The next morning, Xiao Xuan sat beside a bubbling stream behind the village, letting the cold water run over his hands. His thoughts spiraled. The dream-like calm of this new world hadn't dulled his awareness — he knew he was in real danger. Without power, he was just prey waiting to be picked off. He needed a foundation. He needed cultivation.
He dried his hands on his sleeve and walked back into the village, determined to get answers. Spotting the elderly man who had taken him in — Elder Qin — sitting outside, weaving strips of bark into a basket, Xiao Xuan approached.
"Elder, can you tell me how cultivation works in this world? What are the steps to becoming strong?"
The elder looked up, squinting, then smiled. "Ah, now you sound like a proper youth. Everyone wants power, but few want to understand it. Sit."
Xiao Xuan sat cross-legged beside him, eagerly listening.
"First, one must open their meridians — the energy channels within the body. That's Meridian Opening. Only after your pathways are clear can you start absorbing spiritual energy. That's Qi Refining. Then you reach Foundation Establishment, solidifying your dantian. After that comes Core Formation, then Nascent Soul..."
The old man went on, describing each realm with simplicity and clarity. It was nearly identical to the systems Xiao Xuan had written in his books. Hearing it spoken as real knowledge made the hairs on his arms stand up.
"Can I do it?" Xiao Xuan asked finally.
"With a cultivation manual, maybe. But you don't have one, do you?"
Xiao Xuan shook his head. "Is there any way to get one here?"
The elder frowned. "Not likely. This is a backwater village. Manuals are heirlooms or sold for a fortune. You'd need to join a sect."
Disheartened, Xiao Xuan wandered through the village the rest of the day, asking around. Most shook their heads. Some even mocked him. A few showed pity.
He spent that night lying on his straw mat, staring at the wooden ceiling. On Earth, he could've researched cultivation theory all night. Here, he was cut off — idea-rich but resource-poor. Knowledge meant nothing without a manual to act on it.
Then, the next morning, he heard children chatting near the well.
"Green Lotus Town's having sect recruitment again. Wind Lightning Sect will come!"
Xiao Xuan's heart skipped. He dashed to the elder.
"Green Lotus Town? Recruitment?"
The old man nodded. "Yes. Wind Lightning Sect always comes this time of year. They'll accept new disciples if they pass their tests."
"Tests?" Xiao Xuan asked, apprehension stirring.
"Bone age, spirit root, and potential. They don't take just anyone. But sometimes, they take mortals as outer disciples or laborers."
That was enough.
Xiao Xuan spent the day preparing. Though he had nothing of value, the villagers, touched by his determination, offered him small gifts — dried meat, a bamboo canteen, travel robes, and an old walking stick.
He thanked them all, heart full. Even in a world that respected only power, kindness still existed.
That night, he stared into the fire beside the village's watch post.
"This world is cruel, but it's also honest," he murmured. "No cheats. No handouts. But no lies either. If I want strength, I have to earn it."
He left at dawn, walking eastward toward Green Lotus Town. The road was long and dusty, filled with unknowns, but his steps were steady.
"This is where it truly begins," he whispered to himself, tightening the straps on his pack. "Time to carve my path."