Chapter 6: The First Spark

  The sun stood high in the sky as Leo and Altan made their way back to the Academy grounds. Their footsteps crunched along the gravel path leading from Sunglow City, each lost in their own thoughts. Leo replayed the day's events in his mind, from the confrontation with Elder Feng to the revelations about karma and fate.

  "Your Second Sister will be waiting," Altan said, breaking the comfortable silence. "She's nothing if not punctual."

  Leo nodded, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness churning in his stomach. "Do you think she'll be upset that we took so long in the city?"

  Altan chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Second Sister is always at least a little upset with me. It's part of our charm."

  The lakeside pavilion came into view as they rounded the final bend in the path. Selian stood with her back to them, her emerald robes rippling gently in the afternoon breeze as she gazed out over the water. The bright sun reflected off the lake's surface, surrounding her figure with a brilliant glow.

  She turned as they approached, her expression serene but her eyes sharp with assessment. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd decided to abandon training altogether."

  "We had an educational encounter with Elder Feng of the Glacian Pavilion," Altan replied, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of significance.

  Selian's eyebrows rose slightly. "Elder Feng? What did that old iceberg want?"

  "The usual. Posturing, threatening, looking down his nose at us," Altan shrugged. "I may have also told him how Leo will crush all their disciples at the Foundation realm competition in the Emperor's Cup."

  Selian's expression shifted to one of exasperation, but pride gleamed in her eyes. "I can only imagine how well Elder Feng took that news," she said dryly, then nodded with firm conviction. "But you're absolutely right. Our Academy might be small, but our disciples surpass those tradition-bound schools in every way."

  "Precisely," Altan agreed, looking pleased with himself. "Leo here is going to be extraordinary. Aren't you, Leo?"

  All eyes turned to Leo, who felt his face flush under the scrutiny. "I... I'll certainly try my best."

  "There is no trying in our Academy," Selian stated with absolute certainty. "If First Brother brought you here, then you are exceptional by definition. Six months is more than enough time for someone of your potential."

  Leo felt the weight of their expectations settling on his shoulders, both inspiring and terrifying.

  "I knew you'd approve," Altan said with satisfaction. "I'll leave you two to your training. Leo, remember what we discussed about finding your own path!"

  With that, Altan strode away, whistling a carefree tune that floated back to them on the evening breeze.

  "That man," Selian muttered, shaking her head. But Leo caught the hint of fondness in her voice beneath the exasperation. She turned her attention fully to Leo, her gaze softening. "Well, shall we begin?" Selian gestured to the meditation mat. "This pavilion is particularly special for beginners. First Brother and Fourth Brother collaborated to enhance it with qi-gathering formations embedded in the stone."

  Leo took his position on the meditation mat, crossing his legs and straightening his spine as Selian had taught him.

  "Look closely at the patterns in the floor," Selian instructed.

  Leo examined the polished stone beneath him, noticing for the first time the subtle, intricate designs etched into its surface. What he had initially mistaken for natural patterns in the marble were actually deliberately carved symbols that formed concentric circles around where he sat.

  "These formations concentrate the natural qi of the surroundings," Selian explained. "First Brother designed them, and Fourth Brother spent weeks infusing them with stabilizing essence. The qi here is nearly twice as dense as anywhere else on the Academy grounds, making it ideal for purifying your body and making it more receptive to absorption."

  As Selian's voice washed over him, Leo found his mind wandering to his earlier conversation with Altan. The implications of being "untethered from fate" still puzzled him. What did it mean for his cultivation path? How could he use this unique quality to grow stronger?

  And more importantly, why was getting stronger so crucial?

  "Second Sister," Leo interrupted, opening his eyes. "May I ask you something?"

  She paused, mild surprise flickering across her features at the interruption. "Of course."

  "Why is it so important that I get stronger quickly? Everyone keeps mentioning it, but no one has really explained why."

  Selian regarded him thoughtfully, then gracefully seated herself across from him. "There are several reasons, Leo. Some practical, some more personal to your situation."

  "First Brother was a master of many things, but transportation formations were among his specialties. He established pathways to locations far beyond the borders of the empire, places so dangerous or remote that only cultivators of significant strength could survive there."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Her eyes took on a distant look, as if seeing beyond the pavilion to some far-off place. "If you wish to understand how and why you arrived in our world, those locations might hold answers. But reaching them requires strength beyond what you currently possess."

  Leo absorbed this information, a new sense of purpose forming within him. "So getting stronger isn't just about the tournament. It's about being able to explore these locations First Brother created."

  "Precisely," Selian nodded. "It's not just these locations that First Brother established. There are many dangerous places that hide secrets First Brother himself was always trying to explore. As he always said, 'The world is stranger than you can fathom, and powers beyond belief shape its destiny.'"

  "Additionally, there's another benefit to participating in the Emperor's Cup that I haven't mentioned yet. The winner of each cultivation level receives a special reward from the imperial representative."

  "What kind of reward?" Leo asked.

  "It varies cup to cup, but it's always valuable. You can usually petition for something you want personally. Most might want cultivation resources, but we have an abundance here. I believe you can seek answers to your questions as a reward."

  Leo exhaled, feeling both overwhelmed and motivated. "I understand now. Thank you for explaining."

  Selian nodded and guided Leo back to the meditation position. "Shall we continue? Focus on your breathing as before."

  Leo closed his eyes again, this time with renewed determination. The idea that strength could lead him to answers about his arrival in this world kindled something within him. His earlier fatigue seemed to fade as he concentrated on the breathing technique Second Sister had taught him.

  "Imagine the air you breathe carries golden particles of light," Selian instructed. "As you inhale, these particles enter your body, filling your core with energy. As you exhale, they begin to flow outward, traveling through the pathways of your body."

  Leo followed her guidance, focusing intensely on the visualization. At first, there was nothing beyond his own imagination. But as the minutes stretched on, something changed. A whisper of sensation, different from anything he'd felt before, like a cool stream flowing just beneath his skin.

  His eyes flew open in surprise.

  "I felt something," he said, his voice hushed with wonder. "Like a current, but inside me."

  Selian's eyes widened slightly, then a smile of genuine pleasure spread across her face. "That's qi, Leo. You've sensed it for the first time."

  "It was so brief," Leo said, disappointment creeping into his voice as the sensation faded.

  "But significant," Selian assured him. "Many take weeks to reach this point. Try again. Now that you know what to look for, it will become easier."

  With renewed enthusiasm, Leo closed his eyes and returned to the breathing technique. This time, he focused on recapturing that elusive sensation. Minutes passed, turning into hours as the sky darkened completely and stars emerged above the pavilion.

  Selian remained with him, occasionally offering guidance or correction, her patience seemingly endless. The two moons rose high, casting silver light across the lake and illuminating the pavilion with an ethereal glow.

  And then it happened again, the cool flowing sensation, stronger this time. Leo held onto it, careful not to grasp too tightly lest it slip away. The qi entered with his breath, gathering in his core, and then began to circulate outward along pathways he couldn't have named but somehow felt were right.

  "I can feel it," he whispered, eyes still closed, afraid that even speaking might break his concentration. "It's moving through me."

  "Excellent," Selian's voice came softly from beside him. "Don't try to control it yet. Simply observe its natural flow. Learning to maintain awareness of qi is the first step."

  Leo did as instructed, following the subtle current as it moved through his body. It was like discovering a new sense he never knew he possessed. The sensation wasn't powerful. It was more like the gentlest of breezes or the whisper of a stream, but it was undeniably real.

  This time, he managed to maintain his awareness for nearly a minute before the sensation gradually faded. When he opened his eyes, he found Second Sister watching him with a mixture of pride and satisfaction.

  "That," she said, "was remarkable progress for a single day."

  As Leo's focus shifted away from the inner experience, he suddenly became aware of the growling emptiness in his stomach. "I just realized we've completely missed dinner," he said with surprise.

  Selian laughed softly. "That's not a big deal. Many of us miss meals often when we're focused on cultivation. Sixth Sister becomes so absorbed in her temporal arrows that she sometimes forgets to eat for an entire day. Fifth Brother regularly trains through mealtimes. It's a common occurrence here."

  Leo nodded, appreciating how dedication to cultivation shaped even the most basic rhythms of life at the Academy. The hunger seemed insignificant compared to what he had just experienced.

  Leo let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, suddenly aware of a subtle difference in how he felt. There was a slight lightness to his limbs, barely noticeable but definitely present.

  "I feel a little different," he said, looking down at his hands. "It's very subtle, but something has changed."

  Selian nodded, pleased by his observation. "That's exactly right. Purification is the process of taking in qi, cycling it through your body, and expelling impurities. Even this first session has begun the cleansing process, though the effects are understandably minimal at this stage."

  "I think I can sense things a bit more clearly," Leo said, uncertain if he was imagining it or not. "Just slightly, though."

  "The changes are indeed small at first," Selian confirmed. "As your body gradually purifies, your physical capabilities will improve. Over time, your senses will sharpen, your movements will become more precise, and your body will grow more resilient."

  Leo stood, trying to discern the subtle changes. His body felt perhaps a fraction more responsive, though he might have convinced himself of it after Second Sister's explanation.

  "Thank you," he said, genuinely moved by her dedication. "For staying with me all this time. It must be well past midnight."

  Selian rose gracefully, offering her hand to help him up. "This is what teachers do, Seventh Brother. First Brother would accept nothing less from us."

  As Leo stood, his legs trembling slightly from fatigue, he looked up at the star-filled sky, admiring its beauty.

  "We'll continue tomorrow," Selian said as they walked back toward the residential area. "With consistent practice, you'll soon be able to not only sense qi but direct its flow. That's when your real cultivation begins."

  Leo nodded, too tired for words but filled with a quiet determination. The path ahead would be difficult, but with each step, he moved closer to understanding his purpose in this strange new world.

  As they walked in comfortable silence, Leo suddenly remembered the book Altan had given him. With his breakthrough in sensing qi, he'd completely forgotten about it.

  "Oh, Senior Sister," he said, pulling the wrapped package from his robes. "Altan asked me to give this to you."

  Selian accepted the package with a polite nod, unwrapping it with elegant movements. As the title became visible—"Forbidden Meridians: A Cultivator's Passionate Journey"—her expression froze into an unreadable mask.

  "I see," she said, her voice unnaturally calm as she carefully rewrapped the book and tucked it away. Leo could barely make out her whispered words: "I am going to kill Altan. Slowly."

  She turned to Leo with a perfectly composed smile that somehow made him more nervous than any display of anger would have. "Thank you for delivering this... educational material."

  Leo nodded quickly, making a mental note never to get on Second Sister's bad side.