Chapter 2 First Encounter with Cultivation of Truth

 With a heart full of both nervousness and anticipation, Lin Yu followed the old man to an ancient Taoist temple hidden deep in the mountains. The temple was surrounded by mist and filled with a dense aura of spiritual energy, exuding a sense of mystery and solemnity. As they entered the temple, in the courtyard, oddly - shaped stones and ancient trees were placed in a scattered yet orderly manner. The walls were engraved with various mysterious runes and patterns, as if they were recounting the vicissitudes of time and the secrets of cultivating the truth.

 The old man led Lin Yu to a quiet room and told him to take a rest and get himself adjusted. Lin Yu lay on the bed, but tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. His mind was constantly filled with all the experiences of the day. From the ordinary life in modern society to this mysterious world of cultivating truth, the huge contrast made him feel both excited and uneasy. He didn't know if he could adapt to this brand - new world, nor did he know what kind of challenges awaited him. However, there was an inexplicable force deep in his heart driving him to move forward bravely.

 Early the next morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone through the window onto Lin Yu's face, he got up early and went to the courtyard to wait for the old man. The old man nodded with satisfaction when he saw Lin Yu looking energetic and said, "My child, from today on, you are officially embarking on the path of cultivating truth. Cultivating truth is no easy feat. It requires you to have a firm will, indomitable perseverance, and unremitting efforts. Are you ready?"

 Lin Yu took a deep breath, looked steadily at the elder with determination in his eyes, and nodded firmly. "Senior, I'm ready. I'm not afraid of hardship and will surely cultivate with great effort."

 The old man nodded slightly and then started to teach Lin Yu the fundamental knowledge of truth cultivation. He informed Lin Yu that in this world, spiritual power was the very essence of all. Only by grasping spiritual power could one cast a variety of spells and perform martial arts, thus becoming a genuine cultivator. The initial step in cultivating spiritual power was to perceive the spiritual energy between heaven and earth and then draw it into one's body to utilize it for oneself.

 Lin Yu followed the old man's instructions, closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and tried to sense the surrounding spiritual energy. At first, he felt nothing, and a bit of anxiety welled up in his heart. However, he recalled what the old man had said, knowing that cultivation couldn't be rushed. So, he suppressed his inner restlessness and continued to focus intently on sensing.

 As time ticked by, Lin Yu never gave up. Finally, through his unremitting efforts, he felt a faint, barely perceptible breath flowing around him. This breath was gentle and warm, as if it were the respiration of nature. Lin Yu was overjoyed. He carefully guided this wisp of breath, attempting to draw it into his body.

 However, this seemingly simple step was fraught with difficulties. Whenever he was on the verge of success, that wisp of breath would turn mischievous and slip away from his fingertips. Lin Yu wasn't discouraged. He continuously adjusted his breathing and state of mind, attempting time and time again. After numerous failures, he finally managed to successfully draw a wisp of spiritual energy into his body.

 At that moment, Lin Yu felt a warm current coursing through his body, and his whole body was filled with strength. Excitedly, he opened his eyes, looked at the old man, and his eyes sparkled with the light of joy. "Senior, I've done it! I've successfully sensed the spiritual energy and drawn it into my body!"

 The old man looked at Lin Yu, a gratified smile spreading across his face. "Well done, my child. You're quite talented and hard - working. But this is just the first step of a long journey. The path of cultivation ahead is still long, and you must keep up the good work."

 In the days that followed, Lin Yu embarked on arduous cultivation. He got up early every day to cultivate spiritual power in the courtyard. At night, he would study the cultivation scriptures given to him by the old man in his room, learning the theoretical knowledge of various spells and martial arts. The old man would also come over from time to time to guide him, correct his mistakes in cultivation, and impart to him some cultivation insights and techniques.

 As time went by, Lin Yu became increasingly proficient in controlling spiritual power, and he was able to draw more and more spiritual energy into his body. However, he was not content with this. He knew that compared to true powerful cultivators, he still had a long way to go. Therefore, he cultivated even harder, constantly challenging his own limits.

 During one cultivation session, Lin Yu suddenly felt that the spiritual power within his body became extremely active, as if it was about to break through some kind of restraint. His heart skipped a beat, and he realized that he might be on the verge of breaking through to a new realm. He quickly gathered his concentration and guided the spiritual power in his body to charge at that invisible barrier.

 After arduous efforts, Lin Yu finally managed to break through the realm successfully. He felt a qualitative leap in his strength. Not only was his spiritual power more powerful, but his perception of the surrounding world also became more acute. Excitedly, he rushed to the old man to report this good news.

 The old man smiled at Lin Yu and said, "Congratulations, my child. You've successfully broken through to a new realm. But remember, the path of cultivating truth knows no end. Never become complacent. Every breakthrough is merely a new starting point. You must keep working hard and constantly strive for higher realms."

 Lin Yu nodded solemnly. In his heart, he secretly swore that he would carve out a place of his own in this world of cultivating truth and protect everything he held dear.