"And finally, it's time for training."
I sit in the lotus position inside my empty room, staring at the spirit stone in my hand.
Everything happened exactly the same as it did in the previous cycle.
I suppose I'll call it cycle zero.
Where I was pulled into the sect and joined it, then received my robe and a spirit stone from Li Chen.
"Although I must admit, seeing Li Chen not remember me was a strange and somewhat uncomfortable feeling."
Well, that's to be expected after all; every great ability has a flaw, and the flaw of returning is that everyone forgets what happened except me.
"Alright, it's not a big problem. All I have to do is act the same way as in the previous cycle, and our relationships will return to how they were."
I throw these random thoughts to the back of my mind,
and return to focusing on my training.
"This is easier than I expected."
Indeed, the process of purifying my body this time was much easier, since the hardest part of body purification was sensing spiritual power and learning how to absorb it and move it throughout one's entire body—something I already know how to do.
"At this rate, before a week passes, I'll already be done with purifying my body and forming a dantian."
After five days…
"Senior brother Li!"
I call out to Li Chen, who was preparing to go hunting, causing him to stop.
"Oh, it's junior brother Salim. What do you want?"
Li Chen looks surprised by my appearance, yet he smiles and greets me happily.
Even though our friendship is no longer the same as it was before the time reversal, we've grown closer over these five days.
"Sorry if I'm bothering you, senior brother. I just wanted to ask what I should do after purifying my body and forming a dantian."
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that. Just focus on your training, and when you're done, tell me so I can inform the master."
It seemed that Li Chen had misunderstood the reason for my question, causing my smile to stretch from ear to ear.
"But I've already formed my dantian, senior brother."
"…"
"W–what? Are you serious?"
"Yes, senior brother. You can check for yourself."
I couldn't restrain my smile as I watched Li Chen's stunned reaction while he grabbed my hand to verify the truth of my claim.
"Huh? How is this possible? How did you manage to form a dantian in just five days?! Is this the difference between a genius with a mid-grade spiritual root and someone who merely possesses a false spiritual root?"
I lift my nose high as I see Li Chen's shock at my supposed genius.
"I've finally started to feel like those manhua protagonists who love boasting about their genius."
I pat Li Chen on the shoulder and try to comfort him.
"It's alright, brother Li. It must be very normal. I'm sure there are those who surpass me by far. If you don't mind my asking, how long did it take you to purify your body?"
Li Chen had always avoided answering this question in my previous life, claiming it was embarrassing to talk about.
"Oh… it's embarrassing to talk about. I can't believe I was proud of forming my dantian within a month."
Li Chen's expression looked awkward as he said this, yet the one who truly felt ashamed was me.
"I also heard that Elder Yi took half that time—fifteen days—while I don't know anything about the master."
"…"
Now I understood why Li Chen hadn't spoken about it in the previous cycle; it wasn't because he felt ashamed of the time it took him, but because he didn't want to embarrass me since I was slow.
"Was I that lazy?"
I feel a bit embarrassed as I recall how I spent most of my time daydreaming or doing random, meaningless things.
After confirming that I had formed a dantian, Li Chen takes me toward the residence of the sect leader, which, contrary to expectations, was not within the main sect building, but rather a cave carved into a mountain near the sect.
"Why does the sect leader live outside the sect building?"
"I'm not sure. The master said he feels more comfortable here."
"Alright, goodbye. I have to return to hunting, or we might starve tonight."
Li Chen waves his hand as he flees at full speed away from the sect leader's cave.
"He ran away."
I hold my breath and enter the sect leader's cave, ignoring Li Chen's escape.
Inside the cave, contrary to expectations, it is lit by a dim light emanating from the center of the cave, where the sect leader sits, surrounded by a faint veil of sunset-colored light.
"You've come… that means you're ready to embark on the path of cultivation now."
The sect leader's eyes open as he senses my arrival.
"Yes, sect leader."
I greet the sect leader as he stands and approaches me.
"You can stop calling me sect leader and call me master."
I see the sect leader step out of the cave, while the veil of sunset light that had been covering his body disperses,
revealing his massive stature and copper-colored hair.
"You must be eager to begin learning cultivation techniques, however, there is something you must learn first."
"What is it, master?"
I ask cautiously as I follow the sect leader.
"What do you think is the foundation and reason for the existence of sects in this world?"
"Aren't they the techniques and secret arts, and the support and protection obtained from the sect?"
With a face as if he had expected my answer, the sect leader replies with a mocking laugh.
"Correct, but incomplete. And some things are not enough to know—you would be better off seeing them for yourself."
I feel the sect leader's hand rest on my shoulder, as a powerful current of spiritual energy envelops my body.
"This… this!"
I feel a profound shock envelop my being, as I see my feet lift off the ground