—
The first true cold had come in the clouded peak sect. It was no longer the gentle air of autumn, but the kind where the breath came out in small clouds.
Mountain peaks that surrounded the sect now had different characteristics, the snow line moving lower each day and would soon reach the ground itself.
The trees throughout the grounds were shedding their leaves, replaced by bare skeletal branches against grey skies.
Disciples wore thicker robes and training sessions moved indoors more often as the pace of sect life shifted, adjusting to the changing season.
Winter in cultivation sects was a time of consolidation, of indoor training and of refining what had been learned during the active months, all in preparation to strengthen foundations before spring's returns, at least for most disciples.
But for me, it had been anything but consolidation.
Eight weeks had passed since the trial, two months of intensive growth during which the sect's support had been overwhelming and massive beyond anything I'd expected.
Elder Han had taken his role as my master seriously, personally allocating premium medicinal pills and access to private chambers filled with concentrated spiritual essence, all of it provided freely to me.
And I'd used everything they gave me, pushing my cultivation forward aggressively.
Those manuals I got were just too amazing which I'd mastered in just mere seconds.
The weapon mastery manuals, both basic and advanced, gave me a thorough understanding of how to wield blades, how spiritual essence could enhance weapons, and how to turn combat into an art form, all of it practiced and perfected until nothing remained unrefined.
My progress had been extraordinary by any measure.
Publicly, I appeared to be close to breaking through into the foundation establishment realm, though the truth was different, as I'd been Foundation Establishment Peak since my time in prison.
And now, after the sect's utmost care, I was close, so close I could feel it, the barrier to Qi Condensation realm was just a thin membrane separating me.
But I was in no rush. The breakthrough would come when it came, and for now everything was progressing perfectly, except for one problem.
Chen Wu's corruption had stalled.
[CORRUPTION PROGRESS: Chen Wu - 92%]
Ninety-two percent, and the progress had slowed to a crawl, almost stopped completely despite everything I tried, whatever was protecting that final core of his beliefs.
I'd figure it out eventually, but for now…
"Fu Yang."
Elder Han's call pulled me back from my thoughts as we were walking through the Medical Hall's garden, a cultivation space filled with spiritual herbs.
It was late afternoon, the sun was setting low despite the early hour, for the days were shorter in winter.
I was dressed in new dark blue robes, with subtle patterns embroidered along the edges.
My appearance had also changed over the past eight weeks. With proper treatment, my features had sharpened, more defined, and a healthy color returned to my skin.
Elder Han turned and stepped in front of one particular plant.
"This is 'Blood Dew Grass' , a rare herb which is incredibly effective for internal injuries." He plucked one leaf carefully. "Watch how I channel spiritual essence into it."
Elder Han poured out his energy into the leaf, and the leaf seemed to glow even brighter as energy flowed through it. Then there was also a slight color change from green to reddish-gold.
"Look closely how the spiritual energy harmonizes with the plant, for you're not forcing your essence into it but resonating and becoming one with it."
I observed every detail carefully, how his spiritual essence moved and how it interacted with the plant.
"The mind of a cultivator plays a big role," Elder Han continued. "Not only in cultivation but in their whole life. Do you know that the will to live can actually save a cultivator in deadly situations?"
"Yes, Master. I've read accounts of cultivators surviving fatal wounds through sheer determination, their will to survive keeping their spiritual essence circulating even when their bodies should have failed."
"Exactly, for the mind affects the body and belief shapes reality." He handed me the leaf. "But the reverse is also true, as even with just a small poison, if the cultivator loses all hope and truly believes they will die then no one can save them, their spiritual essence will collapse and their body will give up. Understand?"
I nodded. "The mind can heal or destroy, regardless of the physical condition."
"Good, you learn quickly." Elder Han smiled slightly, a rare expression from him. "Try it yourself and channel spiritual essence into the leaf, then feel the resonance."
I took the Blood Lotus Grass and held it gently between my fingers, letting my spiritual energy flow from my immature core through my meridians into my palm, and the leaf responded immediately, its glow strengthening as the color shift happened smoothly.
"Excellent, your control has improved significantly." Elder Han observed with clear satisfaction. "
"Thank you, Master. Your teaching has been invaluable."
And it had been, for Elder Han was an exceptional teacher, patient but demanding and clear in his explanations, willing to demonstrate repeatedly until I understood.
He'd given me access to knowledge I couldn't have gained anywhere else, his personal research, healing methods developed over decades, and an understanding of how spiritual essence interacted with the human body at fundamental levels, secrets he'd shared with no one except the Sect Head and now me, opening his life's work to me and treating me like a true successor, not just a student but an heir to his legacy.
How could I reject that, when the information was priceless, the techniques could save my life, and the knowledge gave me power others didn't have, so I absorbed everything, memorized every lesson and practiced every technique until I achieved perfection.
"Good, go for now and treat the wounded disciples and practice what you've learned today."
I bowed respectfully. "Yes, Master."
I left the garden and entered the main Medical Hall building.
The interior was warm despite the cold outside. Spiritual formations maintaining a comfortable temperature. The air was thick with medicinal herbs but comforting.
The hall was busy. Disciples recovering from various ailments. Training injuries mostly - broken bones, torn muscles, bruised organs from sparring. A few with spiritual essence deviation from improper cultivation techniques. Some with actual combat wounds from sect missions.
They all looked up when I entered. Eyes tracking my movement across the room.
"Senior Brother Fu!"
"Good afternoon, Senior Brother!"
"Senior Brother, do you have time later? I wanted to ask about meridian circulation—"
Greetings came from all directions.
I was a celebrity now after becoming Elder Han's only current disciple. But I knew that respect, admiration never give you the power you want, it only weakens your mind and in the end…those who sought these superficial recognition would always get controlled by it.
I smiled politely and waved off the attempt at conversation.
"We can talk later if there's time, but for now."
I moved to the first patient who was an outer disciple with a broken arm.
"Senior Brother Fu, thank you for seeing me. The pain has been unbearable."
"Let me examine it."
I began to release my spiritual energy and let it flow into his injured arm, sensing the fractured bone then guided the healing as my essence knitted the bone back together slowly, reducing inflammation and restoring proper circulation, exactly as Elder Han.
The disciple's expression calmed as the pain faded under my treatment.
"The bone is healing properly now, but it needs time, so rest for a whole week and take this medicine twice daily."I wrote the name of the medicine on a slip of paper and handed it to him. "Your arm will recover completely within a week."
"Thank you, Senior Brother! You're amazing!—"
"Just focus on healing and follow the instructions carefully."
I moved to the next patient and then the next, working through the afternoon methodically, and each treatment was genuine as I was actually helping these people using techniques Elder Han had personally taught me, because that was my role now, and I also earned some spiritual stones from it.
When the treatment session ended I left the Medical Hall, and evening had arrived. The sun was almost hidding behind the mountains, leaving the clouds blushing.
"Truly, this world's view always surprises me"
—————
With this new phase, we begin.
Mmm, I know this may be too much to ask but if it left an impression, you guys already know what to do. "Author"