Chapter 8: Reunion
Lin Tian waved goodbye to his new friends as they parted ways, exhaustion clear in their steps. To his surprise, he found himself enjoying their company more than expected. Ye Jian's brashness, though at times overwhelming, came from a place of kindness, and her energy made it hard not to like her. Wang Jia's quiet and thoughtful nature balanced her impulsiveness, grounding their group dynamics. He smiled to himself, remembering their reactions to his workout routines—Ye Jian's dazed expression and Wang Jia's wide-eyed disbelief.
"They really thought I was crazy," Lin Tian chuckled under his breath. Both of them had bemoaned wasting their time on games instead of training seriously. The memory filled him with satisfaction. He'd always been disciplined, and seeing others admire his dedication gave him a rare sense of pride.
The thought of food made his stomach growl, and he quickened his pace toward home. The path felt familiar and comforting, but his mind wandered to his father. It had been over a month since his father left to hunt for a new soul ring, and Lin Tian couldn't help but feel a mixture of worry and anticipation.
He was almost at the front door when he caught a whiff of something savory in the air. This distinct smell…his eyes lit up. Soul beast meat! It could only mean one thing—his father was home.
Pushing the door open eagerly, Lin Tian's heart leaped at the sight of his father sitting at the table, a satisfied grin on his face. A soft, glowing ring hovered faintly around him—a new soul ring, proof of a successful hunt.
"Dad! You're back!" Lin Tian exclaimed, rushing over.
His father chuckled warmly, ruffling his hair. "Of course, I couldn't miss dinner now, could I? This is some of the soul beast meat from our hunt this time, I know it's your favorite." He winked.
Lin Tian's mother smiled gently, placing plates on the table. "Come now, sit Xiao Tian. You must be starving."
As the family sat down to eat, Lin Tian stole a glance at his father. Though his father's smile was bright, there were subtle signs of fatigue in his movements. A slight grimace here, a stiff motion there. His clothes bore signs of recent battle—small cuts and dirt smudges that told a story of struggle. But the light in his father's eyes never dimmed, and Lin Tian decided not to mention the injuries. The last thing he wanted was to spoil the joy of reunion.
The meat was cooked to perfection, the rich aroma filling the room. Lin Tian savored each bite, feeling the warmth of the meal spread through his body. This isn't just food—it's nourishment. The soul beast meat seemed to pulse with vitality, and he could feel it replenishing his energy.
As the meal progressed, a curious sensation began to stir within him. He sensed his soul power moving on its own, flowing through his body like a river. Out of habit, Lin Tian focused inward, mobilizing his tremendous spiritual energy to observe the energy as it surged toward his sore muscles. He watched in fascination as the soul power wrapped around the fibers, soothing and strengthening them with each pulse.
A sudden realization struck him. That's it. The reason children couldn't cultivate until after the age of six was that all the soul power they generated went toward developing their bodies. It wasn't a limitation—it was a natural process. The energy wasn't wasted; it was building the foundation they needed to grow stronger. His mind raced with thoughts once again as he pondered his new finding.
The reason why I couldn't 'see' this before must have been because the meditation method provided too little energy and was instantly absorbed by my body. This soul beast meat must have come from a Thousand Year Old beast to provide so much energy that it couldn't be absorbed in an instant and lingered in my body long enough for me to see what's happening.
The discovery filled him with excitement, but he forced himself to stay calm. His parents mistook his silence for fatigue from playing with his new friends.
"Looks like someone had a busy day," his mother teased gently, brushing his hair back.
Lin Tian gave a tired smile and nodded. "Yeah... something like that."
His father chuckled. "That's good. Make sure you play while you still can. There's plenty of time to train later."
But as Lin Tian glanced at his father again, the cheerfulness in his expression didn't quite reach his eyes. The earlier signs of strain were still there, and his mother's concerned glances confirmed that she had noticed too. Lin Tian's heart tightened, but he kept his thoughts to himself. His father had returned safe—that was what mattered most for now.
After finishing the meal, Lin Tian excused himself and retreated to his room. As soon as the door clicked shut, he took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the bed and resumed his research. His body buzzed with energy from the soul beast meat, and he wanted to test his earlier hypothesis.
Closing his eyes, Lin Tian steadied his breathing, letting the familiar rhythm draw his attention inward. Slowly, the flow of soul power within him came into focus—gentle currents pulsing through his body like streams feeding into a river. This time, he directed them deliberately, channeling the energy to the muscles in his arms and legs.
The sensation was subtle at first, like a soothing warmth spreading through his limbs. But as the energy pooled in his sore muscles, it intensified. The fibers tightened, grew denser, and with every pulse, the weariness he had felt from the day's exertions faded, replaced by a dull tiredness - the feeling of healing muscles. This is real, he thought, excitement thrumming through his chest.
The hypothesis he had formed earlier was correct: the body instinctively used any available soul power to fuel physical growth, prioritizing development over cultivation. It's not that children can't cultivate before six; it's that their bodies won't let them. But what if someone could consciously control that process? If he could guide his soul power with precision, directing it towards areas that needed developing, he could quickly finish this 'developmental stage' and accumulate soul power for his awakening.
A thought sparked, pulling at his memories. Lin Tian recalled a scene from the original work, before Tang San awakened his martial soul. Tang San had practiced meditation long before his martial soul emerged—but he could only cultivate to a certain threshold. That barrier turned out to be the need for a soul ring once he came under the teachings of Yu Xiaogang.
"No wonder," Lin Tian murmured aloud. "Tang San's physical body was unusually strong from the start, despite eating almost nothing but porridge." Tang Hao, Tang San's father, had spent those early years wallowing in grief, neglecting his duties, and providing little care for his son. Yet Tang San never seemed malnourished or sickly.
If it were anyone else, they would have been weak, maybe even stunted. But Tang San's early meditation must have strengthened him in ways beyond what normal children could achieve. Lin Tian's mind raced as the pieces fell into place.
The exhilaration of his discovery almost overwhelmed him, but it also raised a new challenge. If he wanted to pursue this method, he couldn't rely on basic meditation techniques. He needed a method that could match his accelerating demand for soul power while allowing his body to grow naturally.
Lin Tian took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. How do I find a more advanced meditation technique? He couldn't rush the process—pushing too hard might damage his body. But if he could develop a subtle, efficient method, it would give him a head start that no one else had.
His mind combed through countless possibilities, weighing techniques from the stories he remembered. Yet none seemed quite right. He needed something elegant—something that would harmonize with the natural rhythm of his body rather than disrupt it. A technique that could quietly build his foundation without leaving behind flaws.
The thought lingered at the edges of his consciousness, teasing him. There's something I know... something just out of reach. It danced like a shadow in the corner of his mind, tantalizing him with the promise of a solution.
And then—
It clicked.
A knock on the door startled him from his thoughts.
"Lin Tian, are you asleep?" his mother's voice called softly from the other side.
He quickly smoothed his expression, forcing a yawn into his voice. "Almost, Mom."
"Alright, don't stay up too late," she said gently. "You've had a long day."
Lin Tian murmured a reply, waiting until her footsteps faded down the hall. As the room fell silent once more, he returned to his thoughts, the excitement still simmering beneath the surface.
The discovery filled him with anticipation, but he knew better than to rush ahead blindly. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, he would begin experimenting with the idea forming in his mind.
For now, though, he let the thrill of his breakthrough settle within him, savoring the quiet victory. With a small smile, he leaned back, letting his eyes drift shut. The future felt brighter than it had in a long time.
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