The city lights faded behind Lin Tian as he walked along a narrow dirt path leading into the mountains.
Night had already fallen.
A cool wind rustled the leaves of tall pine trees, and the faint sound of insects echoed through the quiet forest. Above him, the sky stretched endlessly, filled with brilliant stars.
For most people, the mountains at night felt dangerous and lonely.
But for Lin Tian, the silence was perfect.
It reminded him of another time.
Another life.
In that distant life, he had trained on planets where gravity crushed mountains and storms of cosmic fire swept across the sky. Compared to those environments, Earth's mountains felt peaceful.
Still, Lin Tian did not underestimate them.
Every place held its own challenges.
And tonight, he had come here for a reason.
To strengthen his body.
The Limit of His Current Strength
Lin Tian reached a flat clearing surrounded by large rocks.
The ground was covered with rough gravel, and a cold mountain stream flowed nearby. Moonlight reflected off the water like silver.
He set his bag down and stretched his shoulders slowly.
Although his cultivation had already entered the first stage, his body still had many weaknesses.
This body was originally just that of an ordinary teenager.
Weak muscles.
Low endurance.
Slow reaction speed.
If Lin Tian wanted to truly rebuild his cosmic cultivation path, his body had to become far stronger.
Cultivation was not only about absorbing energy.
It was also about controlling it.
And a weak body could not contain powerful energy.
"If I rush forward too quickly," Lin Tian thought, "this body will collapse."
He clenched his fists slightly.
"So first… I must temper it."
The Beginning of Physical Training
Lin Tian stepped into the center of the clearing.
Then he lowered his stance.
His feet pressed firmly into the ground.
His breathing slowed.
This was not a modern exercise.
It was an ancient training method from his previous life.
A technique used by cosmic warriors to strengthen their physical foundation.
He began with simple movements.
Punch.
Step.
Turn.
Kick.
Each movement looked ordinary.
But every action followed a precise rhythm connected to his breathing.
Slowly.
Steadily.
The mountain wind blew against his body.
Sweat began to form on his forehead.
But Lin Tian did not stop.
Gravity Training
After several minutes, he walked toward a large boulder nearby.
It was nearly twice his height.
Most people would never attempt to move such a rock.
Lin Tian placed both hands against its rough surface.
Then he inhaled deeply.
Cosmic energy flowed through his body.
His muscles tightened.
"Lift."
His arms pushed upward.
At first, the rock did not move.
But slowly…
Very slowly…
The massive stone rose a few centimeters off the ground.
Lin Tian's arms trembled.
His muscles burned with effort.
This body was far weaker than the one he once possessed.
Back then, he could lift mountains without effort.
Now, even a boulder challenged him.
But Lin Tian did not feel frustrated.
Instead, he smiled slightly.
"Good."
Training required resistance.
And resistance meant growth.
With a low exhale, he lifted the rock higher.
Then he stepped forward.
Carrying it.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Each movement felt heavier than the last.
The strain on his muscles increased rapidly.
After ten steps, Lin Tian dropped the rock back onto the ground.
THUD.
Dust rose into the air.
He wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Again."
Endless Repetition
For the next hour, Lin Tian repeated similar exercises.
Lifting rocks.
Running uphill.
Jumping across uneven terrain.
Each activity pushed his body to its limit.
The cold mountain air filled his lungs.
His heart pounded heavily.
Sweat soaked his clothes.
Pain spread through every muscle.
But Lin Tian welcomed the pain.
Pain meant his body was adapting.
Changing.
Becoming stronger.
Eventually, he climbed a steep slope nearby.
At the top stood a tall cliff overlooking the forest.
The wind here was stronger.
The view of the valley below was breathtaking.
But Lin Tian wasn't here for the scenery.
He dropped to the ground and began doing push-ups on rough stone.
Each movement strained his arms.
One hundred.
Two hundred.
Three hundred.
His breathing grew heavier.
But he did not stop.
Breaking the Body's Limits
After hours of training, Lin Tian finally sat down near the edge of the cliff.
His muscles trembled slightly.
This body had reached its physical limit.
Perfect.
Now came the second part of training.
He closed his eyes.
His breathing gradually slowed again.
Cosmic energy gathered from the surrounding environment.
The mountains held more natural energy than the city.
Trees.
Soil.
Water.
Wind.
All carried faint traces of spiritual power.
Lin Tian absorbed it slowly.
The energy flowed through his exhausted muscles.
Repairing microscopic damage.
Strengthening fibers.
Improving endurance.
This process was called Body Tempering.
Without cultivation, intense training only damaged the body.
But with energy guidance, damage became improvement.
The pain faded little by little.
His muscles began recovering faster than normal humans.
A New Realization
After some time, Lin Tian opened his eyes.
His senses had sharpened.
He could hear distant animals moving through the forest.
The rustling of leaves.
The flowing water below.
Everything felt clearer.
He stood up slowly.
Then he clenched his fist.
Power flowed through his arm.
Stronger than before.
Not dramatically.
But enough to notice improvement.
Lin Tian nodded to himself.
"This pace is acceptable."
Rebuilding strength would take time.
But time was something he now had.
The Moonlight Trial
Just as he prepared to leave, Lin Tian looked up at the sky.
The moon hung high above the mountains.
Bright.
Silent.
He remembered something from his previous life.
A special training method used under moonlight.
The moon reflected cosmic radiation from distant stars.
Normally, the energy was too weak to matter.
But with proper breathing techniques, it could still enhance cultivation.
Lin Tian returned to the clearing.
Then he stood facing the moon.
His body relaxed.
His breathing followed a new rhythm.
Slow.
Deep.
Energy from the night sky flowed downward like invisible threads.
The sensation was subtle.
But real.
The moonlight touched his skin.
Cosmic energy entered his meridians.
His body absorbed it naturally.
Time passed quietly.
The mountain wind carried the scent of pine trees.
For a moment, Lin Tian felt as if the entire world had become still.
A Stronger Foundation
After another hour, Lin Tian ended the training.
His body felt both exhausted and refreshed.
He picked up his bag.
Before leaving, he looked back at the clearing.
The ground was covered in footprints.
Large rocks had been moved.
Dust and gravel scattered everywhere.
It looked like a small battlefield.
Lin Tian smiled faintly.
"Tomorrow night," he murmured.
"I'll return."
This was only the beginning.
His body was improving.
His cultivation was growing.
And soon…
His strength would reach a level far beyond anything Earth had ever seen.
A Hidden Presence
But as Lin Tian walked down the mountain path toward the city…
He didn't notice something far away.
On another hilltop across the valley…
A figure stood silently in the darkness.
Watching him.
The mysterious observer had witnessed part of his training.
Their eyes glowed faintly with curiosity.
"So it's true," the figure whispered.
"Someone on Earth can absorb cosmic energy."
The wind blew across the mountains.
And somewhere in the darkness…
A new player had entered Lin Tian's story.