The next morning, after Li Qiu finished his breathing exercises, he felt refreshed and clear-headed. He sensed he was on the verge of some new understanding, though it remained elusive, as if he had established a connection with heaven and earth. He felt like a member of this vast expanse, where the rising and setting sun and the waxing and waning moon now resonated with his own spirit. This feeling excited him. Perhaps this was the primitive stage of "communing with heaven and earth" mentioned in the manuals; though, like an infant learning to walk, he was bound to stumble in the early stages.
He recalled the water arrow he had unleashed the day before. Its power was significant—far beyond the meager force he had generated when first practicing. It seemed the potency of a spell was directly tied to the amount of spiritual power one possessed. He realized he needed to cultivate diligently. The world of cultivators was fraught with peril; ten thousand precautions were never enough, for a single moment of carelessness could cost him his life. This thought made him even more vigilant.
His grandmother already knew he was a cultivator, so there was no point in hiding it anymore. He wondered how his three brothers would react once they found out. Regardless, his master had once said that every person has their own ambitions and their own destiny, which could not be easily altered. It was best to just let things take their natural course.
Chapter 34