noted the missing ribs around the heart and the violet hue that seeped into the skeleton’s bones. Thankfully, it wasn’t moving.

I looked away, then peeked back at the skeleton.

…Yeah. No movement. I was in the clear.

…

Yeah, all clear.

I took a deep breath in to try and steady myself.

“Wait, I shouldn’t inhale the poisonous mist!” I scolded myself but soon realized I felt wonderful, even after taking a few deep breaths. My eyes locked in thought.

“Did I die already? Lyfe said I was back in my physical body. Does that mean I visit him some other way?”

I shook my head free from Lyfe nonsense and looked around where I was since I had a feeling I wouldn't be getting any answers any time soon.

I thought back to before I visited Lyfe and remembered unpleasant memories of getting kicked, rolled, and battered down to wherever this was. The memories were scattered from there, but I clearly remember the mist causing a stinging sensation. Gou Hui prided himself on it causing my death inside…The Pit?

I remembered the name Gou Hui used to describe this place. Most likely, I was underneath the mountain, and the area was shaped like a pit. Gou Hui’s smart, hey?

“Idiot.”

I spat on the ground, which meant I spat on the violet-hued water I was soaking in. It let out a ripple but in the opposite direction as it collected toward the spit. Even the droplets across my skin landed back in the pool, concentrating their efforts around the glob of saliva and concealing its figure. Soon, the spit was gone, and calmness returned to the violet water pool.

Sigh.

I plopped back down into the pool and felt as it swirled around me.

“Did this violet water change me, somehow?” I asked, expecting no reply.

“…Yes…” A feminine voice hissed, making me stumble away from the skeleton and the pool with panic. I made it five feet from the pool before my back braced against a rock wall.

My neck snapped around as it looked for an exit, but caves rarely held more than one, at least, with my dirt luck.

Was I trapped here with the freaky skeleton voice and ominous pool of unnatural water? No, I had to have gotten here somehow. If there was an entrance, there was an exit! I started to walk around the edge of the cave when the feminine voice echoed all around me.

“…Enter…”

Yeah, there’s no way I was headed back into the pool with the talking skeleton.

“…ENTER…”

“OK, fine, fine!” I reluctantly tiptoed back into the water and felt it rush toward me.

“…Cultivate…” the feminine voice calmly whispered to me.

Getting used to the voice in my head was one thing, but listening to them was another. I didn't have to live my life according to their–

“…CULTIVATE…”

“OK! I’m cultivating. Easy, easy!”

I would relent this once and listen to the strange talking skeleton voice. After all, it's what Lyfe said to do, right?

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

There was one problem, though.

How the hell does somebody cultivate?

*****

“What is the Dao?” Gou Da announced.

Gou Jia rolled his eyes at his brother’s words but continued to watch from the platform he was on. In particular, his eyes remained trained on one young woman, who had already tuned out Gou Da and meditated like she knew how to since birth.

“The Dao is vast and elusive. At the beginning stages, one can’t even begin to fathom how deep it runs in our world. But…” Gou Da smirked. “You can still harness some of its majesty.”

Gou Da revealed a rounded stone the size of a golf ball with a swish of his sleeve. It held white speckles on its otherwise black surface that sparkled in the sunlight.

Crack!

Gou Da crushed the stone with his grip, and the people paying attention watched as twinkling energy radiated from his hand. With a flick of his wrist, the energy sailed through the air and landed before Abby, who was unaware of the sudden burst of energy that travelled inside her.

“Qi is the basis of the world, dare I say, the universe. Its energy is found within everything, whether big or small. Most commonly, it takes the form of spirit stones, which is also called the immortals’ currency.”

Gou Da walked between the Earthers and watched with attention as he skillfully guided them.

“Your first step is to condense your Qi Core out of the ambient Qi. It is the basis of your cultivation and will determine your future prospects. I recommend you choose the Qi type shown by the Aptitude Sensing Orb, but your Dao is your own to follow.”

Gou Da halted before a particular Earther and watched their face turn from joy to pain.

“I remember you. Your affinity was Metal Qi, correct?”

The Earther opened their eyes and nodded with a grave look. Gou Da momentarily looked with pity at them before offering some corrective words.

“Many cycles exist in this world. Let me tell you of the alchemist's cycle that relies on five main elements: Water, Fire, Wood, Earth, and Metal. Their mysteries are endless, and their ways are profound enough to spend lifetimes studying them. To waste your natural affinity toward Metal is one thing, but to choose its counter element of Fire can be dangerous.”

The Earther considered Gou Da’s words and resumed his meditating posture.

Gou Da continued, now facing the genius, Abby.

“For some, condensing your Qi Core will take multiple cultivation sessions. For others…”

“…It will be nearly immediate.” Gou Jia whispered the rest to himself. He watched as the air around Abby grew moist with water and formed little droplets of unbridled Water Qi. To call her a genius was an understatement. When Gou Da finished explaining the basic meditation posture and breath control, Abby was already lost in her own world.

Gou Jia sensed the Water Qi within Abby rapidly seething. Her Qi Core formed within minutes, and from there, it underwent a constant, natural refinement process.

First, the energy accumulating in the air gathered into her body, flowing along her body’s Qi passages and centering at a point above her navel. From there, the Qi rotated within her, condensing and constantly pressuring inwards like a whirlpool.

By the time her eyes drifted open, Abby had already reached the first stage of Qi Condensation. If Gou Jia hadn’t seen this happen before, he wouldn’t have been able to contain himself with joy.

“She could reach the Gateway Foundation Realm, and possibly beyond that, by herself.” Gou Jia muttered. His delight was quickly extinguished as a sneering tone entered his ears.

“Look at this idiot, still trying to act tough even though his sister is already miles ahead of him.” Gou Hui spoke.

Despite Gou Jia’s obvious warnings to choose someone else, Gou Hui’s next target to torment was a very familiar, brown-haired young man named Arden, who glared at Gou Hui as he walked over.

Thankfully, Arden's swollen eyes shut as he restrained himself from obtaining another bruise on his face. Gou Hui was more powerful, having already reached the peak of the sixth stage of Qi Condensation. But that didn’t stop Arden from trying to hit Gou Hui the first few times.

As long as no grievous wounds were exchanged, Gou Jia would let Gou Hui have his fun. Soon, Gou Hui would grow bored. He always did, and then he’d find someone else to bother.

Gou Jia watched with growing disinterest as Arden fell deeper into meditation. His talent was above average for a newcomer, but compared to his sister, he would have to work twice as hard for half the results she would quickly obtain.

The Heavens were truly unfair.

It would choose at birth whether you grew to be powerful or if you struggled to survive in this world. People like Abby would rise to rule kingdoms, while people like Arden would only be able to serve them.

"Fine. Stinking meditation..."

Gou Jia’s attention was suddenly peaked when Gou Hui stopped his harassment of Arden and focused on another. As the steps of Gou Hui’s shoes inched closer to his new target, Gou Jia’s eyes grew colder.

“Here, let me help you up.” Gou Hui spoke to Abby.

Whistle!

The hairpin keeping Gou Jia’s long hair tied back slid through the small gap between Gou Hui’s fingers, slicing a bit of his skin. Gou Hui pulled back his hand and watched as Gou Jia approached.

“Abby, follow me. I’ll be instructing you from now on.”

Gou Jia watched the defiance set in Abby’s eyes, and his eyes subconsciously softened a bit.

“Brother!” Gou Hui yelled.

“Silence!” Gou Jia spoke with clear authority. He continued, barking out orders to Gou Hui.

“If you want to help, then from this moment, you will instruct Arden on cultivation.”

“But—”

A well-trained stare stopped Gou Hui’s words.

“Follow me.”

Gou Jia watched as Abby received a cautious nod from her mother and her brother, and the two separated from the Earthers to exit the courtyard doors. The two walked along the rows of houses when suddenly, Gou Jia took Abby’s hand and pulled her aside.

“What—” Abby started to say but was quickly hushed by Gou Jia.

“Wait, and listen.” Gou Jia spoke.

It wasn’t long before the courtyard door swung open again, revealing a fuming Gou Hui, who yelled for the world to hear despite a disciple tending to his every need beside him.

“Like hell, I’m teaching some mortal! If he wants to be taught, hand him to that drunken bastard!” With those words, Gou Hui stormed off toward his private courtyard.

Gou Jia sighed.

“Out of all the people he chooses, it had to be Sun Cai?” Gou Jia took Abby’s hand and continued on his way, oblivious to the piercing stare Abby was giving him from behind as she tried to wiggle her way out of his grip.

“I’ll have to deal with it later.”