Evan slowly processed the staggering information he had just received about the Harmonic Resonance Cascade technique. As he sat there in the midst of his dreamscape, it occurred to him how little he actually knew about the world he lived in, much less the universe at large.
In the world Evan inhabits, the name of the planet is Terathiel, and his village is called Terraheim. Unbeknownst to the villagers, their planet is considered one of the 60% strongest ones in the universe, a measurement that takes into account the richness of natural resources, diversity of life forms, latent energy currents, and even the strength of the top few cultivators.
Terathiel is a planet teeming with abundant natural resources, flora, and fauna, many of which have special properties. From unique minerals to potent herbs, the planet offers a wealth of materials for cultivation, alchemy, and various other esoteric arts. It also boasts a diverse range of climates and ecosystems, from towering mountain ranges to endless seas, from scorching deserts to lush forests, each with their unique species and challenges.
In terms of cultivation, the strength of Terathiel's top cultivators is noteworthy, even though this information is not known to the inhabitants of Terraheim. These elite cultivators wield immense power, some capable of altering the elements, others of bending time and space, contributing to Terathiel's high universal ranking.
As for Terraheim, it's a small, isolated village surrounded by forest.The village of Terraheim is surrounded by a normal forest that includes a mix of standard trees and some Ironbark trees. The forest also hosts a range of normal animals that villagers might hunt or avoid. Farther out from this forest lies a more gigantic, perilous wilderness filled with more rare flora and fauna. However, in this more distant forest, there are no ordinary animals—only beasts and monsters that pose a greater threat. This setup would naturally affect the dynamics of village life, including hunting practices, folklore, and cautionary tales passed down through generations.
Evan lay in his bed, the room bathed in darkness, silent except for the subtle ambient sounds of the village at night. His mind was still abuzz with the newfound knowledge that had flooded into him. The technique, Harmonic Resonance Cascade, promised great potential, but he knew better than to rush into practicing it. After all, patience and discipline were virtues he had always adhered to. But try as he might, he found that sleep now eluded him.
He shifted restlessly, turning from one side to the other, pulling the blanket over his head and then tossing it aside. It was a struggle, like grasping at smoke, to return to the peaceful oblivion of sleep. His thoughts wouldn't stop racing; the technique's intricacies, the tiers, the potential strength he could gain, all played through his mind like an unending loop.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes, trying to dispel the thoughts. "I should be focusing on tomorrow's training," he muttered to himself, but his body did not seem to share the sentiment. It was as if every cell in him was aware of the transformative potential of what he had just learned, making him keenly alert, unresponsive to the beckoning lull of sleep.
Exhaling deeply, he considered meditating to calm his thoughts but then dismissed the idea. Meditation often had the opposite effect, making him more awake, more alert. Plus, the allure of delving into the Harmonic Resonance Cascade technique would be too strong to resist, and he didn't want to risk starting something he couldn't control.
Closing his eyes, he attempted to trick his body into thinking it was relaxed. He consciously slowed his breathing, in and out, hoping that his restless mind would take the cue. For a moment, it seemed to work; the tightness in his chest loosened, and his limbs felt heavier.
Yet, just when he felt he was on the cusp of drifting off, a surge of energy would pulse through him, jolting him back to wakefulness. It was frustrating and enlightening in equal measures. For the first time, he truly understood the need for balance, the equilibrium between excitement and restraint, potential and actuality.
Evan decided it was pointless to keep tossing and turning in bed. Evan sat upright on his bed, a small sliver of moonlight illuminating the room through a crack in the curtains. His heart was calm but expectant. After a few deep breaths, he closed his eyes, entering a meditative state. This was the start—the Harmonic Initiation. During this stage, the objective was to align his mind, body, and spirit to create a resonant frequency that would attune him to the world around him. At first, it felt as though he was a lone ship in an endless sea of darkness, but as the seconds stretched, the dark sea shimmered to life, revealing tiny points of light in his perception. These were the individual qi particles present in the atmosphere, the lifeblood of the world, the essential energy that nourished all things. It was amazing how clear and present they were, almost as though they were extensions of his very being. For Evan, this wasn't just a moment of discovery, but also of unity with the world.
Moving on to the next stage, Resonance Absorption, he shifted his focus from unity to specificity. His inner self—or soul, for the lack of a better term—reached out to the particles of qi. It was as if his soul had become a magnet, emanating a frequency that resonated with the qi particles in the surrounding atmosphere. At first, only a few particles responded. It was a tentative connection, like the cautious steps of a new dance. The particles drew nearer, orbiting around him, uncertain yet curious. Then, they began to drift toward him, merging into his aura, absorbed effortlessly. Evan was a novice, yet the process felt both instinctive and logical. His soul acted as a filter, ensuring that the incoming qi was pure and harmonious with his body.
His attention then shifted inward for the next stage, Qi Infusion. Opening his spiritual eyes, he examined his body and saw countless radiant points. They were no longer external; they were part of him, inhabiting his flesh, his bones, even his very cells. Deliberately, he guided the qi into his muscles first. Each point of light seemed to melt into the fibers, fusing with the cells and leaving behind an afterglow of strength. This wasn't dramatic; there were no pulsing veins or bulging muscles. But there was a new quality—a taut readiness that hadn't been there before. Next, he guided the qi to his bones. Here, the sensation was even subtler. It felt like rays of sunlight seeping through soil, penetrating deep, strengthening his skeletal structure at the most basic level. Finally, the organs. Each received its share, the heart, the liver, the lungs—each absorbed the qi in a mist-like form, as though they were leaves absorbing dew in the early morning.
The Meridian Expansion phase was next. Evan imagined these meridians as a system of highways and roads, crucial for transport but often overlooked. As the qi flowed through these pathways, it was like a gentle but constant rain shower, washing away debris and grime, unclogging drains, making the entire system more efficient. Evan felt his capacity for storing qi expanding, a development he understood would have long-term benefits. It would mean he could harness more qi in combat situations or speed up his body's healing processes.
Soul Nourishment was more abstract than the others. He felt the soul—his innermost self, the core of his identity—reaching out to absorb the fraction of qi designated for it. Unlike the muscles, bones, or organs, the soul didn't have a physical form. Yet, Evan felt it strengthen, almost as if it were becoming denser, more resilient. It was a feeling like a parched ground soaking up water, filling up the cracks and becoming whole.
Finally, Evan moved to the Cascade Finish. He attempted to release any excess qi, only to find there was none. Every last particle had been absorbed into his system, leaving a profound sense of equilibrium. He had taken from the environment, yes, but he had also given back by transforming the qi into something more structured, more ordered. It was an exchange, a harmonious circle of give-and-take.
As he opened his eyes, Evan felt a gentle euphoria wash over him. Though his surroundings hadn't changed, his perception of them had. There was a newfound clarity in the dark room, a greater depth in the silence. He knew he had only just scratched the surface of something monumental. But even this small step filled him with a sense of potential that was both exhilarating and humbling. He was no longer the same person who had sat down to meditate. He was something more—someone who had taken the first conscious step on a path toward a powerful destiny.