“Qienergy!”Myheartleapt.Iheldmybreath,carefullyguidingthefaintqitowardmydantian.

Doubtcreptin.

Fiveyearsflewby.I’myearsold,havingbarelyreachedtheEarlyFoundatioablishmentstage.Thepathwasn’tsmooth.Everybottleneckrequiredmetogritmyteethandperseverethroughtlessdaysandnights.Thougheldersinmyfamilycoulduidance,breakthroughsultimatelydependedonmyownpersistendexperimentation.

Timepassedslowly.Mylegswerenumb,andmybacksoakedi.Still,mydantianremainedsilent,likeadesert—voidofanyqi.

Iopenedmyeyesandsmiledfaintly.

Today,forthesakeofmygtalent,FatherbroughtmetotheAsuraTempletoprayforhelp.Wekbeforethegod’sstatue,andhesincerelyprayed:

Idon''''''''tknowhowlonghadpassed.Theskyoutsidehaddarkened,andmybodywasnumb,mymindgroggy.JustasIwasabouttogiveup,aslightripplestirreddeepinmydantian—likeastillponddisturbedbyafainttouch.Ittickled.

“AmIreallyhopeless?”

“GreatAsuraGod,I,yourhumblebelieverTianlong,begyoutohelpmysonTianyan.

AfterswitgfromQiRefiManualtotheFoundatioablishmentManual,qibecameevenhardertotrol.Eachadvafeltliketemperingmyselfthroughpain.

No—Irefusedtobelievethat!

Afterhoursofeffort,Ifinallygatheredmyfirststrandofqi.ToreachEarlyQiRefi,I’dneedhundredsmorestrandstransformedintotrueenergy.

AsidefromWater-BlueStar’sthinspiritualenergy,themainreasonmustliewithiIrefusedtogiveup.Wipingthesweatfrommyforehead,Iyeyesandresumedbreathiion.

“EarlyQiRefi...Ifinallydidit.”

il.

Thiswasmyfirststepintothepathofcultivation.Idarednotsckoff.Sittingcross-legged,IfollowedtheCultivatiohod,adjustingmybreathingandslowlyguidingmybreathintomydantiahodcimedthatqienergywouldnaturallygatheriian—butdespitesittingforalongtime,nothingstirredaroundme,asiftherewasnoqiintheworldatall.

Noonereachestheheavensinoneleap.Iftalentisg,thenI’llmakeupforitwitheffort.Takingadeepbreath,Isteadiedmymindandfocusedmyspiritevenmore.

Asthefirstraysunlightshhthewindow,afaintvortexhadformedinmydantian—proofoftrueqi’sbirth.