The morning sun broke over the sect terraces, scattering golden light across dew-laden pine needles and stone paths. Each ray illuminated the flowing river, glinting like scattered gems. Lui Yan inhaled deeply, feeling the flow of qi harmonizing with his body in a way that had become natural after his breakthrough into the Qi Refining Realm. Every breath, every pulse, every subtle vibration in the air seemed amplified yet balanced - he could sense the energy network of the entire terrace.
Beside him, Mei Lan stretched lightly, her hair catching the sunlight as it fluttered. Lin Jie, already restless, bounced from one floating stone to another, practicing basic energy manipulations. Fang Hao, calm as ever, gripped his practice sword with a quiet intensity, observing the subtle flows of qi around them. Lui Yan could sense each friend's energy without looking - each aura unique, yet complementary, like notes in a melody.
Master Xuan approached silently, his robes moving with the rhythm of his steps. "Lui Yan," he said, voice steady, "The Qi Refining Realm is not simply about strength. It is about control, integration, and precision. Today, you will focus on sensing and harmonizing external qi, using it to refine your internal energy. Remember: subtlety before power."
Lui Yan bowed respectfully and closed his eyes. Extending his awareness, he sensed the terrace stones, the flowing river, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. Every energy node, every vibration, every pulse of air became part of a web he could observe, manipulate, and learn from. With a deep, steady breath, he drew external qi into his dantian and distributed it evenly throughout his body, feeling the current flow harmoniously.
-
Hours passed as Lui Yan practiced tirelessly:
Absorbing micro-fluctuations in ambient qi from stones, river, and terraces.
Redirecting minor disturbances to stabilize unstable floating energy nodes.
Experimenting with harmonic breathing, matching internal pulses to environmental currents.
Mei Lan, observing quietly, whispered, "Your control… it's beyond comprehension. How can you feel it all at once?"
Lui Yan opened one eye, a faint smile forming. "Patterns. Everything has a pattern. Once you notice it, you adjust."
Lin Jie's jaw dropped. "Predictable? I've been trying all morning and my qi keeps going wild!"
Fang Hao's voice cut through, calm but firm. "Stop overthinking and watch. That's what makes him different - you all are strong, but he reads energy like a map."
Even from a distance, Lui Yan could sense Xian Rui observing from the upper terraces. His energy pulses were subtle, probing, testing Lui Yan without revealing his presence. Lui Yan adjusted micro-currents in his body, absorbing and redirecting the disturbances. The floating stones stabilized under his control, and he could feel the surprise flicker in Xian Rui's calculations.
-
As the morning sun climbed higher, Lui Yan wandered along the riverbank, drawn by a strange yet familiar fragrance of herbs. Following it, he came upon a secluded pavilion tucked behind ginkgo trees. Steam rose from cauldrons, and the aroma of herbs mingled with the crisp river air, sharp yet comforting.
Inside, a woman moved with precision and elegance, crushing and infusing herbs in intricate sequences. She was the Medicine Refining Elder, known across the sect for her strict discipline and unparalleled skill. Her silver-streaked hair framed sharp but warm eyes, her aura commanding yet graceful.
Lui Yan stepped forward cautiously, bowing slightly. "I am Lui Yan. I… felt the energy and fragrance and hope I do not intrude."
The elder paused, her gaze piercing and calculating. "Who enters my domain uninvited?" Her eyes swept over him, sensing his energy, movements, and thought patterns. "Few can perceive herbal qi like this. Few possess your precision."
Lui Yan bowed lower. "I have studied medicine and herbs extensively in my past life. I wish to learn under your guidance."
A tense silence followed, broken only by the rhythmic bubbling of cauldrons. Finally, the elder gestured toward her workbench. "Show me."
-
Lui Yan carefully sorted herbs, analyzing qi signatures, and began refining a basic medicinal concoction. His movements were precise and calculated, adjusting energy flows subtly, compensating for heat, herb reactions, and ambient qi fluctuations.
The elder observed silently, her eyes catching every micro-adjustment. "You are… not ordinary. Few at your level could harmonize energy and herbs this way. Potential exists here."
Lui Yan bowed. "I will devote myself fully to learning."
Over the next days, the elder tested him through mini-challenges:
Identifying poisonous herbs among dozens using only qi perception.
Refining delicate medicines under strict energy constraints, where even a minor mistake would ruin the batch.
Correcting imbalances in ambient qi affecting herb potency.
Lui Yan 's analytical mind and past-life knowledge allowed him to excel, often refining methods beyond standard sect practice. Friends occasionally peeked in, observing him with awe.
Mei Lan whispered, "He's… so focused. I've never seen anything like this."
Lin Jie grinned, splashing water from the river accidentally. "I'll never be this good!"
Fang Hao's stoic expression softened slightly. "This is understanding, not just talent."
Even Xian Rui lingered in the shadows, reassessing Lui Yan 's abilities, both in cultivation and now in medicine.
-
After mentorship sessions, Lui Yan returned to the terraces to continue Qi Refinement exercises. Xian Rui subtly disrupted ambient qi, testing Lui Yan 's reactions. With precise control, Lui Yan harmonized his energy with the terrace stones, the flowing river, and the air.
He realized that medicine and cultivation shared principles: precision, observation, timing, and harmony. Each challenge, whether herb or qi pulse, became an opportunity to analyze, adapt, and improve.
-
As twilight draped the mountains in violet hues, Lui Yan sat by the river, small vials of experimental elixirs beside him. His friends approached quietly - Mei Lan smiling softly, Lin Jie fidgeting, Fang Hao nodding silently.
He thought: Observation, adaptation, connection, intelligence, skill… strength is more than power. It comes from understanding and bonds.
Then, faintly, he sensed hidden qi disturbances within the sect - imperceptible to others. Threads of energy hinted at secret chambers, unknown artifacts, and future challenges.
Even Xian Rui's lurking presence reminded him that rivals were always watching, calculating. But Lui Yan felt a thrill: with friends, mentors, intelligence, and skill, he was ready.
Under the starlit sky, Lui Yan whispered softly, "Observation, adaptation, connection… now intelligence and skill too. This is how I will rise."
The mountains stood eternal, silent witnesses to Lui Yan's growth: Qi Refinement mastery, medicinal genius awakening, and the emergence of a formidable intellect within the sect.