The Path Of Discovery

Scene 1 – Strength of Body and Mind

Before dawn, Li Feng stood in the clearing behind his home, stretching his limbs.

If the mind was a blade, then the body was the hilt. A dull hilt couldn't hold a sharp blade.

It was common sense that soul masters needed strong bodies to withstand the impact of soul power, but what about those without innate soul power?

Ordinary people still performed physical labor, yet their strength had limits. Without soul power, they fatigued faster, recovered slower, and lacked explosive force.

But what if training the body could make up for that?

He took a deep breath and started his morning routine.

First: Breathing Control.

Li Feng adjusted his posture, inhaling deeply through his nose, holding it for a few seconds, then exhaling slowly.

He repeated this rhythm over and over, feeling the air circulate through his lungs, bringing a sense of clarity.

Control your breath, control your endurance.

A steady breath meant lasting strength.

Second: Body Stability.

He lowered himself into a horse stance, feet wide apart, knees bent, back straight.

At first, it was easy. Then, his thighs began to burn. His calves trembled.

He gritted his teeth.

A solid stance was the foundation of any fighter, whether soul master or commoner. If his body couldn't withstand simple training, how could he hope to refine his spiritual power?

Minutes passed, sweat forming on his brow. The strain was unbearable.

But he forced himself to hold on.

Third: Simple Strength Training.

When his legs finally gave out, he switched to push-ups. His arms pushed against the ground, lifting his body, then lowering again in steady motion.

At first, his muscles protested, but he ignored the pain.

Just like the mind, the body had to be tempered.

After push-ups came sit-ups, then squats, then another round of horse stance.

By the time he finished, his body was sore, but his mind was sharp.

He sat down beneath the willow tree, catching his breath.

A strong body, a strong mind.

He wasn't trying to become a fighter. But if he was to endure the trials ahead, he couldn't afford weakness.

Scene 2 – His Parents' Reaction

The smell of fresh porridge greeted him as he stepped into the house. His mother, Liu Mei, turned from the stove, wiping her hands on her apron.

"You're up early again," she noted, glancing at his sweat-soaked clothes. Her expression held concern, but also quiet approval.

Li Feng shrugged. "I just want to keep my body strong."

His father, Li Wei, sat at the wooden table, sipping tea. He raised an eyebrow. "You've been doing this every morning for weeks now. Training like a soul master when you don't even have soul power—isn't it exhausting?"

"It is," Li Feng admitted, sitting down. "But just because I don't have soul power doesn't mean I can't be strong in other ways."

His father hummed in thought. "Most villagers don't bother with exercise beyond farming work. You're taking this pretty seriously."

Liu Mei placed a bowl of porridge in front of him. "As long as you don't push yourself too hard. There's no point in working your body to the bone before even starting the day."

Li Feng nodded. He understood their concern. In a world where strength was dictated by Martial Souls and innate talent, training the body alone seemed pointless to most people.

But he wasn't most people.

"Don't worry, Mother. I know my limits," he reassured her.

His father sighed but didn't argue further. "Hmph. Do what you want, as long as it doesn't interfere with farm work."

Li Feng smiled and dug into his meal. He had no intention of stopping.

His parents didn't fully understand his reasons, but they didn't discourage him either.

That was enough.

Scene 3 – Experimenting with Spiritual Cultivation

His breathing steadied. The morning's exhaustion faded into the background. Now came the real test.

Closing his eyes, Li Feng shifted his focus inward, toward his spiritual sea.

Most soul masters developed their spiritual power naturally as their cultivation grew. Only a few—like Tang San and Huo Yuhao—had actively refined it from the start.

Li Feng had no soul rings, no soul bones. But he had his mind.

And he had a theory.

His past life knowledge told him that spiritual power wasn't a static force. It was shaped by will, perception, and control.

Purple Demon Eye cultivated spiritual power by absorbing Purple Qi at dawn, but could there be other types of qi?

If qi existed in different forms, then perhaps spiritual power wasn't only refined by external energy, but also by intent.

I think, therefore I do.

Li Feng concentrated, reaching for the faint ripple in his mind. Instead of simply observing it, he tried to move it.

At first, nothing changed.

Then—a shift.

It was weak, almost imperceptible, but he could feel his spiritual power responding. Not passively, but actively.

The realization sent a thrill through him.

If he could control it, shape it, then refining his spiritual power might not require waiting for external conditions.

It was about belief and action.

This was only the beginning.

He exhaled slowly, feeling the ripple settle.

Tomorrow, he would push further.

And one day, he would prove that a strong will alone could reshape destiny.