Chapter 9: Foundations of Power

Chapter 9: Foundations of Power

Lin Tian woke up groggy, his body heavy with exhaustion. Excitement from the previous night had kept him tossing and turning, his mind alight with possibilities and untested hypotheses. Ideas swirled chaotically, preventing him from sinking into deep sleep. Even in his dreams, vague images of cultivation theories and martial souls drifted in and out of focus.

The moment the first light of dawn filtered through the thin curtains of his room, Lin Tian stirred from his restless slumber. Rubbing his tired eyes, he dragged himself out of bed. With a stretch and a yawn, he crossed the room to open the wooden windows. Cool morning air rushed in, carrying the scent of dew and freshly tilled earth. Lin Tian closed his eyes, savoring the freshness as it cleared the fog from his mind.

When he opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth curled into a grin. Today was the day. His mind was still buzzing with the discoveries of the previous night, and there was no time to waste. Bounding toward his writing desk, he grabbed a fresh sheet of paper and his pen, the excitement bubbling within him almost too much to contain.

He began to jot down his thoughts:

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Hypothesis:

Soul power present in children under six is primarily directed toward physical development. Any excess accumulates in the body as "innate soul power." 

Evidence:

After consuming soul beast meat (suspected to be from a 1000-year-old beast), I observed that soul power lingered in my body before being fully absorbed. Through spiritual observation (comparable to that of a Soul Elder at level 40), I noted that the energy flowed toward areas in need, prioritizing those with micro-damage.

Case Study 1:

Workout: Push muscle group, focusing on triceps, chest, shoulders, and core (terminology uncertain due to my lack of medical expertise).

Observation: After the workout, the soul power rushed to repair the strained muscles, tempering and strengthening them before distributing any remaining energy evenly throughout the body.

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Lin Tian smiled as he set the pen down. Writing his observations gave him a sense of clarity and structure, helping him track his progress and refine his understanding. It was becoming clear that soul power operated differently in developing bodies. If he could harness and guide this process intentionally, it would unlock a significant advantage.

His thoughts drifted back to the breakthrough he had made the night before: the Mysterious Heaven Method. It was the very technique that Tang San had relied on to forge his legend. While Lin Tian didn't have access to the Tang Sect or the specific method itself, it wasn't the technique he sought—it was the principles behind it. What made the Mysterious Heaven Method so effective?

Tang San's success lay in the fact that his meditation method was neutral, adaptable, and capable of building a strong foundation regardless of martial soul. For someone like Lin Tian, who had yet to awaken his martial soul, it was an ideal choice. But there was a problem: advanced meditation methods were closely guarded secrets. They were the lifeblood of sects and clans, and entire wars had been fought over them.

Lin Tian tapped the pen thoughtfully against the desk. He needed more than just a public meditation method. The key lay in understanding the mechanics behind these techniques. How did they differ from the basic methods taught to beginners? What made some techniques more effective for certain attributes or martial souls? If he could grasp the underlying logic, he could design a method tailored to his needs.

Satisfied with his progress, Lin Tian closed his notebook and stood up. It was time for his morning workout: leg day. In his previous life, many people dreaded leg day, but Lin Tian relished it. The legs were the pillars that supported the entire body. Without a solid foundation, even the most powerful upper body would falter.

However, halfway through the workout, the familiar strain began creeping in. His legs felt like lead, wobbling under the weight of his own body. Still, he pressed on, determined to push himself further. By the end, his legs were trembling so much that every step became an effort.

As he made his way toward the kitchen, Lin Tian grimaced. So this is why people hated leg day, he thought, trying not to stumble. Each step felt like a monumental task, his legs betraying him with every attempt to stay upright.

"Why do I always forget how painful this is?" he muttered to himself. "I look like Bambi learning to walk."

After what felt like an eternity, Lin Tian finally reached the kitchen. Gratefully, he grabbed the back of a chair and sank into it with a sigh of relief, savoring the brief respite.

A soft snort broke the silence. Lin Tian froze, slowly looking up to meet the amused gaze of his father. His mother giggled from across the table, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Good morning, Mum, Dad," Lin Tian greeted them awkwardly, trying to mask his embarrassment.

"Good morning, Xiao Tian," his mother replied, her tone light and teasing. "Had too much fun yesterday, did you?"

Lin Tian's mouth twitched. What could he say? In situations like this, it was always safest to agree.

"Yes! We ran around a lot and had loads of fun," he said with a cheerful grin. Thankfully, his friends had agreed to keep their activities a secret. Ye Jian had been easy to convince—just a few words about revealing her "hidden power" had been enough to sway her. Although it felt a bit manipulative, Lin Tian had reasoned that it was all for the greater good. Wang Jia had required a more logical approach, but once Lin Tian explained the physical benefits of exercise, he had reluctantly agreed. A strong foundation benefits all martial souls, after all.

"We're having leftover soul beast meat from last night's dinner," his mother said, placing a steaming bowl in front of him. "I know you like it, so I made extra."

Lin Tian's eyes lit up. Perfect timing! After his workout, he wanted to observe the absorption of soul power once more.

"Yummy!" he exclaimed, his excitement uncontained.

His mother laughed, setting a bowl of porridge and a plate of vegetables mixed with chunks of soul beast meat in front of him.

"Make sure you eat your vegetables too, okay? You need them to grow strong," she reminded him with a smile.

"Yes, Mum!" Lin Tian nodded enthusiastically. He wasn't about to skip his greens. After all, the modern world had taught him that vegetables were essential to a healthy diet—something even this world couldn't dispute.

As he devoured his meal, he focused inward, observing the familiar flow of soul power as it spread through his body. The euphoric sensation of muscles strengthening and tempering filled him, leaving him craving more. The feeling of getting stronger was addicting. 

With breakfast finished, Lin Tian retrieved a book from his room and followed his parents to the school. His father was scheduled to see a healing soul master, and since his friends had their own plans for the day, Lin Tian decided to spend his time at the library.

After greeting the librarian at the counter, Lin Tian made his way to a secluded corner. Settling into a comfortable chair, he cracked open the book.

Chapter 6: Attributes...

As he read, Lin Tian's eyes gleamed with understanding. The importance of attribute compatibility became clear. Meditation methods weren't just about absorbing soul power—they needed to align with the user's martial soul and elemental attributes. It was no wonder that most soul masters waited until their martial soul awakened before beginning cultivation. A mismatched method could be dangerous, even fatal.

The day passed by as he immersed himself in reading. Lin Tian scribbled notes in the margins as an idea formed in his mind: Could this be why so many twin martial soul masters had failed? Yu Xiaogang had mentioned that apart from Tang San and Bibi Dong, all other twin martial soul masters had perished. Perhaps their deaths weren't due solely to their martial souls clashing—incompatible meditation methods might have played a part too.

Lin Tian smiled to himself. The Mysterious Heaven Method was beginning to seem more and more like the key to his future. A neutral, adaptive method capable of building a solid foundation... exactly what he needed.

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