Chen Haotian woke up from that sudden car crash and found himself back in the city, but he knew he was no longer that ordinary white-collar worker. The strength with which he had struck down the robber with a single palm, along with the surging spiritual qi within his body, convinced him that he had stepped into an entirely new world.
Returning to his small apartment, he felt an unprecedented pressure. Although on the surface he was still the same ordinary Chen Haotian, a heaven-shaking transformation had already taken place deep inside. After his rebirth, his life seemed to have entered another track, a path of immortal cultivation filled with unknowns and dangers.
He sat on the edge of the bed, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to sense the changes within his body once more. At that moment, he felt a wondrous power flowing through him, as if countless tiny qi channels were slowly operating. That was spiritual qi, or rather, a form of energy beyond ordinary human comprehension.
"What on earth is this power inside me?" Chen Haotian wondered internally.
He cautiously used his consciousness to guide this energy, only to find that the spiritual qi seemed to have its own autonomous flow pattern and could not be manipulated at will as he had anticipated. Although this power was contained within his body, he had to understand it and master it in some way.
With his eyes closed, Chen Haotian forced himself to calm down. He began to recall the phrase "immortal cultivation" once mentioned by the old man, and many blurry images surfaced in his mind. The old man had said that immortal cultivation was borrowing the spiritual qi of heaven and earth to refine one's body and seek longevity, but what kind of cultivation method was that precisely? He had no real answer.
Just as he was deep in thought, the spiritual qi inside him suddenly fluctuated violently, as if responding to some induction that guided him to do something. He froze slightly, his consciousness stirring as he tried to follow this guidance.
In an instant, the spiritual qi within his body began to circulate at an accelerated pace, spreading rapidly along his meridians. That sensation was both wondrous and unfamiliar; he felt as though every inch of his skin and every single bone were being nourished by this power, becoming tougher and more vigorous.
"Is this... qi entering the body?" Chen Haotian murmured to himself.
He abruptly opened his eyes and looked around. A uniquely fresh breath permeated the air, as if every breath he took drew the qi of heaven and earth into his body, and every single cell in his entire being was joyfully absorbing this energy. He finally understood that immortal cultivation was not mere physical training, but a dual refinement of body and spirit aided by the spiritual qi of heaven and earth.
However, this power did not entirely belong to him yet. Although Chen Haotian could feel its presence, he was still unable to completely control it. Much like a sharp sword, he was not yet skilled enough to fully unleash its might.
"It seems the path of immortal cultivation is far from simple," Chen Haotian breathed deeply, knowing he needed time to adapt to this new identity and these new abilities.
He decided not to rush into mastering this power, but instead adopted a more cautious approach, slowly exploring the flow patterns of the spiritual qi within him and searching for the correct method of cultivation.
Early the next morning, Chen Haotian got up early and went for a run according to his usual habits. Only this time, he felt different from before. Even though he was still that same ordinary white-collar worker, with every step he took, he could sense the power contained within his body gradually increasing alongside his movement.
Halfway through his run, he slowed his pace and began consciously adjusting his breathing. With every inhalation, he tried to draw more spiritual qi of heaven and earth into his body; with every exhalation, he strove to expel the turbid qi from within.
As time passed, Chen Haotian became increasingly aware of the presence of the spiritual qi, even managing to guide it into his body through his breathing. At first, he merely felt his body grow lighter, his stamina seemingly recovering faster than usual; as he further increased his exercise intensity, he even felt that his muscle strength was more abundant than before, and his reflexes had grown much sharper.
"What is this feeling?" He paused slightly, a wave of astonishment rising in his heart.
Just as he was running through a secluded alley, a commotion suddenly sounded ahead. He stopped running and looked up to see two men in black suits cornering a young woman. The woman looked extremely flustered and was trying to break free from their grip.
At a single glance, Chen Haotian recognized that the two men were typical street thugs—sturdily built and fierce-eyed, clearly not ordinary people. He couldn't help frowning, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, "What are you doing?"
The two men clearly hadn't expected anyone to dare step forward and stop them; they froze for a moment before shifting their gazes to Chen Haotian. The leader sneered, raised a fist, and said, "Kid, is this any of your business? Get lost, or don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Yet Chen Haotian did not retreat. Gathering the spiritual qi within his body and taking a light step, he crossed a distance of several meters in a flash, his hands firmly grasping the man's wrists. At that exact instant, Chen Haotian felt the power inside him rapidly erupt, that spiritual qi transforming into an invisible current that quickly flowed through his arms and into the other man's body.
The man's expression instantly turned one of absolute terror. Under the suppression of the spiritual qi, his muscles immediately stiffened, and his wrists lost all strength. He tried to break free, only to find himself completely unable to move, as if bound tightly by a formidable force.
Chen Haotian's gaze was cold and sharp. He felt the power within him growing stronger and stronger, and this strength came not from physical might, but from the circulation of spiritual qi. He hadn't used brute force to suppress them; he had simply utilized the power of spiritual qi to subdue the adversary effortlessly.
Seeing those two men utterly powerless before him, the woman froze for a moment before exhaling in relief, looking at Chen Haotian with gratitude. "Thank you. You really scared me just now."
Chen Haotian didn't say much, simply giving a nod, though his heart was somewhat stirred. He had originally been an ordinary white-collar worker, but now he could easily subdue two thugs relying on a seemingly simple power. The spiritual qi inside him seemed to be granting him unprecedented abilities.
"It seems I really have been chosen," Chen Haotian thought to himself with a quiet sigh of emotion.
Yet, as for the danger hidden behind this power, Chen Haotian knew deep down that he had merely scratched the surface of immortal cultivation. The flow of spiritual qi just now had been so rapid, seeming to hold endless possibilities, while he remained nothing more than a beginner. The world of immortal cultivation was not merely a contest of strength, but a cultivation of wisdom and state of mind.
Walking out of the alley, Chen Haotian suddenly realized that he was no longer that ordinary white-collar worker. The road ahead remained hazy and full of challenges. He had to cultivate even harder if he truly wanted to master this spiritual qi and walk the path of immortal cultivation.
And even greater challenges were marching toward him...