C8 The First Time He Cultivated

Thousands of miles from the battlefield, nestled within a nondescript little cave, a handsome young man sat cross-legged, his eyes half-closed and his expression one of pure joy. The mist around him gave the place an almost ethereal quality, as if it were a haven for immortals.

Chu Tianyu had been cultivating non-stop for three days, and the Genuine Qi within him had tripled in volume and doubled in density, becoming incredibly potent. But hunger forced him to pause; his mortal body had its limits.

Ceasing the circulation of Genuine Qi, Tianyu slowly opened his eyes. Despite the weariness they held, his excitement was unmistakable and irrepressible.

"Hahaha, I've finally managed to cultivate!" he exclaimed, more thrilled than if he'd hit a five-million-dollar jackpot.

"Calm down, kid. Take a moment to really feel it," Ao Xingyun, who had been silent for the past three days, chimed in.

Tianyu didn't quite grasp his meaning but attempted to circulate the Genuine Qi again. To his dismay, he found his meridians empty and not a trace of Genuine Qi in his dantian. "Big brother, what's happening? I had so much Genuine Qi just a moment ago!" he lamented, his face falling like a frost-stricken eggplant.

Ao Xingyun offered no direct answer but instead expressed admiration. "Impressive, better than I anticipated. To endure three days on your first attempt at cultivation suggests a boundless future."

Considering Ao Xingyun's high standards, having seen countless prodigies fail to impress him, his praise was no small feat.

This brought some solace to Tianyu's bruised spirit, though he remained downcast. "Big brother, what's going on? At this rate, I'll never meet your expectations!"

Ao Xingyun was moved that Tianyu was still concerned about meeting his standards. "Don't worry. To have come this far in just three days is commendable. Try testing your strength now," he encouraged.

Though confused, Tianyu reached for the fist-sized stone beside him, which was several times denser than any on Earth, weighing about ten kilograms. Before, he could barely lift it, but now, he summoned all his strength for the task.

With a sudden thud, Chu Tianyu unexpectedly fell backward onto the ground. Initially shocked, he quickly became elated, realizing that his fall was due to overexertion!

"Big brother, what's happening? Why do I feel so much stronger?" Chu Tianyu's spirits lifted considerably, as he had at last shed the nickname 'ten pounds.'

"You possess an Emptiness Spirit Body, which cannot retain Spiritual Qi. However, when you practice the body forging technique, the Genuine Qi in your meridians will expand and solidify them, fortifying your body. Even if the Genuine Qi vanishes, the physical strength remains unchanged!"

Chu Tianyu now understood that while his body couldn't hold Spiritual Qi, the Genuine Qi he circulated was his own and would naturally enhance his physique. It was as if he was borrowing Spiritual Qi from the universe to empower himself!

"So, what's my current strength level? I feel many times more powerful!" Chu Tianyu inquired eagerly.

For a master like Ao Xingyun, answering such a question was effortless. A quick scan with his Divine Sense gave him a clear picture of Chu Tianyu's condition.

"Your strength is about a hundred kilograms now. To achieve such a result on your first try is quite impressive!" Ao Xingyun praised without reservation. Receiving commendation from a prodigy of the Dragon Clan was enough to make Chu Tianyu beam with pride among his peers.

"A hundred kilograms! I'll need to work hard for a year to maintain this!" A year was neither too long nor too short, but for Chu Tianyu, it felt like an eternity. He needed to obtain the Heart Protecting Flower quickly to prevent his mother from worrying. Even though she might not be his mother by that time, he was determined to keep his promise.

"I must redouble my efforts!" He immediately sat down to resume his cultivation practice.

Ao Xingyun, taken aback, asked, "What are you doing?"

"Cultivating. Otherwise, it'll take a year to reach Level Three, and my mother will worry about me!"

Ao Xingyun quickly grasped the reasoning behind his one-year timeline and couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Who said it would take a year? Besides, cultivation shouldn't be all about relentless effort. It's important to strike a balance; otherwise, you'll end up working harder for diminishing returns."

Chu Tianyu came to a realization; indeed, cultivation was much like studying. Spending all day with his nose in books would surely turn him into a simpleton! "Big brother, what should I do now?"

"Are you hungry?"

His stomach growled in response to Ao Xingyun's question. "What does being hungry have to do with cultivation?"

Ao Xingyun paused, then snapped in frustration, "Fool, if you're hungry, you need to eat!" And with that, he fell silent.

Embarrassed, Chu Tianyu scratched his head. "Why did I even ask that? I must have been cultivating for too long. Big brother is right; at this rate, I'll end up a fool!"

After some effort, Chu Tianyu managed to catch a rabbit and, with his rudimentary skills, roasted it to a barely edible state, just enough to quell his hunger.

The recent massive battle had driven away all the Demonic Beasts in the vicinity, sparing Chu Tianyu from danger. The local rabbits, fierce and strong, could have posed a serious threat to his former self!

"Strength is essential to fill one's belly," Chu Tianyu mused. Previously, he might have perished from hunger if not from being preyed upon by wild beasts. He then felt a bit queasy, likely from consuming undercooked meat. "Clearly, cooking skills are crucial too, or else one risks an upset stomach!"

"Now, try circulating your Genuine Qi," Ao Xingyun instructed, cutting straight to the chase without any preamble.

As Chu Tianyu channeled his Genuine Qi, he sensed something was amiss. The energy was denser than when he first began, yet it paled in comparison to his last session. Disheartened, he coughed and asked, "Big brother, what's happening?" His face turned a shade of crimson, indicating he might be hurt.

He had been distracted while speaking, causing his Genuine Qi to surge chaotically. If it hadn't been so weak, he might have been in mortal danger.

"Cultivation requires undivided attention because it's critical not to make any mistakes. A minor error could cripple you, while a major one could be fatal. I didn't warn you earlier because I wanted you to learn this lesson through experience—it's the only way it'll truly stick," Ao Xingyun explained. In that moment, he resembled less of a supreme warrior and more of a kind and respectable mentor.

"I'll remember that!" Chu Tianyu felt deeply moved. Ao Xingyun might have been somewhat stern, but his genuine concern for Tianyu was undeniable. It brought tears to the eyes of Tianyu, who hadn't experienced such care in a very long time.

Tianyu settled into a cross-legged position on the ground, held his breath, and immersed himself in his cultivation with complete focus.

This time, the process felt familiar, and with his concentration at an all-time high, he quickly entered a deep meditative state. The Genuine Qi cycled through his meridians repeatedly, gradually becoming denser and more substantial...

In less than two days, he had attained the level he had achieved at the end of his last session, but he didn't stop there. As the Genuine Qi continued its course, he slowly exceeded his previous limits. Yet, Tianyu remained oblivious to these milestones, dedicating himself entirely to his cultivation practice.

The minor injuries he had sustained earlier had fully healed by the first day. Meanwhile, numerous wild beasts had taken notice of Tianyu, but with Ao Xingyun acting as his formidable guardian, no harm came his way. A mere hint of Xingyun's aura was enough to send all the beasts scattering, Demonic Beasts included.