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An ancient pagoda, untouched by time, stood upon a cliff that pierced the heavens. A stairway carved into the mountain vanished into the clouds below. A lone woman stood beside it, her long black hair fluttering in the wind. — Recorded in Immortal Sightings, Chapter Fifteen, Page Three.
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Another week went by and the children continued cultivating in the familiar clearing beneath the Shadowjade Mountain. Each day, they returned to the methods Hua Qingqing had discovered previously, but now focusing on coursing qi through their muscles. The practice, simple yet profound, began to show remarkable results. Qi now flowed more naturally through their limbs, strengthening tendons, and muscles making each movement swifter, more precise, more explosive. Their legs gained newfound power, enabling them to jump higher and run with better control. Their endurance increased, their bodies becoming more capable of handling larger amount of qi.
For Chen Jie, Nong Xuanfeng, and Zang Liu, the breakthrough came faster than for the others. Their bodies, already strong by years of hard work, adapted to the cultivation at an astonishing rate. Muscles that had once been mere used of daily work now responded to the subtle command of qi.
One afternoon, Chen Jie was the first among them to fully grasp it and broke through to the second stage. Pride swelled in his chest, and an arrogant smile stretched across his face. He strode confidently toward a massive boulder at the edge of the clearing, one that had withstood storms and the test of time. Though he had already grown remarkably strong, he knew he would never break it with his fist. Yet now, he was eager to test his strength.
He took a deep breath, planting his feet firmly, and raised his fist. With a swift motion, he struck the rock. A loud PENG echoed through the clearing as the boulder cracked from top to bottom, a perfect indentation marking the center where Chen Jie's fist had landed. Stunned silence hung over the group. Chen Jie's stiffly looked back at them, his mouth agape, large enough to fit one or two eggs.
The other children could only stare. Xiao Chi felt a twinge of fear. "I… I'll call you big brother, okay?" he stammered, voice trembling.
By the end of that day, Chen Jie, Nong Xuanfeng, and Zang Liu had reduced the boulder to smaller fragments, throwing gravel across the clearing. Their laughter rang out, loud and unrestrained, while the others watched in quiet determination.
"I can't let this eldest brother be disgraced like this…" Long Tianyu muttered to himself, eyes narrowed with resolve. Each break from cultivating he spent practicing with the Shadowjade Bamboo. Every day, he lifted heavier lengths, carrying the long stalks across the clearing, refining his strength and control. Gradually, his body hardened, endurance built, and his muscles got stronger. Now, when he sparred with Hua Qingqing using their wooden swords, their sparrings could last longer, their movements sharper, more precise, each parry and thrust flowing almost effortlessly.
The passage of time seemed quicker than ever under the mountains. Days merged into weeks, weeks into months, and a year passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.
Every child had grown much stronger, stronger than anyone in the village despite being children. All of them had reached the sixth stage of body refinement — Blood Refinement. At this stage, their blood had been purified, capable of carrying spiritual qi more efficiently, their vitality also now much stronger than before.
Even though all of them ate more food now, Lin Yue didn't become the mountain she feared, now however there was another problem.
The path forward. The Spiritual Meridian Expansion — the next crucial stage — was shrouded in mystery. Though their bodies had grown strong. All of them tried to figure out how to continue their cultivation, without any success.
One bright morning, the children gathered in the clearing once more. The sunlight spilled across the grass in warm waves, casting shadows that danced between the Shadowjade Bamboo. Song Ming stood before them, the black book resting in his hands. His expression was serious yet tinged with a quiet pride.
"When I spoke with Master Bai." he began, voice carrying across the clearing. "He told me that in two years, the sects will select disciples in Moondragon City. This… is an opportunity of a lifetime. But understand this — it is your choice. No one should feel pressured by the decisions of another. Each of you must decide for yourself."
The children listened intently, hearts beating in tandem with the weight of his words. Excitement mingled with the bittersweet feeling of leaving their home. The village, familiar and comforting, was the foundation of their lives — and yet, they all knew that their paths would diverge. The life they had known would continue without them.
Slowly, they nodded in agreement, an unspoken understanding passing between them. They would leave, not for glory alone, but for the cultivation of their potential, for the chance to become something greater. And yet, the village would always remain in their hearts. They promised each other — to protect Xincheng Village if it ever faced danger, and to return whenever possible to see their families, to offer help.
The day faded, the sun sinking behind the mountains and painting the sky with streaks of red. The children practiced in silence, each aware that their journey would demand more than strength alone. It would require wisdom, perseverance, and the courage to endure hardships beyond the ordinary.
The children, each contemplating the responsibility and opportunity that lay ahead. They understood, more deeply than ever, that cultivation was not simply about growing stronger. It was so much more.
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Lin Yue sat with her mother, talking about how she and her friends still couldn't figure out how to reach the Spiritual Meridian Expansion. Her mother, Lin Fengyu listened quietly, nodding as her daughter spoke. Though she didn't have any of the strange powers her child did, she understood the body better than anyone in the village — every muscle, every organ and blood vessel.
After hearing what the children had been trying, she frowned slightly. "Wait here," she said, and went down into the small basement. The dusty wooden boards creaking as she stepped down the wooden ladder. Dust floated in the air as she moved boxes aside — old clothes Lin Yue had worn when she was little, a few wooden toys, and a broken stool her husband once made. Memories stirred with every touch.
Then, under a pile of old papers, she found it — an old drawing. Her husband had shown it to her years ago, though even he hadn't known exactly what it was. Faint lines ran across the figure of a human body, three circles drawn along the center: one at the stomach, one near the heart, and one between the eyebrows.
When Lin Fengyu brought it up and handed it to Lin Yue, her daughter's eyes widened. "What is this?"
Her mother smiled faintly. "Your father kept it. Maybe it's useful to you now."
Lin Yue studied the drawing, tracing the lines with her finger. She sat down cross-legged and began gathering small motes of lights gathered towards her, and guiding her qi the same way the lines showed. The flow felt different — smoother, fuller, alive. Her breath deepened, and she could feel the qi spiraling towards the center near her stomache.
"This… this is how it's supposed to feel," she whispered, eyes wide with realization.
That night, Lin Fengyue woke to the sound of wind swirling inside the house. She checked every door and window, searching for the source, but found nothing—until she stepped into Lin Yue's room. There, Lin Yue sat cross-legged once again, the air moving around her in waves that pulsed with her heartbeat. Tiny motes of light drifted through the air, softly illuminating the room. Lin Fengyue stood frozen in astonishment; this was no longer something of the mortal world.
The next morning, Lin Yue rushed to find the others, clutching the old paper close to her chest. She couldn't wait to show them what she'd discovered.
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End of chapter 16 - Flow of Seasons, Flow of Qi