I felt the swirling ball in my stomach—an unfamiliar sensation that sent a shiver through me. I wasn’t sure how to explain it to Eve.


    "I don''t know what that was, but I feel like I would''ve died without it."


    The void inside me slowly shrank to a single, almost imperceptible point. I could still feel it there—waiting, lurking, ready to devour. That was the best way I could describe it.


    Looking around, I realized I had dropped the fish. I picked them up and resumed my trek back to the cave. My mind buzzed with questions about this strange development, but did I even know enough to understand what had just happened? No point in overthinking—that''s what Eve was for.


    "So, what happened, Eve?" I asked. "I thought it had something to do with you, but since you''re asking me, I guess you don’t have a clue either."


    Eve responded, "No, I can''t say that I do. Right now, I can sense that something is inside your stomach… or rather, I can sense what’s missing. It feels like a small void."


    Back at the cave, I started cooking the fish. Once the fire was going, I turned my attention to sword practice.


    The first thing I noticed was the weight—it felt lighter. I pushed the thought aside for now, but there was something else. The sword no longer felt like an object in my hand; it was an extension of myself. I swung the black blade again and again, faster and faster, until it became nothing more than a passing shadow. Switching arms, I continued, determined to master its movement.


    "Eve, I need to surpass my brother. What do you think my punch strength is now?"


    "You just reached the first level of body cultivation," Eve explained. "The amount of energy the Cold Snap Flower contained was much higher than I could process. However, I was able to condense enough spirit energy for you to break through. I even started you on the Muscle stage. You could have continued breaking through, but that would have been bad for your foundation. You need to adjust to your new strength before leveling up again. This is why it takes others a while to break through—to stabilize their cultivation.


    "I do have good news for you, though. Since you''re a body cultivator, reaching the first level gave you a 200-pound increase in strength. So your punch is about 250 pounds now. Your brother is at the third level—he''s younger but stronger, with a punching power of about 335 to 350 pounds. After your next level, your strength will rise by another 200 pounds. That will make you stronger than him if he doesn’t break through again.


    "But strength alone isn’t enough. You need to train. Right now, your fighting technique is minimal at best."


    I wanted to argue, but I knew Eve was right. I kept treating this world as if I were still Michael. But I was Michael and I am Chen. If I wanted to survive, I needed to work hard.


    "Eve, do you have a training plan or something to give me direction?"


    Now that I had refined my blood—well, Eve did all the work—the real advantage she gave me was guidance. The thing I needed most was combat experience. I had to go deeper into the mountains and fight.


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    I didn''t hesitate anymore. After gathering the few belongings I had in the cave, I set off at a faster pace than expected. This cultivation thing had its advantages.


    This is what I wanted in my old life.


    I had been so caught up in training that I hadn''t let myself think.


    I started slowing down when I noticed how quiet the forest had become. The damp earth beneath my feet carried a rich scent, more noticeable with my enhanced senses. I could see insects along the path—the first one I noticed was a green caterpillar. Even with my improved eyesight, I wouldn’t have spotted it if I hadn’t stopped to listen to a bird calling in the distance. The caterpillar clung to the underside of a leaf, its vivid green blending into the surroundings.


    That made me wonder—how many insects hide in the daytime because of birds?


    I was lost in thought when I heard a familiar grunting sound.


    A boar.


    It was about 150 yards ahead, oblivious to my presence. Slowing my steps, I crept behind it, staying out of sight. A breeze rustled the leaves, covering my approach.


    Now was my chance.


    I sprang forward at full speed. My heart pounded in my chest with excitement as my blade slid free of its sheath, revealing the gleaming black edge.


    The boar must have heard me at the last second because it turned just as I reached it, exposing its side. My blade struck, sinking deep into its flesh up to the hilt. The beast let out a furious squeal, wheeling around to face me.


    I didn’t have time to think—my body reacted on instinct. Gripping the hilt tightly, I sprang backward with all my strength.


    Too much strength.


    I shot back fifteen feet—an impressive feat, except for one thing. There was a tree behind me.


    I slammed into it, back first, then smacked my head against the rough bark. Stars exploded in my vision. As I pushed off the tree, I realized I had also let go of my sword.


    The ground shook beneath me.


    The boar was charging.


    I turned my head—too late. The beast was nearly on top of me.


    I rolled, barely avoiding the goring tusks.


    BOOM.


    The boar slammed into the tree.


    I scrambled toward my fallen sword, gripping it just as I spun back to face my attacker—only to see the beast slump over, releasing its final breath.


    What the hell?


    That was when I noticed the thick trail of blood. I must have hit a vital spot with my first strike.


    I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Now that I had survived, I had more food to get stronger. But my fighting was horrible.


    In the clan, they normally didn’t teach combat until a child reached the first level of cultivation. Now that I had reached that level, I could return for proper training.


    I butchered the boar and started a fire. I didn’t care if it attracted other animals—more fights meant more training. The smell of roasting meat filled the air, making my stomach growl.


    It took an hour before I could eat.


    Over the last few days, I had found a few herbs in the woods that worked well as seasoning. The fat sizzled, releasing an intoxicating aroma. I tore a chunk of meat from the leg, savoring the taste.


    I wanted to rest afterward, but—


    "Chen, do you want to waste the best time to train?"


    I shook my head. "What good is strength if I don’t know how to apply it? I got lucky again in that fight."


    Eve didn’t reply, but I could feel her agreement.


    I needed to improve.


    I remembered a book I had read on Earth about how timing was one of the most crucial aspects of combat. A friend of mine once trained by placing twelve poles in a circle, each representing an hour on a clock. When I asked him why, he told me it was for balance.


    At the time, I hadn’t understood what he meant. Now, it made sense.


    It trained a fighter to shift their footing toward the most stable position.


    I found a tree near the fire and cut it down with a single swipe of my sword. The blade let out a sharp ping as it sliced through the wood effortlessly. By nightfall, I had carved the tree into small poles and arranged them in a clock formation in the soil.


    At first, shifting my stance felt awkward. But as I moved, I began to feel the rhythm—the way my body adjusted, the way my balance shifted naturally.


    To my surprise, I was moving much faster than I expected.


    That night, I danced under the stars, losing myself in the movement.