The backyard had grown quiet.
A gentle wind drifted through the wooden fencing while faint village sounds echoed softly from beyond the residence.
Lian sat cross-legged nervously on the ground.
His eyes were shut tightly.
His hands rested stiffly upon his knees.
Before him stood Village Head Wa Shi, calm and composed, both hands folded behind his back.
"…Relax your breathing first."
Lian immediately tried to obey.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Slowly.
Carefully.
But after only a few breaths—
his shoulders tensed once again.
Wa Shi noticed instantly.
"You are thinking too much."
Lian stiffened awkwardly.
"…Sorry."
Nearby, Auntie Xu let out a soft chuckle while Xu Mei remained beneath the tree, silently observing him.
The old village head sighed faintly.
"Do not force it."
"Spiritual energy cannot be grasped through impatience."
"Calm your mind first."
Lian nodded slightly before trying again.
This time—
he focused only on breathing.
Nothing else.
Slowly—
his body relaxed little by little.
The backyard grew even quieter afterward.
Minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
Lian remained motionless.
Trying desperately to feel something.
Anything at all.
The wind.
The earth beneath him.
The air around him.
Spiritual energy.
But no matter how hard he focused—
everything still felt ordinary.
Only darkness behind his closed eyes.
Nothing more.
Sweat gradually formed across his forehead.
Wa Shi observed him silently.
He was not surprised.
For someone with low-grade Five Element spiritual roots—
spiritual perception would naturally be weak.
Beneath the earth—
the invisible white lizard watched quietly as well.
The backyard remained peaceful beneath the fading daylight.
Hours passed slowly.
The sun drifted lower across the horizon while the wind occasionally stirred the nearby herbs and wooden fencing.
Lian remained seated cross-legged the entire time.
Eyes closed tightly.
Trying again.
And again.
And again.
To feel something.
Anything.
But no matter how deeply he concentrated—
nothing appeared.
No spiritual energy.
No mysterious sensation.
Only darkness and the faint sounds of the village surrounding him.
Several times his breathing became uneven with frustration.
Several times Wa Shi corrected him calmly.
"Relax."
"Do not chase it."
"The more anxious your mind becomes, the harder perception will be."
So Lian tried once more.
Again.
And again.
Meanwhile—
Auntie Xu had long since returned inside the residence.
Even Xu Mei eventually stopped watching and quietly resumed her own cultivation beneath the tree.
Only Wa Shi remained nearby.
Patiently observing.
Beneath the earth—
the lizard silently watched throughout it all.
Its golden eyes remained calm.
Humans truly cultivated slowly.
If it were him—
the surrounding spiritual energy would have already flowed naturally into his body without effort.
Interesting.
Eventually—
the final traces of sunlight disappeared beyond the mountains.
Darkness quietly spread across the backyard.
Night had arrived.
Only then—
did Wa Shi finally speak.
"…Lian."
Lian's eyes opened immediately.
For a brief moment—
he looked disoriented.
Then he noticed the darkness around him.
"…It's already night?"
His voice sounded exhausted.
He struggled slightly before standing stiffly from the ground.
His legs nearly gave out after remaining seated for the entire day.
Disappointment slowly surfaced across his face.
"…I couldn't sense anything…"
"Even after an entire day…"
Wa Shi looked at him calmly.
"There is no need to belittle yourself."
"That is normal."
"Especially for someone with your kind of spiritual roots."
The old man's voice remained steady.
"Some people require days."
"Some require weeks."
"Some even need months before they successfully awaken spiritual perception."
Lian lowered his head slightly.
Still disappointed.
But Wa Shi continued calmly.
"You only began today."
"We will continue again tomorrow."
Lian remained silent for a moment.
Then slowly nodded.
"…Yes."
Afterward—
he bowed respectfully toward the old man.
"Then I'll take my leave now."
"If I return too late, my mother will worry."
Wa Shi nodded once.
"Go."
"Return tomorrow morning."
Lian immediately agreed before turning toward the exit.
Exhausted.
Sore.
Yet despite the disappointment—
a faint determination still remained visible within his eyes.
Because even if his progress was slow—
he had already taken the first step onto a path he once believed impossible.
Beneath the earth—
the lizard silently followed once more.
Still watching.
Still curious for reasons even he himself did not fully understand.
The backyard grew quiet again after Lian departed.
Only the faint sounds of insects and distant village chatter drifted through the cool night air beyond the wooden fencing.
Wa Shi remained standing silently beneath the dim moonlight.
His hands folded behind his back.
Thoughtful.
Then—
soft footsteps approached from behind.
Xu Mei.
The young girl rose from beneath the tree and slowly walked toward her grandfather.
Her dark eyes briefly glanced toward the empty entrance where Lian had disappeared moments earlier.
"…He's already gone, Grandpa."
Wa Shi nodded faintly.
Silence lingered briefly afterward.
Then Xu Mei quietly asked—
"…Why didn't you help him like you helped me?"
The old man remained quiet for a moment.
Beneath the earth—
the lizard listened silently.
Finally—
Wa Shi spoke.
"…Because I have my reasons."
Xu Mei looked up at him quietly.
The old village head slowly lifted his gaze toward the dark night sky overhead.
"The path of cultivation is not easy."
His voice was low.
Steady.
"If someone obtains everything too easily—"
"They stop understanding its value."
The wind stirred softly through the backyard.
Wa Shi continued.
"But when something is difficult…"
"When someone struggles for it…"
"…that is when they truly learn to treasure it."
Xu Mei listened silently.
The old man's gaze drifted toward the direction Lian had left.
"That boy already understands hardship."
"He has determination."
"So he must walk the beginning of this path himself."
"He must learn patience."
"Discipline."
"And persistence."
Xu Mei blinked once before asking softly—
"…Then what about me?"
"If receiving help makes people value things less…"
"…didn't I receive this opportunity too easily?"
The old man became still for a brief moment.
Then—
his expression softened.
Wa Shi bent down and gently pulled the young girl into his arms.
Xu Mei blinked slightly in surprise as he quietly embraced her.
"You are different."
His aged voice carried a trace of warmth now.
"Having guidance is also a form of talent."
"I may have helped clear the road before you—"
"…but your achievements are still your own."
The old man lightly patted her head.
"You cultivated successfully because you worked hard."
"Because you listened carefully."
"Because you endured."
"I merely showed you the direction."
Xu Mei grew quiet afterward.
Then slowly—
she wrapped her small arms around him as well.
"…Mn."
Beneath the earth—
the lizard continued listening silently.
Humans truly were strange creatures.
Yet strangely—
he did not feel any dislike while observing them.
Night had already settled over the village by the time Lian finally returned home.
Soft lantern light glowed faintly through the cracks of the small wooden house while the cool evening wind drifted through the narrow dirt paths outside.
The moment the door opened—
his mother immediately stood from beside the stove.
"Lian!"
Relief instantly flooded her face.
"You're finally back."
Lian scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he stepped inside.
"Sorry… it got late."
His mother quickly walked over.
"How was it?"
"Did Village Head Wa Shi accept you?"
The exhaustion on Lian's face immediately weakened beneath rising excitement.
"He did."
A broad grin spread across his face.
"He already started teaching me today."
His mother's eyes widened slightly.
"Already?"
Lian nodded eagerly while closing the door behind him.
"I'll be going there every day from now on."
Excitement still lingered visibly across his face despite the exhausting day.
His mother smiled faintly afterward.
But her gaze soon lowered toward the bandages wrapped around his body.
"…And your injuries?"
"Are you feeling worse after moving around all day?"
Lian blinked slightly.
Then paused.
Only now realizing something strange.
"…Huh."
His mother frowned.
"What is it?"
Lian slowly pulled aside the cloth around his shoulder before carefully removing part of his upper clothing.
The wound revealed beneath the lantern light caused both of them to freeze.
The deep claw wound from the previous day had already closed significantly.
The swelling had reduced dramatically.
Even the torn flesh had partially sealed itself.
Lian stared blankly.
"…It healed this much already?"
His mother looked equally stunned.
"That's impossible…"
Normal injuries did not recover this quickly.
Especially not wounds caused by spiritual beasts.
Lian carefully touched the injury.
It still hurt slightly—
but nowhere near as badly as before.
His mother stared at the wound for several long moments before slowly speaking.
"…Is this because of cultivation?"
Lian immediately looked toward her.
"What?"
She pointed carefully toward the wound.
"The immortals recover quickly, don't they?"
"Maybe it started because you began cultivating today?"
Lian immediately shook his head.
"No way."
"I haven't even sensed spiritual energy yet."
Silence filled the room once more.
Both of them stared thoughtfully at the wound.
Then suddenly—
something crossed Lian's mind.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…The meat."
His mother blinked.
"The spirit beast meat."
Lian quickly looked toward her.
"It has to be that."
"We ate Rank Two spirit beast meat this morning."
"It probably helped my body recover faster."
His mother stared at him briefly before slowly nodding.
"…That does sound possible."
Even ordinary villagers knew spiritual beast meat contained nourishment far beyond that of normal animals.
Though neither of them truly understood cultivation—
the explanation sounded reasonable enough.
Then Lian suddenly looked toward the stove.
"…Wait."
"Is there any left?"
His mother blinked before laughing softly.
"Of course there is."
"I already warmed it up again for dinner."
She turned toward the pot near the fire.
"I'll serve it now."
Lian's eyes immediately brightened.
The exhaustion from the day suddenly felt much lighter.
"Then let's eat before it gets cold."
His mother smiled faintly for the first time that day before turning toward the cooking area.
"I also prepared some rice to go with it."
Meanwhile—
deep beneath the wooden floor—
the invisible white lizard remained motionless within the earth.
Golden eyes calm.
Watching silently.
Listening quietly to the warm atmosphere above.
The aroma of cooked spirit beast meat drifted faintly downward through the cracks in the floorboards.
Lian sat quietly near the table afterward while touching the wound along his side once more.
Still sore.
But undeniably healing far faster than normal.
Even the bruising had faded considerably.
His thoughts drifted immediately toward the forest.
Toward the dead Rank Two beast.
Toward the invisible "immortal" who had saved him.
An earth spike capable of instantly killing a Second Stage Spirit Refining beast…
Just thinking about it caused his chest to tighten slightly.
Strong.
Far too strong.
Lian lowered his gaze quietly.
"…I wonder what kind of cultivator they were…"
His mother paused briefly while placing bowls onto the table.
Then softly replied—
"Perhaps a wandering immortal."
"Or perhaps simply someone kind."
Lian became silent afterward.
Kind.
The word felt strange.
Cultivators were powerful beings far beyond ordinary villagers.
Most people feared them more than admired them.
Yet that unseen person had saved him without asking for anything in return.
Without even revealing themselves.
The thought lingered quietly within his mind.
Soon—
his mother finished serving the meal.
The two began eating together beneath the dim lantern light.
Outside—
the night gradually deepened over the village.
And beneath the earth below the small home—
the lizard remained motionless.
Silently observing the humans above.
Their conversation.
Their relief.
Their warmth.
Strange creatures.
Weak.
Fragile.
Yet they continued struggling forward regardless.
The lizard's tail shifted slightly beneath the soil.
He already understood the reason for Lian's rapid recovery.
The boy's injuries had not been severe enough to resist the restorative effects of the spirit beast meat.
Simple.
The lizard's attention drifted upward once more afterward.
He could hear Lian speaking excitedly now about tomorrow's cultivation practice.
About sensing spiritual energy.
About eventually becoming stronger.
The mother listened quietly while occasionally smiling softly.
Then—
after some time—
the meal ended.
Lian stretched slightly before wincing from the lingering soreness.
His mother immediately frowned again.
"You should sleep early."
"You've already pushed yourself enough today."
Lian laughed awkwardly.
"…Alright."
The lantern light dimmed further afterward.
Soon—
the small home gradually fell silent.
Lian eventually lay beneath his blanket while staring upward at the wooden ceiling.
Even now—
his thoughts remained filled with cultivation.
Immortals.
Spiritual roots.
And the unseen figure who had saved his life.
Eventually—
his eyes slowly closed.
Sleep claimed him not long afterward.
Silence returned to the small house.
Beneath the earth—
the lizard remained still for several quiet moments longer.
Then—
slowly—
his body sank deeper into the soil.
Moving silently away beneath the sleeping village.