At this moment, a young man named Haofeng was strolling along the edge of Yanyun Village. The setting sun, like blood, cast its glow upon his slightly immature yet resolute face.
In his eyes, there was both curiosity about the unknown world and a faint sorrow over the unfairness of fate. Orphaned from a young age and making a living as a hunter, his life had been hard, yet it had never extinguished the purity and yearning in his heart. The turning points of fate are often hidden in these seemingly ordinary moments.
That day, while chasing a spirit rabbit in the mountains and forests, Haofeng accidentally fell into a hidden cave. The cave was deep, rugged with bizarre rocks, and dim, with only the occasional faint glow flashing on the stone walls to guide him forward.
When he cautiously bypassed a massive stalactite, the view suddenly opened up. He saw a fragment emitting a soft blue light suspended in the center, slowly rotating as if containing endless power and mystery.
Drawn involuntarily by this force, the moment Haofeng reached out and touched the fragment, a warm and powerful energy surged into his body, and his consciousness was instantly pulled into a bizarre space.
Here, clouds drifted and immortal music drifted through the air. Countless stars slowly rotated in the void, and in the center, an otherworldly old man dressed in white smiled down at him.
"Young man, you are a person of destiny. By obtaining this system fragment, you may embark upon the path of immortality and defy the heavens to alter your fate." The old man's voice was gentle yet solemn, as if transcending the barrier of time and space to directly imprint itself upon Haofeng's heart.
"The path of immortality?" A wave of excitement surged within Haofeng, accompanied by doubt. "Senior, what is immortality, and how does one cultivate?"
The old man gently raised his hand, and scene after scene unfolded before Haofeng's eyes—a magnificent panorama of the cultivation world, as well as the arduous journey of the path of immortality.
"Immortality is the transcendence of the mortal world, the pursuit of eternal life, and the mastery of the laws of heaven and earth. This path is divided into six major realms: Qi Condensation Stage, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Severing, and Tribulation. Each realm is a challenge and breakthrough to the limits of body and mind."
Qi Condensation Stage: A Glimpse of the Threshold
After acquiring the system fragment, Haofeng's cultivation journey officially began. The Qi Condensation Stage was the starting point of cultivation and the most foundational step. He needed to guide the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth into his body, temper his physical form, and strengthen his meridians.
At first, Haofeng found it incomparably difficult; the spiritual Qi always seemed to brush past him, hard to capture. But with the system's assistance, he gradually mastered the art of breathing and absorption. Every breath seemed capable of drawing the surrounding spiritual Qi, converging it into his Dantian.
Day after day, through cold winters and hot summers, a warm current of air gradually began to circulate within Haofeng's body—this was the preliminary condensation of spiritual Qi. His physique also grew robust as a result, with his strength and speed achieving a qualitative leap.
Haofeng sat inside a tavern, taking a light sip of the mild wine in his cup, his eyes flashing with curiosity and yearning for the unknown. The words of the people around him brushed past like a spring breeze, inadvertently sowing the seeds of exploration in his heart.
He raised his gaze to look out the window, where the silhouette of the Yanshan Mountains appeared both mysterious and magnificent in the setting sun. Amidst the swirling clouds and mists, countless secrets seemed to await brave souls to uncover them.
"Brother Li, Brother Wang, I am Haofeng. I am quite interested in the spiritual herbs of the Yanshan Mountains. I wonder if I might have the fortune to travel with the two of you?" Haofeng stood up, walking with steady strides toward Limo and Wang Yan, who were about to leave their seats, a sincere smile hanging on his face.
Limo and Wang Yan exchanged a smile, and Limo said heartily, "Since Brother Hao has this intention, it is exactly what we hoped for. One more person means one more share of strength, and we can look out for each other better along the road."
Thus, the three of them set out together, passing through the bustling streets and stepping onto a trail leading toward Yanshan. Along the way, spring flowers bloomed brilliantly, birds called out, and a gentle breeze brushed their faces, carrying the unique freshness and freedom of the wild mountains.
They talked as they walked, chatting from cultivation insights to anecdotes of the pugilistic world, the distance between them quietly closing amidst laughter and cheer.
As night fell, stars dotted the deep canopy of the heavens, and a bright moon hung high, casting a silvery glow upon their journey. Among the mountain forests, the low growls of beasts could be occasionally heard, adding an extra layer of thrilling adventure and fun.
Haofeng held a lantern to illuminate the road ahead, while Limo and Wang Yan took turns keeping watch to ensure the safety of the group.
"I've heard that deep within Yanshan, not only are spiritual herbs everywhere, but spirit beasts also roam. Some are exceptionally ferocious, while others possess nascent intelligence. To gain the assistance of even one would make the path of cultivation much smoother," Wang Yan said as he walked, his eyes flashing with a desire for unknown power.
"That is indeed the case, but spirit beasts are hard to find, and most are proud by nature, unobtainable except by those fated," Limo added, his tone carrying a trace of reverence.
Hearing this, Haofeng pondered silently in his heart. He knew well that the path of cultivation was naturally fraught with hardships and obstacles, but if one could obtain the aid of heaven and earth, twice the result could be achieved with half the effort.
Therefore, he grew even firmer in his resolve for this trip—not only for the legendary spiritual herbs, but even more for that exploration and pursuit of the unknown world.
As the night grew deeper, the chill in the mountain forests also became increasingly heavy. The three of them found a relatively flat spot to pitch camp and rest, lighting a bonfire to warm each other's hearts. The firelight reflected off their young yet resolute faces and also illuminated the unknown path ahead.
"Tomorrow morning, we will officially step into Yanshan. When that time comes, the true test will begin," Limo said in a deep voice, gazing at the leaping flames.
"To fear no challenge is what truly reveals a hero's mettle." Wang Yan patted his chest, a steadfast light flashing in his eyes.
Haofeng smiled faintly, his heart filled with expectations and longing for the future. He knew that along this journey, they would face countless difficulties and challenges, but as long as there was light in their hearts, there would be a road beneath their feet. In this mysterious land of Yanshan, they would write their own legendary chapter.