Morning mist blanketed the Clear Sky Sect.
Clouds drifted lazily across jade bridges.
The distant hum of disciples cultivating vibrated softly through the mountains.
Birdsong echoed beneath the canopy, harmonizing with the water flowing in the spirit ponds.
In Elder Yun Feixue's private courtyard, Wuya sat cross-legged beneath the ancient plum tree.
He closed his eyes.
Breathing slow.
Breathing steady.
Xueyi paced circles around him anxiously.
"Hao Wuya. Wuya. Hao Wuya. Are you breathing right?"
"…Yes."
"Are your veins exploding?"
"No."
"Are your lungs leaking Qi?"
"No."
"Is your body rejecting the cultivation method?"
"No."
"Then WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO ASCEND AND LEAVE ME?!"
"…I am sitting."
Xueyi slapped a plum branch.
"Sit LESS dramatically!"
Elder Yun Feixue appeared at the entrance, robes fluttering softly like drifting snow.
"Xueyi."
Xueyi squeaked.
"Yes, Master? I didn't break anything! I only hit the tree! It deserved it!"
Elder Yun smiled faintly.
"It is fine."
She turned to Wuya.
"Good. Your posture is natural. Your breathing clean. Your veins resonate with the early signs of cultivation."
Wuya nodded quietly.
"Thank you, Master."
Xueyi sat beside him, arms crossed.
"He never looked 'natural' doing anything until NOW. He's scary."
Elder Yun's eyes sparkled slightly.
"Fear is only born from misunderstanding. Come—today, I will begin teaching you the Mortal Foundation Arts."
She raised her hand.
Wind gathered around her fingertips like obedient children.
Her voice softened.
"Wuya, today you will learn the most important part of your early path: Breath Guidance."
---
THE FIST ART OF BREATH GUIDANCE
Elder Yun sat before them, her posture flawless.
Her voice flowed like calm water.
"Breath is the bridge between mortal and cultivator.
Without breath, one cannot sense Qi.
Without Qi, one cannot strengthen the body.
Without the body, one cannot carry the Dao."
She placed a hand over her chest.
"Wuya. Follow my rhythm."
Wuya inhaled.
The wind stirred.
Xueyi blinked, mesmerized.
Elder Yun exhaled.
The plum blossoms trembled and drifted around them.
Wuya felt the world shifting in sync with her breath.
His own breathing followed instinctively.
He exhaled—
And the air around him trembled faintly.
Just a ripple.
But Elder Yun's eyes widened.
"…Already responding?"
Xueyi gasped.
"Wuya, your breath made the air vibrate!"
Wuya blinked.
"…Did it?"
Elder Yun studied him.
"Your body is absorbing the Primordial Breath Thread faster than expected."
Wuya touched his chest.
"I can feel… movement."
"What kind?"
"…Like pressure trying to escape."
Elder Yun nodded.
"That is your meridians preparing for their first real opening."
Xueyi turned pale.
"Opening sounds painful—don't bleed—DON'T BLEED—"
Elder Yun gently placed a finger on Xueyi's forehead.
"Hush."
Xueyi froze instantly.
Wuya felt grateful.
"…Master."
"Yes?"
"What comes after breath guidance?"
Elder Yun's eyes softened.
"Everything."
---
THE PATH OF THREE BEGINNINGS
She raised three fingers.
"Wuya. Mortal cultivation begins with three pillars."
1. The Breath
Guiding the energy of the world through the body.
2. The Body
Strengthening flesh, bones, tendons, and blood.
3. The Spirit
The mind's clarity—the beginning of Dao comprehension.
She gestured toward him.
"You already show signs of the third."
Wuya blinked.
"…Me?"
Elder Yun nodded.
"You touched the Wind Dao for a brief moment before joining the sect."
Xueyi almost fell over.
"HE WHAT?! He did that before even cultivating?!"
Elder Yun smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Wuya stared at the ground.
"…It was just a leaf."
Elder Yun's voice softened.
"A leaf floats with the Dao. Seeing its path means your soul understands something even without Qi."
Her gaze deepened.
"But understanding the Dao early is both a blessing and a danger."
Wuya nodded.
"I will be careful."
"Good," Elder Yun said quietly. "You must be."
---
THE JEALOUS DISCIPLES
Higher up in the plum grove, two inner disciples hid behind a stone wall.
"Look at how Elder Yun treats him!"
"She never taught anyone personally before!"
"She NEVER smiled like that—she's always cold!"
"Is that boy some kind of secret heir?"
"Impossible… but he defeated Chen Liang yesterday."
"I saw that. He dodged everything without Qi."
"…Freakish."
"He must be hiding his realm."
"No—he has no realm. I sensed it."
"That's worse!"
"What do we do?"
The taller disciple narrowed his eyes.
"We watch. We report."
"To who?"
"To Elder Qiong Luo."
The other disciple shuddered.
"He hates Elder Yun's line…"
"Exactly."
They slipped away silently.
---
CULTIVATION BEGINS
Under Elder Yun's guidance, Wuya continued breathing rhythmically.
Slow.
Steady.
Deep.
Every inhale drew faint spiritual energy into his body.
Every exhale purified his meridians.
His veins tingled.
His muscles warmed.
His bones hummed with faint sound.
Xueyi sat next to him, trying hard to mimic him.
But—
"Master!! My breath is stuck!!"
"Breathe."
"I CAN'T!"
"Then stop panicking."
"I CAN'T STOP PANICKING WHILE PANICKING!"
Wuya opened one eye.
"…Xueyi."
"Yes?!"
"Stop trying so hard."
"…But I want to cultivate too."
"You will."
"…Promise?"
Wuya nodded gently.
"Yes."
She beamed and sat quietly, breathing softer.
Elder Yun watched them with quiet affection.
Then—
She suddenly froze.
"Wuya."
Wuya inhaled.
"Something is approaching your veins."
He blinked.
"…A blockage?"
"No."
She pressed her palm over his back.
"A breakthrough."
Xueyi nearly fainted.
"WHAT?! AFTER TEN MINUTES?!"
Elder Yun narrowed her eyes.
"No… not normal. His Primordial Breath Thread is forcing the change."
Wuya's veins burned faintly.
Heat surged through his chest.
He exhaled—
A wave of warmth pulsed out.
Elder Yun whispered:
"…He's ready."
---
THE FOURTH SIGN-IN
Right then—
The Codex stirred violently.
Wuya grabbed his chest.
"Wuya?!" Xueyi cried.
Elder Yun rushed forward.
"What is happening?!"
Wuya's eyes widened.
"…It's the Codex."
Elder Yun blinked.
"The what?"
"Nothing," Wuya lied.
The Codex whispered in his mind:
[Fourth Sign-In Location Triggered]
[Condition Met: Breakthrough Attempt]
[Reward: Preparing…]
Golden patterns filled his vision.
Soft, ancient, primordial.
His body trembled.
Heat swirled in his veins.
Xueyi grabbed his arm.
"Wuya! Don't die! Don't you dare—!"
"…I won't."
"YOU SAID THAT LAST TIME!"
"…I kept my promise."
"NO YOU DIDN'T! YOU ALMOST EXPLODED!"
Elder Yun pressed her palm to Wuya's back.
"The energy is stable. Let it flow."
Wuya exhaled slowly.
The Codex whispered:
[Reward: Meridian Ignition Essence]
[Effect: First Breath Opening 100% Completion]
[Effect: Spirit Vein Purification +12%]
[Effect: Mortal Foundation Realm: Officially Entered]
Wuya's body trembled—
Then stabilised.
His breathing deepened—
Then steadied.
The world sharpened.
The trees looked clearer.
The sky felt closer.
The wind whispered louder.
Elder Yun's eyes widened in awe.
"…He—"
Xueyi grabbed Wuya's shoulders.
"Did you break?! Did you ascend?! Did you unlock secret powers?! Did you—"
Wuya stood slowly.
His veins pulsed with new strength.
He clenched his fist—
And the air around his knuckles rippled faintly.
Just faintly.
A mortal's first true step.
"…Master."
Elder Yun nodded.
"You have officially entered the Mortal Foundation Realm."
Xueyi shrieked.
"FIRST DAY?! FIRST. DAY?!"
She pointed at Wuya accusingly.
"YOU ARE AN UNTRAINED BEAST!"
Wuya blinked.
"…Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
Elder Yun stepped closer.
"Wuya. You did well."
Her hand touched his shoulder gently.
"You must now stabilize your foundation. I will teach you body strengthening, meridian flow, and early Qi circulation."
Wuya nodded respectfully.
"Yes, Master."
She held his gaze a moment longer than expected.
"…You carry more potential than any disciple I have ever met."
Xueyi glared.
"…Master… don't fall for him."
Elder Yun coughed lightly.
"Ahem. Focus."
---
A HEAVENLY WARNING
As Wuya stabilized his breathing—
The sky trembled.
Clouds shifted unnaturally.
Wind howled suddenly.
Leaves flew upward rather than down.
Xueyi clutched Wuya's sleeve.
"W-Wuya… what is that?"
Elder Yun's face hardened.
"…Heaven noticed him again."
Wuya closed his eyes.
"…It's fine."
"It is NOT fine!"
But Wuya remained calm.
Because the Codex whispered softly:
[Stay Calm.]
[Grow Slowly.]
[Heaven fears your existence.]
---
THE SECRET ELDER REACTS
Deep within the sect, Elder Qiong Luo snapped open his eyes.
"That aura…
That breakthrough…
Impossible…"
He clenched his fist.
"That child…"
His voice lowered to a deadly whisper:
"…must not be allowed to grow unchecked."
---
A NEW PATH BEGINS
As night fell, Wuya sat beneath the plum tree.
Xueyi leaned on his shoulder.
Elder Yun meditated nearby, watching over them.
Wuya breathed calmly.
Stronger.
Clearer.
Deeper.
The Mortal Foundation Realm had begun.
The Codex whispered:
[Next Sign-In: Soon.]
Wuya opened his eyes.
"Soon," he repeated softly.
Xueyi smiled.
"You'll become amazing, won't you?"
Wuya nodded slowly.
"…I will."
Xueyi grinned.
"Then become amazing with me."
Wuya blinked once.
"…Of course."
Elder Yun opened her eyes.
And in the night wind—
Heaven watched again.