Starting Cultivation

The moon hung high in the sky, its silver glow bathing the forest clearing where Shen Yuan sat cross-legged. His breathing was steady, deep, and rhythmic, his entire focus locked onto the energy coursing through his body. The tranquil night air carried the distant sounds of rustling leaves and the occasional howl of a beast, but none of it could disturb his concentration.

He was on the verge of something great.

Ever since he had consumed the Body Cleansing Pill, he had felt a significant improvement in his physique. His stamina had surged to an almost beast-like level, his speed had increased, and for the first time, he could feel the traces of Qi gathering within him. Yet, his cultivation was still incomplete.

Beside him, Mu Qian sat with her eyes closed, a soft glow of Qi gathering energy circulating around her. Her long black hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze. Although she was only at the Qi Gathering 2nd Layer, her high-grade spiritual root allowed her to manipulate Qi far more efficiently than Shen Yuan.

[Note-Qi gathering is superior then Qi Condensation realm,thats why Mu Qian was guiding shen yuan]

Shen Yuan let out a slow breath and opened his eyes. "Mu Qian, I think I'm ready to push my cultivation further."

Mu Qian smiled warmly, her eyes holding a trace of pride. "Brother Shen Yuan, you've improved so fast. I can help guide your breakthrough, but you must stabilize your Qi flow. You're still too rough when absorbing energy."

She moved closer and placed a delicate hand on his back, channeling a gentle stream of her own Qi into his body. It was warm, soothing, and refined, completely different from the raw, untamed force that surged through him.

"Let the energy settle into your dantian first," she instructed.

Shen Yuan nodded and began circulating the Origin Profound Sutra, guiding the swirling Qi toward his core. His Dantian, which had previously been empty, now held a steady reservoir of energy, growing stronger with each passing moment.

A deep hum resonated from within him as he absorbed Qi from the surroundings, the energy forming dense streams that entered his body through his meridians. The sensation was intoxicating—like drinking from an endless fountain of strength.

Suddenly, his body trembled. A powerful surge of Qi threatened to overflow, colliding against his meridians in an unstable manner.

"Calm your flow!" Mu Qian's voice was urgent. "If you force the breakthrough too fast, your foundation will become unstable!"

Shen Yuan gritted his teeth. He could feel the power within him, but if he didn't refine it properly, his cultivation might become flawed. He had read about countless protagonists in novels who had suffered Qi deviation due to overconfidence. He couldn't let that happen to him.

Taking a deep breath, he focused inward.

The system panel appeared before his eyes, showing his progress:

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Shen Yuan – Qi Condensation 9th Layer (Peak)

Stamina: 1250 (+200)

Qi: 150 (Steady flow)

Talent: 250 (+150)

---

His cultivation had risen drastically, but he wasn't finished yet.

"One more push," he muttered under his breath.

With a final surge, he compressed the gathered Qi within his dantian, stabilizing its form. A surge of golden light erupted from his body, illuminating the dark forest with a radiant glow.

[Ding! Breakthrough achieved: Qi Condensation Peak.]

Shen Yuan exhaled slowly, feeling an unprecedented level of power coursing through him. His body no longer felt as if it belonged to an ordinary person—he had truly stepped into the world of cultivation.

Mu Qian pulled her hand away, a satisfied smile on her lips. "You did it."

Shen Yuan stretched his arms, feeling the incredible difference. His senses had sharpened, and even the wind brushing against his skin felt more vivid.

"This… this is amazing," he whispered, clenching his fists.

Mu Qian nodded in agreement. "Now, you must focus on your Dimensional Space ability. Cultivation alone won't be enough to survive in this world. If you can master spatial manipulation, you will have an advantage even against stronger opponents."

[Note-Mu qian only know that Dimensional Space ability is Shen Yuan's clan's secret technique]

Shen Yuan's Dimensional Space ability was something he had yet to fully explore. The concept was powerful—if he could manipulate space, he could store weapons, create hidden realms, or even move objects from a distance.

Closing his eyes once more, he activated the Dimensional Space technique.

A faint shimmer appeared in front of him, and a swirling vortex of pure spatial energy formed, looking like a black hole consuming the surrounding air.

---

Shen Yuan reached out, attempting to touch the spatial distortion.

His fingers passed through effortlessly, and he immediately felt a connection to something vast—an endless void stretching beyond normal comprehension. The space wasn't just a storage area. It was alive, shifting, adapting to his thoughts.

Mu Qian watched in fascination. "Can you control it?"

"I think so…" Shen Yuan focused. With a mere thought, he pulled a nearby stone into the vortex, watching as it vanished into the black swirl. A second later, he willed it to reappear. The stone dropped back onto the ground as if nothing had happened.

Mu Qian's eyes widened. "That's incredible! You can store objects instantly without carrying them!"

Encouraged, Shen Yuan tried something more complex. He picked up a fallen branch and focused on reshaping space itself. The air around the branch twisted, and with a sharp breath, he exerted his will—causing the branch to disappear entirely into a separate fold of space.

Moments later, it reappeared behind Mu Qian, floating gently in the air.

"…You teleported it?" Mu Qian gasped.

Shen Yuan's lips curled into a smile. "Looks like I did."

His mind raced with possibilities. If he could manipulate space this easily, then in battle, he could move weapons instantly, dodge fatal strikes, or even trap enemies in his personal dimension.

However, as exhilarating as it was, he could feel the strain on his Qi reserves. Manipulating space required precise control, and at his current level, prolonged use would drain him quickly.

Still, this was a huge advantage.

---

A Night of Rest & Decision

The night passed with Shen Yuan continuing his training, refining his control over the Dimensional Space technique while Mu Qian watched over him.

By dawn, he had significantly improved. His stamina had increased, and his understanding of spatial energy had deepened. He could now store and retrieve objects instantly, and while teleportation was still unstable, he was close to achieving short-distance movement.

As the first rays of sunlight peeked through the trees, Shen Yuan stood up, stretching. His body felt light, strong, and filled with energy.

Mu Qian, who had been resting against a tree, looked at him and smiled. "So, what's next?"

Shen Yuan turned toward the horizon, eyes gleaming with determination. "Now that I've reached Qi Condensation Peak and gained control over Dimensional Space, it's time to venture beyond this forest."

Mu Qian's expression became serious. "We don't know what's waiting for us outside… but I'll follow you, Brother Shen Yuan."

A new journey was about to begin.

The winds of destiny were shifting.

And Shen Yuan was ready to carve his path into this new world.