Chapter Four: Breaking Through the Unknown

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At the edge of the small pond, Zhou Yuan stood, deeply contemplating the waters that seemed like a gateway to another world. The mist's reflection on the pond's clear surface, coupled with the glimmer of the celestial lotus flower at its center, bestowed a mysterious charm, as if it breathed a hidden power.

The corpse of the foggy tiger, defeated through Zhou Yuan's intellect, lay on the adjacent grass. Despite its death, its imposing presence lingered in the air. Zhou Yuan's gaze warned him of something greater than just a guardian beast—this place was extraordinary in a way difficult to explain.

Zhou Yuan glanced at the glowing celestial lotus flower at the heart of the pond, its light pulsing in harmony with the surrounding nature. Its brilliance was not ordinary—it resonated with power, a force capable of elevating a cultivator to unimaginable heights. Despite the temptation, he resisted the thought of uprooting the flower. "The balance of the pond relies on its existence. If I destroy this balance, I will lose a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." With a long breath, he left the flower in place, choosing instead to wisely utilize the pond without compromising its essence.

Zhou Yuan sat beside the pond, surrounded by a tranquility that felt magical. The waters appeared as a window to another realm, pulsating with a hidden energy that inspired awe and respect.

As he slowly extended his hand toward the water, emotions engulfed him that he had never known. The initial coldness swiftly transformed into a comforting warmth, as if the pond welcomed him, granting him permission to partake in its purity.

His eyes instinctively closed for a moment. This feeling was not merely a fleeting sensation; it felt like a spiritual connection between him and the pond. The chi in the air became clearer, more intimate, as if calling him to begin his spiritual journey.

"Is this what those geniuses feel?" he thought bitterly.

He had no time to waste any more energy in thought. Sitting cross-legged on the ground beside the pond, his back straight as an arrow, his hands resting on his knees, and his eyes closed in intense focus, he inhaled slowly, following a rhythm he had learned in his early years within the sect. The basic breathing technique he relied upon since beginning his cultivation path was not particularly remarkable in itself, but it was all he had.

With his first inhale, he felt something new. It was not merely air entering his lungs but the pure chi that surrounded him. The pure chi began to flow into his body smoothly, different from the tainted energy he was accustomed to, like a breeze carrying the morning dew.

"This... is completely different."

But he didn't allow himself to be awestruck. The purity of the chi alone was not sufficient to ease the process. Once the chi began to move toward his pathways, the familiar problem arose.

Despite the chi's purity, he struggled to direct it due to the blockages in his pathways, causing him pain that intensified with each attempt, yet he was aware that pain was part of progress.

"This pain... I know it well. I've lived with it for years."

But instead of discouraging him, the pain was, for him, a signal. Pain meant the chi was moving. Even if slow and painful, it indicated that he was making progress.

Deep in meditation, he felt pressure building within his dantian, as if a small vessel were being filled beyond its capacity. Each additional moment brought with it a feeling of impending explosion, yet giving in was not an option.

"Either I complete this now, or I will lose this opportunity forever."

He exerted all his effort to control the flowing chi, directing it precisely toward his dantian without losing his inner balance. Every moment required unwavering focus, as though he were walking on a tightrope over an abyss.

Time seemed to stop. Hours passed like days, and night began to approach, yet Zhou Yuan did not move an inch. His eyes remained closed, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

His breaths became slower and deeper, as if his body were attempting to match the natural rhythm of the pond itself. He felt as if he were now part of this place—part of the pond, the chi that filled it, and the tranquility surrounding it.

As the chi flowed, the stiff pathways gradually began to respond. The pain that had initially choked him eased, but the pressure in his dantian reached its peak. Every second was a test of his willpower.

"This is the moment of reckoning—either I advance or regress to zero."

Polishing was not just a technique for Zhou Yuan; it was an ongoing battle with his body, which had grown accustomed to resisting the flow of chi, making each advancement require double the effort compared to others.

By midnight, the chi began to flow smoothly, and the pressure in his dantian settled, filling with warm energy as if liberating him from the constraints of long years. He slowly opened his eyes, a sense of accomplishment overwhelming him.

He opened his eyes slowly, feeling a rush of entirely different energy coursing through his body. His breaths were intermittent for a moment, but soon they felt steady. He remained still, trying to comprehend what had transpired.

"I've broken through..." he said in a hushed voice, a mix of astonishment and relief filling his tone.

For a moment, he relaxed and closed his eyes again, focusing on the changes within him:

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It felt like his body had been in a constant state of thirst for energy, and now this thirst was partially quenched. The energy he had stored in his dantian was not just greater than before; it seemed to radiate with latent power, a force he had never felt before.

The minor wounds he had sustained during his battle with the foggy tiger seemed to begin healing. The slight pain he felt in his muscles and limbs gradually started to disappear. The new chi energy that filled his body was not merely a force; it was akin to an internal healing rebuilding his body from within.

At first, it was not clear, but with each deep breath, he sensed something different inside him. The pathways that had appeared as closed channels filled with obstructions now felt broader. The chi flowed through them with relative ease, without the painful resistance that had always plagued him.

He slowly raised his hand before his eyes, observing his fingers that trembled slightly from excitement. This was the first time in seven months, perhaps more, that he felt this kind of progress.

"Seven months..."

The words echoed in his mind as if he were trying to grasp what he had gone through. He had been stuck at the first level of chi flow for a long time, far longer than most of his peers. For him, each day had been an endless struggle; every passing moment brought with it a feeling of frustration and helplessness.

But now? In just half a day, he had managed to break through from the first level and reach the second.

"Is this real?"

Despite the pride and accomplishment he felt, he could not suppress the thoughts that began to clash within him.

"This pond... the chi here is purer and stronger. Without it, I would have been stuck for months more."

Zhou Yuan leaned on his hands and then slowly lifted his body. He expected to feel exhausted after the long meditation session, but instead, he felt a hidden energy spreading through his body.

When he tried to move the chi within him, he found it responded faster and more smoothly. The process was not entirely easy—the pathways still required further expansion—but the difference was evident.

Even his body seemed different. It was not an external change easily visible, but rather an internal feeling, as though every cell in his body had become stronger.

"This is the real difference between the first and second levels. Before, the chi was unstable and unusable. Now... I can control it better."

He stood at the edge of the pond once more, his eyes contemplating the celestial lotus that continued to pulse with its mysterious light. Everything here suggested that this place was not ordinary.

"If I hadn't found this pond, I might have remained stuck at the first level for months or even years."

He recalled how his peers in the outer sect viewed him. How they saw him as weak, just an ordinary person who could accomplish nothing in a world dominated by the strong. Yet now, for the first time in years, he felt capable of catching up to them.

"If I broke through to the second level in just half a day... what might happen if I stayed here longer?"

But another thought crossed his mind. This place was a rare opportunity, yet he knew relying solely on such a place could be risky. What if he had to return to the sect? What if he could not reach this place again?

"True strength lies not only in relying on the environment, but in making progress even in the toughest circumstances."

Zhou Yuan couldn't suppress a small smile that crept onto his face. It was not just a smile of joy; it was a mix of pride and determination. He knew that this breakthrough was just a small step on a long road, but it was also a new beginning.

"It took me seven months to pass the first level. But now, things are different. If I can maintain this pace, perhaps I won't need that long again."

He tightened his fist a little, feeling the chi flowing freely within his body. This feeling was new, a sense of having control over what he had previously been unable to.

"The time has come. There's no turning back now."

His body was filled with a different sensation, lighter and more vibrant. He had broken through to the second level of chi flow after seven months of struggle at the first level. Yet, even with the satisfaction beginning to seep into him, he could not shake the sense of urgency that suddenly returned to his mind.

"Just seven days... that's all I have before the sect begins to question my delay."

He sat in silence, his eyes fixed on the pond that throbbed with celestial energy. This pond was not just an ordinary place; it was the key to the progress he had made, and perhaps the key to what he could achieve in the future.

He well knew that leaving the sect for a mission was surrounded by strict restrictions. Any outer disciple who was absent for more than seven days without a valid reason faced dire consequences, starting from interrogation to harsher punishments.

"I have already consumed two days—one for reaching the forest and the second for facing the foggy tiger and meditating. That means I only have five days left. I have no time to waste."

He took a deep breath, trying to soothe his mind that began to fill with options and decisions he needed to make. He had to balance maximizing the benefits of this unique place and returning to the sect on time.

As his thoughts clashed, he glanced back at the pond. The breakthrough he had achieved was not a random miracle. It was a direct result of the pure energy provided by this pond. Delving deeper into the forest could offer him the chance to explore more of these resources or uncover hidden treasures.

"But I also am not fully prepared… the chi I gathered today is substantial, but I don't know if it's enough to face new dangers."

He recalled the difficult moments during his battle with the foggy tiger. If he had not been cautious and leveraged the environment around him, he could have ended up a victim of that battle.

"Haste means doom. But resting too much could mean losing opportunities."

In the end, he decided to let his body rest tonight and maximize the pond's benefits to fully recharge. He knew any step within the forest should be taken when he was at his best.

"If I'm going to delve into the forest, I'll do it in the morning. That gives me enough time to explore before returning to the sect."

The darkness began to thicken around him, and the mist surrounding the pond radiated a mysterious sensation, as if the pond whispered for him to stay a little longer. He decided not to ignore this opportunity.

"As long as I have five days, I can spend another day here to benefit from this place. If I can achieve another advancement, it will be enough to strengthen my position upon returning to the sect."

As he prepared to lie down beside the pond, he couldn't prevent himself from glancing toward the dense forest. He knew the depths concealed more than what the surface revealed.

"If the pond has changed my cultivation, what awaits me in the depths of the forest? Greater opportunities or insurmountable dangers?" he thought deeply, realizing that delving meant the possibility of loss as much as gain.

He ultimately decided to give himself a few hours of rest, then start the morning with meditation again, utilizing the pond to further enhance his chi flow. Afterward, if he felt strong enough, he would begin his first foray into the depths of the forest.

"I'll go slowly. If I sense danger, I can return quickly. No need to rush. The important thing is to maximize benefits without losing what I've achieved so far."

He lay beside the pond, gazing at the sky that had become darker, the stars appearing distant yet filled with hope. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Five days... that's all I have. I must return stronger, or I'll be just another prey to this world."

And as the mist enveloped him, he prepared his mind for the battles ahead, whether against his body or the secrets of the forest waiting for him in the shadows.