Luo Zheng sat cross-legged and waited for the pill to melt in his stomach. A few breaths later, the heat spread through his whole body again. It was the same painful feeling as last time. His skin turned slightly red.
He clenched his teeth.
"Here it comes… just endure it."
His muscles tightened on their own. Sweat came out from his forehead. The burning feeling kept rising, like someone poured fire into his veins. His body trembled a little but he forced himself to stay still.
"This pill really hurts… no wonder normal mortals can't take more than one."
His bones made small cracking sounds. Not loud, but enough for him to hear in the quiet hut. Even breathing felt hard. His chest moved up and down quickly.
The heat rushed to his arms next. He felt his strength growing, but at the same time the pain grew stronger.
"If I faint now, the pill will be wasted. No matter what, I must stay awake."
He grabbed the floor with his fingers. His nails left marks on the wood. The pain ran across his back like lightning. His throat felt dry.
Minutes passed slowly.
Then his body suddenly cooled down a little. The intense burning started to fade. Luo Zheng let out a rough breath he didn't know he was holding.
"It's working… the barrier is cracking."
He focused the last of the pill's energy into his muscles. He guided it the way the cultivation method instructed. His heartbeat grew heavier, stronger.
Bang—
A small shock ran inside his body. Not outside, but deep inside his muscles.
Luo Zheng's eyes opened slightly.
"Breakthrough… Body Tempering sixth stage reached."
He leaned back and wiped sweat from his face. His robe was soaked. His whole body felt weak, but underneath that weakness, new strength was growing.
He smiled lightly.
"Only one more pill… then I can reach seventh stage. After that, I won't need pills anymore."
He lay down for a while, staring at the ceiling of the hut. The night outside was quiet.
"Step by step… I will get stronger."
Next day
Luo Zheng stood in the cold river water. He used both hands to grab fish that swam close to him. His movements were faster than before. With Body Tempering 7th stage, his reaction speed had clearly improved. After catching a few fish, he roasted them and ate quietly on a rock.
He looked at the sky.
"From today, I can start true cultivation," he reminded himself.
After finishing his breakfast, he wiped his hands and walked toward the small mountain near the village. The air was fresh. Mist was still floating around the trees. He breathed in deeply.
According to the cultivation method he got, the first step was absorbing "Cloud Path spiritual energy."
"Cloud Path energy…" he muttered, climbing the narrow dirt path.
"This energy is lighter than normal spiritual energy. Hard to catch, but once I learn it, I can use all the techniques in this path."
He kept walking until he reached a quiet area on the mountainside. No people came here. Only the sound of wind and distant birds.
Luo Zheng looked around.
"This place is fine. Should be enough Cloud Path energy here."
He sat cross-legged on a flat rock. He placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes. He tried to sense the world around him the same way the manual described.
At first, he felt nothing. Only cold air touching his skin.
He stayed still and kept breathing slowly.
After a few minutes, he sensed something faint… like thin strands of cool mist brushing against his body. It wasn't strong like the energy inside pills. It was soft and light.
"This must be Cloud Path energy…"
He guided it slowly, exactly the way the method said. The energy moved into his body like weak smoke drifting inside. It was hard to control, but not impossible.
His body felt a slight warmth. His chest loosened a bit.
"It's working," he thought.
"But it's slow. Still… it's better than nothing."
He remained there, sitting quietly, absorbing little by little. The mountain breeze brushed past him, but he didn't move. Only his breathing changed gently as he learned to adjust to the new energy.
He didn't know how long he had been sitting, but he could feel the Cloud Path technique starting to respond inside his body.
"Good… this is the first step," he murmured softly.
He opened his eyes. The morning sun had already risen higher. He felt tired but satisfied.
"From now on, every day… I will climb here and cultivate."
Holy Sect – First Round of the Pill Competition
The Holy Sect was louder than ever today. Nearly ten thousand people filled the holy grounds, all waiting to watch the pill competition. Cultivators from every corner of the realm had arrived. Many were from the great sects—Soaring Heaven Sect, Alchemist Guild, Ice Sect, War Spirit Temple, Netherworld Sect, Free and Unfettered Spirit Temple, Water Spirit Temple, Dragon Phoenix Palace, Twin Spirit Pavilion, Frozen Nether Cave Heaven, Shattering Mystical Palace—and there were also many smaller sects and wandering cultivators mixed in the crowd.
A total of 245 participants stood inside the grand arena. They were all nervous in their own way. According to the rules, only cultivators walking the five elemental paths could take part—fire, water, metal, wood, and earth. Out of these 245, only 100 people would pass to the next round.
The Holy Master and the Great Elder were personally overseeing the first round, which made everyone even more serious. Their auras alone made the whole arena quiet.
The Great Elder stepped forward and said in a calm but strong voice,
"First round begins. You will refine a basic pill of your elemental path. We will select the top twenty from each element. No tricks. No borrowed flames. Only your own skill."
After that, the arena lit up with different colors of elemental flames.
Fire-path cultivators summoned their bright red and orange flames. Some flames were fierce, rising like burning dragons, while others were weak and shaky.
Water-path cultivators released cold blue spiritual mist, forming soft water flames under their cauldrons. Their arena area looked like a foggy lake.
Metal-path cultivators used sharp golden spiritual energy. Their flames were stable but heavy, giving a sense of pressure even from far away.
Wood-path cultivators produced green life energy. Their cauldrons gave off a fresh herbal smell that drifted across the arena.
Earth-path cultivators summoned thick brown spiritual fire, solid and steady. Their flames didn't move much but carried a deep, unshakable power.
Inside the crowd, people whispered and judged. Some cheered for their sect's disciples, others watched silently, afraid to disturb the competitors.
Time passed slowly. The sound of cauldrons shaking and ingredients melting filled the arena. Some cultivators succeeded easily, their cauldrons glowing. Some failed halfway, either burning their herbs or cracking their cauldrons in frustration.
After two long hours, the Holy Master raised his hand.
"Stop."
All flames died out instantly.
Great Elder floated down to the arena floor. With a single wave of his hand, the finished pills from every participant rose into the air and flew toward him. He inspected each one with calm eyes, sorting them by quality.
The crowd held their breath.
One by one, names were called. Only one hundred people would move forward.
Some participants burst into smiles. Some fell to their knees in disappointment. But no one dared to complain—the Holy Master and Great Elder's judgment was absolute.
By the end, exactly 20 from fire, 20 from water, 20 from metal, 20 from wood, and 20 from earth were selected.
The Great Elder announced,
"These one hundred will advance to the second round. Rest well. Tomorrow's challenge will be much harsher."
The crowd erupted in cheers. The first round of the Holy Sect's pill competition came to a close.