Cultivation, Oh-Cultivation

Zhao Feng stumbled forward, his breath heavy, his vision tinged with red. His body pulsed with raw, untamed energy, and every movement felt as though he was fighting against an unseen force. His meridians were stretched to their very limits, his Qi unstable, clashing violently against the primal power he had absorbed. His lifeblood cultivation method, once a source of absolute control, now felt at odds with this ancient force.

The rocky terrain beneath him blurred as his legs gave out, sending him to one knee. He clenched his fists, veins bulging along his forearms, his skin burning as if set aflame. His entire body was in turmoil—every breath he took sent sharp, chaotic pulses through his meridians, like wild rivers refusing to be tamed.

"Damn it," Zhao Feng muttered, sweat dripping from his brow. "If I don't gain control over this soon… it will consume me."

He forced himself to focus, drawing upon his lifeblood technique to stabilize his Qi. But the moment he did, the ancient energy inside him pushed back, resisting his will. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced—this wasn't just raw power; it had a presence, a will of its own.

As Zhao Feng's breathing steadied, he noticed subtle differences in his body. His senses had sharpened dramatically—he could hear the faint rustling of insects in the distant undergrowth, sense the heartbeat of a creature hiding within the trees, and feel the minuscule shifts in the wind against his skin.

His reflexes had become unnaturally quick, his thoughts clearer, but something felt… off. The raw power within him wasn't just increasing his strength; it was altering him. His body was adapting to house the energy, but the process was imperfect, unstable.

Suddenly, his vision blurred. A wave of dizziness struck him, and for a brief moment, he saw phantom images—twisting, shifting figures in the shadows of the trees. A flicker of something ancient and watching. His instincts screamed at him, but as quickly as the sensation came, it faded. Zhao Feng's pulse slowed. Whatever it was, it wasn't gone. Just waiting.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to move. He couldn't afford to remain here any longer. The air itself felt heavier, almost oppressive, as if the very world around him had changed in response to his awakening. The mountains that had once felt vast and indifferent now seemed like silent witnesses to something far greater at play.

He pressed forward, his steps uneven, his body still battling the energy coursing through him. He needed control, and he needed it fast. If this power remained unchecked, it would either drive him mad or destroy him entirely.

The cavern was now far behind him, but its influence still lingered. The guardian's warning echoed in his mind—this power would test him in ways he could not yet comprehend. He had survived the awakening, but what came next was just as crucial.

Zhao Feng clenched his fists and exhaled sharply. There was no turning back. He would master this energy, bend it to his will, or die trying.

The night stretched on as Zhao Feng pushed deeper into the mountains, his every step laced with tension. The chaotic power within him surged unpredictably, making his movements erratic. Every time he tried to suppress it, it lashed out, sending violent tremors through his body. His meridians strained under the pressure, and his bones ached as if they were being reforged from the inside out.

A sharp pain struck his chest, and he staggered, his breath ragged. His vision wavered, distorting the world around him. The trees looked taller, their shadows stretching unnaturally. The wind carried whispers, voices that weren't there. He clenched his jaw. He knew what this was—his mind was slipping. The ancient energy wasn't just raw power; it was something sentient, something waiting for him to falter so it could take control.

He couldn't allow that.

Forcing himself to sit, Zhao Feng steadied his breathing, his hands forming the seals of the lifeblood cultivation technique. He had to refine this power, make it his own before it consumed him entirely. He closed his eyes, diving into his inner world.

Within the depths of his consciousness, his Qi sea was in turmoil. The once-clear lake of energy had turned into a violent storm, with tendrils of dark gold energy thrashing like living creatures. The power fought against his will, refusing to be tamed. Zhao Feng grit his teeth. If force alone wouldn't work, he would have to merge with it, adapt to its rhythm instead of fighting against it.

Drawing upon the jade slip's teachings, he focused on his lifeblood, on the connection between his will and his body. The primal force surged, trying to drown him, but he let it flow, feeling every pulse, every violent ripple. He searched for a pattern, a way to weave it into his cultivation without destroying himself.

Slowly, something clicked. The energy wasn't resisting him—it was testing him. If he approached it with fear, it would tear him apart. But if he met it as an equal…

His mind sharpened. He willed the energy to follow his breath, to merge with his Qi rather than fight against it. It resisted at first, but then, ever so slightly, it shifted. His lifeblood cultivation method began integrating the ancient force, binding it to him at the most fundamental level. The pain remained, but it was different now—not destruction, but transformation.

His body trembled as the energy settled, no longer wild but still untamed. He had taken the first step toward control, but he wasn't there yet. He exhaled slowly, opening his eyes. The whispers had faded. The shadows no longer stretched unnaturally. His mind was his own again, if only barely.

Pushing himself to his feet, Zhao Feng looked toward the horizon. He could feel it—something had changed in the world. His actions had set things into motion. The energy he had awakened was no longer confined to him alone.

Far beyond the mountains, something ancient stirred in response. Something that had been waiting.

Zhao Feng stood beneath the pale moonlight, his breath steady but his body still trembling from the aftershocks of the ancient energy's integration. Though he had gained some control, he knew this was only the beginning. His foundation had shifted, his cultivation transformed by a power that defied conventional methods. But he could feel it—he was on the cusp of something greater.

The energy within him pulsed like a second heartbeat, not yet fully his, but no longer an enemy. He could sense its depth, its vastness. If he could refine it further, he could break past the early stage of the Qi Foundation Realm. The thought sent a thrill through him. He had never ascended this quickly before, but then again, nothing about his cultivation path was ordinary anymore.

Without hesitation, he sat once more, pressing his palms together and sinking into deep meditation. This time, he wouldn't just integrate the energy—he would absorb it completely, make it part of him in both body and soul.

The moment he focused inward, the energy surged again, more aggressive than before. It coiled around his Qi sea like a serpent, refusing to submit. Zhao Feng smirked. Good. Then I will tame you by force.

His lifeblood cultivation method activated at full power. His Qi turned crimson-gold, his veins glowing faintly beneath his skin. The ancient energy resisted, striking against him like a feral beast, but Zhao Feng did not retreat. He let it rage, let it tear at his meridians, all while forcing his Qi to compress and refine. His breath turned sharp as pain wracked his body, but he didn't stop.

Time became meaningless. Minutes, hours—he didn't know how long he sat there, locked in battle with the force within him. Sweat dripped down his back, his fingers dug into the dirt, but he endured. Every time the energy threatened to overpower him, he pulled it back, tempering it like a blade being forged in fire.

Then, finally, something shifted.

A deep, resonant hum filled the air. His Qi sea, once a chaotic storm, suddenly stabilized. The ancient energy merged seamlessly with his lifeblood cultivation, no longer resisting but enhancing. His body absorbed it greedily, his meridians stretching, his Qi condensing to a level far beyond what it had been before.

Then—boom.

A silent explosion echoed through his being. The pressure in his dantian expanded, then sharpened, like a dam bursting only to reveal a vast, endless ocean beyond. His breathing steadied, his heart pounded once, twice—then slowed, more powerful than before.

He had advanced.

The early stage of the Qi Foundation Realm was no longer his limit. He had broken through into the mid-stage, his Qi denser, his control sharper. His entire body felt lighter yet stronger, as if he had been reforged into something greater.

Zhao Feng exhaled, standing up slowly. His fists clenched and unclenched, testing the newfound strength in his veins. He looked toward the horizon once more.

The world had changed.

And now, he was ready for whatever came next.