The sun was setting behind the towering peaks of the Golden Dragon Sect, casting a warm, golden hue over the sprawling compound. Yuto stood in the courtyard, still catching his breath after his intense battle with Kaito. The fight had been one of the most exhilarating moments of his life, but now that the adrenaline was beginning to ebb away, a new weight settled upon his shoulders. His victory had earned him the respect of the sect's disciples, but what came next? What was he truly expected to do now that he had proven his strength?
The courtyard was now quieter, the sound of bustling training having died down as the disciples returned to their quarters for the evening. Yuto turned his gaze to the sky, his thoughts drifting. His journey had begun with confusion and fear, but now he felt a sense of purpose settling in his chest. The Golden Dragon Sect had welcomed him, but there was much to learn, and much to prove.
As Yuto was lost in thought, the silver-haired elder appeared beside him, her expression as unreadable as ever. She seemed to appear out of nowhere, her presence as commanding as the sky itself.
"You fought well," she said, her voice soft but filled with authority.
Yuto turned to face her, nodding. "Thanks. But what now? I've fought, I've won, but I don't understand what's next for me here."
The elder studied him for a long moment before answering. "Victory is just the beginning, Yuto. Now that you've earned your place in the Golden Dragon Sect, you must train. And I don't mean training for strength alone. Your journey will involve more than just combat. You will need to master the deeper aspects of cultivation—the way of the Golden Dragon."
Yuto frowned. "Cultivation…? I've only just started to understand my own power, let alone this 'cultivation.'"
The elder's lips twitched in what might have been a smile, but it was gone before Yuto could be sure. "Cultivation is the path to true power, Yuto. Strength alone is fleeting. To become truly powerful, you must learn to refine your body, mind, and soul. You must cultivate your Qi, learn to tap into the energies of this world and mold them to your will. Only then will you be able to reach the heights of the Golden Dragon Sect."
Yuto's mind raced. Refine his body? Cultivate his Qi? He had heard some of the disciples talk about Qi before, but it was still foreign to him. His experience had been in combat, not in meditation or spiritual refinement. But he wasn't about to back down. He had always been someone who adapted quickly, and if this was the path to more power, then he would walk it.
He straightened up, determination flashing in his eyes. "So, what's the first step? How do I begin this cultivation?"
The elder's expression softened slightly. "Your first task will be to learn to control your Qi. Right now, it surges within you without purpose. You must learn to harness it, to focus it, before you can begin cultivating it."
Yuto nodded, though doubt lingered in his mind. He had always relied on his natural power, his Saiyan strength, but this was different. This world was full of mysteries, and he had a lot to learn.
The elder led him deeper into the sect, her pace steady and deliberate. They passed through a series of courtyards, each filled with disciples engaged in their own practices. Some meditated in quiet corners, their eyes closed as they focused on their Qi. Others sparred with one another, exchanging blows that seemed almost like dances of pure energy. The atmosphere was calm but intense, filled with the hum of cultivation.
At the far end of the compound, they reached a stone building, its walls covered in ancient runes. The air around it felt different—charged, as if the building itself was alive with energy.
"This is the Qi Refinement Hall," the elder said, pausing in front of the grand entrance. "Here, you will learn to control your Qi. The first step is simple: sit, breathe, and feel. Your Qi is a part of you, but you must learn to listen to it. Until you can hear its flow, you cannot control it."
Yuto stepped forward, his heart racing with anticipation. The hall was filled with a serene silence, the air heavy with the energy of countless cultivators who had passed through this very place before him. The walls were lined with shelves of ancient scrolls, each one filled with techniques that promised to unlock the potential of the human body and mind. At the center of the room was a large stone platform, surrounded by a faint glow of energy.
The elder motioned for Yuto to approach the platform. "Sit. Focus. Let go of everything except your Qi."
Yuto hesitated for a moment, but then he obeyed, sitting down on the stone surface. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. The sounds of the outside world faded away, replaced by the steady rhythm of his breathing. He could feel the warmth of his body, the faint thrum of energy beneath his skin.
At first, there was nothing. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—memories of his old life, of the battle with the dragon-lion, of his fight with Kaito. But he pushed them aside. He needed to focus, to clear his mind completely.
Minutes passed, then hours. Yuto sat in silence, waiting for something to happen. But despite his best efforts, he couldn't feel anything. His Qi remained a mystery to him, a force he could neither sense nor control.
"Is it always this hard?" Yuto muttered under his breath, frustration building inside him.
"Cultivation is not about forcing it," the elder's voice suddenly interrupted. "It is about understanding. You are not controlling the Qi; you are listening to it. It is a part of you. Relax your mind. Let go of your desires, your anger, your impatience. Only then will you hear the flow of your Qi."
Yuto gritted his teeth. Letting go of his frustrations—of his desire for power, his need to be strong—was harder than it seemed. But as he sat there, listening to the sound of his own breath, a strange sensation began to stir within him. It was faint at first, like a whisper in the back of his mind. But slowly, it grew stronger. The energy in his body was there, swirling beneath his skin, just waiting to be noticed.
His mind slowed, and his focus deepened. The Qi wasn't a foreign force; it was an extension of himself, a part of his very being. As he let go of his need to control it, he felt it respond to his thoughts, moving through his body like a river flowing through its channels. For the first time, Yuto could sense it, feel it—his Qi, the source of his power.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. This was only the beginning, but he could already feel the potential within him. This world, this path—it was all different from what he had known, but in many ways, it felt like a natural extension of his own growth.
The elder nodded from where she stood, watching him with quiet approval. "You have begun to understand. This is just the first step, Yuto. Your journey will be long, and it will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine. But if you stay true to your path, if you continue to refine your body, mind, and soul, you will rise higher than you ever dreamed."
Yuto opened his eyes, his gaze steady and filled with newfound resolve. "Then I'll rise. I won't stop until I've reached the peak of this world."
The elder gave a brief nod before turning and leaving the hall, her footsteps echoing softly. Yuto remained seated for a while longer, letting the flow of Qi settle in his body. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time since his arrival in this strange world, he felt like he was truly ready to face whatever challenges awaited him.