Teng Lin felt the strange pull in his chest again, as though the world had compressed for a heartbeat and then released him. In an instant, he found himself standing at the edge of the moat near the valley. The distance from the valley to this spot would have taken a mortal at least thirty minutes to walk, but with no effort at all, they had covered the distance in the span of a few breaths.
He glanced over at Su Xianyu, still standing calmly beside him. "How… how did we get here so fast?" His voice was full of awe and confusion. "It's like we didn't even move, but we're already here."
Su Xianyu glanced at him, his expression serene. "It's simply a matter of speed. At my level, traveling such distances is trivial. The stronger your cultivation, the less you need to concern yourself with the physical limitations of space and time."
Teng Lin blinked, trying to wrap his mind around the idea. "So, you're just that fast?"
Su Xianyu's expression didn't change, but a slight smile tugged at his lips. "Yes. Cultivation can make things like this seem easy, even natural."
Teng Lin processed this for a moment before his thoughts turned back to the earlier encounter with the Silver Mountain Wolf. "And what about that wolf? It wasn't like the others. It had this… silver glow. Was that special?"
Su Xianyu nodded. "That wolf was a Silver Mountain Wolf. It's a first-level spirit beast, though a high-level one. It's strong, fast, and has the potential to break through to the second level if it continues to grow."
Teng Lin's brow furrowed in confusion. "A first-level beast? But it looked so much stronger than the others we've seen. What makes it so special?"
Su Xianyu's gaze shifted slightly as he considered how best to explain. "Not all spirit beasts within the same level are equal. The Silver Mountain Wolf is near the peak of its level. Its silver sheen is a sign that it has absorbed significant spiritual energy from its surroundings. That makes it stronger than a typical first-level beast. It might even break into a level two spirit beast if it keeps cultivating."
Teng Lin blinked, still processing. "So, spirit beasts can just get stronger by absorbing energy?"
"Exactly," Su Xianyu explained. "A spirit beast cultivates much like a cultivator, but it draws power directly from the world around it. Some beasts remain at one level for their entire lives, while others can break through to higher levels if they're lucky or gifted."
Teng Lin nodded, though he still found the concept hard to grasp. "So, what does that mean for me? What do I need to do to get stronger?"
Su Xianyu looked at him, his eyes focused. "To understand cultivation, you must first understand the stages. Cultivation is a path, not just a method for gaining power. It's about refining your body and spirit to handle greater amounts of energy, to connect with the world on a deeper level."
Teng Lin listened closely, trying to keep up.
Su Xianyu's voice grew more measured as he began to explain. "For mortals, the path starts with the most basic stages: Bone Strengthening, Marrow Tempering, Blood Condensation, and finally Qi Gathering. These stages are for those without any innate spiritual aptitude—those who can only go so far with sheer will and effort."
Teng Lin nodded slowly, beginning to understand. "So these are the first steps, the foundation?"
"Exactly," Su Xianyu confirmed. "Once you reach the Qi Gathering stage, you can begin to gather and store spiritual energy, allowing you to access a greater range of abilities."
Teng Lin's eyes widened slightly as he processed the information. "And after that? What comes next?"
Su Xianyu gave a small nod, continuing his explanation. "The next stages are the Foundation Establishment stages. This is when a cultivator begins to form their spiritual core. It starts with Foundation Establishment itself, followed by Golden Core formation. After that comes Nascent Soul—where the cultivator's spiritual energy solidifies and becomes the foundation for their future growth."
Teng Lin blinked, the weight of the words settling in. "So, Golden Core and Nascent Soul are like the stages where you truly become a cultivator?"
Su Xianyu's gaze sharpened slightly. "Yes. That's when you move beyond just gathering energy and start shaping your own soul. You begin to understand the true nature of the world around you and connect with the forces that govern it."
Teng Lin's head was spinning a little, but he pressed on. "And after Nascent Soul?"
"After Nascent Soul, you enter the Divine Transformation stage. This is when your physical body begins to change, and you transcend the mortal realm. Then, you face the Tribulation Crossing stage. This is a critical point in your journey. Every time you break through to a new level after Divine Transformation, you will face a tribulation—a test from the heavens. These tribulations get progressively stronger, and not all cultivators survive them."
Teng Lin's face grew more serious at this, the idea of heavenly tests making him uneasy. "So the heavens themselves challenge you?"
Su Xianyu nodded grimly. "Yes. Each tribulation is designed to test your cultivation, your understanding, and your strength. Only those with solid foundations can survive."
Teng Lin swallowed, the thought of facing such trials daunting. "And then… what happens after Tribulation Crossing?"
Su Xianyu's expression became even more thoughtful. "After Tribulation Crossing, you enter the Mahayana realm. This is the final and most mysterious stage of cultivation. The Mahayana realm is said to transcend the limitations of the mortal world and grant cultivators the ability to shape the very laws of nature. Those who reach this stage can live for centuries, or perhaps longer."
Teng Lin stood still, trying to wrap his mind around the concept of the Mahayana realm. "It sounds incredible. But how do you even get there?"
Su Xianyu looked down at the ground, his gaze distant for a moment. "The path to Mahayana is long and filled with obstacles. Most cultivators never make it that far. But those who do are said to transcend mortality and exist on a plane beyond understanding."
Teng Lin stood silently, absorbing the enormity of what Su Xianyu had shared. Just as he was about to speak, Su Xianyu glanced around at the surroundings, his tone changing.
"Places like this, with water and soil rich in spiritual energy—these are considered natural treasures. The water in this moat and the soil beneath our feet must at least correspond to the Mahayana realm. But, of course, I've never met a Mahayana cultivator, so I cannot say for sure."
Teng Lin looked up at him, surprised. "So… this place is special?"
Su Xianyu gave him a sharp look, and Teng Lin suddenly felt a little embarrassed for asking. "It is, yes. But you're not expected to know that yet. Just focus on your own path for now."
Teng Lin nodded quickly, feeling the weight of the conversation. "Right. I'll do my best."
Su Xianyu's expression softened, and he placed a hand on Teng Lin's shoulder. "That's all anyone can do."
Chen Bo's mind was still racing as he processed the changes to his body. The subtle energy coursing through him felt different—stronger, sharper—and the white specks floating in the air only added to the confusion. They danced around him, gravitating towards him in a way that seemed purposeful, yet their movements felt strange, almost deliberate.
"Where's Teng Lin?" Chen Bo asked, turning to Wei Jian, who had been quietly observing him. He was still trying to make sense of the transformation but knew he couldn't ignore the fact that Teng Lin was involved in some way.
Wei Jian glanced around, a slightly worried look in his eyes. "I'm not sure. He left earlier to take care of something. We'll just have to wait for him to come back, I guess."
Chen Bo nodded, his mind shifting back to Teng Lin, the strange particles, and how they all seemed tied together. But something else crossed his mind. "Wait, why are we in the stables?"
Wei Jian rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Ah, well… the manager said no sick people were allowed inside the inn. Your condition… you weren't exactly well when we arrived, and the rules here are strict. So, we were given space in the stables instead. It wasn't ideal, but it's better than nothing."
Chen Bo blinked in surprise. The fact that they were relegated to the stables, despite their situation, made sense now. "No sick people allowed? I guess I should have realized I was looking worse than I thought," he muttered, his hand brushing over his forehead.
Wei Jian gave him a sympathetic glance. "I know it's not ideal, but we didn't have a choice. The manager had his rules."
Chen Bo thought about this for a moment before deciding it was only right to express his gratitude to the manager for letting them stay, even in the stables. "I'm going to thank the manager. Even if he's got strict rules, he still let us stay when there was no other choice."
Wei Jian didn't look too happy about it but nodded. "Alright, if you think it'll help."
The two of them made their way back inside the inn, and as they entered the front room, the manager looked up from his counter. His eyes widened when he saw Chen Bo.
"Eh? What kind of makeup is that?" the manager asked, scratching his chin. "It's amazing! Maybe I should get some of that for myself. Might help me out with the ladies in the red-light district, you know?"
Chen Bo's brow furrowed at the manager's odd comment. "It's not makeup," he said, his discomfort evident. "I just… went through some changes, I guess." He quickly moved past the comment, pushing the strange interaction aside. "I just wanted to thank you for letting us stay, even though we were in the stables."
The manager waved it off, clearly more interested in his own thoughts. "No need to thank me. It's just business. But I gotta say, you're looking a lot better now. Whatever you're doing, keep it up."
Chen Bo forced a smile, the awkwardness growing. "Thanks," he muttered. "But I still wanted to pay for the rooms for one more night, for me and my friends."
The manager seemed distracted, not paying much attention as he jotted something down in his ledger. "Eh, sure, whatever," he mumbled, clearly disinterested in the exchange.
Chen Bo reached into his pocket, pulling out the last of his remaining coins. He counted out enough to cover the cost of another night's stay for the three of them. Wei Jian immediately protested, stepping forward to stop him. "Chen Bo, you've already done so much. You don't need to pay again."
But Chen Bo shook his head, his voice calm but firm. "It's just a small gesture. You helped me when I needed it, and I appreciate it. This is just a way to thank you for watching over me."
Wei Jian hesitated but then sighed in defeat. "Alright, if you insist."
Chen Bo placed the coins on the counter, nodded politely to the manager, and turned to leave, eager to get back to the stables. The manager barely looked up from his ledger, muttering to himself as Chen Bo walked away.
As they headed back to the stables, Chen Bo's thoughts remained with the white specks. Why were they following him? And why did they avoid Wei Jian? The connection to Teng Lin was too strong to ignore. He needed answers. But for now, all he could do was wait for his friend to return.