Chen Haotian walked out of the alley, the miraculous and unprecedented sensation still echoing deep within his heart. That power seemed to be more than just a simple force used to fight off ruffians; it felt like a connection between himself and the heaven and earth, the opening of some kind of contract. The spiritual qi inside his body seemed to possess a will of its own, and only by actively guiding it could he truly unleash its might.
At that moment, the sunlight was just right, and the morning air was filled with a fresh scent. Standing by the roadside, Chen Haotian quietly gazed at the bustling city around him, suddenly struck by an unfamiliar sense of detachment, as if from another lifetime. Every street corner and every avenue he had once traversed now felt so foreign, as though this city and everything in his past no longer had anything to do with him.
Walking back to his apartment, Chen Haotian threw himself in front of his desk, opened his laptop, and began searching for information regarding "spiritual qi" and "cultivation". He knew that there was no turning back for him now; the path of immortal cultivation had quietly opened within his body, and he had to figure out the various challenges he was about to face.
Among countless search engine results, he finally found some clues. Although those materials looked scattered and vague, they faintly revealed some key information: cultivation methods, how to utilize spiritual qi to temper the physical body, and how to break through the congenital realm to shatter mortal limitations. There was even mention of terms such as "spiritual root", "magical artifact", and "pills". Chen Haotian felt dizzy reading it all, yet his determination to explore these things only grew firmer.
He began browsing through article after article on cultivation, picking out the most important content to gradually build a preliminary understanding of the cultivation world. Cultivation remained a long and arduous road. Every step of improvement required a massive amount of time and effort, and even relied on external aids such as spiritual pills and spiritual roots. A cultivator's breakthrough relied not only on personal practice, but even more so on alignment and resonance with the spiritual qi of heaven and earth.
"Does this spiritual qi really exist?" Chen Haotian muttered to himself. His doubts had not completely vanished, but certain matters could no longer be avoided. He recalled the moment on the street when he stopped those delinquents, and the feeling of spiritual qi erupting within his body.
"If cultivation is real, then... does this mean I have already stepped into the ranks of cultivators?" he asked himself in a low voice, a glimmer of resolute light in his eyes.
Yet, despite the surging desire to explore in Chen Haotian's heart, reality was far more complex than he had imagined. The existence of that spiritual qi did not mean he could easily control it; wanting to further elevate himself and break through his limits obviously required even greater effort.
That evening, Chen Haotian decided to start with the most basic cultivation. He opened his laptop, found an unused yoga mat, and spread it out on the floor. Although this was not a specialized cultivation technique for cultivators, it was still somewhat helpful for physical relaxation and breath regulation.
He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and began adjusting his breathing according to the materials he had found. At this point, he focused his attention inward, feeling the flow of that newly awakened spiritual qi. Although the spiritual qi had no distinct form, Chen Haotian could sense it silently flowing through every single one of his meridians, as if searching for a path leading to a higher level.
"Relax, relax..." He reminded himself repeatedly, trying to slip into a deeper state.
This was not easy, especially in an urban environment. The honking of cars downstairs, the noise from neighbors, and the occasional sound of electric saws from the street would all disrupt Chen Haotian's cultivation. Even so, he resolved not to give up, single-mindedly focusing on adjusting his breathing and state of mind.
Gradually, he found that the flow of spiritual qi within his body began to steady, and he too entered a delicate state. With every deep breath, he could feel the spiritual qi in the air entering his body, while every exhale expelled the turbid breath from within. It seemed as though every breath was purifying his body and soul.
However, Chen Haotian did not stop. He knew clearly that this was merely the most basic practice, falling far short of allowing him to truly master this spiritual qi and genuinely enter the world of cultivation. He decided to gradually figure out his own cultivation method through more practice.
Thus, he began his daily training, increasing the guiding force of the spiritual qi within his body. He discovered that his perception was gradually sharpening, and his body felt lighter than ever before. Not only that, he could even sense the existence of spiritual qi in the most minute places; every breeze in the air and every flagstone on the street seemed nourished by spiritual qi, brimming with vitality.
Yet, this transformation did not become completely effortless as time went on. As his cultivation deepened, Chen Haotian felt a crushing pressure weigh down upon him. This pressure came not only from the constantly growing spiritual qi within his body, but also from the complexity of the cultivation world.
"I must become stronger." He drew a deep breath, secretly resolving in his heart.
Right at that moment, a sudden knock on the door shattered Chen Haotian's thoughts. Frowning, he quickly stood up and walked toward the entrance.
Opening the door, standing outside was an attractive woman dressed in professional attire. She stood straight and her expression was calm, seemingly unaffected by the external clamor.
"Are you Chen Haotian?" Her voice was clear and carried a hint of pressure.
Chen Haotian was slightly stunned, a sense of unease rising in his heart: "Who are you?"
"I am an emissary from the Heavenly Dao Society." The woman smiled faintly, a mysterious light flashing in her eyes. "I've heard of you, and I wanted to come and understand the changes in you recently."
Chen Haotian felt a shock in his heart. The Heavenly Dao Society—this was a term he had accidentally seen online, rumored to be an organization dedicated to contacting cultivators, deeply hidden in the shadows of this city and seemingly tied to the fates of many practitioners.
"You... are a cultivator?" Chen Haotian took a deep breath, a multitude of questions churning in his heart.
The woman did not answer directly; instead, she looked up at Chen Haotian, a playful smile flashing in her eyes. "A cultivator? You could say that. You have spiritual qi as well, so why not join us and explore a higher realm?"
Chen Haotian fell silent for a moment, his inner doubt and curiosity already intertwined. He felt that he was about to step into a new world—a world far more complex and fraught with danger. Every choice here could alter his future destiny.
"I need time to think." Chen Haotian replied calmly.
"Time waits for no one." The woman smiled lightly, a profound look flashing in her eyes. "But you will soon understand that cultivation is not a path you can simply choose casually. Be prepared, Chen Haotian."
With that, the woman turned and left, her steps light and resolute, as if she had long foreseen everything that was to come.
Chen Haotian gazed at the woman's departing back, his heart in turmoil. He knew that at this very moment, his destiny had quietly taken a turning point.