Chapter 12: Obstacles in Cultivation

At dawn in the courtyard of his home, Li Wei, now 11 years old, was practising with the wooden sword his master had given him, swinging it with enthusiasm.

Slash~

Each movement he made showed significant improvement compared to a year ago when he first held a sword.

Slash~

Sweat dripped from his face and body, soaking his clothes. The sword movements, inspired by comics he had read, felt more natural now, even though they weren't true demonic sword techniques.

Slash~

Li We stopped swinging the wooden sword, he took a breath for a moment.

"Can techniques from comics be used in the real world?"

Li Wei gripped the sword hilt tightly again and swung it again.

Slash~

He focused on precision and power in each swing, striving to make his movements smoother and more efficient.

Slash~

He could also now channel Qi from his body into the sword. Each swing was accompanied by a black aura clinging to the blade.

Slash~

Zhao Ling was no longer surprised; using Qi with a sword at his young age of just 11 was indeed extraordinary.

Slash~

Li Wei didn't stop despite his fatigue. Every swing brought him closer to mastering the sword he dreamed of.

A single swing that could dry up rivers and split mountains, that was what Li Wei aspired to achieve. It seemed impossible at his age, but who knew?

Li Wei's mind was filled with strategies and techniques he had learned, trying to perfect every detail of his movements.

"Surely this sword technique will come in handy someday."

Li Wei stopped again, took a breath and closed his eyes, enjoying the gentle breeze.

"If there is a demon sword technique, I will combine it with the technique I am practicing," he muttered, still closing his eyes as he took a deep breath.

He continued practising undeterred. He knew that dedication and hard work were the keys to becoming stronger than others.

A few months later.

Under the large tree in the courtyard, Li Wei sat cross-legged with closed eyes. He was in meditation, attempting to advance to the Foundation Establishment realm. Li Wei held a pill given by his master, swallowing it with resolute determination.

Sluurp!

As the pill entered his body, a powerful spiritual aura immediately spread. Li Wei felt a tremendous energy flowing within him, struggling to contain it with all his might. He tightly shut his mouth, but the aura continued to try to escape.

"Damn, my body feels like it's going to explode!"

Li Wei began to struggle. The pressure from the immense aura felt unbearable. His body couldn't contain the aura, and he slightly opened his mouth, suddenly golden light burst from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears. The immense energy flowed out of his body, causing the powerful aura to vanish instantly.

"Arghhh..."

Li Wei clutched his chest, tears and sweat streaming down from the pain. He felt the agony as the immense aura, which had been inside him, suddenly burst out.

Li Wei felt disappointed. He had not succeeded in advancing to the Foundation Establishment realm. Sitting again, gasping for breath, he pondered what went wrong. The sudden disappearance of the aura indicated that he still needed to learn more about controlling such a vast amount of Qi.

Around him, the courtyard remained calm. The wind gently rustled the leaves, and birds chirped faintly in the distance.

"Tsk, what went wrong?"

Li Wei sat feeling perplexed. His failure to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm weighed heavily on his mind. When Zhao Ling returned from the city, Li Wei immediately approached him.

"Master, why did I fail to break through?" he asked directly, his voice full of concern.

Zhao Ling paused, observing his disciple. "Let's talk while preparing lunch," he said, starting to walk towards the kitchen.

Li Wei nodded.

Li Wei followed Zhao Ling, walking closely behind him. They entered the simple kitchen, where Zhao Ling began chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients. While working, Zhao Ling explained in detail about the failure to break through.

"Failure in breaking through usually happens for various reasons," Zhao Ling said. "It could be due to external disturbances, lack of mental preparation, or even an imbalance of Qi in the body. But from what you experienced, it seems the issue is different."

Li Wei listened attentively, absorbing every word his master said. Zhao Ling continued his explanation while preparing the food in the pot and pan. The smoke and aroma of the food began to fill the air.

"When you tried to break through, the powerful aura from the pill was very strong," Zhao Ling continued. "But the aura escaped from your body because you haven't fully grasped how to control such a large flow of aura."

Li Wei nodded, understanding but still trying to grasp every detail of his master's explanation. They both sat at the dining table, the meal now ready to be served.

"However, you haven't failed," Zhao Ling said firmly. "What happened is that you weren't entirely ready to handle such a large amount of Qi. This isn't a failure but part of the learning process."

Li Wei felt relieved hearing his master's words, but there was still confusion on his face. "So, what should I do to absorb the aura correctly?"

Zhao Ling smiled and patted Li Wei's shoulder. "You need to strengthen the foundational meditation and Qi control. Do it with more patience and precision. You will succeed if you can overcome this challenge."

Li Wei nodded with renewed determination. He realised that the path to a higher realm was not easy, but with Zhao Ling's guidance, he was confident he could achieve it.

Two months later.

Li Wei sat cross-legged under the large tree, his eyes tightly closed in meditation. Two months had passed since his first attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm, yet the result remained the same: failure. Although he had diligently strengthened his foundation, the powerful aura produced by the pill still could not be contained by his body.

Zhao Ling, observing from a distance, felt puzzled and frustrated. He had taught Li Wei everything he knew, but his disciple was still stuck at the peak of Body Refinement. Zhao Ling repeatedly considered what might be wrong, trying to find the right solution.

Li Wei himself looked despondent. His eyes often seemed vacant and filled with doubt. He began to think that perhaps the peak of Body Refinement was his limit. Every time he tried to break through, his body could not withstand the tremendous pressure of the aura.

"Huhuhu... how can I save the slaves and avenge myself in 2 days if I'm stuck at this low level?" Li Wei thought to himself, looking sad.

Zhao Ling thought for a long time until he had an epiphany. He recalled how Li Wei always failed at the same point each time he tried to break through. Zhao Ling thought hard, replaying all the details in his mind, and eventually realised something.

"His body is still too young," Zhao Ling muttered to himself. "Not strong enough to hold such a large aura from the Foundation Establishment realm."

With new confidence, Zhao Ling approached Li Wei. "Li Wei," he said in a calm but firm voice.

Li Wei opened his eyes, looking at his master with hopeful anticipation. "What's wrong, Master? Why can't I break through?"

Zhao Ling smiled gently. "Your body is still too young to hold such a large amount of aura," he explained. "That's why you failed. But don't worry, this isn't your limit. You just need to give your body time to grow stronger."

Li Wei listened carefully, finding new hope in his master's words. "So, when can I try again, Master?"

Zhao Ling patted Li Wei's shoulder affectionately. "Try again when you turn 12. Your body will be stronger then, and you'll be able to absorb the aura better."

"Is that so? Can't a younger body hold a lot of aura?" Li Wei wondered to himself.

Li Wei nodded. "I will follow Master's advice." He felt relieved and more optimistic. He now understood that his failure wasn't due to his inadequacy but because the timing was not right.