《Achieving transcends through a forgotten path》


 Chapter 1-Gates of Ashenwood

    The sun dipped low over the jagged cliffs, casting the forest below in shifting shades of orange and shadow. Alex adjusted the satchel on his shoulder, his steps heavy as he approached the gates of the Ashenwood Sect. The towering wooden gates, carved with the sect¡¯s emblem of a flaming ash tree, seemed almost to mock him with their grandeur.


    For Alex, this wasn¡¯t the beginning of a grand journey¡ªit was his last chance.


    The line of recruits shuffled forward, their chatter filled with excitement and nervous energy. Alex stayed silent, letting the murmur wash over him. These were people with bright futures, some wearing the confidence of minor clan scions, others carrying the quiet determination of gifted wanderers. He had neither.


    As the line moved, Alex¡¯s thoughts drifted to the past few years¡ªyears of rejection, humiliation, and frustration.


    The crystal orb of the Path of Spiritual Purity remained dull, the affinity stones of Elemental Domination stayed lifeless, and the mirrors of the Path of Eclipse reflected nothing but his own disappointment. Each failure was a blow, a nail sealing the coffin of his future.


    Even the Path of Martial Mastery, known for rewarding effort, offered him little hope. The elder¡¯s dispassionate words lingered in Alex¡¯s mind: "You¡¯ve passed, but barely. Don¡¯t expect to achieve much."


    Though the Path of Martial Mastery required effort over talent, the elder had explained that innate ability still determined how far one could go. For Alex, being allowed into the sect was no triumph¡ªit was pity.


    ---


    ¡°Name?¡±


    The sharp voice jolted Alex back to the present. He blinked, looking up at the senior disciple standing beside the gates. The man¡¯s crimson robes were immaculate, his tone clipped and disinterested.


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    ¡°Alex,¡± he said, his voice hoarse from the journey.


    ¡°Age?¡±


    ¡°Seventeen.¡±


    The disciple arched an eyebrow but said nothing. Most recruits were younger, their talent identified early. The fact that Alex was seventeen¡ªseveral years older than most¡ªonly underscored how difficult his journey had been.


    The disciple glanced at the scroll in his hand, scribbled something, and waved him through without another glance.


    Alex stepped into the courtyard, his heart a mix of anticipation and dread.


    ---


    The Ashenwood Sect was larger than he had imagined. Barracks lined the edges of the central courtyard, their wooden frames old but sturdy. A stone path led toward the main pavilion, where disciples in crimson robes trained in formation.


    Despite the sect¡¯s reputation as a lower-tier martial sect, there was an air of purpose here. Even the outer disciples moved with precision, their practice swords flashing in the late afternoon light. Alex couldn¡¯t help but feel the weight of their presence. Each strike, each movement, carried a discipline he felt he lacked.


    His gaze lingered on the disciples sparring nearby, their forms precise and their movements fluid. A part of him envied them, not for their talent, but for the confidence they radiated.


    He shook his head, tearing his eyes away. I¡¯ll get there. Somehow.


    Not long after, the recruits were gathered in the central courtyard. An elder, dressed in flowing robes adorned with ash leaf patterns, stood on the pavilion steps. His gaze swept over them like a blade, cutting through any murmur of conversation.


    The Ashenwood Sect does not coddle mediocrity,¡± the elder began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the crowd. ¡°Our path, the Path of Martial Mastery, demands more than effort¡ªit demands sacrifice. Talent may open doors, but only those with unyielding will survive the trials ahead. The weak will find no sympathy here.¡±


    Alex¡¯s chest tightened at the elder¡¯s words.


    ¡°Outer disciples,¡± the elder continued, his tone sharp, ¡°are at the bottom of this sect for a reason. You will not be coddled, and failure will not be tolerated. Only those who claw their way up will remain. The rest will find the gates they entered through the easiest path forward.¡±


    The elder continued, outlining the sect¡¯s structure: outer disciples at the bottom, inner disciples in the middle, and core disciples¡ªthe sect¡¯s elite¡ªat the top. Every disciple¡¯s place was earned through merit and strength.


    ¡°There is no room for weakness here,¡± the elder finished, his gaze lingering on the less confident recruits. ¡°Prove yourselves, or leave.¡±


    ---


    That night, Alex sat alone outside the barracks assigned to outer disciples. The wooden structure was simple, its walls thin enough to let the murmur of voices seep through.


    His legs ached from the day¡¯s journey, but his thoughts refused to settle. The elder¡¯s words echoed in his mind: ¡°Prove yourselves, or leave.¡±


    The memories of failure weighed heavy¡ªeach rejection, each moment of disappointment carving deep grooves into his resolve. The crystal orb, the lifeless affinity stones, the mirrors that reflected nothing. They were reminders of the long road behind him, and the longer road ahead.


    But he couldn¡¯t afford to falter now. Not here, not after coming this far.


    Alex clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the faint shimmer of stars above. The ache in his body was a reminder of the battle to come¡ªa battle he refused to lose.


    ¡°I¡¯ll prove it,¡± he muttered under his breath. ¡°I''ll definitely became stronger.¡±


    The night stretched on, quiet except for the hum of distant voices, and Alex sat still, steeling himself for the days ahead.

 Chapter 2-Drills and Bonds

    The morning sun painted the training grounds in shades of gold, casting long shadows that danced as the newest batch of outer disciples lined up for their first drills. The air buzzed with nervous energy as senior disciples barked instructions. Alex stood among them, his stomach tight with unease. Yesterday had been overwhelming enough, but now he faced his first real test.


    The senior disciple, clad in crimson robes that seemed to radiate authority, surveyed the newcomers with a sharp gaze. ¡°Form up! Outer disciples, this is not a welcoming party. This is where you prove whether you belong.¡±


    Alex shifted awkwardly in line, feeling the weight of those words. The recruits beside him adjusted their stances with the confidence of heirs and prodigies. Alex, by contrast, fumbled to mimic their movements, painfully aware of how out of place he looked.


    ---


    The initial drills were deceptively simple: basic stances, footwork, and strikes. But simplicity didn¡¯t make them any easier for Alex. His movements were awkward, his footing unsteady, and his strikes weak. The senior disciple¡¯s sharp corrections cut through the air.


    ¡°Too slow! Balance your weight, or you¡¯ll fall flat on your face!¡±


    Alex¡¯s face went flushed as a few nearby disciples chuckled.


    ¡°You got this, don¡¯t let them get to you,¡± a voice said from his behind. Alex turned to see a girl with short black hair, her features youthful and energetic. Her stance wasn¡¯t perfect either, but her movements carried a spark of determination that Alex couldn¡¯t help but admire. She offered him a quick, lopsided grin before returning her focus to the drill.


    ---


    When the session ended, Alex dragged himself to a shaded corner on the edge of the training field and watched as the new disciples filed out for their brief break. He held his sore arms, massaging them after the grueling session. He stared at the others, their laughter and easy conversation filling the air. During the drills they all made it look so natural, so effortless, while every movement for him felt like an uphill battle.


    ¡°Mind if I join?¡± a familiar voice broke through his thoughts. Alex looked up to see the girl with the short black hair from before holding out a water skin.


    ¡°Sure,¡± he said, taking it gratefully. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    She plopped down beside him, her energy still intact despite the grueling session. ¡°The name¡¯s Arlyn. You¡¯re Alex, right? Heard your name yelled about a dozen times today.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯d be me,¡± Alex muttered with a weak chuckle. ¡°I guess I left an impression.¡±


    Arlyn laughed, nudging his shoulder lightly. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry about it. My first day wasn¡¯t any better. I think the senior disciples were convinced I was going to knock myself out with a wooden sword.¡±


    Alex raised an eyebrow, half-amused. ¡°Did you?¡±


    Arlyn grinned sheepishly. ¡°Not quite. But let¡¯s just say I had a close call. They almost sent me to the infirmary for tripping over my own feet.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Alex smirked. ¡°At least you didn¡¯t take anyone else down with you.¡±


    ¡°Give me time,¡± Arlyn teased.


    Alex¡¯s smirk faded into a wistful smile. ¡°Still, it seems like you¡¯re handling this well¡ªbetter than me, at least. I¡¯m completely out of my depth here.¡±


    Arlyn¡¯s tone softened. ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up. Everyone starts somewhere.¡±


    Alex hesitated, his voice quieter. ¡°I know, but¡­ it just feels like I¡¯m struggling just to stay behind everyone.¡±


    Arlyn tilted her head, studying him for a moment. ¡°You know, you¡¯re not the only one who feels out of their depth. Everybody here is trying their best to stay on their feet, even if it doesn¡¯t look like it.¡±


    Alex frowned, gripping the water skin tighter. ¡°Maybe, but it feels like everyone¡¯s already leagues ahead. Like I¡¯m the only one trying to catch up.¡±


    Arlyn leaned forward, her gaze steady. ¡°Maybe they are ahead. But so what? It doesn¡¯t mean you won¡¯t get there too. It¡¯s not about where everyone else is¡ªit¡¯s about where you¡¯re going. Everyone¡¯s path looks different, and half the battle is just sticking with it.¡±


    Arlyn¡¯s words struck something in him¡ªnot quite comfort, but enough to push back some of the overwhelming doubt. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right,¡± he admitted, though his tone carried a hint of uncertainty.


    Arlyn smiled, soft but genuine. ¡°I know I am. Besides, if we¡¯re both here figuring it out together, we can¡¯t be doing that badly.¡±


    Alex chuckled faintly at that, the knot in his chest loosening ever so slightly. For the first time that day, he didn¡¯t feel so alone.


    ---


    The day¡¯s training ended with a chore rotation. Alex found himself in the training hall, broom in hand, staring at the endless scuff marks on the floor. His arms ached, and his mind wandered back to the harsh drills from earlier. He sighed, steeling himself for yet another task that seemed determined to wear him down.


    ¡°Well, you don¡¯t look familiar. You must be one of the newbies,¡± a voice broke through his thoughts. Alex turned to see a girl with messy brown hair tied loosely back, leaning casually on a broom.


    ¡°Uh, yeah,¡± Alex replied, straightening up and shifting his grip on the broom. ¡°I¡¯m Alex.¡±


    She offered a small nod as she moved to the other side of the hall. ¡°Teresa.¡±


    Teresa smirked faintly as she began sweeping. ¡°So, rough first day?¡±


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Alex muttered, focusing on the floor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Teresa said lightly. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. Or you won¡¯t. Either way, you¡¯ll still be sweeping floors.¡±


    Before Alex could respond, the door creaked open, and Arlyn stepped in, broom in hand. She glanced around before smiling when she spotted Alex.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she said, walking over. ¡°Guess they¡¯ve got us on cleaning duty together.¡±


    Teresa paused, looking over Arlyn. ¡°Another new recruit?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Arlyn said, offering a polite nod. ¡°Arlyn.¡±


    ¡°Teresa,¡± she replied, leaning her broom against the wall. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s a full house.¡±


    Arlyn turned to Alex. ¡°How are you holding up after the drills?¡±


    ¡°Still standing,¡± Alex replied with a faint grin. ¡°Barely.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t look that bad out there,¡± Arlyn teased. ¡°I think you only fell once, right?¡±


    Alex chuckled weakly. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a win.¡±


    Teresa watched the exchange with mild amusement. ¡°If you¡¯re already counting not falling as a win, you¡¯ll fit right in here.¡±


    Arlyn shot her a curious look. ¡°Been here long?¡±


    ¡°Long enough,¡± Teresa said, her tone casual.


    The three fell into a rhythm as they cleaned, the scrape of brooms punctuated by lighthearted banter. Teresa shared a few dry jokes and stories from her early days in the sect, earning laughs from Arlyn and Alex. Arlyn chimed in with her own stories from the day, not resisting teasing Alex about his balance during drills. The playful exchange eased the tension of the day, offering a welcome break from the weight of training.


    ---


    That evening, Alex, Arlyn, and Teresa sat outside the barracks, watching the stars appear in the fading light. Their conversation shifted between lighthearted teasing and reflections on the day¡¯s events.


    Arlyn smirked as she leaned back, arms crossed. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me hard work doesn¡¯t count for anything, Teresa. Talent might help, but effort is what gets you to the top.¡±


    Teresa rolled her eyes, balancing a small pebble on her finger. ¡°Effort¡¯s great and all, but if talent¡¯s the mountain, effort¡¯s just the pair of worn-out boots you¡¯re using to climb it. Some people are born on the summit, you know.¡±


    Alex looked between the two, unsure whether to laugh or stay out of it. ¡°So... you¡¯re saying I need better boots?¡±


    Teresa shrugged, a faint smirk on her lips but didn¡¯t answer.


    Arlyn grinned, leaning back. ¡°No, I¡¯m saying you¡¯re going to climb that mountain no matter how hard it gets.¡±


    Teresa flicked the pebble away, laughing softly. ¡°Or you climb only to fall off halfway and wonder why you didn¡¯t just stay in the valley.¡±


    ¡°Such optimism,¡± Alex said dryly, earning a chuckle from Arlyn.


    Arlyn replied, ¡°I¡¯d rather try climbing than sit at the bottom making excuses.¡±


    Teresa gave a mock gasp, hand over her heart. ¡°Oh no, Arlyn, that might be the first time you¡¯ve called me out directly. I¡¯m almost proud.¡±


    ¡°Almost?¡± Arlyn teased, and the two laughed as Alex watched, shaking his head at their playful bickering.


    As the laughter faded, the quiet of the evening settled over them. The faint rustle of leaves and the distant chirp of insects filled the spaces their words left behind. Alex leaned back, his eyes tracing the scattered stars above. The day¡¯s weight still pressed against him, but in the stillness, it felt bearable, as if the world had granted him this fleeting reprieve before tomorrow¡¯s climb.

 Chapter 3- Foundations and Frustrations

    The training grounds buzzed with activity as outer disciples paired off for the day¡¯s sparring session. The rhythmic thuds of fists meeting flesh echoed across the field, punctuated by sharp corrections from the overseeing senior disciples. Alex stood near the edge of the circle, shifting nervously as he adjusted his stance.


    ¡°Next pair!¡± the senior disciple barked.


    Alex stepped forward, his opponent already waiting¡ªa broad-shouldered boy whose muscles seemed carved from stone. The weight of the stares around him pressed heavily on his shoulders, but he forced himself to focus. Dropping into the stance he¡¯d been practicing, he clenched his fists, ready to begin.


    ¡°Begin!¡±


    His opponent wasted no time, closing the distance between them with a burst of speed. Alex raised his arms to block, but the impact of the first punch jarred him, nearly knocking him off balance. He stumbled, barely keeping his footing as his opponent followed up with a sweep to the leg.


    ¡°Hold your stance, Alex!¡± the senior disciple snapped. ¡°You¡¯re telegraphing every movement!¡±


    Alex gritted his teeth, forcing himself upright. This time, he threw a punch, more controlled than his last attempt, but his opponent sidestepped with ease and retaliated with a sharp strike to Alex¡¯s ribs. Pain lanced through him, but he refused to fall. He managed to block the next strike¡ªsloppily¡ªbut his opponent capitalized on the weakness with a quick jab to Alex¡¯s shoulder, sending him sprawling.


    ¡°Match over,¡± the senior disciple said curtly, shaking his head. ¡°Next pair!¡±


    Alex pushed himself up, his breathing labored. His ribs ached, and the sting of failure was worse than the physical pain. As he walked to the sidelines, he kept his eyes down, avoiding the gazes of his peers.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting better,¡± Arlyn said as she passed, her voice cutting through his haze of frustration. She gave him a thumbs-up, her expression bright. ¡°That last block was solid.¡±


    Alex managed a faint smile, though her words did little to ease the growing knot of doubt in his chest.


    Later that afternoon, Alex found a quiet spot beneath one of the training grounds¡¯ tall ash trees. He sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees, and focused on drawing in the energy around him. According to the seniors explained, the Spiritual Qi in the environment could be drawn in and transformed into Body Qi through deliberate physical practice. This Body Qi would then strengthen the physical body, beginning the process of the Body Tempering Realm, starting with the Skin Hardening sub-realm.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    In theory, it all sounded straightforward¡ªsense the Spiritual Qi in the air, guide it into your body, and refine it into Body Qi through physical effort. But for Alex, it felt like trying to grasp mist with bare hands.


    He closed his eyes, taking slow, measured breaths. Concentrating on the faint presence of Spiritual Qi, he imagined it as a cool breeze brushing against his skin. He tried to draw it inward, but it slipped away as soon as he made contact. Frustration mounted as he gritted his teeth and focused harder. For a brief moment, he felt a faint tingle¡ªthe first stirrings of Body Qi¡ªbut it faded almost instantly, leaving a dull ache in its wake.


    Nearby, a group of disciples meditated in perfect harmony. They were also striving toward Skin Hardening, though none had fully entered the sub-realm yet. Still, their connection to Body Qi seemed more natural, their progress evident in their steady breathing and subtle vitality. Alex glanced at them out of the corner of his eye, trying to ignore the pang of inadequacy that crept into his chest.


    Im still behind, he thought, clenching his fists. But that doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll just have to work harder.


    Determined, he forced himself to try again, this time focusing on steady, deliberate control. The results were still minimal, but he pushed through the discomfort, committed to making even the smallest progress.


    A few days later, Alex, Arlyn, and Teresa sat together outside the barracks. The evening air was cool, carrying the faint scent of ash trees that surrounded the sect. The three of them were sore and exhausted from another grueling day, but there was a comfort in their shared company.


    ¡°You¡¯re improving,¡± Arlyn said, nudging Alex with her elbow. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching. Your form¡¯s getting better¡ªway better than it was on the first week.¡±


    Alex raised an eyebrow. ¡°You think so?¡±


    ¡°I know so,¡± Arlyn said confidently. ¡°You¡¯re sticking to your stance more, and your blocks are getting cleaner. It¡¯s all about the little things.¡±


    Teresa chuckled from her spot leaning against the wall. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong. You¡¯re still bad, but at least you¡¯re not hopeless.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the encouragement,¡± Alex said dryly, though he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°Seriously, though,¡± Arlyn continued. ¡°You¡¯re putting in the work. That¡¯s what counts.¡±


    Teresa smirked. ¡°Sure, effort counts¡ªfor a little while. But talent¡¯s what decides where you''ll be a year from now.¡±


    Alex frowned, his gaze dropping to the ground. Arlyn nudged him gently. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her. You¡¯re putting in the work, and it¡¯s already paying off.¡±


    Teresa leaned back on her elbows, her smirk softening into something almost empathetic. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not saying effort doesn¡¯t matter, but it can only get you so far. Look around¡ªhow many untalented disciples actually make it past the outer ranks? It¡¯s just¡­ don¡¯t expect the sect to care about how hard you¡¯re trying. They want results.¡±


    Arlyn crossed her arms, her expression firm. ¡°And he¡¯ll get results. It just takes time.¡±


    Teresa sighed, shaking her head. ¡°You can¡¯t change what you¡¯re born with. Alex don¡¯t kill yourself chasing something that¡¯s out of reach.¡±


    Alex stayed silent, lost in thought. He understood both their perspectives, and while he agreed with Arlyn, there was a part of him that didn¡¯t want to admit how much Teresa¡¯s words resonated with him.


    Sensing the tension in the air, Arlyn leaned forward with a mischievous grin. ¡°Alright, enough of this. How about this: next sparring session, if you can land a single clean hit on me, I¡¯ll treat you to something from the market.¡±


    Alex raised an eyebrow. ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Then you owe me,¡± Arlyn said, her grin widening. ¡°Deal?¡±


    Alex hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Deal.¡±


    Teresa snorted. ¡°I¡¯m putting my money on Arlyn.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be encouraging me,¡± Alex shot back, earning a laugh from both girls.


    The rest of the evening passed in lighthearted conversation, the weight of the day¡¯s struggles momentarily forgotten. For Alex, it was a rare reprieve from his problems¡ªa chance to feel like everything was okay, even if only for a little while.

 Chapter 4- The Struggles of Cultivation

    The early morning sun crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Alex joined the outer disciples, most already deep into their meditation or mid-drill. He exhaled sharply, dropping into a cross-legged position as he began his routine.


    Spiritual Qi filled the air, faint but ever-present. Around him, some disciples sat perfectly still, their faces calm as they absorbed the energy with apparent ease. Others practiced their stances or sparred, sweat gleaming on their brows as they pushed their bodies to transform the gathered energy into Body Qi.


    For Alex, the process was as grueling as ever. The seniors had emphasized the steps repeatedly: absorb the Spiritual Qi, exert yourself physically to transform it into Body Qi, and use that energy to advance in the Body Tempering Realm. Yet, no matter how he tried, the Spiritual Qi seemed to slip through his grasp, his body refusing to respond the way it should.


    With a frustrated sigh, Alex stood and moved toward one of the open sparring dummies. His strikes were slow and deliberate at first, each punch forcing his muscles to work harder, burning with effort. Sweat dripped down his face as he continued, the rhythm steady and unrelenting.


    Finally, after what felt like hours, Alex paused, his chest heaving. A faint warmth spread through his body¡ªsmall, almost imperceptible, but unmistakable. The beginnings of Body Qi. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was progress.


    Glancing toward the other disciples, Alex noticed how far ahead they were. Their skin carried a faint glow, the hallmark of nearing the peak of Skin Hardening. His progress, though present, felt painfully small by comparison.


    Clenching his fists, Alex whispered to himself, ¡°One step at a time.¡±


    By the time the midday sun filtered through the ash trees, Alex found himself seated with Arlyn and Teresa. Arlyn leaned casually against the trunk, twirling a twig between her fingers, while Teresa sat cross-legged, absently flicking pebbles into the dirt. The exhaustion of the morning¡¯s training clung to all of them, but their shared company provided a small reprieve.


    ¡°You¡¯re looking better out there,¡± Arlyn said, her grin bright and teasing. ¡°I saw you working on the dummy earlier. Your punches actually looked like punches this time.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, I guess,¡± Alex muttered, brushing a hand through his damp hair. ¡°Still feels like I¡¯m years behind everyone else.¡±


    ¡°Progress is progress,¡± Arlyn said, her tone unwavering. ¡°Just keep moving at your own pace, and you¡¯ll get there eventually catch up.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Teresa scoffed, her expression hard to read.


    Alex glanced between them, sensing the tension that often crept into Teresa¡¯s responses. Hoping to change the subject, he asked, ¡°What about you two? How¡¯s your progress?¡±


    Arlyn¡¯s face lit up with a grin. ¡°Pretty good, actually. I think I¡¯m close to reaching the peak of Skin Hardening.¡±


    Teresa¡¯s pebble stilled mid-flick. Her smirk faltered, fading into something more subdued, though her voice remained steady. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± she said, her tone carrying a muted edge.


    Alex didn¡¯t miss the way Teresa¡¯s gaze flicked toward Arlyn before dropping back to the ground. The air grew heavier, and for a moment, silence settled over them.


    ¡°What about you, Teresa?¡± Alex asked carefully, his voice soft to avoid poking at the tension. ¡°How¡¯s it going for you?¡±


    Teresa exhaled slowly, the corner of her mouth twitching upward in a faint, humorless smile. ¡°Same old, same old,¡± she admitted. ¡°But hey, what are you gonna do? That¡¯s life.¡±


    Her words carried a quiet bitterness that Alex hadn¡¯t noticed before. She glanced at Arlyn again, her expression unreadable, before standing abruptly and brushing off her robes.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got more training to do,¡± she said, her tone clipped. ¡°Catch you two later.¡±


    Alex watched Teresa walk away, her departure leaving a strange silence in her wake. For a moment, he thought of calling out to her, but the look on her face stopped him.


    Later that afternoon, Alex returned to the training grounds, his mind weighed down by his slow progress. Determination and frustration churned within him as he pushed himself harder during his drills. Each strike was faster, each movement sharper, as if effort alone could close the growing gap between him and his peers.


    Sweat soaked his shirt, and his arms trembled from exertion. Finally, in a moment of sheer frustration, he slammed his fist into the ground, the sharp sting in his knuckles grounding him.


    ¡°Having a moment?¡±


    Alex looked up to see Teresa standing nearby, arms crossed. Her tone was dry, but there was a faint hint of concern in her eyes.


    ¡°I just¡­¡± He sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°It feels like no matter how hard I try, I¡¯m just stuck.¡±


    Teresa¡¯s expression softened slightly as she walked over and sat down beside him. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one.¡±


    Alex hesitated, glancing at her. ¡°But¡­ you¡¯ve already made it further than I have.¡±


    Teresa let out a low, humorless laugh. ¡°Further? You think being stuck in Muscle Conditioning for years feels is a achievement? I¡¯m spinning my wheels, Alex.¡±


    Her voice hardened slightly, though her tone remained measured. ¡°And then there are people like Arlyn, moving forward like it¡¯s nothing, while the rest of us are left scrambling to catch up.¡±


    Alex hesitated, her words striking closer to home than he wanted to admit. He stayed quiet, sensing the weight behind her frustration and realizing how deeply her stagnation had affected her.


    Teresa exhaled slowly, her gaze dropping to the ground. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not saying you should give up. Just¡­ don¡¯t expect too much, or you¡¯ll end up disappointing yourself.¡±


    For a moment, her voice wavered, and Alex thought he saw something fragile behind her sharp words. ¡°The sooner you accept this, the less it¡¯ll hurt in the future,¡± she added before brushing off her robes and walking away.


    That evening, Alex meditated beneath the ash tree, his body still sore from the day¡¯s efforts. The sting of Teresa¡¯s words lingered in his mind, gnawing at the edges of his resolve.


    He steadied his breathing, pushing everything else aside¡ªthe pain, the doubts, the bitterness. The faint traces of Spiritual Qi felt distant, elusive, but Alex refused to give up.


    Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, and then, like the first crack of light through a storm, warmth flickered beneath his skin.


    It wasn¡¯t much, just the faintest stirrings of Body Qi moving sluggishly through him. But in that fragile moment, it felt like a small victory, like the first step out of an endless pit.


    A small smile tugged at his lips, tentative but genuine. ¡°It¡¯s not much,¡± he whispered, ¡°but maybe it¡¯s enough to keep going.¡±