Morning training had become routine in the village.
For the past three days, Chen Yu had trained under Lin Tian from sunrise until midday.
At first, the villagers watched with curiosity.
But as time passed, many of them simply accepted the sight.
Chen Yu stood in the training field again, sweat covering his forehead.
His breathing was heavy.
His legs trembled slightly.
Lin Tian stood nearby with his usual calm expression.
"Your breathing is still unstable," Lin Tian said.
Chen Yu groaned.
"I've been practicing for hours!"
"Yes."
Lin Tian's tone remained neutral.
"That is why your breathing should be stable by now."
Chen Yu sighed dramatically.
"Senior… normal people get tired."
Lin Tian tilted his head slightly.
"Tiredness is a signal from the body."
Chen Yu blinked.
"Meaning?"
"It indicates structural weakness."
Chen Yu looked offended.
"Hey, I'm trying my best here."
Lin Tian walked closer.
"I know."
Then he placed one finger lightly on Chen Yu's chest.
"Breathe slowly."
Chen Yu obeyed.
His chest rose and fell as he tried to regulate his breathing.
Lin Tian closed his eyes for a moment.
Inside Chen Yu's body, the faint traces of spiritual energy were beginning to appear more frequently.
This meant the Body Tempering process had started.
However, the efficiency remained extremely low.
Lin Tian could see several issues.
Chen Yu's breathing rhythm caused energy to scatter.
His muscle tension blocked certain meridian channels.
And his focus wavered too easily.
"These are typical beginner errors," Lin Tian thought.
But to Lin Tian, correcting them was simple.
He had spent millions of years observing how energy moved through vastly more complex systems.
Compared to the energy networks of stars or cosmic storms—
The human body was a very small structure.
Lin Tian opened his eyes.
"Adjust your stance."
Chen Yu moved slightly.
"Not like that."
Lin Tian repositioned his feet.
"Your center of gravity should align with your spine."
Chen Yu corrected his posture.
Then he inhaled again.
This time something felt different.
The warm sensation from earlier training sessions returned.
But now it lasted longer.
Chen Yu's eyes widened.
"I feel it again!"
Lin Tian nodded.
"Focus."
Chen Yu closed his eyes.
The faint spiritual energy slowly spread through his arms and legs.
Unlike before, it did not disappear immediately.
Instead, it lingered.
Strengthening his muscles.
Reinforcing his bones.
Minutes passed.
Finally Chen Yu opened his eyes.
His expression was filled with excitement.
"That lasted way longer!"
Lin Tian nodded.
"You have officially begun Body Tempering."
Chen Yu froze.
"Wait… really?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu jumped up in excitement.
"I'm a cultivator now!"
Lin Tian corrected him calmly.
"You are a beginner cultivator."
Chen Yu laughed.
"That still sounds amazing!"
Nearby villagers who had been quietly watching began whispering.
"Did you hear that?"
"Chen Yu started cultivating!"
"That traveler must be a powerful master."
Chen Yu turned back toward Lin Tian.
"Senior, how long does Body Tempering usually take?"
Lin Tian asked,
"How long does it take here?"
Chen Yu thought.
"I heard it can take several years before someone finishes Body Tempering."
Lin Tian nodded.
"That is consistent with inefficient systems."
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow.
"You really like calling our methods inefficient."
Lin Tian answered honestly.
"They are."
Chen Yu sighed.
"Well… how long will it take me?"
Lin Tian observed Chen Yu for a moment.
"With your current progress…"
Chen Yu leaned forward eagerly.
"…several months."
Chen Yu blinked.
"Several months?!"
Lin Tian nodded.
"That is already much faster than normal."
Chen Yu stared at him.
"That's still insane!"
Lin Tian remained calm.
"It would be faster if your body structure were stronger."
Chen Yu laughed.
"Senior, I'm just a farmer's son."
"That is true."
Lin Tian looked toward the distant mountains again.
Cities.
Sects.
Hidden training grounds.
Those places likely had stronger cultivators.
Which meant stronger techniques.
Lin Tian's curiosity slowly grew.
For someone who had spent millions of years studying the universe—
A new cultivation system was extremely interesting.
Suddenly Chen Yu asked another question.
"Senior… how strong was that man yesterday?"
"You mean Zhao Ren?"
"Yes."
Lin Tian thought briefly.
"He has completed Body Tempering."
Chen Yu's eyes widened.
"So he's already in the next realm?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu looked slightly worried.
"That means there are probably lots of people stronger than me."
Lin Tian nodded.
"Correct."
Chen Yu clenched his fists.
"Then I'll just train harder."
Lin Tian studied him.
Chen Yu's determination was genuine.
That kind of mindset was often necessary for cultivation.
But determination alone was not enough.
Understanding was equally important.
Lin Tian spoke again.
"Strength is not only about effort."
Chen Yu tilted his head.
"What else is there?"
"Structure."
Chen Yu frowned.
"I still don't get what you mean by that."
Lin Tian pointed at the sky.
"Consider a storm."
Chen Yu looked confused but followed his gaze.
Storm clouds were forming faintly in the distance.
"Storms contain enormous energy," Lin Tian said.
"But without structure, that energy spreads randomly."
Chen Yu nodded slowly.
"Okay…"
"But when the storm forms lightning," Lin Tian continued, "the energy follows a precise path."
Chen Yu's eyes widened slightly.
"Like… a channel?"
"Yes."
Lin Tian nodded.
"That is the difference between uncontrolled energy and cultivation."
Chen Yu smiled.
"I think I finally understand."
Lin Tian looked satisfied.
Just then—
Footsteps approached from the village road.
Both of them turned.
A familiar figure was walking toward them.
Zhao Ren.
He had returned.
Chen Yu whispered nervously.
"He came back already."
Zhao Ren stopped a few meters away from them.
His gaze shifted between Chen Yu and Lin Tian.
Then he spoke calmly.
"I see the rumors were correct."
Chen Yu frowned.
"What rumors?"
Zhao Ren looked at Lin Tian.
"In just a few days… you turned an ordinary villager into a cultivator."
His expression held clear curiosity now.
"Sir… the City Lord of Iron Ridge wishes to meet you immediately."
Chen Yu's eyes widened.
"The City Lord?!"
Zhao Ren nodded.
"Yes."
Then he looked directly at Lin Tian.
"And I strongly advise you to accept."
The wind moved quietly through the training field.
Lin Tian looked toward the mountains again.
Iron Ridge City.
The center of power in this region.
If he wanted to truly understand this world's cultivation system—
That was the logical next step.
After a moment, Lin Tian gave a small nod.
"Very well."
Chen Yu's excitement immediately exploded.
"We're really going?!"
Zhao Ren smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Then he added one more sentence.
"But be careful."
Chen Yu blinked.
"Why?"
Zhao Ren looked serious.
"The cultivation world… is not as peaceful as this village."