Nascent Breath Control

The sky had just begun to lighten when the sounds of breathing exercises rose and fell in the forest of the Ziyang Sect's outer sect.

Shen Hao was woken by the commotion next door. When he opened his eyes, the sky outside was still a pale fish-belly white, and the light inside the room was dim. He didn't dawdle, quickly got up, changed into his gray disciple robes, picked up the Ziyang Outer Sect Basic Qi Cultivation Art, and walked to the open space in front of the house.

In the early morning forest, the Spiritual Energy was a bit richer than the night before. The scent of dew-laden grass and trees, mixed with the freshness of Spiritual Energy, filled his lungs and lifted his spirits. Shen Hao found a spot near a large tree, sat cross-legged, and once again focused on his breathing according to the formula.

With the foundation from the previous night, he sensed the Spiritual Energy much faster this time. In no time, wisps of pale green Spiritual Energy gathered toward the tip of his nose like drifting threads. He carefully guided the energy, letting it flow slowly through his Meridians.

The Meridians were like a river channel that hadn't been cleared in a long time; as the Spiritual Energy passed through, it brought a faint, swelling ache. Shen Hao clenched his teeth, not daring to lose focus for a moment. Following the formula, he cycled the Spiritual Energy through his Meridians three times, finally letting it settle slowly into his Sea of Qi.

The moment the Spiritual Energy entered his body, it was like a stone had been thrown into his Sea of Qi, stirring up ripples. A warm sensation spread from his Sea of Qi, driving away the morning chill.

"Hoo—"

Shen Hao let out a long breath of stale air, feeling completely refreshed, even his spirits much improved. He looked down at his palms, as if he could sense a faint, intangible power growing inside him.

"Oh, isn't this the new guy, Shen Hao? Up this early to practice breathing?"

A slightly mocking voice came from the side. Shen Hao looked up and saw a youth in gray disciple robes standing nearby with his arms crossed, a hint of arrogance on his face. The youth was about fifteen or sixteen, a bit taller than Shen Hao, with an air of pride in his eyes and brows.

"I'm Wang Hu. I live in the second room of Room C next to yours." The youth lifted his chin. "From the look of you, you must've had a rough night, huh? With Low-grade Talent and Three Spiritual Roots, getting the hang of breathing isn't something you can do overnight."

Shen Hao stood up, cupped his fists, and said calmly, "Senior Brother Wang jokes. I'm just a slow bird that flies early."

Wang Hu snorted, clearly not taking Shen Hao's words seriously. "A slow bird that flies early? Some things can't be made up for with hard work." With that, he walked to the open space next to Shen Hao and sat cross-legged. He took a deep breath, and the Spiritual Energy around him seemed to be drawn in, gathering toward him rapidly—more than twice as fast as Shen Hao.

Shen Hao was secretly shocked. He knew this was the gap in talent. Wang Hu was at least Mid-grade Spiritual Roots; his speed in absorbing Spiritual Energy was far beyond what Shen Hao, with his Three Spiritual Roots, could match.

He didn't say anything more, sat back down cross-legged, and continued his breathing. If his talent fell short, he could only make up for it with double the effort.

As the sun climbed higher, more and more disciples gathered in the forest. Some, like Shen Hao, were newcomers, fumbling through their breathing exercises; others had been disciples for months and absorbed Spiritual Energy at a respectable pace.

Shen Hao immersed himself in the rhythm of his breathing, the noise of the outside world seeming irrelevant. He guided the Spiritual Energy into his body over and over, and the swelling pain in his Meridians gradually eased with each cycle.

After who knows how long, he suddenly felt that the Spiritual Energy in his Sea of Qi had grown a bit denser. Delighted, he quickly opened his eyes and tried to cycle the energy once more according to the formula.

This time, the Spiritual Energy flowed much more smoothly through his Meridians, no longer as sluggish as before. When it returned to his Sea of Qi, he clearly sensed that the power within him had strengthened again.

"Looks like I've finally gotten the hang of this Breathing Technique," Shen Hao murmured to himself, a relieved smile spreading across his face.

Just then, a Deacon Elder in charge of Outer Sect Disciples' training slowly walked over. The elder wore a green Daoist robe, with white hair and beard, and his gaze swept across the disciples in the forest before settling on Shen Hao.

"Hmm?" The elder nodded slightly. "This youth's talent is poor, but he's diligent, and his foundation in breathing is solid."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached Shen Hao's ears clearly. Shen Hao's heart tightened, and he quickly stood up, bowing deeply to the elder.

The elder waved his hand and smiled. "No need for formalities. The path of immortal cultivation is long and arduous. Talent is just the starting point; diligence and perseverance are what carry you further. Cultivate well, and don't slack off."

With that, the elder flicked his sleeve and walked away.

Shen Hao watched the elder's retreating back and clenched his fists. The elder's words were like a beam of light, illuminating the confusion in his heart. He knew that his journey of immortal cultivation had only just begun.