The Morning of a New Path

The first rays of the sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, casting a golden glow over the small village nestled between rolling green hills. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew-covered grass and the distant sounds of roosters crowing. A soft breeze rustled the leaves of ancient trees, creating a peaceful harmony that signaled the beginning of a new day.

Arjun stretched his arms as he stepped out of his small wooden house. His muscles felt sore from the previous night's cultivation, but his mind was sharper than ever. He had spent the entire night refining his body using the breathing technique his father had given him, and to his own surprise, he had already broken through to the Second Stage of Body Refinement.

His father had warned him not to rush, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation. But Arjun couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement—wasn't cultivation supposed to be a long and difficult path? How had he progressed so quickly?

As he took in the fresh morning air, he made up his mind. Today, he would visit the village square and meet his childhood friends, Zhao Yufeng and Zhao Yufei.

The village square was a simple open space surrounded by wooden houses and small shops selling herbs, grains, and cloth. A few cultivators, mostly middle-aged men and women, practiced basic martial arts with wooden weapons.

In the center of the square, two familiar figures were engaged in light sparring.

Zhao Yufeng was a tall, lean boy with short black hair and sharp eyes, always carrying an air of confidence. His younger sister, Zhao Yufei, was the complete opposite—small, delicate, and beautiful, with long silky hair and bright, expressive eyes that made all the village boys admire her.

Arjun approached them with a smile.

"Yufeng! Yufei! Good morning!" he called out.

Zhao Yufeng halted his movements, lowering his wooden sword, and turned toward Arjun with a grin. "Arjun! You finally decided to leave your house? I thought you were going to spend your whole life meditating!"

Zhao Yufei giggled. "Brother, don't tease him! Arjun, where have you been? We haven't seen you since the festival!"

Arjun scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I've been busy… trying something new. But it's good to see you both."

Zhao Yufeng smirked, crossing his arms. "Something new, huh? Let me guess—you finally decided to start cultivating?"

Arjun's eyes lit up. "Actually, yes! My father finally allowed me to begin my cultivation path. Last night, I practiced the breathing technique he gave me."

Zhao Yufeng raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how far did you get?"

Arjun hesitated for a moment before saying, "Second Stage of Body Refinement."

There was a brief silence.

"What?!" Zhao Yufeng almost dropped his wooden sword. "Second stage in just one night?! That's insane!"

Zhao Yufei's eyes widened. "Arjun… that's faster than anyone in the village!"

Arjun frowned. "Is it really that fast?"

Zhao Yufeng let out a deep sigh. "Of course it is! Do you know how long it took me to reach the second stage? Two months! Even our village chief says it takes at least a few weeks for most talented people. You did it in one night?!"

Arjun suddenly felt a little uneasy. His father had told him to slow down, but he hadn't realized just how abnormal his speed was. "I didn't do anything special," he admitted. "I just followed my father's breathing technique, and… it happened."

Zhao Yufei tilted her head. "Your father… he must be really powerful, right?"

Arjun paused for a moment, thinking about his father's mysterious past. "I don't know," he admitted. "He never talks about it."

Zhao Yufeng sighed. "Man, I wish I had a father like yours. Mine is just a merchant. He keeps telling me to focus on trade instead of cultivation. But I don't want to be a merchant—I want to be strong!"

Zhao Yufei giggled. "Brother, you barely passed the first stage! How are you going to be strong?"

"Oi! Don't make fun of me, Yufei!" Zhao Yufeng glared at her, but it was clear he wasn't really angry.

Arjun chuckled before sitting down on a nearby wooden bench. "So… how is cultivation going for you two?"

Zhao Yufeng sat beside him, shaking his head. "Honestly? It's slow. Our village only has a few cultivation techniques, and they're all basic. Even if we reach Foundation Establishment, there's no way for us to go beyond that."

Arjun frowned. "What do you mean?"

Zhao Yufei sat on the other side of Arjun and explained, "Our village isn't connected to any sects or big clans. We don't have any elders who know about higher-level cultivation. That means once someone reaches Foundation Establishment, they're stuck. No one here knows how to progress further."

Arjun's mind raced. "So no one in this village has ever reached the realms beyond Foundation Establishment?"

Zhao Yufeng shook his head. "Not that we know of. The strongest cultivators in our village are at the peak of Foundation Establishment. They serve as our village protectors, but they can't grow stronger. That's why so many young cultivators leave for sects or cities where they can learn more advanced techniques."

Arjun leaned back, processing this information. His father had spoken of many realms beyond this, but the village didn't even know they existed. If he wanted to grow stronger, he would have to leave this place one day.

Zhao Yufei noticed his silence and asked softly, "Arjun… do you plan on leaving?"

Arjun looked at her, startled. "I don't know… I just started cultivating. But if I want to grow stronger, I might have to."

Zhao Yufei lowered her gaze. "I see…"

Zhao Yufeng smirked. "Well, if you go, don't forget about us! Who knows? Maybe we'll catch up to you one day."

Arjun smiled. "Of course, I won't forget you both. But right now, we should focus on getting stronger together. We can still improve, even here."

Zhao Yufeng grinned. "That's the spirit! Alright then, since you're already ahead of us, why don't you show us the breathing technique your father gave you?"

Arjun hesitated. "I… don't know if I should. My father didn't say whether I could share it or not."

Zhao Yufeng sighed dramatically. "Come on! Just let me see a little!"

Zhao Yufei shook her head. "Brother, don't force him. If it's a family technique, he shouldn't share it without permission."

Arjun felt relieved at her words. "I'll ask my father. But for now, let's focus on what we already know."

Zhao Yufeng groaned but nodded. "Fine, fine. But when I catch up to you, we're having a rematch!"

Arjun laughed. "Looking forward to it!"

The three of them spent the rest of the morning talking, sharing their experiences, and sparring lightly in the village square. For the first time since starting his cultivation, Arjun felt a deep connection to his journey—not because of his own progress, but because he had friends to walk this path with him.

Even if the future was uncertain, for now, he was content.