Liu Feng sat cross-legged in the quiet training hall of the sect. The floor was made of polished stone, reflecting the glow of the lanterns hanging above. Around him, disciples trained diligently, their sweat-soaked robes clinging to their bodies as they swung wooden swords and practiced their footwork.

But Liu Feng did not train like them.

He simply observed.

His mind absorbed every movement, every technique, and every flow of Qi like an endless sea drinking in the rain. Others spent years struggling to understand the basics of martial arts and cultivation, but for him, comprehension was effortless.

Master Yun, the elder who had brought him to the sect, watched him from a distance. His sharp eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"This boy…" the elder murmured to himself. "He has never trained in cultivation before, yet his understanding of the Dao surpasses even experienced martial artists."

Understanding Qi

One of the disciples, a young man named Wei Liang, approached Liu Feng. He carried a wooden sword and had the confident look of someone accustomed to victory.

"You've been sitting here for days, watching but never practicing," Wei Liang said, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "Do you think you can master martial arts just by looking?"

Liu Feng turned his gaze toward him, calm and unwavering. "Yes."

The simplicity of his answer stunned Wei Liang for a moment, but then he scoffed. "Then prove it. Spar with me."

The other disciples turned their heads, eager to see the outcome. Many believed Liu Feng was talented, but he had never fought before. How could someone who never trained defeat a disciple who had practiced for years?

Liu Feng stood up. "Very well."

Wei Liang smirked and took his stance, gripping his wooden sword tightly. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, his blade cutting through the air toward Liu Feng's shoulder.

But before the attack could land—

Liu Feng moved.

It was not a flashy movement. He did not dodge with exaggerated speed, nor did he counter with force. Instead, he simply took a single step to the left, his body flowing like water.

Wei Liang's sword missed completely.

The audience gasped.

Wei Liang spun around and attacked again, faster this time. But once more, Liu Feng evaded with the slightest movement, his expression unchanged.

No wasted energy. No unnecessary effort.

It was as if he had already seen the attack before it even happened.

Wei Liang grew frustrated. "Fight back!"

Liu Feng sighed. "There's no need."

Then, with a single flick of his finger—

Tap.

He struck Wei Liang's wrist with the gentlest touch, yet it sent a shock through his entire arm, forcing him to drop his sword.

The hall fell silent.

Master Yun's eyes narrowed as he stroked his beard. "That was not just skill… That was an understanding of movement, of flow, of energy itself."

Wei Liang held his wrist, too stunned to speak.

Liu Feng looked at his own hand, flexing his fingers. He had merely touched upon the surface of Qi manipulation, yet he could already control the flow of another person's body.

"If Qi is the foundation of this world," Liu Feng thought, "then I must go beyond it."

He turned to Master Yun. "Elder, I wish to cultivate."

Master Yun smiled. "Very well. Let's see how far your comprehension can take you."

Thus, Liu Feng took his first true step toward immortal cultivation—one that would eventually lead him beyond the universe itself.