We entered the atmosphere, and the air felt heavy. Gu Xue moved without any change.
It must be the Qi. She was born on that man's world; her body already contains it, though her lack of talent keeps her from using it for cultivation. That explains why she isn't affected.
The planet is 2.5 times larger than Earth, sits in the habitable zone, and has oxygen. If dark energy hides things like this, then it's practical and purposeful.
I named it Planet-246. Forests cover most of it, rivers and lakes wind through the land. The guide said it's a beast planet. Animals absorb Qi naturally; the talented ones break through, become spirit beasts, and eventually, one fuses with the planet's will. Dangerous, but perfect for early cultivation.
I told Gu Xue to set up a camp while I considered the Ancient Path. I already had two things: mathematics as the universal language and Qi as dark energy. I thought briefly about how Planetary and Celestial paths might connect. Three ways came to mind — fully study both and then merge, watch practitioners or beasts and imitate, or try to deduce the principles from what I know and test them. The last was risky, but the only one possible for now.
Gu Xue returned after a while, setting some fruits on a flat stone.
We ate in silence until I finally spoke.
"I think I'm starting to understand how cultivation begins," I said.
She didn't respond, just waited for me to continue.
"When I touched the ground earlier, I felt a faint rhythm," I said. "It wasn't from me — it was from the planet itself. Every planet must have its own pulse. If Qi is energy, then it moves according to that rhythm. Cultivation probably starts when a person matches that pattern."
I sat cross-legged and placed my palm on the soil again. The rhythm was subtle but real — a slow, steady vibration.
"If you align your breathing with it," I said, lowering my voice, "the body starts to follow the same cycle. That's what I call Synchronization. The first step of the Planetary Path."
Gu Xue looked thoughtful. "That term doesn't appear in the guide."
"The guide only tells how, not why," I replied. "But without matching the planet's rhythm, the Qi you absorb won't be stable. Energy transfer only works in harmony."
I adjusted my breathing again, slowly synchronizing. The heaviness in the air seemed to lessen slightly.
"After Synchronization comes Absorption," I said. "Once your body moves with the planet, it becomes capable of pulling Qi from it — through the air, the ground, even water."
She nodded faintly.
"But if that's all it took, then every animal here should already be cultivating," I added.
"Then what's the difference?" she asked.
"Intent," I said. "They breathe unconsciously, but a cultivator breathes with purpose. The moment you decide to draw Qi, your body forms a channel for it. That decision creates the connection."
For a moment, there was only the sound of wind passing through the trees.
"So Synchronization and Absorption make up the start," I said. "But there must also be a limit."
I looked around — the forest seemed alive, every leaf humming faintly.
"If someone keeps absorbing from the planet, their Qi will start to resemble it. The more they draw, the more their rhythm matches the planet's. Eventually, they depend on it completely. If they leave, that rhythm breaks."
"Dependence on the planet?" Gu Xue said.
I nodded. "Exactly. The planet gives power, but also binds you to it. That's the flaw of the Planetary Path."
She thought for a while before saying, "That isn't written anywhere. People only talk about Qi density and speed."
"That's why no one sees the limitation," I said. "They cultivate for strength, not understanding. But if your power comes from something outside yourself, then the moment that source is gone, so is your power."
She looked at me silently, eyes calm but focused. "Your way of seeing things is… different. You question the process instead of following it."
"I don't have a choice," I said simply. "I can't feel Qi like others do. So I have to understand it through logic."
I glanced up at the night sky. "If the Planetary Path is internal, then the Celestial Path must be external — drawing energy from beyond the body. Both have the same weakness: dependence."
Gu Xue listened quietly as I continued.
"The balance point must exist somewhere between the two — a state where you can absorb Qi but not be tied down by it. That balance will form the foundation of the Ancient Path."
She said, "You treat Qi as if it's a natural law, not a mystical force."
"Because that's what it is," I answered. "Everything follows rules. If you understand them, you can go beyond them."
The campfire flickered between us. The air was still heavy, but my mind felt lighter.
"Synchronization, Absorption, and Dependence," I said. "That completes the Planetary Path — and its flaw."
Gu Xue looked toward the sky. "Then next is the Celestial Path, right?"
I nodded. "Yes. That's where things really begin."