Liam spent the following three days in a fog, his thoughts constantly returning to the Celestial Stone buried in his robes. The strength he felt from it was unlike anything he had ever felt before, giving him a sense of purpose and possibility. He understood he had to be cautious; disclosing his secret too soon could have serious implications. The Stormhold Sect had strong restrictions against unauthorized cultivation methods, and he couldn't afford to lose this unique opportunity.
Each night, after doing his responsibilities and ensuring that the other disciples were asleep, Liam would retire to a quiet part of the sect's gardens. Under the cover of darkness, he began experimenting with the Celestial Stone. He held it in his hands, focusing on the energy inside, attempting to extract and comprehend its power.
One evening, when the moon shed its faint glimmer over the gardens, Liam had a breakthrough. He focused intensely on the stone, feeling the warmth expand throughout his body. Slowly, he began to detect the flow of qi, the vital energy that cultivators used to acquire power. It began as a weak trickle, but as he focused, the flow became stronger and more definite.
Liam's body trembled from the exertion, but he persisted in directing the qi through his meridians. He remembered the stories he had heard in the sect's library about famous warriors who could use qi to achieve incredible deeds. He imagined their moves and tactics, and attempted to replicate them. To his surprise, he discovered that he could.
Hours passed, and by the time daylight broke, Liam had managed to cultivate a modest amount of qi. It was a little accomplishment in comparison to the sect's more experienced members, but it seemed huge to Liam. He had made the first step on his way to power.
The days that followed were a jumble of duties and covert training. Liam continued to cultivate in the dark of night, pushing himself harder each time. He learned that the Celestial Stone not only improved his ability to harvest qi, but also revealed old techniques. These skills were unlike anything taught in the Stormhold Sect, and they exuded raw, primitive strength that spoke to him intimately.
Despite his improvement, Liam realized he needed to remain cautious. The other disciples, particularly Finn Marshall, had an acute sense of any disruption in the sect's rituals. Finn had grown suspicious of Liam's late-night absences, frequently giving him searching looks and making sarcastic remarks.
Finn approached Liam with a smirk one afternoon when he was scrubbing the main hall steps. "Thompson, why are you always looking tired? Are you up to anything you shouldn't?
Liam kept his head down and concentrated on his task. "I'm only performing my duties, Finn. "It is a lot of work for one person."
Finn's eyes narrowed. "I do not believe you. I'll keep an eye on you, Thompson. "If you're hiding anything, I'll find out."
The warning sent shivers down Liam's spine, but he refused to let fear stop him. He had traveled too far to turn back now. Every night, he maintained his secret exercise, becoming stronger and more confident. He learned to hide his sleepiness during the day by putting on a show of weariness that no one questioned.
One night, while meditating with the Celestial Stone, Liam experienced an unprecedented surge of strength. The energy rushed through him with such fury that it took his breath away. Visions of ancient warriors and great battles entered his head, directing his moves. He felt a link to something higher, a heritage of power that existed beyond time.
With newfound clarity, Liam attempted a technique he had seen in his visions: the Dragon's Fury Strike. He concentrated his qi in his fist, felt the energy transform into a physical force. He struck out at a neighboring tree, and to his surprise, the impact created a deep indentation in its bark.
Liam, panting from exertion, understood he was no longer the Stormhold Sect's weak, invisible servant. He had begun to tap into a source of power that could alter his destiny forever. However, with this power came the duty to utilize it wisely and to remain vigilant against those who would want to take it away from him.
As the first light of dawn marked the end of his training, Liam hid the Celestial Stone and prepared to face another day. The road ahead was dangerous and unpredictable, but he was willing to traverse it. His adventure had only just begun, and he was determined to see it through to completion.