At midnight, beneath a high autumn moon, the academy lay silent.
Inside the dormitory, Lin Fei and Li Chen sat facing each other, legs crossed, palms upward, eyes closed as they practiced the Evergreen Breathing Technique. Meditating before sleep and rising again at dawn to cultivate had become their daily routine.
Lin Fei's breathing was slow and steady. With every inhale and exhale, spiritual energy flowed gently through his body. Over the past weeks, he had begun to clearly feel that warm current traveling through his meridians—rising from the dantian, moving along the Ren Meridian, passing the chest and throat, entering the crown of the head, then descending along the Du Meridian before returning once again to the dantian.
A complete minor circulation.
Li Chen finished his evening cultivation and opened his eyes. Seeing that Lin Fei was still deep in meditation, he quietly lay down and soon fell asleep.
But Lin Fei felt something unusual.
The spiritual energy within him had become far more active than usual. The current circulated faster and faster.
One cycle.Two cycles.Three cycles.
Round and round it flowed without stopping.
Suddenly, the stream of energy reached the Baihui point at the top of his head—and halted.
It was as if an invisible barrier blocked its path.
Yet the energy within his dantian kept surging upward, gathering at the crown of his head, accumulating more and more—until finally the barrier burst open.
Ding—
A clear bell-like sound echoed in Lin Fei's mind.
The obstruction shattered instantly.
Spiritual energy poured downward through his crown like a divine infusion. His mind went completely blank, as if the world had dissolved into nothingness. Then the energy roared through every meridian in his body like a breaking flood, surging endlessly in powerful cycles.
His body trembled slightly. Heat spread through him, and beads of sweat formed on his skin.
Yet instead of pain, he felt a profound sense of comfort—as if warm spring water was washing through every inch of his body.
Time passed.
Eventually, the turbulent energy gradually calmed.
Instead of rushing wildly, it gathered within his dantian and formed a small sea of qi, rotating steadily and endlessly. The flow felt stronger and smoother than ever before.
Lin Fei slowly opened his eyes.
The sky outside the window was already turning pale with dawn.
He had meditated the entire night.
A rooster crowed.
Li Chen woke up and rubbed his eyes when he saw Lin Fei sitting upright.
"You're up early," he said.
Lin Fei blinked in confusion."I think… I never stopped meditating last night."
Li Chen looked at him again—and suddenly froze.
He rubbed his eyes and stared.
"Xiao Fei… why do you look so good today? It's like you're glowing."
Lin Fei glanced down at himself. His skin indeed looked clearer than before, with a faint luminous sheen.
He wondered silently:Does the Evergreen Technique also improve your skin?
Li Chen looked puzzled but didn't think much more of it and began his own morning cultivation.
Later that morning, over a hundred students sat cross-legged on the training field as Elder Meng inspected their progress with the Evergreen Technique.
Lin Fei closed his eyes and circulated his energy.
The spiritual flow moved through his body with unprecedented ease, as if his meridians had always been open and were only now truly awakened.
He was immersed in the sensation when Elder Meng suddenly stopped beside him.
The elder studied him for a moment, surprise flickering across his face. He reached out and placed two fingers on Lin Fei's wrist, sensing the flow of energy.
Students nearby began whispering.
After a moment, Elder Meng opened his eyes and smiled.
"Good boy," he said, patting Lin Fei's shoulder."You've already broken through the Awakened Spirit Realm and entered the Qi Cultivation Realm."
The training ground erupted in shock.
"What?! Lin Fei broke through?"
"It's only been two months!"
"He's the first first-year to reach Qi Cultivation!"
Li Chen looked stunned and delighted.
"Xiao Fei—you broke through?!"
Lin Fei himself felt slightly dazed, though a surge of excitement rose in his heart.
Elder Meng raised a hand for silence.
"Lin Fei is the first student in the first year to enter the Qi Cultivation Realm. His Evergreen Technique reached the tenth layer, allowing his spiritual energy to overflow naturally and break the boundary. If you wish to achieve the same, work harder."
Various expressions appeared among the students.
Hu Mei looked delighted.
The Lu brothers stared at Lin Fei thoughtfully.
Zhou Ping, as always, remained expressionless. He glanced once at Lin Fei before looking away.
Elder Meng continued,
"Since someone has advanced, I will also explain something about the Scripture Pavilion."
Everyone immediately listened attentively.
"The pavilion stands on the western hill of the academy—the nine-story tower you all have seen."
He pointed toward the distant tower.
"Each floor contains cultivation manuals and Lin techniques suitable for a specific realm. Qi Cultivation disciples may only enter the first floor. Foundation Realm practitioners may enter the second, and so on."
He turned to Lin Fei.
"Since you've entered Qi Cultivation, you may now visit the pavilion and select one internal cultivation manual and one Lin technique."
Elder Meng raised his hand, a faint glow gathering at his fingertip, and gently touched Lin Fei's palm.
A warm mark sank into his skin before fading.
"This is your entry seal. The pavilion is guarded by the Azure Vine Guards. Show them this mark and you may enter. Remember—choose only two scrolls, and return them within one month. Do not aim too high. Select what you can truly cultivate."
Lin Fei looked down at his palm and bowed respectfully.
Around him, the other students stared with envy.
Liu Jinfa whispered,"I wish I could see the Scripture Pavilion too…"
Elder Meng glanced at him.
"Then cultivate harder. Break through first."
After class, Lin Fei headed alone toward the Scripture Pavilion.
The tower stood on the western peak of the academy—nine stories tall, built of ancient gray stone. Time had weathered its walls, giving it an austere and solemn presence.
Two Azure Vine Guards stood before the entrance, wearing dark green armor and holding iron staffs.
Lin Fei approached and raised his palm.
One guard inspected the faint mark and nodded, stepping aside.
The heavy doors slowly opened.
A wave of old parchment and ancient knowledge drifted outward.
Lin Fei took a deep breath and stepped inside.