The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of freshly turned earth and sawdust as Feiyin walked through the village. Pine Village was still recovering from the attack, but with time and effort, the wounds it had suffered were slowly healing. The people had come together, as they always did, to rebuild what had been lost.
Feiyin had finished his morning training and decided that today, he would take the opportunity to interact with the villagers more, to observe, to learn, and to refine his understanding of oscillations. Now that his inner sense had awakened, he was determined to master its use, especially if he wanted to hide his strength from others.
The first thing he needed to do was establish a baseline.
His own strength had grown to a point where his perception of himself was vastly different from before. He could no longer use his past self as a reference. Instead, he would need to observe others, those weaker than him, those stronger, and those who had yet to step into cultivation at all.
As he walked through the village, he made a conscious effort to listen, not just with his ears, but with his entire being.
He could hear the chatter of merchants setting up their stalls, the rhythmic hammering of wood as houses were repaired, the laughter of children playing near the well. Each person, each movement, carried its own frequency.
If he wanted to conceal his true power, he first needed to understand how the ordinary felt.
His first stop was near a group of villagers working on rebuilding a collapsed section of fencing. Among them was Old Man Zhao, a retired carpenter who had lived in Pine Village for as long as Feiyin could remember. He was a regular mortal, with no cultivation to speak of.
"Feiyin, you're up early," the old man greeted, wiping his forehead. "Come to help an old man put up some planks?"
Feiyin smiled and nodded. "If you don't mind."
Zhao handed him a wooden beam, and Feiyin deliberately controlled his strength, ensuring that he carried it as a normal, untrained eight-year-old would. It took effort, not physically, but mentally, to hold back what was now instinct.
As he worked alongside the villagers, he paid close attention to how they moved.
Their motions were natural, unenhanced by inner strength. Their breathing was steady but unrefined, dictated only by exertion. Their steps had no deliberate control over weight distribution, unlike those who trained in combat.
It was all… softer, less precise, more human.
Feiyin focused, letting his inner sense expand subtly, tuning into the minute vibrations of Old Man Zhao's body, his heartbeat, his slow but deliberate movements, the faint tremor in his hands from age.
'This… this is how an ordinary person moves.'
The contrast between himself and Zhao was vast, but now that he saw it, he could begin replicating it.
When the fence was finally standing again, Zhao patted his shoulder. "Good work, boy. You've got strong arms for your age."
Feiyin only smiled. 'If only you knew.'
He continued his observations throughout the day.
At the market, he found Auntie Luo, a woman in her late thirties who had only partially trained in body tempering before stopping to focus on her family. Her strength was above an ordinary mortal's, but below someone like Sun Ke, who had fully tempered his body and opened meridians.
Her movements were different from Zhao's, more balanced, more deliberate. Her steps carried a faint strength, but it was dispersed throughout her body rather than concentrated like a trained fighter.
As Feiyin helped her carry sacks of rice to her stall, he studied her closely.
'She breathes deeper than Old Man Zhao, but her pace isn't controlled. It's stronger but still unrefined. She holds weight well, but there's no precise energy behind her steps.'
He focused on her oscillations, memorizing the frequency of someone at her level.
'This is the strength of someone who tempered their body but never advanced. If I can match this… I can pass off as someone barely at the threshold of body tempering.'
It was a start.
Later in the afternoon, he found himself near the militia training grounds, where he saw Sun Ke and a few others sparring.
Sun Ke had just stepped into the Meridian Opening Realm, making him a perfect subject for Feiyin's study. From the sidelines, Feiyin observed carefully.
Sun Ke's stance was grounded, his footwork carrying a sense of stability that Auntie Luo lacked. His movements were sharper, deliberate, and purposeful, his strikes carrying weight beyond simple muscle strength. But what Feiyin focused on most were his oscillations.
They were faster, denser, controlled. His inner strength wasn't wild like an untrained body tempering cultivator, it flowed properly, following the opened meridians in his body.
'So this is what a freshly advanced Meridian Opening cultivator looks like.'
If he wanted to fake his level, he would need to closely mimic this frequency, not just in appearance but in presence.
It wasn't just about hiding his strength. It was about learning how to appear as something else entirely. He took a deep breath and slowly began adjusting his own inner strength flow, loosening his stance, and dispersing his power evenly throughout his body. Then, he took a single step forward, matching the frequency of a body tempering cultivator.
Sun Ke, still in the middle of his spar, didn't notice. But Jiang Hu did. The older man, casually watching the training session from the side, suddenly flicked his gaze toward Feiyin. His eyes narrowed slightly, studying him with silent curiosity. Feiyin froze internally but kept his expression neutral.
Jiang Hu was one of the most experienced members of the militia. His instincts were sharp, honed from years of battle experience. If anyone could see through him, it would be him. A tense moment passed.
Then, Jiang Hu smirked. "Kid, you trying to learn how to move properly?"
Feiyin exhaled, forcing an easy grin. "Is it that obvious?"
Jiang Hu laughed. "It's good to focus on the basics. Keep at it."
He turned back to watch the sparring, leaving Feiyin with a racing heart.
'I need to be even more precise.'
As the day wound down and Feiyin walked home, he let his thoughts settle.
Today had been fruitful. He had observed three different levels of people. Each of them moved differently, carried different frequencies, and exuded different levels of presence. And now, Feiyin could begin replicating them.
His gift had always been oscillations. Now, it would become his greatest weapon, not just in battle, but in deception. If he could truly master this…
Then one day, no matter how powerful he became, No one would ever be able to see through him unless he let them.
,
The evening had settled into a quiet hum, the village bathed in the warm glow of lanterns as Feiyin and his father sat on the wooden porch of their home. The scent of fresh tea lingered in the air, brewed by Mei Liao before she left them to their discussion.
"So, how do I begin?" Feiyin finally asked, breaking the comfortable silence. His gray eyes flecked with amethyst flickered toward his father, determination burning within them.
Cai Feng, seated beside him, exhaled slowly before setting his cup down. His calloused hands rested on his knees, his gaze turning distant for a moment before he met Feiyin's eyes.
"Meridian Opening is unlike Body Tempering," he began. "Your foundation is built, but now you must open the paths that will allow Essence Qi to flow through you. This process… it is painful. More painful than any training you've undergone so far."
Feiyin nodded, unbothered. He had already expected as much.
Cai Feng continued, his deep voice steady yet firm.
"The meridians are the unseen pathways within your body, veins of energy that remain sealed until forcefully opened. But there is a method to their awakening. You cannot open them randomly. You must start from the periphery and work inward, from your limbs to your core. This is the safest and most efficient way."
Feiyin listened intently, engraving each word into his mind.
"The first 33 meridians lie within your limbs, your legs and arms. These form the foundation of energy circulation in movement and strength. They will be your first step."
Cai Feng tapped his own leg, as if emphasizing the point. "Most cultivators, even talented ones, struggle to open these quickly. The limbs are the furthest from the dantian, meaning they require more force and control to awaken. But once they are opened, you will notice an immediate increase in both physical power and agility."
"How much?" Feiyin asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Cai Feng smirked. "Every set of 33 meridians grants a significant increase in inner strength. The first set will elevate your power by 3,300 kg."
Feiyin's breath hitched slightly. That was a massive increase. Even just one set of meridians would push his strength to over 13,000 kg.
But Cai Feng wasn't finished.
"The second 33 are located in your torso, your chest, back, and abdomen. These meridians connect directly to your vital functions, reinforcing your endurance, stability, and internal energy control. Once opened, they grant another 6,600 kg of inner strength."
Feiyin clenched his hands. "That would bring my total to… 19,900 kg."
"Correct. But it doesn't stop there."
Cai Feng's expression grew somber, his eyes darkening slightly as he leaned forward.
"The final 33 main meridians reside deep within your viscera, the organs themselves. These are the hardest to open, as they require an extreme level of inner strength control. They also come with the highest reward. Opening them will grant you another 9,900 kg of inner strength."
Feiyin swallowed.
That meant that once he reached the late stage of Meridian Opening, he would possess 29,800 kg of raw inner strength.
'That is… beyond what I imagined.'
Yet, his father's words did not stop there.
Cai Feng's gaze sharpened. "Beyond these 99, there are 7 more. These are known as the Final Meridians. They reside at key convergence points in the body, stabilizing and perfecting the flow of energy. Each one enhances your efficiency in circulating energy, rather than increasing raw power."
"And they still grant some strength?" Feiyin asked.
"Yes, but only 500 kg per meridian, bringing your total to an even 33,300 kg. The true value of these last meridians, however, is in how they enhance your Essence Qi when you finally step into the Qi Condensation Realm. They act as perfect conduits, allowing your energy to flow at its peak efficiency."
Feiyin exhaled slowly.
Everything made sense now.
It was astounding.
Cai Feng folded his arms. "Each meridian you open will baptize your body with the World's Essence Qi, fortifying your flesh and reinforcing your pathways. It is an act of rebirth with every step. But you must pace yourself. If you try to open too many too fast, the strain could cripple you."
Feiyin nodded firmly. He had no intention of rushing through something so important.
"You have done everything correctly so far," his father continued, pride evident in his tone. "Your foundation is perfect. With your level of control, your progress through this realm will be faster than most. But do not grow complacent. Even with a perfect body, the process will test you."
Feiyin met his father's gaze with unwavering determination. "I'm ready."
Cai Feng chuckled. "Not yet. We will begin properly in the coming days. Until then, start preparing yourself. Get used to circulating your inner strength through your limbs. Strengthen your connection to your meridians, even before they are opened. This will ease the process."
Feiyin nodded. He understood. The more he synchronized with his meridians now, the less resistance he would face when the time came to force them open.
His father rose from his seat, stretching slightly.
"One last thing, Feiyin."
Feiyin looked up, attentive.
Cai Feng's expression turned serious. "The number of meridians you open determines your future. There are many who stagnate at 33. Even fewer push to 66. And only the truly extraordinary reach 99. If you truly wish to reach your peak, you must aim for all 106."
A pause.
Then, a slow, knowing smirk formed on Feiyin's lips.
"You're saying that as if I ever planned to stop halfway."
Cai Feng burst into laughter, ruffling his son's hair.
"Good. Then let's see how far you'll go."