Chapter 23: Perks of control

On the thirtieth day, Adrian opened his eyes.

Sweat dripped down his face, his body weak from the endless effort, but in his gaze burned a newfound clarity.

He had succeeded.

His control wasn't perfect, but it was enough.

He could now guide Qi at will, without breathing techniques, without external crutches.

He had taken the first step on the Path of Infinity.

Cosmo's voice echoed in the silence.

"Not bad."

Adrian exhaled, a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction washing over him. But before he could fully enjoy the moment, Cosmo spoke again.

"Before you officially begin your cultivation, there's something you should try."

Adrian straightened, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

"Qi isn't just for cultivation—it has applications even before you step into the first realm. You've gained control over it, but you haven't explored what you can do with it yet. Let's start with something simple."

Cosmo continued, "Try guiding Qi to your eyes and ears. With enough focus, you should be able to sharpen your perception."

Adrian did as instructed, carefully directing a thin stream of Qi toward his eyes. At first, nothing seemed different, but then—

The details of his surroundings sharpened.

The wooden texture of the bed he sat on became more vivid—the tiny grooves, the barely visible imperfections in the grain. His gaze shifted to the cupboard across the room, where he noticed faint scratches and marks that he had never paid attention to before.

Then he looked outside the window.

The familiar landscape beyond—trees, distant rooftops, and open fields—suddenly appeared clearer, more defined. He squinted, his vision locking onto a bird perched far away on a high branch. Every feather was visible, the subtle shifts in its posture now perceptible.

His eyes widened. "I can actually see that far?"

"Naturally," Cosmo replied. "Now, try channeling Qi to your ears."

Adrian followed the instruction, focusing his Qi toward his auditory senses.

At first, all he heard was the usual—his own breathing, the faint rustling of the trees outside. But then—

A distant conversation, too far to make out fully, but present nonetheless. The chirping of insects, the flutter of wings as the bird took flight. Sounds that had once been mere background noise now stood out with startling clarity.

"This is…" He trailed off, almost in disbelief.

"Basic applications," Cosmo corrected. "But useful. Now, let's move on. Circulate Qi throughout your body—see if you notice anything."

Adrian complied, allowing Qi to flow through his limbs. Almost instantly, the deep exhaustion that had settled into his muscles lightened. His fatigue didn't vanish, but it became far more manageable, his body feeling lighter, more energized.

He clenched his fists, testing his strength.

"It's like… my body isn't as tired anymore."

"Exactly," Cosmo said. "Qi can reduce fatigue, allowing you to train longer. Now, let's refine your control. Try focusing Qi into your hands."

Adrian directed the energy toward his fingers. His movements, still slightly shaky from the exhaustion, steadied almost immediately. He reached for a wooden brush on the table and twirled it between his fingers—each movement smooth and precise.

"This will make writing, drawing symbols, or even wielding weapons feel effortless," Cosmo explained.

Adrian was beginning to understand.

"Now, try spreading Qi thinly across your skin," Cosmo instructed. "It should provide minor resistance to temperature changes."

Adrian focused once more. Soon, a faint warmth enveloped his body. The cool morning air, which had previously sent a slight chill down his spine, now felt distant, insignificant.

A slow grin spread across his lips.

"This is amazing…"

"Keep in mind," Cosmo said, "these benefits may seem impressive now, but once you officially begin cultivation, they will become nothing more than minor conveniences. However, the control you've developed will give you an advantage."

Adrian's eyes flickered with intrigue. "An advantage?"

"For every technique you learn, Qi control is essential. The more complex the technique, the greater the precision required. Because you've already developed fine control, you'll have an easier time learning new techniques, even ones that are considered difficult."

Adrian's mind raced. If that was true, then this training had given him more than just a foundation—it had given him an edge.

A spark of excitement ignited in his chest.

A small smirk played on Adrian's lips.

"Now," Cosmo continued, "you are ready."

Adrian clenched his fist, feeling the energy shifting within him.

"Then let's begin the Path of Infinity."

Cosmo answered without hesitation.

"Now, I will impart to you the first chapter of the Path of Infinity."

Adrian's eyes sharpened as he listened.

"This technique will guide you in cleansing your body with QI and compressing it repeatedly to strengthen your foundation."

The moment Cosmo finished speaking, a surge of information flowed into Adrian's mind. His body tensed for a brief moment before he absorbed the knowledge. It was unlike anything he had encountered before.

"In Ember Awakening, cultivators guide QI through their bodies, allowing it to cleanse them of impurities. This strengthens the body and lays the foundation for future growth. In the Path of Infinity, you will follow a similar process—but there is an additional step."

Adrian remained silent, carefully sorting through the knowledge he had received.

"After allowing QI to wash through your body once, you must do something different. Instead of simply cleansing yourself and moving forward, you will compress the QI inside your body—again and again—before repeating the cleansing process. Each cycle will push your body further, refining you to an extent others cannot achieve."

Adrian frowned slightly. "How many times?"

"Twenty-eight."

A pause.

"…Twenty-eight times?"

"Yes. After each cycle, your body will be purged and refined to a greater degree. The more times you repeat the process, the purer and stronger your foundation will become. This is the reason why the Path of Infinity will allow you to surpass others in the future—even at the earliest stages, you will be refined far beyond normal cultivators."

Adrian closed his eyes. Twenty-eight cycles.

It was clear—this path was not meant for the weak-willed.

Adrian sat cross-legged, inhaling deeply as he prepared for what was to come. His body tensed slightly, but his expression remained calm.

"Let's begin."

— — —

The moment Adrian guided the Qi into his body, a strange heat spread through him. It wasn't unbearable, but it was uncomfortable—like stepping into hot water, a warmth that slowly built up inside him. His muscles tensed, his heartbeat quickened, and a dull pressure settled in his chest.

As the energy moved deeper, the warmth turned into a steady burning sensation. His skin tingled, his bones felt slightly sore, and his body grew stiff. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was difficult to ignore. He took slow, steady breaths, focusing on the flow of Qi instead of the discomfort.

Time passed. The warmth pulsed through him, washing over his body again and again, like waves smoothing out rough stone. He could feel something shifting within—something heavy, something old. And then, slowly, it began to leave him.

A thin layer of black sludge seeped from his skin, sticky and foul-smelling. Impurities. The waste that had been hidden inside his body for years. It wasn't painful—just draining, like running a long distance and finally stopping to catch his breath. His body felt weaker, but at the same time… lighter.

Adrian flexed his fingers, testing the feeling in his limbs. His strength had doubled. The difference was subtle but undeniable—his grip was firmer, his movements sharper, his body more responsive. He exhaled slowly, wiping away the sweat and grime.

"One down."

Adrian wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked down at himself. His clothes were soaked, his body covered in a thick layer of black sludge. The smell was awful—earthy, bitter, and slightly metallic. He needed to wash it off.

Luckily, there was a well nearby, one of several scattered throughout the section. Everyone had to take care of their own needs, and the sect provided these wells so disciples wouldn't waste time searching for water. He walked over, the cool morning air brushing against his damp skin.

Reaching the well, Adrian pulled up a bucket of clear water and poured it over himself. The cold shock sent a shiver through his body, but it quickly became refreshing. He repeated the process until every trace of the black sludge had been washed away, leaving his skin clean and strangely refreshed.

Once dry, he put on a fresh set of clothes and flexed his fingers. He could feel the change in his body—the lightness, the strength. But he needed to confirm it.

Adrian took a deep breath and walked toward a tree nearby. It was an old, sturdy thing, its bark rough and unyielding. Normally, a strong human could punch a tree and maybe scratch the bark—but nothing more.

He clenched his fist and struck out.

Crack!

The bark splintered under his knuckles, a small dent forming in the wood. His eyes widened slightly. That was definitely not normal. Encouraged, he stepped back and took a deep breath. This time, he used more force.

BAM!

A solid dent formed in the trunk, the bark crumbling slightly where his fist landed. He shook out his hand, feeling only a slight sting—his body was far tougher than before.

Testing further, he crouched and pushed off the ground with a jump. Before, he could barely clear half a meter—now, he soared up nearly two meters before landing smoothly. His balance was perfect, his movements precise.

This was twice the strength of a normal human. No doubt about it.

Adrian exhaled slowly. The first refinement was a success.

Adrian stretched his arms, feeling the subtle strength coursing through his body. The first refinement had gone well, and while he could already sense the changes, there was no need to rush into the second one just yet. Cultivation wasn't just about refining the body—it was also about understanding the world around him.

With that in mind, he decided that today, he would see how things were going around the sect. He had been too focused on training lately, barely interacting with others. Now was a good time to catch up with the people he had befriended and see if anything important had happened.

__ __ __