Along a rugged dirt road, two people ride a horse toward a distant city.
The sight of them is enough to catch anyone's attention.
The person riding the horse is Shan Yan. His long black hair flows behind him, while his black attire seems to embody darkness itself, making him appear almost like a person who has stepped out from the shadows.
Behind him sits Su Lin, dressed in a white robe that makes him look like the complete opposite of Shan Yan. However, his injured body tells an entirely different story. The wounds covering his body reveal the hardships he has endured.
They are heading toward the city for Su Lin's awakening ceremony.
"So, my awakening ceremony will take place in this city, where the Jin Clan rules. By the way, tell me something. Most sects and clans conduct awakening ceremonies for their own cultivators, so why have they turned this into a business that even mortals can use?"
Hearing Su Lin's question, Shan Yan shows no reaction. After spending so much time with Su Lin, he already knows what he is thinking. Without any delay, he speaks to Su Lin.
"you don't know but Just as gold and silver coins are used as currency in the mortal world, spirit stones serve as currency in the cultivation world. But that isn't important right now. You only need to know that for now.
"After your awakening ceremony, I have something else planned. There is a sect that is about to recruit new disciples. We will join it."
After hearing Shan Yan's words, Su Lin begins thinking about several things.
He starts wondering why the Jin Clan has made the awakening ceremony available to the public and why Shan Yan is so eager to have his dantian awakened as soon as possible.
Soon, the two of them arrive at the city gate of the Jin Clan's city.
Shan Yan takes out four spirit stones and hands them over before entering the city with Su Lin.
As they enter, Su Lin notices many things that are completely different from his previous experience in the Imperial Capital. Here, he can see a large number of people, most of whom are cultivators.
After seeing this, Su Lin gains a much deeper understanding of the Jin Clan and the city they rule.
After some time leter, Su Lin and Shan Yan get a room at an inn.
As soon as Su Lin enters the room, he can't help but remember the time he spent with Uncle Hong. Memories of those days begin to surface in his mind.
After some time, a determined look appears on his face.
He then looks toward Shan Yan and asks,
"When will we go for the ceremony, Shan Yan?"
Hearing Su Lin's words, a smile appears on Shan Yan's face.
"Then let's go. What are we waiting for? We don't have much time anyway. We need to reach the sect I told you about as soon as possible.
"But before we leave, you should know a few things about the ceremony. I told you before that during the awakening ceremony, when we awaken our dantian, it transforms from its illusory form into a corporeal form with the help of Qi. That Qi becomes the foundation of your cultivation.
"Now, you should also understand that Qi comes in many different types. I already told you that I possess three types of Qi—Strength Qi, Thunder Qi, and Earth Qi.
"Of these three, the one you will use to build your foundation is Strength Qi. As for the Thunder Qi and Earth Qi, I'll tell you what you will use them for later.
"For now, Let's go." After eating, the two of them set out in the afternoon, when the sun is at its peak.
As they travel, Shan Yan tells Su Lin everything about what they will do next.
After some time, the two of them finally reach their destination.
In front of them stands a large building, with the words "Jin Clan" clearly written above its gate.
After entering, they see a middle-aged man sitting in a meditative state.
As Su Lin and Shan Yan approach him, the man slowly opens his eyes. Without showing any reaction, he simply says,
"Welcome, junior brothers. What brings you to our Jin Clan shop? I'll be happy to assist you with anything you need. Please, tell me." After hearing this, Shan Yan says,
"We need a room for an awakening ceremony."
Hearing Shan Yan's words, the man looks him up and down before turning his gaze toward Su Lin. Then he says,
"For the awakening ceremony, we offer different classes. Which one would you prefer?
If you choose Class A, you will receive an additional medicine to aid in the awakening, along with a chance to choose one type of Qi.
If you choose Class B, you will receive only the awakening medicine.
And finally, with Class C, you will only be provided with a room for the ceremony.
So, which one would you like to choose?"
After hearing everything, Shan Yan books a Class B room. After handing over a bag of spirit stones, a servant girl leads them to a room on the second floor of the building.
The room has no windows and no decorations. Before entering, Shan Yan gives the servant girl another bag of spirit stones and tells her to seal the room.
After a while, the room is completely sealed, leaving only Su Lin and Shan Yan inside.
The only source of light in the room is a white lamp, which provides enough light to see their surroundings clearly.
After checking the room, Shan Yan turns toward Su Lin and asks,
"Are you ready?"
After hearing Shan Yan's words, Su Lin gives a nod and sits down in a cross-legged position. Shan Yan places several spirit stones around him so that he does not run out of spiritual energy during the process.
After that, he takes a small glass bottle out of his storage bag.
The moment Su Lin sees the bottle, his eyes become fixed on it. The thing that will help him move forward on his path of cultivation—the Strength Qi—is stored inside this bottle. The Qi glows with a mixture of white and red light, as if its radiance can never fade.
At this moment, Shan Yan says to Su Lin,
"Su Lin, as I told you, you only have eight hours to awaken your dantian. And don't worry. I'll help you from outside as much as I can. Just remember, when I help you, don't resist. Struggle as little as possible, okay?"
After saying this, Shan Yan hands the bottle containing the Strength Qi to Su Lin.
The moment Su Lin holds the bottle, he feels a warm sensation spread through his hand.
After seeing Shan Yan's approving nod, Su Lin swallows the Qi.
Shan Yan then places both hands against Su Lin's back and closes his eyes.
After a short while, Su Lin begins to feel a warmth within his body. It gradually spreads throughout him.
About an hour later, his entire body is filled with the warm sensation of Strength Qi.
Just then, Su Lin hears Shan Yan's voice.
"Su Lin, the first step is complete. Now, try to sense the spiritual energy around you. I'll help you with this."
After a short while, Su Lin feels a cold chill spreading through his body. The sensation is extremely strong, but this is not the first time he has felt it.
When he went to the Heaven's Dao Sect to take the test, he experienced the same sensation. However, compared to that time, the feeling is now much stronger.
After another half an hour, Su Lin gradually begins to gain control over the cold aura.
When Shan Yan senses this, his eyes widen in disbelief.
'How is this possible? Su Lin has gained control over spiritual energy so quickly...'
As this thought crosses his mind, a smile appears on Shan Yan's face. He removes his hands from Su Lin's back, leans against the wall, and sits down.
Then he says to Su Lin,
"Su Lin, you have completed the second step as well. You have successfully gained control over the spiritual energy around you.
Now, move on to the next step. The medicine you took earlier will help you sense your dantian. Once you can feel it, try to form it with the help of Qi and spiritual energy, just as I told you."
Hearing Shan Yan's words, Su Lin slowly begins focusing on his lower abdomen.
Two hours pass, but Su Lin still cannot sense the presence of his dantian. Even so, he refuses to give up.
About fifteen minutes later, he gradually begins to feel his dantian.
Once he senses it, Su Lin starts using spiritual energy and Qi to form it. After another two hours, he manages to form almost his entire dantian.
After that, he begins opening the paths within his dantian. After considerable effort, Su Lin successfully opens his first path and immediately moves on to the next one.
However, when Su Lin opens his first path, disbelief appears in Shan Yan's eyes. Because as Su Lin continues, the speed at which he consumes spiritual energy gradually begins to increase.