The Boundaries of Perception

Scene 1 – The Limits of Meditation

Another morning.

Li Feng sat cross-legged beneath the same willow tree where he meditated every day. He had established a habit—at dawn, he focused on spiritual cultivation. At noon, he trained his body. At night, he reviewed his findings and theorized improvements.

But something had changed.

He had reached the limit of the Flowing Realm.

When he meditated, his thoughts no longer scattered like ripples on water. His perception extended beyond his body for brief moments, but no further. It was as if he stood at the edge of a vast ocean, but he couldn't step in.

The Still Lake Realm remained just out of reach.

Why?

Scene 2 – The Nature of Spiritual Power

To break past this bottleneck, he had to understand what spiritual power truly was.

Was it an energy? A state of mind? A reflection of the soul?

Tang San's Purple Demon Eye relied on absorbing Purple Qi at Dawn, a natural energy that strengthened spiritual power over time. If there was Purple Qi, did that mean other types of Qi existed?

He theorized that spiritual power wasn't just about the mind, but also about environmental influences.

Blue Silver Grass thrived when surrounded by other grass. Could spiritual cultivation be the same?

Could external forces enhance or hinder his spiritual growth?

This idea led him to his next experiment.

Scene 3 – Seeking the Right Environment

For the next few weeks, Li Feng meditated in different locations.

Near the river – His mind felt calmer, but no breakthrough.

Inside the forest – A slight increase in perception, but still incomplete.

In the fields – Surprisingly, his spiritual energy felt more fluid here.

This confirmed his theory—environment mattered.

So what was the ideal place to cultivate?

He recalled legends of soul masters meditating on mountaintops, ancient ruins, or sacred grounds. These places often carried a unique energy, one that influenced their growth.

But he had no access to those places.

If he wanted to break through, he would have to create his own environment.

Scene 4 – Refining the Meditation Method

Using the foundation Old Lin had given him, Li Feng began altering his meditation technique.

He adjusted his breathing, focusing on synchronization with his surroundings.

He experimented with posture, finding that a grounded stance increased his awareness.

He tried visualizations—imagining himself as part of the earth, the wind, the water.

And then… something shifted.

For the briefest moment, his thoughts stopped.

Silence.

Not the absence of sound, but the absence of distraction.

It was the first glimpse of the Still Lake Realm.

But the moment he became aware of it, it vanished.

Frustrated but determined, Li Feng knew he was close.

He just needed one final push.

Scene 5 – A New Discovery

That evening, while helping his father repair a wooden cart, he overheard a conversation between the village head and a traveling merchant.

"…new medicinal herbs have arrived from the south. Some of them are said to help with calming the mind and strengthening the spirit."

Li Feng's ears perked up.

If certain environments could enhance spiritual power, what about certain medicines?

Could external substances aid in reaching the Still Lake Realm?

The idea was worth exploring.

If the medicinal bath strengthened the body for soul power cultivation, then perhaps there was a spiritual equivalent—a method to refine the mind just as medicinal baths refined the body.

This realization gave him a new direction.

He wasn't just experimenting anymore.

He was creating a new path.

One that no soul master had ever considered before.