First Level

Zhihao sat cross-legged on the rock, breathing steadily until he exhaled through his mouth. Nodding, he responded after opening both eyes, "Yes, let's do this!" he said with self-confidence.

"Alright," Xinran maintained a smile as she approached Zhihao, "The first step is to relax. Let your entire body loosen, and eliminate all tension."

Zhihao closed his eyes, following Xinran's direction. "This way, it will be easier for you to feel the chi flowing around you," said the brunette with her hair tied in a topknot. "No boundaries, no hindrance between yourself and the vital force."

Zhihao's breathing became regular and slow, his facial muscles weakened, causing him to look down. Xinran noticed every little detail, from his fingers folded over his calf to the disappearance of the frown on his forehead.

"Feel it," Xinran leaned forward, toward Zhihao's face. "Feel the chi surround you."

The whispered voice either reached Zhihao's ears or didn't as he delved into the subconscious world. The meditation realm bore a likeness to the dream world, often referred to as sleep alternatives. However, dreams were more abstract and random, whereas the subconscious presented itself as a structured and vivid occurrence.

It resembled an event with a sense of reality. Some interpreters indicated that everything witnessed in the subconscious world carried hidden messages impacting the real world, whether it be in the near or distant future.

Xinran hadn't turned away from Zhihao, feeling flustered. She couldn't refute the tightness in her chest and the heaviness of her breath. It was as if she had inhaled something profound. Zhihao's handsomeness, which she had long scrutinized, now afforded her a chance to take a closer look.

"How was it?" the voice made Xinran turn around, wide-eyed. There, at the lip of the door, stood Jia in a white tunic that reached to her knees.

"Ms. Chen!" Xinran sighed. "You startled me!"

"Oh, forgive me," she uttered, bowing her head. "I didn't mean that."

Feeling better, Xinran stepped closer. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Is it that bandit again?"

Jia smiled and took a seat on the wooden bench. "No," she muttered, "I want to know about this education."

"You seemed interested, too," she continued with a mischievous expression. "Aren't you?"

Blushing, Xinran turned her face to the side. "Of course, I am," her voice whispered. "It's the first time I've taught someone."

"First step to fulfill your dream," she patted the chair. "I wonder about that. You look like you are quite competent as Zhihao quickly dives into his meditation state."

Xinran remained silent as she sat right next to her. Her beautiful face held a look of doubt. "But, I'm far behind the other students. I couldn't even properly perform a technique a week ago."

"I'm not skilled enough," she added, still looking forward towards the dark-haired man.

Jia then turned to the brown-haired woman, soothing her. "Still not too late to wake up, it depends on your commitment," in a soft voice, Xinran shifted to face her. "Doubt of success keeps us down."

"Whether the technique is hard or not," Jia waited for the right moment, "you won't get anywhere if you continue to stand on the thin wall of doubt."

"So, don't surrender to it," she gently stroked Xinran's hair. "I know you're more than you think."

Their eyes now locked with each other, Xinran was touched by Jia's sentence. Jia had been with her since she was ten years old, providing companionship and introducing her to customs and traditions on the Huazhou continent that Xinran didn't understand.

That togetherness brought them closer together, even closer than Xinran's relationship with her mother, not knowing what maternal love felt like before Chen Jia came to keep her firm. Thanks to her caretaker, she was no longer alone or unwanted.

A smile appeared on her complexion as she hugged Jia. "Thank you, Ms. Chen, for always being with me."

Hearing Xinran's voice tremble, Jia understood the weight of the situation she had been through, allowing Xinran to release all her sorrow. In return, Jia stroked her back, aware that Xinran had burst into tears.

"It's okay, let it out," she whispered near her earlobe. "You've tried to be strong all this time. I will be here to support you."

A soft knock made Jia open her eyes, realizing that Meisha stood behind the open door, offering dumplings with a smile, not intending to disrupt their intimacy.

Out of respect for the host, Jia withdrew her embrace and invited Xinran to enjoy the treats made by Meisha. However, Zhihao, still in the world of meditation, remained oblivious to any external stimuli. He seemed to be transported elsewhere.

Zhihao found himself standing among people gathered in a large courtyard, surrounded by numerous tombstones. It became evident to him that he was now in a cemetery, though he remained unsure of the reason for being there.

However, from their murmur, the man had gasped, unable to believe it. To be sure, he ventured to break through the mass of individuals with apprehension, finding it difficult to breathe amongst the crowd.

When he reached the destination, there stood Jia, turning to him with unshed laments. The sounds around him somehow eluded him, with only the rapid pounding of his chest. Zhihao stepped forward, towards the wooden coffin with intricate patterns.

As he looked inside, those emerald eyes widened and he fell to the ground in shock. Zhihao shook his head, denied it, and couldn't believe what he saw. "No, this is a dream. It will not happen, it will not happen!"

"I must face it!" he exclaimed as he closed his eyes. "I have to face it to complete this cultivation."

Convincing himself with all his might, he didn't realize that what was around him was fading away, turning into complete darkness. Before he knew it, Zhihao was brought back to where he was when he opened his eyelids—still on the rock.

The sound of night insects chirping filled the air, with the sky adorned by a few stars and the moonlight beautifully visible. Zhihao heard a notification from his system and checked it to discern the result.

[Congratulations, you are now cultivated to the First Level: Chi Gathering!]

Increased Dantian: 10

Increased Chi Regeneration: 5%

Increased STR: 5

Increased DEX: 5

Increased END: 5

Unlocked Skill: Perseverance

Benefit: Diminishes the impact of toxins in the body. (1/3)

Acquired skill from Power Link: Quick Reflexes

Benefit: Enhances reflexes and quickens reaction speed. (1/3)]

Stunned in disbelief, Zhihao observed the multitude of rewards he had received. He pondered what he might attain if he cultivated to a higher level.