Chapter 3

The sparring session still lingered in Li Tian's mind as he walked through the quiet stone paths of the academy. The roar of the crowd when Feng Shan achieved victory, the awe-filled gazes of his students, and even the reluctant acknowledgment from the visiting Verdant Blade disciples—all of it marked a turning point. For the first time since arriving at Heavenly Dawn Academy, he felt like he belonged, like he had a role to play beyond simply filling a teaching roster. His heart, however, remained tempered. One triumph didn't make him a great teacher. The path of the Teaching Dao was long and filled with obstacles. But now, he felt its first true pull, a guiding thread urging him forward.

The Enlightenment System had been silent since its activation, its presence faint but steady in his mind. Though he didn't fully understand its intricacies, the glimpse he had seen—how it refined his abilities and rewarded his efforts—had already opened up possibilities. Li Tian knew that the System wasn't a crutch; it was a guide, something to push him to greater heights so he could, in turn, elevate others. He vowed not to rely on it blindly but to grow alongside it, earning the respect it seemed to expect from him.

His quiet reflection ended when a messenger arrived, bowing low before handing him a summons. The modest seal on the letter gave him pause. It wasn't from a high elder or even one of the academy's more prestigious professors. Instead, it bore the mark of the Earth Division, a less revered part of the academy reserved for students who struggled with their cultivation, those often overshadowed by the shining stars of the Sky Division. These were not the future prodigies destined for greatness but disciples whose potential seemed dim, often overlooked by teachers with grander aspirations.

Li Tian's brow furrowed as he read the message. He was being asked to assist in teaching a small group of Earth Division students, underperforming even by the division's standards. Other teachers had declined, and while it wasn't explicitly stated, it was clear no one expected much from this group. For a brief moment, doubt crept in—what could he offer to students who had already been written off? But the thought passed as quickly as it came. He remembered Wuyang. He remembered Feng Shan. Every student mattered. If the Teaching Dao required him to elevate even the least promising, then so be it.

The Earth Division's training hall was far humbler than the grand chambers he was accustomed to. The walls were worn, the air heavy with a sense of quiet resignation. Inside, six students awaited him. Their robes were plain, their postures slumped, as though they had already accepted their lot in life. Their eyes barely flicked toward him as he entered, more curious than hopeful. These were not arrogant disciples challenging his worth; they were young souls teetering on the edge of giving up.

Li Tian greeted them with a warm smile, his words light but firm as he introduced himself. He avoided any grand promises. "I won't expect you to prove anything to me today," he said. "But I hope by the end of this session, you'll expect more from yourselves."

His first task was simple observation. He asked each student to demonstrate their cultivation methods and combat forms, watching intently as they moved through routines. His body remained still, but his mind was sharp, the newly learned Ripple Insight Method allowing his gaze to penetrate the surface of their efforts. He saw the hesitations in their movements, the uneven flow of their qi, the tension in their forms. Each student had their own unique struggles, but one stood out even among them—a girl named Yin Yue.

Yin Yue's cultivation was stuck at Qi Gathering Stage 7, far behind even the Earth Division average. Her movements were hesitant, as though afraid to channel too much energy. Her strikes lacked focus, her stances unstable. Yet Li Tian noticed something beneath her timid exterior—a flicker of fear, but also determination. The System stirred faintly in his mind as he studied her, a soft glow illuminating hidden threads of potential buried beneath years of doubt and failure.

"Yin Yue," he said gently, motioning for her to stop. "You're holding yourself back. Can you tell me why?"

Her eyes darted nervously. "I… I don't want to lose control, Teacher. If I push too hard, I might hurt myself or… or fail again."

Li Tian nodded, his expression calm. "I see. You've been taught that control is about restraint, about holding back to avoid mistakes. But control isn't fear—it's trust. Trust in yourself, trust in your qi. If you don't release it, how can it flow freely? Come, sit."

She hesitated but complied, seating herself before him as he sketched a simple formation on the ground. His voice guided her softly but clearly. "This formation will help harmonize your qi. Close your eyes and focus on your dantian. Feel the energy swirling within you. It's not your enemy, Yin Yue. It's a part of you. Breathe with it. Command it."

The Enlightenment System activated subtly as he guided her, enhancing his ability to sense the flow of her energy. He adjusted the formation mid-session, tailoring it to her unique qi signature, a process that would have been impossible without the System's insight. For several minutes, silence filled the room, broken only by the faint hum of quivering energy.

Then, a shift. The air around Yin Yue lightened as her qi began to stabilize, flowing more smoothly through her meridians. Her breathing deepened, the tension in her frame easing. A soft glow surrounded her as she entered a meditative state, and then it happened—her bottleneck shattered, her cultivation surging to Qi Gathering Stage 8.

The other students gasped, their once dull eyes now wide with astonishment. Yin Yue opened her own, disbelief and joy mingling in her expression as she bowed deeply. "Teacher… I don't know how, but you…"

"You did this yourself, Yin Yue," Li Tian cut in gently. "I only reminded you of what you already had within you."

The System's voice echoed faintly in his mind.

"Task Complete: Guided student through a breakthrough. Rewards earned—5 Enlightenment Points. Moderate refinement of personal qi."

Li Tian didn't react outwardly, though the warmth of the System's reward bolstered his resolve. For the first time, he saw hope spark in the faces of the other Earth Division students, a realization that perhaps they were not as hopeless as they had been led to believe.

He had made another ripple. One small victory, but it mattered. His path as a teacher was only beginning.