Ese leaned back against the wall, the bag of spirit stones in his lap and the worn sword resting by his side. The cold still bit at his skin, but his mind had begun to warm with clarity.
> "I need more context… more information. About this realm. About how cultivation works here."
He closed his eyes again, diving into the hazy pool of memories left behind in this body. They weren't as clear as his own memories—fragmented, fading—but enough remained for him to piece things together.
---
[Bugol Planet – Cultivation Realm Notes]
On this planet, cultivation was the only path to power. Strength ruled everything—sects, cities, lives.
The Body Building Realm, the very first step in the long ladder of cultivation, was about tempering the body—bones, muscles, blood vessels, and meridians.
It was divided into 9 layers, each one building stronger physical power, resilience, and stamina. Those who failed to pass it were considered mortals, and they'd never be allowed into the inner sect or get a chance to train in higher arts.
> "This body's original self only reached the 2nd layer… and even that was earned after years of struggle," Ese thought.
---
He opened his eyes, exhaling slowly.
"I need more reference materials. Books. Manuals. Even if they're low-grade. I'll visit the sect's library tomorrow. Most common cultivation arts aren't tightly guarded, especially for outer disciples."
He looked down at the spirit stones again.
"Seven stones. Enough to keep my body alive for a week. Maybe two, if I stretch them. I'll need to rest today, restore my meridians bit by bit… then go."
He glanced at the old sword beside him, then at the cracked roof where a sliver of the northern sky peeked through.
"Trash or not, this is my starting point."
After a full day of rest and careful cultivation using the spirit stone, Ese finally opened his eyes.
He had consumed three spirit stones during the process—drawing in Qi at a gentle pace, guiding it through the damaged pathways of his meridians. Fortunately, the injuries weren't as fatal as he'd first assumed. They were overused, not shattered.
> "Just exhausted… not broken," he whispered to himself as a faint warmth returned to his limbs.
Along with the spirit stones, he had found a single fasting pill tucked away in the cloth bag. It wasn't high-grade—just enough to suppress hunger for a day or two—but it had kept his body from weakening further.
Now, fully awake and somewhat refreshed, Ese sat up on the edge of the creaky bed. He looked at his reflection in a shard of bronze he used as a mirror. His face was pale but calm, hair messy from days of rest. He combed it back with his fingers, smoothed out the wrinkles on his worn sect robe, and tied it securely around his waist.
> "Let's go," he muttered, stepping outside.
The cold wind of the North brushed against his skin the moment he opened the door. His wooden hut, built on the very edge of the Mithila Sect's outer court, was isolated—both geographically and socially. But that suited him just fine for now.
He walked quietly along the stone path toward the sect's outer library.
As he neared the outer court residence—an area more populated with disciples—he heard voices.
Low at first, but rising just enough for him to catch the words.
> "Hey… isn't that the trash who was brought in by Third Master Uncle before he died?"
Ese didn't turn. He recognized the voice. Jin Bao, a fourth-level body cultivation disciple and one of the louder bullies of the outer court.
Another voice joined in. This one sharper, smug.
> "Yeah, that's him. The 'deadwood'. Took him three years just to reach the 2nd layer of Body Building. He's been stuck there ever since. One more year without a breakthrough and he's getting demoted to servant."
Laughter followed, though none of it reached Ese's face.
His expression remained unreadable, eyes straight ahead, footsteps steady.
He didn't need to look to know who said it. Nor did he need to answer. Arguing would only give them more fuel, more reason to target him. Power was the only response people respected here—and right now, he had none.
But inside, he could feel it—a tight knot of rage, not his own, but something that surged from the soul of this body. A quiet, painful ache that pulsed when they mentioned his teacher.
> "...I know," Ese whispered inwardly. "You're not at peace. Hearing them speak of him like that… it hurts."
He clenched his fist, but didn't break stride.
> "I can't fight them now. But give me time. I'll train, I'll grow. And when the time is right—I will answer for both of us."
The voices faded behind him, their laughter echoing off the stone walls. He ignored it all.
After several minutes of walking, he arrived at the outer court Mithila Sect Library.
It stood modestly at the center of the outer sect, a two-story structure made of old stone and redwood. The outer disciples had free access to the first floor—a place where common techniques were stored in worn scrolls and faded books. Basic movement arts, body strengthening manuals, breathing techniques—nothing extraordinary.
But to Ese, even a broken piece of jade had value if studied right.
The second floor held better manuals—core techniques reserved for top-ranking outer disciples. One needed a contribution token or elder's permission to enter.
As for anything beyond that—Qi Cultivation-level arts, rare elemental techniques, spiritual weapons—they were kept far away in the Inner Gate Pavilion, guarded by true cultivators and inaccessible to anyone below Qi Cultivation realm.
Ese stepped inside the library. The scent of paper, dust, and old ink welcomed him. It was quiet—only a few scattered disciples flipping through scrolls or meditating in corners.
> "Let's see what I can find…"
He made his way to the shelves, eyes sharp, mind already calculating.
No matter how common the techniques were—if he could read it, he could refine it. To Ese, it was treasure waiting to be reforged.
Ese look through the Common Grade Techniques (Body Building Realm)
1. Iron Vein Circulation Manual
Circulates Qi through the limbs in a fixed pattern. Stiff and energy-draining, but widely used due to simplicity.
2. Bone-Hardening Fist
A basic combat technique. Allows a cultivator to harden their bones temporarily to increase the impact of punches. Drawback: overuse damages joints.
3. Breath of Stone
A foundation breathing method. Encourages Qi absorption from the environment, but very slow and susceptible to impurities.
4. Stone Needle Meditation
Used for opening and stretching meridians. Painful, often ineffective if the practitioner's body constitution is poor.
> "No wonder this guy got hurt. These techniques are trash-tier," Ese muttered. "But if I modify one... tweak it based on my body's limits and Qi flow preferences…"
Still, he grabbed the Iron Vein Manual and sat in a corner.
His photographic memory and innate comprehension made the analysis easy. His new body was nothing impressive—thin meridians, shallow Qi pool, low bone density—but now he could work around that. Optimize the technique to match his current vessel.
> "If I redirect the flow slightly during the second phase of the Iron Vein Manual… slow the Qi just before it hits the left shoulder meridian cluster… I can reduce the strain by at least 30%."
> "Better yet, I could reroute unused Qi to meriden and store it. Even if I can't fight well yet, having extra Qi in reserve can give me an edge during emergencies."
He grinned slightly.
> "With just a few adjustments, I could cultivate at twice the normal speed… maybe more. And when I fight, I'll be using energy more efficiently. Like a blade with no wasted edge."
His fingers traced invisible lines in the air, mapping the meridians in the book and never forgetting memory.
> "If I do this right, I won't just be faster. I'll be more efficient. Less waste. More power with less strain."
A slow grin spread across his face.
> "This trash technique? I'll make it mine."