The training field behind the village was quiet again.
The villagers had slowly returned to their daily routines after Zhao Ren left, but the tension from earlier still lingered in the air.
Chen Yu sat on a large rock, staring at Lin Tian with excitement.
"Senior… we might really go to Iron Ridge City," he said.
Lin Tian did not answer immediately.
He stood near the field, observing the flow of spiritual energy across the land.
The energy here was thin but stable.
In places like large cities or sect territories, the concentration would likely be much higher.
That meant cultivators there could progress faster.
Yet the problem Lin Tian had noticed earlier remained the same.
This world's cultivation system focused heavily on absorbing energy, but not enough on understanding its structure.
It reminded him of primitive civilizations that discovered electricity but did not yet understand physics.
They could use it.
But they did not truly control it.
Chen Yu suddenly spoke again.
"Senior… what did that man mean earlier when he asked about cultivation realms?"
Lin Tian turned toward him.
"You said this world divides cultivators into stages," Lin Tian said.
Chen Yu nodded.
"Yes."
"What are those stages?"
Chen Yu scratched his head.
"Well… I only know the basics."
"Explain them."
Chen Yu stood up and tried to recall everything he had heard growing up.
"In our region, cultivators start with the Body Tempering Realm."
Lin Tian listened carefully.
Chen Yu continued.
"That stage strengthens muscles, bones, and organs so the body can handle spiritual energy."
Lin Tian nodded slightly.
That part made sense.
Physical reinforcement before energy circulation was a common method across many civilizations.
"What comes next?" Lin Tian asked.
"The Qi Gathering Realm," Chen Yu said.
"That's when cultivators start absorbing spiritual energy and storing it inside their bodies."
Chen Yu hesitated before continuing.
"After that is Foundation Establishment."
His eyes lit up with admiration.
"They say real cultivators begin at that stage."
Lin Tian thought quietly.
The terminology was different from systems he had observed elsewhere, but the underlying principle was familiar.
Body reinforcement.
Energy absorption.
Structural stabilization.
A very basic progression model.
"What comes after Foundation Establishment?" Lin Tian asked.
Chen Yu shook his head.
"I don't know."
"You do not know?"
"I've only heard rumors," Chen Yu admitted. "Those stages belong to powerful sect experts."
Lin Tian nodded slowly.
That meant the true structure of this world's cultivation system was much deeper than common villagers understood.
Which also meant—
There were still many things for him to learn.
Chen Yu looked curious.
"Senior… what realm are you in?"
Lin Tian paused.
The question was more complicated than Chen Yu realized.
In truth, Lin Tian had once existed in a state beyond what most civilizations could even imagine.
For millions of years, he had studied the laws of cosmic energy.
Gravity waves.
Stellar fusion structures.
Dark matter flow patterns.
Even the formation of galaxies.
But now he existed inside a human body bound to this world's energy system.
His knowledge remained.
But his physical cultivation foundation had to be rebuilt.
"In terms of this world's system…" Lin Tian said slowly.
"I am currently reconstructing my foundation."
Chen Yu blinked.
"That sounds important."
"It is."
Lin Tian looked toward the mountains again.
"To use power effectively, one must first understand its structure."
He crouched down and drew another diagram in the dirt.
This time, the drawing was more complex.
A human body.
With dozens of energy channels branching across it.
Chen Yu leaned closer.
"That's way more meridians than yesterday."
"Yes."
Lin Tian pointed to several areas.
"This world's cultivation techniques appear to use only a small portion of the body's energy network."
Chen Yu frowned.
"So the rest are useless?"
"No."
Lin Tian shook his head.
"They are simply ignored."
Chen Yu stared at the diagram.
"Why would cultivators ignore them?"
"Because they do not understand them yet."
Lin Tian stood up.
"This is common in developing systems."
Chen Yu looked impressed.
"You say that like you've seen lots of systems."
Lin Tian answered calmly.
"I have studied many energy structures."
That statement was technically true.
Just… not in ways Chen Yu could imagine.
Lin Tian then pointed to Chen Yu.
"Stand up."
Chen Yu quickly obeyed.
"Today we will begin your Body Tempering training."
Chen Yu grinned.
"Finally!"
Lin Tian stepped behind him.
"The goal of Body Tempering is simple."
He tapped lightly on Chen Yu's back.
"To strengthen the body so it can safely handle spiritual energy."
Chen Yu nodded.
"Right."
"But your village methods are inefficient."
Chen Yu laughed awkwardly.
"You keep saying that."
Lin Tian adjusted Chen Yu's stance again.
"This time we will train using proper structure."
He guided Chen Yu into a deeper posture.
Feet planted firmly.
Spine aligned.
Breathing steady.
"Now breathe slowly."
Chen Yu inhaled.
"Focus on your breathing rhythm."
Chen Yu tried.
Lin Tian watched carefully.
After several breaths, Lin Tian spoke again.
"Imagine the air entering your lungs."
Chen Yu nodded.
"Now imagine that energy spreading through your body."
Chen Yu frowned slightly.
"That's hard."
"Yes."
Lin Tian placed one finger lightly on Chen Yu's shoulder.
A tiny thread of spiritual energy entered Chen Yu's body.
Just enough to guide the sensation.
Chen Yu suddenly gasped.
"I feel something!"
"Follow it."
Chen Yu concentrated.
The faint energy moved slowly through his muscles.
Then into his bones.
It felt warm.
Powerful.
And strangely alive.
After a few moments, the sensation faded.
Chen Yu opened his eyes in amazement.
"That was incredible!"
Lin Tian nodded.
"You experienced the first step of Body Tempering."
Chen Yu looked excited.
"So I'm already cultivating?"
"Not yet."
Chen Yu's excitement paused.
"That was only guidance."
Lin Tian looked serious.
"You must learn to do it yourself."
Chen Yu took a deep breath.
"Okay… I'll practice."
Lin Tian nodded.
As Chen Yu resumed the posture, Lin Tian quietly observed the surrounding energy again.
This world's spiritual energy was weaker than many cosmic environments he had studied.
But it was stable.
And adaptable.
That meant something important.
With proper understanding—
It could evolve into a far more advanced system.
Lin Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Perhaps this world's cultivation path is still incomplete," he thought.
"If so… it can be improved."
And somewhere deep in his mind—
The countless energy models he had studied across millions of years began quietly forming new ideas.
Ideas that could eventually reshape the cultivation system of this entire world.
But for now—
It all started with a single student standing in a quiet village field.
Learning how to breathe.