As Feng Yan returned to the dormitory, she silently slipped inside, careful not to disturb her sleeping roommate. The night was still, and the dim glow from the hallway cast a soft shadow over her small living space. Her mind was filled with the events of the day, but now she had other things to focus on. She went to her bed, pulled the curtains for privacy, and with a single thought, flashed into her personal space.
The familiar surroundings of her courtyard welcomed her, a place of tranquility and spiritual energy.
She immediately began preparing the medicinal bath she had read about in the ancient scrolls. Her goal was clear: increase the yang energy in her body and strengthen her physical constitution for future cultivation breakthroughs.
The bath water was heated, and Feng Yan meticulously measured the herbs, adding them to the water in precise quantities. As the medicinal herbs began to dissolve, the bath emitted a faint golden glow. Feng Yan stepped into the warm water, feeling the energy surge through her veins. She soaked for the prescribed amount of time, allowing the yang energy to nourish her body and strengthen her bones and meridians. She relaxed, letting the warmth penetrate deep into her muscles and bones, the energy slowly but surely circulating within her. The invigorating sensation coursed through her, bringing clarity and vigor to her mind.
After the calculated time, Feng Yan emerged from the bath, her body feeling revitalized. She toweled off, her mind now on the next step. She walked over to the furnace she had set up in the courtyard, the ancient scroll in her hand detailing the process of concocting a special medicine to boost her cultivation. She read the instructions carefully once more, ensuring that every detail was precise. There was no room for error.
With practiced hands, she added the herbs one by one to the furnace, lighting the fire beneath it. The flames danced as the herbs began to melt and mix, their essence fusing together in a swirling mass of energy. The aroma of the concoction filled the space, its rich, medicinal scent signaling the success of the process. Feng Yan watched as the liquid formed, a golden glow emanating from the furnace.
Before consuming it, she took a deep breath and centered herself, feeling the faint stir of energy within her dantian. She drank the potion, letting the warm liquid flow through her body. Instantly, she felt the powerful surge of qi gathering in her dantian, circulating through her meridians at an astonishing speed. Without hesitation, she sat in a lotus position, closed her eyes, and began to focus on her cultivation.
The energy intensified, swirling inside her like a storm. The qi began to flow through her body in powerful waves, each circuit stronger than the last. Hours passed as she cultivated, absorbing the ambient spiritual energy in the space. Suddenly, the sky above her space darkened, and thunder rumbled ominously. Feng Yan didn't flinch; she knew this was part of her breakthrough.
Hours passed, but to Feng Yan, it felt like mere moments. The spiritual energy in her space gathered around her, drawn by the power of the medicine she had consumed. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and within seconds, bolts of lightning descended from the heavens, crashing down onto her with immense force. The first strike jolted her body, sending waves of energy through her entire being. She gritted her teeth, steadying her mind as the second bolt hit, more powerful than the first. Her muscles tensed, her body vibrating with the sheer force of the spiritual energy being absorbed.
The third strike came, and with it, a blinding light filled her vision. Her body trembled as the final surge of energy broke through her meridians. She felt a shift—a massive, unstoppable force pushing her past the threshold. Her cultivation had advanced.
But what startled Feng Yan the most was not just the advancement. She had reached the Mystic Core stage, a significant achievement in itself, but she hadn't just reached the initial stage—she had directly ascended to the peak of it. Her spiritual energy had skyrocketed, filling every inch of her body and overflowing into her surroundings.
As the thunder subsided and the storm passed, her eyes snapped open, glowing with power. She had not only broken through to the Mystic Core stage but had reached the peak of that stage in one go. Feng Yan could hardly believe it—advancing so quickly in such a short time was unheard of.
Sitting in silence, she adjusted the immense power now coursing through her body. Her mind reeled at the sudden leap in cultivation, but she remained composed. A sense of awe filled her as she realized how much she had grown. After several minutes of adjusting her energy, she stood up, her body lighter and stronger than ever before.