Chapter 4: Brave New World

Lan Wei stood silently at the edge of the channel, his eyes closed as the spiritual energy within him slowly settled. It had been an hour since the strange phenomenon had subsided, and his mind was still reeling from the discovery of the Small World hidden inside his body. A place so vast, yet so intimately connected to his being. A place that pulsed with untapped power.

His fingers touched his stomach as if he could feel the world that now existed within. The Small World, a miniature yet vast domain that had formed from the resonance of his qi and the connection to his inner being, was unlike anything he had ever imagined. The more he reflected on it, the more he realized its significance.

The world inside him stretched across a 100-kilometer radius, its landscape formed by a small mountain nestled in the center. A peak crowned with gleaming snow, constantly melting to create numerous streams that flowed gently down to lush valleys. The valley floor teemed with fertile land, rich with the potential for cultivation. The streams nourished the plants and trees that dotted the landscape, and small forests began to grow in harmony with the land.

The air within the Small World was fresh and clean, the skies open and clear, and the sense of life and vitality was so vibrant that it nearly overwhelmed him. This was a world that ran 100 times faster than the outside world—a realm of accelerated time, where moments stretched into what felt like hours, days, or even years. This advantage could change the very fabric of his cultivation journey.

Yet, it was a world locked away, a treasure that Lan Wei could not yet access fully. His connection to the Small World was tethered to his body, and the only way to nourish it was by cultivating and nurturing it with his own body's qi. This connection meant that for the foreseeable future, he would be unable to enter his Small World directly, as his qi was still leaking out of his dantian and it would need to stabilize before it could flow freely into the world. The internal world would have to grow alongside his own cultivation once his dantian recovered.

The thought of it excited him. The possibilities of what he could do with this world—of how much time he could accelerate inside it—made his mind race. There was a profound sense of control he could gain, not only over his cultivation but also over the world he now carried within. Time was his to manipulate in this domain.

He could rear animals to cultivate and nurture them at a much faster rate than the outside world allowed. He could plant trees, let them grow for years within the space of days. He could accelerate the development of new plant species, and even civilizations, within this world. The potential to form ecosystems, to create living creatures and plants that were tailored to his needs, was practically limitless.

The initial awe faded, replaced by a calm realization. "This could be the beginning of something incredible," he murmured to himself.

But as much as the Small World beckoned with its potential, Lan Wei knew that the world outside still had its own set of dangers. His current limitations meant that he couldn't spend all his time cultivating this new space, and until he could truly tap into it, he would have to continue facing the world as it was.

His thoughts turned to practicality. He needed resources. He had already begun to think of how he would use the plants within his Small World. Growing crops, rearing spiritual beasts—each idea added a layer to his plan for future growth.

But before he could focus on the future, there was one more step he needed to take: he needed to secure his immediate needs.

Lan Wei stood up from his kneeling position at the edge of the channel and turned his attention toward the illusion formation at the base of the exit. It was the only thing hiding his presence from potential enemies, but he knew the moment he exited it, his vulnerability would be exposed. He would need to be cautious.

Climbing out of the channel to the surface, Lan Wei felt the cool breeze touch his face, and the bright sun greeted him with its golden rays. For a moment, he stood there, breathing in deeply as the warmth of the sun enveloped him. The sensation was grounding, like a signal from the world around him that it was time to move forward, to seek the future with renewed hope.

The shift in the air reminded him of his ultimate goal—of his need for strength. He had entered this cultivation world to grow, to cultivate and acquire power. If he wanted a comfortable life he would have became a small noble in some country as a stagnant cultivator.

And so, with a sense of resolve, Lan Wei exited the illusion formation, stepping cautiously into the nearby forest. He needed to find more supplies—food, trees that could be planted in his Small World, and spiritual materials that would help him cultivate.

As he walked deeper into the forest, the sounds of wildlife filled the air. The occasional rustling of leaves, the distant calls of birds, and the soft movement of small creatures blended into a tranquil symphony. But Lan Wei's focus was on the task at hand. His eyes scanned the forest floor as he searched for anything that could be useful.

Minutes passed, and his sharp senses finally picked up something of interest. He knelt down and found a small Bloodmoon Tree sapling. The tree's deep red leaves shimmered faintly in the dappled sunlight, its roots still tender and young. Lan Wei had heard of such a tree before—the Bloodmoon Tree was a plant with potent medicinal properties, its fruit capable of enhancing the blood flow of cultivators and aiding in stamina restoration. It was a grade one plant, and while its fruits were not immediately useful, they could be cultivated for future benefit.

He carefully uprooted the sapling and enveloped it with his world's energy, the sapling vanished from his hand and entered the small world. With his sense over the world Lan Wei manipulated the worlds energy and created loosened some earth at a clearing in the middle of a plain that was next to a river. He planted the sappling in it. His mind turned to what other plants could be useful, and just as he stood up, something else caught his attention.

A small Thunderfruit Sapling grew nearby. Its leaves vibrated lightly, a sign of the energy coursing through it. Lan Wei's eyes brightened—Thunderfruit was a rare plant that could enhance lightning-based abilities. This sapling, still at grade one, could grow quickly in the accelerated time of his Small World and become a valuable asset in the future. The energy it emitted was unmistakable, and Lan Wei could already imagine the benefits it could bring him in the future, once he had refined its fruit into something more usable. He quickly repeated the process and planted the sappling but this time instead of a riverside, he planted at the top of a small hill.

But it wasn't just sapplings that Lan Wei sought. His eyes scanned the ground, and within a few moments, he found a Bloodroot Ginseng, just a few years old. Though not a particularly rare item, the Bloodroot Ginseng was highly regarded for its ability to boost health and aid in healing. The roots had a crimson hue that hinted at their potency, and Lan Wei knew this was a resource he could not afford to overlook. Ginseng's were graded based on their year this one was only few years old considered a mortal grade. After ten years it would be considered grade 1 which was highly soughtafter amongst rank 1 peak cultivators from rich backgrounds. Its energy hightened the chances of succesful breakthrough. After 100 years it was considered grade 2 and after 500 years it was considered grade 3. Instead of directly putting it on ground. He decided to chop the ginseng to 10 different portions and planted the pieces inside the small forest at different places inside his world.

Gathering these valuable materials, he turned to head back toward the safety of his illusion formation. The forest had provided well, and the plants he had gathered would soon find a place within his Small World, their growth hastened by the passage of time inside the domain.

Returning to the illusion formation, Lan Wei sat down to assess his supplies. He had collected a small stash—seven healing pills, two kilograms of spiritual beast meat, and ten communication talismans, each covering a 50-kilometer range. His second-grade sword was still with him, along with his inner disciple robes and a few daily-use items, such as a compass and a small knife for basic survival tasks.

For now, he would rest, re-evaluate his plans, and prepare for the future. But as he sat alone, his thoughts wandered back to Ning Xue. The memory of her smile, her strength, and the tender moments they shared was enough to keep him grounded.

As the night fell, Lan Wei took a seat near the edge of the illusion formation. He pulled out some of the spiritual beast meat and began to eat, feeling the effects of the healing pill weaken he took another one. He returned to eating and savoring the flavors before lying back and gazing at the stars. The vast sky above seemed infinite, a reflection of his own ambitions.

In the stillness of the night, Lan Wei's thoughts drifted. There was so much more to be done—so much more to cultivate, to grow, to understand. But for tonight, he allowed himself a moment of peace.

He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, the image of Ning Xue's face the last thing in his mind before the world of dreams took him.