【1】TeProtagoistsIborTaletIsLow

keyoutoseekthehelpofAsura.”

    AsuraisadeityworshipedthroughoutXiatyandmostofAwakenia.

    Lookingatme,Fathersaid,

    “Thepathofcultivationsistsofninemajorrealms:QiRefi,Foundatioablishment,GoldenCore,Soul,SoulMovement,SpiritSeparation,Fusion,TributionCrossing,andfinally,GreatAssion.

    EachrealmisdividedintoEarlyStage,MidStage,LateStage,aage.FromGoldenCoreonward,there''''''''salsoalevelknownasGreatpletion.”

    IopehebooktitledQiRefiManual,memorizingeveryword,afraidtomissevenasiail.

    Thiswasmyfirststepintothepathofcultivation.Idarednotsckoff.Sittingcross-legged,IfollowedtheCultivatiohod,adjustingmybreathingandslowlyguidingmybreathintomydantiahodcimedthatqienergywouldnaturallygatheriian—butdespitesittingforalongtime,nothingstirredaroundme,asiftherewasnoqiintheworldatall.

    AsidefromWater-BlueStar’sthinspiritualenergy,themainreasonmustliewithiIrefusedtogiveup.Wipingthesweatfrommyforehead,Iyeyesandresumedbreathiion.

    Timepassedslowly.Mylegswerenumb,andmybacksoakedi.Still,mydantianremainedsilent,likeadesert—voidofanyqi.

    Doubtcreptin.

    “AmIreallyhopeless?”

    No—Irefusedtobelievethat!

    Noonereachestheheavensinoneleap.Iftalentisg,thenI’llmakeupforitwitheffort.Takingadeepbreath,Isteadiedmymindandfocusedmyspiritevenmore.

    Idon''''''''tknowhowlonghadpassed.Theskyoutsidehaddarkened,andmybodywasnumb,mymindgroggy.JustasIwasabouttogiveup,aslightripplestirreddeepinmydantian—likeastillponddisturbedbyafainttouch.Ittickled.

    “Qi