Lian carefully stored the jade bottle back inside his robes afterward.
His movements were cautious.
Almost nervous.
As though he feared the pills might somehow disappear if he handled them carelessly.
Wa Shi noticed the reaction immediately.
But the old village head said nothing.
He merely turned around and slowly walked back toward the house, his aged figure carrying the same calm steadiness as always.
"…Remember this clearly."
Lian straightened at once.
"Yes, Village Head."
Wa Shi paused near the doorway before speaking again.
"Cultivation is dangerous."
"The outside world is far crueler than this village."
"If you become careless simply because you've stepped onto the path…"
"…you will only die faster."
Lian's expression gradually turned serious.
The excitement inside his eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by understanding.
"Yes, Village Head."
Wa Shi gave a faint nod of approval.
Then he disappeared into the residence without another word.
Only Lian and Xu Mei remained standing in the quiet backyard afterward.
The evening breeze drifted softly through the trees.
Leaves rustled gently overhead while the fading sunlight painted the courtyard in warm orange light.
For a brief moment—
neither of them spoke.
Then Xu Mei slowly walked closer.
Her long black hair swayed lightly behind her while her curious gaze drifted toward the jade bottle hidden beneath Lian's robes.
"So…"
"You're finally a cultivator now."
Lian immediately laughed awkwardly.
"…Only barely."
Xu Mei crossed her arms.
"Hmph."
"You still couldn't properly sense spiritual energy yesterday."
Lian coughed dryly.
"…There's no need to say it like that."
Xu Mei's lips curved faintly afterward.
But then—
her expression softened slightly.
"…Still."
"Congratulations."
Lian blinked briefly in surprise.
Then scratched his cheek awkwardly again.
"…Thanks."
The backyard quieted once more.
Then Lian suddenly remembered something.
"…Right."
"Xu Mei."
The young girl tilted her head slightly.
"What?"
Lian hesitated for a moment before asking carefully,
"…How long did it take you to sense spiritual energy?"
Xu Mei thought quietly for several seconds.
"…Grandfather helped guide me."
"But even then…"
"…it still took around twelve days."
Lian's eyes widened instantly.
"Twelve?!"
Xu Mei frowned immediately.
"What's with that reaction?"
Lian hurriedly waved his hands.
"No, no, nothing!"
But inwardly—
he was genuinely stunned.
Twelve days.
And that was with direct guidance from Wa Shi himself.
Meanwhile, he had managed to sense spiritual energy within only several days despite receiving almost no assistance.
For some reason—
his chest puffed out slightly afterward.
Xu Mei noticed immediately.
"…Why do you suddenly look proud?"
Lian coughed awkwardly again.
"…I don't."
Xu Mei stared at him suspiciously for several moments.
Then she rolled her eyes lightly.
"Hmph."
"Anyway…"
"Don't become overconfident just because you've entered cultivation."
"The first stage is the easiest step."
This time, Lian nodded seriously.
"…I know."
His hand unconsciously touched the jade bottle hidden inside his robes once again.
Qi Gathering Pills.
Real cultivation resources.
And spiritual energy now flowing inside his body.
Even now—
everything still felt somewhat unreal.
But slowly—
the reality settled deeper into his mind.
He had truly stepped onto the path of cultivation now.
The same path walked by immortals.
The same path walked by those powerful beings capable of flying through the heavens and killing terrifying beasts effortlessly.
His gaze unconsciously drifted toward the distant mountains beyond the village.
Toward the endless forest.
Toward the mysterious cultivator who had once saved his life.
One day…
…he wanted to reach that level too.
Beneath the earth below them—
the white lizard watched silently.
The boy's emotions were easy to understand.
Excitement.
Ambition.
Hope.
Then Lian suddenly called out before leaving.
"…Xu Mei."
The young girl turned slightly.
"What?"
Lian hesitated briefly before speaking again.
"You're already at the First Stage of Spirit Refining, right?"
Xu Mei nodded lightly.
"So?"
Lian scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Then… you must've already learned some techniques?"
Xu Mei blinked once.
Then narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Why are you asking?"
Lian immediately waved his hands.
"I know I'm still far from learning techniques."
"I just…"
"…want to see one."
"Can you show me?"
Xu Mei stared at him silently for several moments.
Then flatly replied,
"No."
Lian froze.
"…Why not?"
Xu Mei crossed her arms again.
"Techniques aren't toys."
"They're not something you casually use for entertainment."
Lian stared blankly after hearing that.
Entertainment?
For some reason—
she truly didn't act like a seven-year-old child at all.
Still—
he quickly leaned forward slightly.
"Come on."
"Just once."
"I've never seen a real spiritual technique before."
Xu Mei remained completely unmoved.
Lian continued shamelessly.
"Please?"
"Just a little?"
"I promise I won't bother you again."
Xu Mei's eyelid twitched faintly.
Then finally—
she sighed in defeat.
"…Fine."
Lian's eyes immediately lit up.
Xu Mei calmly continued afterward.
"Right now, I'm learning two arts."
"One is Water Control."
"The other is Wind Control."
Her expression became slightly more serious afterward.
"I'll only show you Wind Control."
Lian nodded rapidly.
"Yes, yes!"
Xu Mei stepped forward into the open center of the backyard.
The evening breeze drifted around her loose robes and flowing black hair.
Then—
she slowly raised one small hand.
Her breathing gradually steadied.
Spiritual energy quietly circulated through her body.
Lian immediately focused completely.
Eyes wide.
The air around Xu Mei shifted faintly afterward.
At first—
nothing obvious happened.
Then slowly—
wind currents began gathering around her fingers.
Soft streams of moving air curled visibly around her hand like transparent ribbons.
The surrounding leaves rustled violently.
Dust lifted gently from the ground.
Lian's eyes widened even further.
Spiritual energy…
…was actually influencing reality itself.
Xu Mei's expression remained calm and focused.
Then gently—
she pushed her hand forward.
FWOOOSH.
A concentrated gust of wind exploded outward across the backyard instantly.
The grass bent violently beneath the pressure.
Loose leaves scattered everywhere.
Even the wooden fence creaked faintly before the wind finally dispersed several meters away.
Silence returned shortly afterward.
Xu Mei lowered her hand calmly.
"…That's Wind Control."
Lian stood there completely stunned.
"…Amazing."
Xu Mei attempted to maintain a calm expression—
but the slight lift of her chin betrayed her satisfaction.
"Hmph."
"It's only beginner-level."
"But against ordinary people, it's already more than enough."
Lian looked at her with unconcealed excitement now.
"You actually controlled the wind…"
Xu Mei folded her arms once more.
"Of course."
"Spiritual techniques convert spiritual energy into external effects."
"You'll eventually learn too."
Lian's excitement only intensified after hearing that.
Cultivation suddenly felt even more real now.
Not just meditation.
Not just sensing energy.
But actual supernatural power.
Meanwhile—
beneath the earth below them—
the white lizard remained silent.
Golden eyes calm and emotionless.
Wind manipulation.
Primitive.
Crude.
Weak.
Yet for low-level humans—
still considered a worthwhile technique.
Lian quickly bowed toward Xu Mei afterward.
"Thanks for showing me."
Xu Mei merely nodded lightly.
"Hmph."
"Just don't start imagining you'll be using techniques tomorrow."
Lian laughed awkwardly.
"I know."
Then he turned and hurried out of the backyard.
The evening sky had already darkened considerably by then.
Warm lantern lights flickered throughout the village while distant voices echoed softly between wooden homes.
Lian walked quietly along the dirt path afterward.
But his thoughts remained restless.
Wind Control.
Actual spiritual techniques.
The image of swirling wind around Xu Mei's hand replayed repeatedly inside his mind.
Amazing.
Even now—
he still found it difficult to believe he had truly entered this world.
Only several days ago—
he had merely been an ordinary village boy risking his life gathering herbs inside the forest.
Now—
he could sense spiritual energy.
Circulate qi.
And possessed real cultivation pills hidden beneath his robes.
Everything had changed too quickly.
Lian's hand unconsciously touched the jade bottle again while walking.
Four Qi Gathering Pills.
Treasure.
Real cultivator resources.
Then his thoughts drifted once more toward the unseen immortal who had saved him.
An earth spike instantly piercing through a Rank Two beast…
Compared to that—
Xu Mei's Wind Control suddenly felt very small.
Yet instead of discouraging him—
the thought only strengthened his determination further.
One day…
…I'll become that strong too.
Strong enough to survive the forest.
Strong enough to protect Mother.
Strong enough to bring her back.
His expression quietly hardened afterward.
The evening wind brushed softly past him while the warm lights of the village flickered ahead.
And beneath the earth below—
the white lizard continued following silently.
Watching.
Observing.
The boy's thoughts were simple enough to understand.
Strength.
Once someone glimpsed true power—
they would inevitably begin chasing it.
Time passed quietly afterward.
Lian eventually returned home beneath the dark night sky, still clutching the jade bottle carefully beneath his robes.
After eating dinner together with his mother—
he hid the pills securely beneath the bed before collapsing onto his bedding almost immediately from exhaustion.
The past several days had drained him completely.
Cultivation.
Training.
Meditation.
Mental exhaustion weighed far heavier than ordinary physical labor.
So the moment his head touched the pillow—
he fell asleep deeply.
—
The next morning—
sunlight was already streaming through the wooden windows by the time Lian finally woke.
"…Mnn…"
He yawned heavily while slowly sitting upright on the bed.
His entire body felt sluggish.
Not painful.
Just exhausted.
Lian rubbed his eyes before glancing around the small house.
"…Mom?"
No response came.
He blinked once.
Then scratched his messy hair.
"…Already out?"
His gaze shifted toward the wooden table nearby.
Several covered dishes rested there quietly.
Still slightly warm.
Lian smiled faintly.
"She left food…"
He climbed off the bed afterward before walking toward the table.
The room soon filled with quiet eating sounds.
After finishing—
he carefully cleaned the bowls and plates before setting them aside neatly.
Then he suddenly paused.
Sniff.
Silence.
Sniff sniff.
Lian's expression slowly changed.
"…I smell terrible."
He lowered his head slightly before grimacing.
"…How many days has it been since I bathed?"
Between cultivation and constantly running around the village—
he had completely forgotten.
"…No wonder…"
He muttered awkwardly.
"I probably smell like a forest beast."
Lian sighed before glancing toward the water buckets near the door.
"…I should fetch water later."
But then—
his eyes shifted toward the hidden spot beneath the bed.
Immediately—
his expression brightened again.
"The pills…"
He quickly crouched down and carefully retrieved the jade bottle.
Even now—
holding it still felt unreal.
Qi Gathering Pills.
Real cultivation medicine.
Lian slowly opened the bottle afterward.
A faint medicinal fragrance immediately drifted outward.
Fresh.
Cool.
Rich with spiritual energy.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Amazing."
Inside rested several pale green pills no larger than fingertips.
Lian hesitated briefly.
Then muttered softly,
"…Before bathing…"
"…I should try one first."
He carefully poured a single pill into his palm before quickly hiding the remaining three once more.
Then he sat cross-legged upon the bed.
Nervous.
Excited.
The pill rested quietly between his fingers.
"…Alright…"
Without hesitating further—
he swallowed it.
The instant the pill entered his stomach—
warmth spread explosively throughout his body.
Lian's eyes widened sharply.
"…!"
Spiritual energy erupted within him far more intensely than anything he had absorbed naturally before.
Warm currents surged rapidly through his meridians like rushing streams.
Dense.
Pure.
And far easier to guide than the scattered qi floating naturally within the air.
Lian hurriedly closed his eyes and began circulating his cultivation method exactly as Wa Shi had taught him.
The spiritual energy responded immediately.
Smoothly.
Almost eagerly.
His breathing gradually steadied afterward.
Spiritual qi circulated through his meridians faster and faster while faint spiritual fluctuations spread outward from his seated body.
Even Lian himself could clearly feel the difference.
This…
…was completely different from his ordinary cultivation.
Meanwhile—
beneath the earth below the house—
the white lizard quietly watched.
The pill's quality was mediocre.
The impurities within it were obvious.
Yet for a mortal who had only recently stepped into cultivation—
it was more than sufficient.
Interesting.