Embers of Growth

The quiet of the night blanketed the village, but Li Tian's mind refused to rest. His eyes, sharp and filled with determination, scanned the horizon. He stood at the edge of the village, his arms crossed as he contemplated the information he had just gained from the bandit leader. It wasn't just the immediate danger that concerned him; it was the larger storm brewing in the background.

The bandits may have been a small problem, but they were a symptom of something greater. The mention of sects forming alliances meant trouble. These groups rarely cooperated unless there was a serious threat or a power play involved. Something bigger was coming, and Li Tian knew that he had to be prepared.

But how could he do that when he was still so weak?

He clenched his fists, feeling the ember of the Primordial Flame pulse faintly within him. It was there, deep in his core, but he couldn't yet control its full power. Not in this crippled body. He needed to cultivate, he needed to grow stronger, but the path ahead was uncertain.

As the first rays of dawn broke over the village, Li Tian decided it was time to focus on himself. The villagers could handle the day-to-day repairs and fortifications without him for now. He had done what he could to help, but if he wanted to truly protect them, he had to improve. His recent battle had exposed all his weaknesses, his lack of strength, his limited control over the flame, and his physical frailty. That couldn't be allowed to continue.

Li Tian had no teacher to guide him, no sect to provide resources or techniques. Everything he had to learn would be self-taught. But that had always been his way. Back in his former life, as one of the greatest alchemists in the land, he had discovered most of his knowledge through relentless experimentation and practice. He had no intention of doing it differently this time.

He found a quiet spot outside the village, under a large, twisted tree that provided enough shade from the burning sun. Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and began to focus inward, searching for the flame within him. The cultivation techniques he knew from his past life were gone, his body too weak to utilize them. However, the basics of cultivation were universal, and he could start there.

The first thing he needed to do was strengthen his foundation. The Body Refining stage was the first level of cultivation in this world, and it involved toughening both the flesh and spirit. In his current state, he was no better than a normal mortal. He had to refine his body to allow it to handle the vast energies required for cultivation.

As he concentrated, he felt the faint warmth of the Primordial Ember, a flicker of heat deep within his dantian. It was faint, almost too faint to detect, but it was there, waiting. The ember was the key to his power. If he could harness it, he would be able to surpass his limits.

But first, he needed to coax it out.

Hours passed, and beads of sweat formed on his brow as Li Tian struggled to focus. His body was weak, and the ember's power remained elusive, like trying to catch a wisp of smoke with bare hands. But he couldn't give up. He couldn't afford to.

He clenched his teeth, pushing his mind further, diving deeper into his consciousness. The ember was stubborn, refusing to respond to his will. It wasn't just a flame, it was the manifestation of ancient, primordial power. It had existed since the beginning of time, and taming it wouldn't be easy.

But Li Tian had always thrived on challenge.

Slowly, painstakingly, he began to feel the ember respond. A faint warmth spread through his body, moving from his core to his limbs. It wasn't much, but it was enough to start the process. He had to nurture it, to let it grow like feeding a small fire until it could consume entire forests.

As the heat spread, his body began to change. He could feel the subtle improvements, his muscles tensed and relaxed in cycles, his blood circulated faster, and his senses grew sharper. It was working, but at a painfully slow rate. The ember was powerful, but it was also dangerous. If he tried to force it, it could burn him from the inside out.

He had to balance the fire's power with his body's current limitations. It would take time, but Li Tian was nothing if not patient. In his previous life, he had spent decades mastering the art of alchemy. This was no different.

As the sun reached its peak, Li Tian finally opened his eyes. He exhaled slowly, releasing the tension from his body. He hadn't made much progress, but it was a start. His body felt slightly stronger, and the ember had become more responsive. If he continued like this, his cultivation would grow, bit by bit.

He stood up and stretched, feeling the faint soreness in his muscles. He knew that refining his body was going to take time, but he had no choice. He couldn't rush this process.

Li Tian glanced toward the village. The villagers were hard at work, reinforcing their homes, gathering supplies, and setting up traps around the perimeter. They had taken his words to heart, doing everything they could to protect themselves. But their hope was fragile, built on the foundation that Li Tian could shield them from the dangers outside.

"I need to get stronger. Fast," he muttered to himself.

He couldn't rely on his cultivation alone, though. His past life had taught him many lessons, and one of the most important was that knowledge was power. He needed to start practicing alchemy again, if he could regain his skills, he could concoct pills that would boost his strength, accelerate his cultivation, and perhaps even cure his crippled body.

There was only one problem: he didn't have any ingredients. Without herbs, minerals, and other rare materials, alchemy was impossible. The village wasn't rich enough to supply him with what he needed, which meant he would have to venture out and find them on his own.

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Li Tian made his decision. He approached the village elder, who had been overseeing the efforts to fortify the defenses.

"I'm leaving tomorrow," Li Tian announced.

The elder looked up, startled. "Leaving? But… the bandits…"

"I've dealt with the immediate threat. The bandits won't come back for a while, but that doesn't mean we're safe. There could be other dangers nearby, and I need to gather resources if I'm going to protect this place properly."

The elder frowned. "But we need you here. If more bandits come while you're gone…"

"I won't be gone long," Li Tian assured him. "A few days, maybe a week at most. But I need to find herbs and other ingredients to create defensive items for the village. Without them, we won't stand a chance if something stronger than bandits shows up."

The elder hesitated but eventually nodded. "I understand. But be careful out there. The wilderness is dangerous."

Li Tian gave him a small smile. "Don't worry. I've faced worse."

That night, as the village settled into an uneasy rest, Li Tian prepared for his journey. He packed a small bag with basic supplies—food, water, and a few crude tools. He didn't need much. His goal was simple: find the ingredients he needed to start concocting pills, and return before any new threats arrived.

But deep down, Li Tian knew that this journey wasn't just about gathering materials. It was also about testing himself. The world outside the village was filled with danger—spirit beasts, rogue cultivators, and bandits. If he wanted to grow stronger, he would have to face those dangers head-on.

The ember within him flickered, as if responding to his determination. It was ready to burn, and so was he.

At dawn, Li Tian set out. The villagers watched him go, their faces filled with hope and concern. Li Tian gave them a nod of reassurance before turning toward the forest. His steps were steady, his heart calm. He was venturing into the unknown, but he had done so many times before in his past life.

As he disappeared into the dense forest, his thoughts shifted toward the future. He had a long road ahead of him, but every step brought him closer to his goal. He would master the Primordial Flame, unlock the secrets of alchemy once again, and forge his own path to power.

The journey had only just begun.