First Strand of Qi

As dawn crept gently across the horizon, golden light filtered through the wooden slats of Li Yao's cottage window, stirring him from a restful sleep. The air was still crisp, tinged with the faint herbal fragrance that lingered across the outer regions of the Embercloud Sect. He blinked his eyes open, then quickly rose from his bedding, tying his robe and making his way toward the herbal garden to meet Senior Brother Wei at the agreed spot.

Senior Brother Wei Shan was already there, crouched beside a bed of glistening green stalks, dew still clinging to the leaves. He looked up with a warm, familiar smile. "You're early, Junior Brother."

Li Yao clasped his hands in greeting, "I didn't want to be late, Senior Brother."

"Good," Wei said, straightening his back. "Discipline is the foundation of cultivation."

That morning, Wei Shan took the time to show Li Yao the layout of the herbal garden in greater detail. Because Li Yao was new and unfamiliar with such responsibilities, Wei assigned him only the simplest chores- carrying water, trimming withered stalks, and sweeping paths between herb beds. More importantly, Wei instructed him to observe the other disciples and learn.

Some herbs, Wei explained, absorbed Qi best during the morning, while others thrived in the stillness of the night. "There is rhythm to the way spiritual herbs grow," Wei said as he gently adjusted the leaves of a violet-colored plant. "You must treat them like living beings. Understand their temperament, and they'll flourish for you."

At the heart of the garden, a massive ancient tree loomed- a silent guardian over the land. Its bark shimmered faintly in the light, and golden leaves rustled without wind.

"That tree," Wei whispered, lowering his voice in reverence, "is the Qiheart Fruit Tree. It bears fruit only once every hundred years. The fruits are treasures even Golden Core cultivators seek."

Li Yao's eyes widened. "What do the fruits do?"

Wei smiled knowingly. "That's for the future. For now, focus on walking your own path."

Later that afternoon, when the sun was high and the scent of warm herbs filled the air, Li Yao finally broached the matter that had troubled him since receiving the Emberheart Nourishment Sutra.

"Senior Brother Wei," he began hesitantly, "I… have a problem."

Wei turned to him calmly. "Speak. Cultivation is not just strength; it's solving what hinders your progress."

Li Yao lowered his head. "I can't read. I've never been taught. I don't know what the sutra says…"

Wei blinked, then chuckled lightly. "Ah, so that's it. You're not the first. In every recruitment, there are disciples from humble origins who face the same trouble."

He patted Li Yao on the shoulder reassuringly. "You're in luck. The sect arranges for such things. There's a tutor named Instructor Ping- he teaches basic reading and writing to those in your shoes. You'll find him at the base of the mountain, near the old storage hall. He holds classes in the evenings."

Relieved, Li Yao bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

That evening, after finishing his assigned chores, Li Yao followed Wei's directions to a modest wooden building nestled in a quiet corner of the outer sect. There, under the fading orange light of the setting sun, a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples stood before a small group of seated disciples, chalk in hand, teaching the fundamentals of reading and writing.

As Li Yao approached, Instructor Ping turned to face him. His expression was unreadable, yet not unkind.

"You're new," he said plainly.

Li Yao nodded. "Yes, Senior Instructor. I… I wish to learn."

Instructor Ping observed him for a moment, then gestured to an empty spot on the grass. "Sit. Listen. Follow the others."

From that day onward, Li Yao established a steady routine. Mornings and afternoons were spent working in the herbal garden- watering roots, learning plant names, and occasionally being scolded for over-pruning. Senior Brother Wei was patient but strict, and he often quizzed Li Yao on the medicinal properties of different herbs.

"Whiteroot calms the mind, but mix it with Fireleaf, and it can draw out poisons. Remember that."

Evenings, on the other hand, became sacred. In the warm glow of lantern light, Li Yao would sit cross-legged with the other students under Instructor Ping's sharp but fair gaze. Stroke by stroke, he began to recognize characters. Soon, he could sound out simple phrases, then sentences, then full passages. It was slow, sometimes frustrating, but Li Yao was relentless.

Two months passed in this manner. Within that time, most of the new outer sect disciples had successfully refined the first strand of Qi using the Emberheart Nourishment Sutra. While it cost them a small portion of their existing cultivation, those like Yan Mu and Lan Yue, who had previously trained under clan techniques, it gave them stronger, purer Qi that laid a solid foundation for the future.

Yan Mu, with his fierce determination, had already reached the fourth layer of Qi Refinement again. Lan Yue, elegant and poised, had adapted the quickest and showed signs of reaching the fourth layer soon.

Li Yao, however, had started from nothing.

And yet, under the guidance of Wei and the patient teaching of Instructor Ping, a subtle change was beginning within him.

One evening, after returning to his cottage, Li Yao finally sat down on his straw mat with the Emberheart Nourishment Sutra open before him. Though he still stumbled on a few complex characters, he could now understand the sutra's meaning. He read through it again, every word embedding itself into his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he assumed the meditative posture described in the manual, closed his eyes, and began circulating his breath according to the method.

The world fell silent around him.

A warm current flowed through his body, pulled inward from the surrounding spiritual energy in the air. It felt like a faint breeze brushing across his bones, gentle but insistent. He guided it slowly, channeling it through his meridians with focused intent.

It took hours.

And yet, Li Yao did not move.

Finally, when the moon was high and silence reigned, he felt it.

A thread. A strand of pure, refined Qi gathered and condensed at the base of his dantian.

His eyes snapped open.

"I did it…" he whispered, joy swelling in his chest. "I've refined Qi…"

In that moment, however, a sudden wave of dizziness overtook him. His vision blurred, and his consciousness began to fade. He staggered, trying to stay upright, but the strength drained from his limbs.

Then, everything went dark.

Yet he was not unconscious.

He was somewhere else.

In his mind's eye, Li Yao saw an endless white void stretching into eternity. In the center of this void floated a single crystalline shard, hovering in stillness. The shard pulsed with a faint yet ancient glow- each pulse resonating with something deep within him.

Before he could move or speak, the shard released a brilliant light and surged toward him.

He didn't even have time to react.

The shard fused with his chest.

At that moment, countless visions- mountains shattering, stars falling, endless scripture, and Dao principles- flashed across his mind. It was overwhelming, profound, and utterly beyond his understanding.

Then, a single sound echoed within him.

[Heavenly Observation System – Fusing...]

His vision faded completely.