The morning training field behind the village had become unusually lively.
Several villagers had gathered quietly nearby.
They were pretending to do their daily work, but in truth they were watching Chen Yu train under Lin Tian.
Word had spread quickly.
The mysterious traveler was teaching cultivation.
And Chen Yu was the first student.
Chen Yu stood in the center of the field, gripping his wooden staff with serious concentration.
Lin Tian stood a few steps away, observing silently.
"Again," Lin Tian said.
Chen Yu inhaled deeply and began the movement.
Step.
Turn.
Strike.
Sweep.
Compared to yesterday, his posture had already improved.
But Lin Tian immediately noticed several inefficiencies.
When Chen Yu finished the sequence, Lin Tian spoke calmly.
"Your breathing is still incorrect."
Chen Yu wiped sweat from his forehead.
"But I followed what you showed yesterday."
"Yes," Lin Tian replied. "But your body has not adapted yet."
He walked closer.
"In this world, cultivation is built upon three foundations."
Chen Yu listened carefully.
"Body," Lin Tian said, raising one finger.
"Energy."
A second finger.
"And mind."
A third.
"If these three are not aligned, strength will always be unstable."
Chen Yu nodded slowly.
"That sounds… complicated."
Lin Tian shook his head.
"It is actually very simple."
He placed a hand lightly on Chen Yu's back.
"Close your eyes."
Chen Yu obeyed.
"Now breathe slowly."
Chen Yu inhaled.
At that moment, Lin Tian released a faint thread of energy.
It moved gently into Chen Yu's body.
Not to change anything.
Only to observe.
Inside Chen Yu's body, Lin Tian saw something interesting.
The internal energy channels of this world's humans were somewhat similar to the meridian systems he had observed in other civilizations.
But they were less refined.
Many pathways remained unused.
Energy flow was inefficient.
"Primitive," Lin Tian thought.
But primitive systems could still evolve.
After a moment, Chen Yu opened his eyes.
"What did you see?" he asked nervously.
Lin Tian answered honestly.
"Your body contains potential to absorb spiritual energy."
Chen Yu's eyes widened.
"That means I can become a cultivator?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu almost jumped in excitement.
"But…" Lin Tian continued.
Chen Yu froze.
"But what?"
"Your current training methods waste most of that potential."
Chen Yu looked slightly embarrassed.
"Well… this is just what villagers practice."
Lin Tian nodded.
"That is expected."
He turned and picked up a small stone from the ground.
"This world's cultivation system appears to focus on absorbing external spiritual energy."
Chen Yu blinked.
"You say it like you're studying it."
"I am."
Lin Tian tossed the stone lightly into the air and caught it again.
"In most energy-based civilizations, early cultivation focuses on strengthening the body first."
Chen Yu tilted his head.
"Isn't that what we're doing?"
"Partially," Lin Tian replied.
"But your methods lack structural understanding."
Chen Yu frowned.
"I don't understand."
Lin Tian crouched and drew a simple diagram in the dirt.
He sketched a human figure.
Then he drew several lines across it.
"These are energy channels."
Chen Yu leaned closer.
"I've heard of meridians before."
"Yes."
Lin Tian continued drawing.
"But your training activates only a few of them."
He circled three lines.
"These."
Chen Yu stared.
"Only three?"
Lin Tian nodded.
"In comparison, a fully optimized system would utilize far more pathways."
Chen Yu scratched his head.
"So… our cultivation system is bad?"
Lin Tian thought for a moment.
"No."
Chen Yu looked relieved.
"It is simply incomplete."
Chen Yu blinked.
"That doesn't sound much better."
Lin Tian stood up.
"This is normal for developing civilizations."
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow.
"You say things in a really strange way, Senior."
Lin Tian ignored the comment.
Instead he looked toward the distant mountains.
From here, he could faintly sense stronger concentrations of spiritual energy.
Likely where sects or cities existed.
"This world still has much to reveal," he thought.
Chen Yu suddenly asked another question.
"Senior… what cultivation realm am I in?"
Lin Tian paused.
"I do not yet know the exact system used on this planet."
Chen Yu looked shocked.
"You don't know?!"
"No."
Chen Yu stared at him.
"You're teaching me cultivation but you don't even know the realm system?"
Lin Tian nodded calmly.
"I am still learning."
Chen Yu laughed nervously.
"That's… actually kind of scary."
Lin Tian looked back at him.
"Why?"
"Because if you're still learning," Chen Yu said, "then how strong are you really?"
Lin Tian thought about the question.
In truth, his understanding of universal energy laws far exceeded anything likely known on this planet.
But his current physical body had limits.
To fully apply that knowledge, he would need to rebuild his own cultivation foundation within this world's energy system.
"In this world," Lin Tian finally said, "I am only at the beginning."
Chen Yu stared at him in disbelief.
"If this is the beginning…"
He pointed toward the mountains.
"…then what do the experts look like?"
Lin Tian followed his gaze.
That was a question he also wanted answered.
At that exact moment—
A powerful ripple of spiritual energy suddenly appeared in the distance.
Both of them felt it instantly.
Chen Yu's face turned pale.
"That… that energy…"
Lin Tian narrowed his eyes slightly.
Someone strong was approaching the village.
And this time—
It was not a tax collector.