The Mine

Ethan entered the abandoned mine, which had once been his prison. He knew every corner of this dark place, but now he felt a strange aura in the air. It was as if the presence that the mine owners had spoken of was still here, haunting and observing him.

He recalled the tough times when he had to toil day after day in the dark tunnels, mining valuable ores for the ruthless trader. But now he was free, and his motivation to enter the mine was no longer forced but curious.

Ethan navigated through the labyrinthine passages, filled with darkness and silence. In the distance, he heard the faint murmuring of an underground river flowing through the caves. Yet, his attention was drawn to a mysterious glow emanating from a secluded chamber.

As he approached, he recognized an ancient shrine standing in the middle of the room. The shrine was adorned with peculiar symbols and runes that he had never seen before. It felt like the shrine emitted an ancient power. Apparently, this room had been buried, and recent earthquakes had uncovered it within the past two years.

Curious, he moved closer to the shrine and felt the energy surrounding him. Suddenly, he noticed two strange objects lying on the shrine. The first was an ancient book with faded characters on the cover. The second was a mysterious crystal shimmering with a delicate blue light.

Ethan took the book and flipped through its pages. Although he couldn't understand the writing, he felt an inexplicable connection to the wisdom contained within. It was as if the book itself revealed its meaning to him. He learned that it was an ancient textbook on Qi cultivation, explaining the fundamentals of channeling energy and strengthening the body.

His heart beat faster with joy. Finally, he had a way to develop his abilities and perhaps save his missing friends. But that wasn't all he found. The crystal seemed to hold special significance too. As he carefully held it in his hand, he felt warmth spreading through his body.

Suddenly, he realized that the crystal enabled him to connect with a mysterious energy source deep beneath the mine, accelerating the cultivation process.

Determined, Ethan decided to take the risk and use the crystal. He sat in a meditative posture and began applying the wisdom from the book to open his Qi channels and let the energy flow through his body. The crystal amplified these processes, granting him incredible inner strength.

Hours passed as he immersed himself deeper into the world of cultivation, expanding his energy channels and enhancing his abilities. Soon, he could sense and control the Qi within his body, and he knew he was on the path to becoming a cultivator.

After reaching Level 1, Ethan decided to ascend to the third sublevel of cultivation. It was a dangerous step that caused many beginners to fail, especially when he was as rushed as he was. However, he was determined to succeed and had no time to take it slowly.

With the crystal as his ally and the knowledge from the book as his guide, he began gathering and concentrating the energy within his body. The surrounding power grew as he prepared for the next level.

Suddenly, he felt the presence that had accompanied him since his arrival in the mine grow stronger. It was as if it was testing him to see if he was worthy of attaining the power of cultivation. Ethan didn't let this challenge intimidate him. He continued to focus on his cultivation, guiding the energy through his body.

Then it happened. An energy explosion surged through him as he reached the third sublevel of cultivation. A bright light enveloped him, and he felt as though he was merging with heavenly energies. He had succeeded!

Exhausted but happy, Ethan sank to the ground. He had made great progress, but he knew the path of cultivation would be long and challenging. Nevertheless, he was ready to accept the challenge and do everything necessary to save his friends and further develop his abilities.

Ethan continued to explore the mines, still filled with excitement over his newly discovered cultivation ability. His steps were lighter, and his mind was more determined than ever. As he moved through the branching corridors, he felt the power pulsing within him, ready to respond to his call.

While he advanced, Ethan noticed that the surrounding air grew denser. There was something in the atmosphere that made him feel like he was not alone. But this time, it felt different—not threatening but rather protective.

His steps led him deeper into the mine until he finally discovered a mysterious door leading to another previously undiscovered chamber. Upon opening the door, a strong gust of wind hit him, emanating from the darkness of the room. He hesitated, but curiosity overcame him, and he stepped inside.

Inside the chamber, Ethan found an ancient chest adorned with old symbols. His heart raced with excitement as he opened the chest and discovered a series of ancient scrolls inside. Each scroll described a special cultivation technique that had been forgotten and hidden for centuries.

The first scroll Ethan picked up contained a technique called "Shadow Step" - a movement technique that allowed the cultivator to move incredibly fast and silently. The technique would enable him to hide in the shadows and avoid being noticed by his enemies.

The second scroll described a technique called "Veil of Illusion" - a camouflage technique that allowed the cultivator to conceal their presence and become invisible to others. This technique would help Ethan conceal himself from the guards in the prison while he rescued his friends.

The third scroll contained a boxing and kickboxing technique called "Storm's Fury" - a powerful and offensive technique that allowed the cultivator to execute lightning-fast strikes and kicks. This technique would support Ethan in his fight against the guards and help him defeat them.

Although Ethan had little time to learn these powerful techniques, he felt he had no other choice. His friends were in danger, and he had to act quickly. He decided to focus on mastering the first level of each technique, as it would yield quicker results.

He began with the "Shadow Step" technique. Following the instructions in the scroll, he learned how to utilize his Qi energy to accelerate his movements and conceal his steps. Within just a few hours, he had mastered the first level of the technique. His movements became smoother and faster, and he could move silently through the mines.

Next, he dedicated himself to the "Veil of Illusion" technique. With great concentration, he managed to conceal his presence and become invisible to others. He could hide in the shadows and skillfully evade the guards in the prison.

Finally, he focused on the "Storm's Fury" technique. He practiced relentlessly, perfecting his strikes and kicks and reinforcing his attacks with Qi energy. Although he had not yet fully mastered the technique, he felt confident enough to enter battle.

Determined, Ethan made his way to the prison where his friends were held captive. As he approached the guards, he sensed their Qi energy and knew they were at the same level as him. However, he was well-prepared and trusted his newly acquired techniques.

He activated the "Veil of Illusion" technique, concealing his presence. The guards didn't notice him as he approached. Then he activated the "Shadow Step" technique, moving swiftly between them. With precise strikes and kicks from the "Storm's Fury" technique, he rendered the guards unconscious, one after another.

Once the guards were defeated, he opened the prison and freed his friends. Their faces displayed surprise and joy as they witnessed Ethan's impressive abilities.

"We need to leave this place," Ethan whispered.

Together, they set out from the mines and into freedom. Ethan felt immense relief in having rescued his friends and successfully applied his newfound cultivation techniques.

However, as his new "old friends" were now wanted criminals, they couldn't stay in the city for long. Yet, crossing the desert without preparation would be suicidal. Once again, Ethan was drawn back to the mines. Evelia and Raelin would learn Qi cultivation there, while he sought to uncover the mystery behind the presence he had sensed.