Chapter 15: Energy Transformation

Autumn arrived with a cool breeze carrying the scent of dry leaves. In the yard, the large tree shading the house began shedding its leaves, creating a natural carpet of orange and brown on the ground. Li Wei stood upright with his wooden sword, his eyes focused on the falling leaves.

Li Wei had never been lazy about training. Every day, from dawn till dusk, he swung his sword relentlessly in the yard. Autumn had passed a few times before, but this time he would not simply stay idle and sweep the yard.

The leaves falling from the tree became perfect targets for practice. With every swing, he aimed to split the falling leaves into two neat halves.

The gentle breeze made Li Wei's long, straight black hair flutter. His simple grey training clothes moved gently with his body's movements. As he swung his sword, he appeared as part of the autumn landscape, harmonious and full of spirit.

He watched a single leaf fall slowly from the highest branch. With a swift and precise movement, Li Wei swung his sword, splitting the leaf into two before it touched the ground.

Slash~

However, the next leaf was blown by the wind, drifting away from his direct reach. Without hesitation, Li Wei employed his demonic technique to speed up his movements, his legs emitting a dark aura as he chased the leaf and sliced it in mid-air.

Slash~

This practice required intense concentration. Li Wei limited himself to only the leaves that fell within the yard. This was a rule he set for himself, as if someone discovered he was a demonic cultivator, he would surely face dire consequences.

Even when the leaves flew up to the roof, he would not stop until he managed to cut them.

He saw a cluster of leaves flying together in the wind, swirling in the air. Li Wei assumed a ready position, observing the wind direction and the movement of the leaves.

With a smooth motion, he jumped.

Tap!

Aided by his aura to make his leap higher, then swung his sword with incredible speed, cutting the leaves into several pieces before they could land.

Li Wei landed softly on the ground, his feet still enveloped in aura. The aura on his legs helped him land without pain.

Despite practicing relentlessly, Li Wei showed no signs of fatigue. His face remained calm and focused, his eyes radiating persistence and resolve.

Each leaf he successfully sliced became a testament to his dedication to the swordsmanship. Occasionally, he would take a brief pause, take a deep breath, and then return to his position, ready to continue his practice.

Li Wei also paid attention to the small details in each movement. How the wind blew, the angle at which the leaves fell, and the speed of his sword swing. All these factors he observed and learned to improve his skills. Each practice session was an opportunity to become better, to hone his technique and precision.

The autumn wind continued to blow, bringing more falling leaves. Li Wei remained diligent and disciplined in his training.

Zhao Ling emerged from the house, having just completed making a pill to assist Li Wei in breaking through to the Energy Transformation realm.

But seeing the yard more dishevelled than last autumn, he decided to delay Li Wei's advancement until the autumn season was over.

Zhao Ling sighed deeply. "Li Wei," he called as he walked into the yard.

Li Wei, who was on the roof and in a horse stance, immediately paused. He jumped down from the roof and bowed to his master.

"What's the matter, Master?" Li Wei asked, clenching his fists in front of him.

"I know you're training, but you've been at it for a week without ever holding a broom since autumn arrived. Now, take the broom and clean up this yard until autumn ends!" Zhao Ling commanded firmly.

Zhao Ling took a broom and tossed it to Li Wei. Before he went back inside the house, he added something he had forgotten to mention earlier.

"And don't practice swordsmanship until autumn is over," Zhao Ling said with a wry glance at his disciple.

Li Wei had never seen his master so upset before. "Y-yes, Master." He begin sweeping the yard and did not practice swordplay again until autumn had ended.

***

Autumn had passed, leaving behind traces of dry leaves scattered on the ground. Li Wei, with a broom in his hand, cleaned the yard of the remnants of the season that had gone by. The sky was clear, replacing the grey clouds, and the large tree in the yard began sprouting new green leaves.

Zhao Ling was in seclusion, after giving his disciple a special pill to help him breakthrough to the Energy Transformation realm.

In the quiet house, only Li Wei remained. After cleaning the yard, he sat cross-legged beneath the large tree. His grey training clothes moved gently in the breeze, and his long black hair fluttered.

"This feeling..."

Li Wei took out the pill from his pouch, swallowed it calmly, and closed his eyes. The pill released a powerful aura within him, exploding with incredible energy. Li Wei controlled the surge of energy better than he had when breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm.

His whole body trembled as the energy from the pill flowed through his meridians. A thick black aura enveloped him, but this time, the energy felt smoother and more controlled. He felt a significant change within himself.

Li Wei took a deep breath, feeling the energy finally stabilizing within his body. He had successfully broken through to the Energy Transformation realm.

"I feel like it's easier, could age have such an effect?" Li Wei pondered to himself.

Li Wei was now 14 years old; he had been keeping track each day since he reincarnated into this body. While he did not know exactly when his birthday was, he could sense his growth.

Li Wei raised his hand, channeling aura into his palm. The black aura that emerged was very strong, reflecting his increased power.

The sensation of power flowing through his body made him smile faintly. Even though he used demonic breathing techniques, the energy felt smooth and controlled.

"I'm satisfied with this, but it's not what I want."

He knew there was one more thing he wanted to try: flying. Li Wei stood up, focusing on the aura flowing through his body, and tried to lift himself off the ground. His body began to feel lighter, and he slowly hovered in the air. The gentle breeze brushed his face, and his hair fluttered more wildly.

Li Wei smiled faintly and murmured, "This was my dream as a child."

Controlling his speed and direction while flying was a new challenge. He carefully adjusted the flow of his aura, ensuring each movement was smooth.

Li Wei floated higher, testing his new ability. He flew around the yard, feeling the newfound freedom that came with the ability to fly.

Although still young, Li Wei demonstrated abilities far beyond his years. He floated above the large tree, surveying the surroundings with a broader view.

Li Wei landed gently, taking a deep breath. His calm eyes reflected the pride in his achievement.

Not stopping there, Li Wei was eager to explore his new abilities in the Energy Transformation realm. The spring wind blew gently, bringing the fresh scent of new leaves. His grey training clothes fluttered, and his long black hair moved with the rhythm of the wind.

Without Zhao Ling to guide him, Li Wei had to discover for himself what a cultivator in this realm could do.

Li Wei sighed and murmured, "Even though I grow stronger each day, it feels like something is missing without someone to guide me."

Li Wei started with something simple, creating a hand from his aura. Aura flowed from his body, forming a muscular hand larger than his own.

He had done this while still in the Qi Gathering realm, but now, his hand felt denser and stronger. The black aura emanating from his body formed a glowing hand, far more solid than before.

"Good..."

Going further, Li Wei tried manipulating objects with his aura. He raised his right hand, channeling the aura to touch the broom nearby.

Slowly, the broom lifted and flew towards him. With intense focus, he moved the broom as if he were sweeping the yard. Each broom movement was controlled with care, demonstrating his maturing control over his aura.

"It's still difficult, but at least I don't have to sweep by hand anymore," thought Li Wei.

Not stopping there, Li Wei created a sword from his black aura. He extended his right hand, and the aura gathered to form a sword he imagined.

The sword felt more real and heavy, with a dense aura radiating power. He swung the sword a few times, feeling the balance and power he had newly discovered in each movement.

Feeling more confident, Li Wei attempted something more complex. He gathered his aura in the palm of his hand, visualizing a small tree. Slowly, from the darkness of his aura, a detailed black tree emerged, complete with branches and leaves. The tree felt real in his hand, though it was made from aura.

"If only I had studied seriously in my past life, maybe in a few hundred years I could create plants just with aura." Li Wei regretted not taking his studies seriously in his previous world.

Despite successfully creating various shapes and objects from his aura, Li Wei still felt something was lacking. He wasn't sure what else a cultivator in the Energy Transformation realm could do besides manipulating aura.

Li Wei looked up at the blue sky, sighing deeply. He imagined his master's figure in the sky. "Why are you in seclusion, Master!" Li Wei wondered to himself, wishing Zhao Ling were here to offer more guidance.

The wind blew strongly, making his hair and clothes flutter. Li Wei stood in the middle of the yard, gazing at the sky.