The Path of Cultivation

A Decision That Defied the World

Morning light filtered through the small, cracked window of Ron's dorm, casting golden streaks across the plain wooden floor. The academy grounds outside were already alive with activity—students preparing for their new lives as awakeners, boasting about their newfound abilities.

But inside this room, a decision had been made.

A decision that defied the very foundation of this world.

"I will cultivate."

Ron sat cross-legged on his thin mattress, his hands resting on his knees. The echoes of last night's revelation still pulsed in his mind. His body was still weak, untrained. The energy within him was dormant—but he could awaken it himself.

The academy, the world, even reality itself dictated that power could only be gained through awakening.

But he knew better.

They were wrong.

He closed his eyes.

Sensing the Invisible

The first step in cultivation was simple in theory but difficult in practice—sensing the flow of spiritual energy.

This was something unheard of in the modern world. The awakening system provided power directly, without effort, so no one had ever searched for another way.

But Ron remembered.

He remembered sitting beneath ancient waterfalls, the roaring water drowning out all distractions as he meditated for days on end. He remembered the nights spent atop lonely mountains, where the stars whispered secrets to those who dared to listen.

He had once commanded the very fabric of existence.

But now?

He could feel nothing.

The air was empty. Lifeless. There was no trace of the vibrant energy he once controlled.

His brow furrowed.

"No… I refuse to believe that."

Spiritual energy was everywhere. Even if this era had long forgotten cultivation, it still existed.

He simply had to reach out.

Taking a slow breath, he focused.

He blocked out the faint sounds of laughter drifting from outside. He ignored the ache in his body, the hunger gnawing at his stomach.

Instead, he searched.

Minutes passed.

Then an hour.

Nothing.

A flicker of frustration burned in his chest. He had expected difficulty, but this… this was like searching for color in complete darkness.

Was it truly impossible?

Had cultivation faded from this world?

Had he—

No.

Ron's eyes snapped open, his expression hardening.

He wasn't just any cultivator.

He had reached the pinnacle of existence in his past life. He had defied the heavens, created realms with mere strokes of ink.

He would not be defeated by this.

"I will find it."

The First Thread of Qi

Ron inhaled deeply, steadying himself.

This time, he reached out not with force, but with patience.

And then—

A thread.

Thin. Fragile. Almost non-existent.

But it was there.

A wisp of energy, lighter than air, drifting through the space around him.

Ron's heart pounded.

He focused, carefully drawing the energy in. It trembled, resisting, but he persisted.

Slowly, it entered him.

The moment it touched his body, he felt it.

Like a single drop of water in a vast, empty desert.

It was barely anything.

But it was a beginning.

A rush of satisfaction flooded his chest. He had done it—he had absorbed Qi.

He let out a slow breath, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"It's still possible."

He could cultivate.

He would cultivate.

And once he did—this world would never be the same.

Adapting to the Forgotten Path

Absorbing Qi was just the first step.

Now, he needed to refine it, guide it through his body, and establish a foundation.

But there was a problem.

His body—his mortal, fragile body—was too weak to contain true power.

In his past life, he had cultivated for centuries. His physical form had been reforged countless times until he could withstand the weight of the heavens themselves.

But this body?

It was like a cracked cup trying to hold molten gold.

The moment he tried circulating the Qi, his muscles tensed painfully.

A sharp, burning sensation spread through his limbs.

His breath hitched.

"This body is too weak."

But weakness could be fixed.

Ron grit his teeth, forcing himself to continue. The pain was unbearable, but he had suffered far worse.

In his past life, he had endured heavenly tribulations that shattered mountains. He had faced wounds that could end entire bloodlines.

"This is nothing."

His body trembled, sweat dripping down his forehead.

And then—

Click.

Something shifted inside him.

The pain eased.

The Qi settled, no longer struggling against him.

His body had begun to adapt.

A slow, victorious grin spread across his face.

"Good. Now, I just need to refine more."

A Goal Beyond the System

Ron wiped the sweat from his forehead, breathing deeply.

The first step was complete.

But this was only the beginning.

He needed to strengthen his body, refine his Qi, and break through the first realm—Qi Refining.

Once he did, he would finally surpass awakeners.

And once that happened…

A shadow of amusement flickered in his golden eyes.

He thought back to Leo Graves and the other so-called prodigies who had mocked him.

To them, he was a failure.

A non-awakener.

Powerless.

They had no idea that he was already walking a path they could never hope to reach.

He closed his fists, feeling the faint pulse of Qi within him.

His cultivation journey had begun.

And with it—the rise of a legend.