An hour later, most of the children were exhausted and sprawled all over the place.
The Qi Cultivation Style looked like nothing more than breathing, but it took a tremendous toll on the body. The movements of the abdomen and the coordination of the muscles throughout the body were especially taxing. Just a few dozen repetitions were enough to leave them with aching backs and shortness of breath.
"All right, take a fifteen-minute break." Hillman finally relented.
The children were overjoyed. They collapsed onto the ground; some sprawled out flat, some ran to the shade of the trees to cool off, and others crowded around the well to draw water and drink.
Linley stopped to rest as well, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead.
He turned to look at Lin Yun and saw that his younger brother was still practicing.
"Lin Yun, take a break," Linley called.
"You rest first. I'll keep going a little longer," Lin Yun said without turning around.
His body was trembling, too. At six years old, his bones and muscles were still developing, and practicing the Qi Cultivation Style continuously for an hour was indeed too much of a strain. But he gritted his teeth and kept going.
Because he knew that in the Swallowed Star World, Luo Feng was probably working hard in silence somewhere at that very moment.
Because he knew that this world had never been merciful just because of someone's age.
Because he knew that the road he had to walk was longer than anyone else's.
Lin Yun practiced the Qi Cultivation Style a little longer before finally stopping. His legs trembled, and sweat had soaked through the back of his shirt. But instead of sitting down, he leaned against the wall and walked slowly, letting his body gradually recover.
Hillman sat on the stone pedestal, silently observing the two boys.
Linley—the eldest son of the Baruch Clan. He was a gifted child with a tenacious spirit that refused to give in. He was perfect material for a martial artist.
Lin Yun—the second son of the Baruch Clan. He usually didn't say much and kept to himself, with far less presence than Linley. But today, during his first encounter with the Qi Cultivation Style, his performance had left Hillman astonished.
It wasn't just a matter of talent.
Every one of Lin Yun's movements was incredibly precise, without a single wasted motion. His breathing was as steady as a finely calibrated machine. He didn't even need Hillman to correct him; he could adjust himself to the optimal state.
That level of control, that degree of focus—it was completely unlike that of a six-year-old child.
Hillman had spent many years in the army and had seen countless young prodigies, but none had been like Lin Yun. His cultivation didn't look like "learning." It looked more like "executing"—as if he already knew what he was supposed to do and was only testing his own judgment.
"Interesting," Hillman murmured, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
The fifteen-minute break passed quickly.
Hillman clapped his hands and gathered all the children.
"Next, we'll continue practicing the Qi Cultivation Style. But first, I'll tell you something else." He folded his arms across his chest, his gaze calm. "Do you know why you practice the Qi Cultivation Style?"
The children looked at one another. No one answered.
"Hadley, you tell me." Hillman called on him.
The dark-skinned boy scratched his head. "To... get stronger?"
"Getting stronger is the goal, not the reason." Hillman shook his head. "The Qi Cultivation Style is the most basic introductory method for warriors on the Yulan Continent. Its purpose is simple: to strengthen your bodies and lay the foundation for cultivating Battle Qi in the future."
His gaze fell on Linley and Lin Yun. "Remember this: the body is like a container, like a wineglass, and Battle Qi is like wine. How much wine a glass can hold depends on its size. In the same way... a person's ultimate achievements in cultivating Battle Qi depend on how well their body has been trained. If the body is too weak, then even with a powerful Battle Qi manual, the person won't be able to withstand much Battle Qi within their body, and they won't become a powerful warrior."
"Of course," Hillman said, glancing around at the other children, "even without a Battle Qi manual, the Qi Cultivation Style will still benefit you. As long as you keep practicing, your bodies will grow stronger and stronger. Even if you never become powerful warriors, at least you'll have healthy, strong bodies. Understand?"
"Understood!" the children shouted together.
"Uncle Hillman," Hadley said, "tell us a story."
Hillman smiled. "All right. Today, I'll tell you about the legendary Four Ultimate Warriors of the entire continent!"
There was a trace of excitement in Hillman's eyes, but his voice remained steady. "Thousands of years ago, the Four Ultimate Warriors appeared on our continent. Each of them possessed strength comparable to a giant dragon. Any one of them could stride through a million soldiers and easily claim the enemy general's head! The Four Ultimate Warriors were the Dragonblood Warrior, the Violet Flame Warrior, the Tiger-Striped Warrior, and the Undying Warrior!"
"Warriors are divided into nine levels. I, a mere Level 6 Warrior, can easily smash boulders and kick trees in half! As for Level 9 Warriors, even in our Fenlai Kingdom, they would probably be considered the strongest. Above Level 9 Warriors are the Four Ultimate Warriors. They surpass Level 9 Warriors and stand at the peak of the warrior ranks. They are legendary powers of the Saint Realm!" Hillman's eyes were filled with longing. "The legendary powers of the Saint Realm can melt enormous icebergs, make the boundless seas roar with fury, bring towering mountains crashing down, destroy cities with populations of a million, and send endless meteorites raining from the sky! They are invincible, supreme beings."
"Wow..." the children exclaimed, their eyes full of longing.
Lin Yun stood at the back of the crowd, listening quietly.
He knew that what Hillman had said was only the tip of the iceberg. The true Dragonblood Warriors were far more powerful than Hillman had described—especially Linley. In the future, Linley wouldn't just awaken his Dragon Blood bloodline; he would also cultivate the earth, fire, water, and wind elements among the seven elements, ultimately becoming a being who surpassed the Chief Gods.
But the Linley of now was only a six-year-old boy, practicing the Qi Cultivation Style as clumsily as he was.
Lin Yun turned to look at Linley and saw that his older brother had clenched his fists, a blazing light in his eyes.
"I'm going to become a Saint Warrior," Linley said quietly, as if speaking to Lin Yun and making a vow to himself at the same time.
"You will," Lin Yun said calmly.
Linley paused, then smiled. "How do you know?"
"Because you're Linley Baruch," Lin Yun said, his tone as certain as if he were stating a fact that had been proven countless times.
Linley didn't understand why his younger brother was so sure, but he liked the feeling of being trusted.
"You will, too," Linley said earnestly. "We'll do it together."
Lin Yun didn't answer. He only nodded slightly.
Together.
In the Coiling Dragon World, those two words meant him and Linley; in the Swallowed Star World, they meant him and Luo Feng.
Two worlds, two bonds—he would honor them both.
By dusk, the first day's training had ended.
The children left the grassy field in small groups, chattering about what they had seen that day as they headed for their homes on the estate. To them, it had been nothing more than a novel experience. But for Lin Yun and Linley, it was the first step on a long road of cultivation.
Hogg stood at the manor entrance, watching Linley and Lin Yun return from training.
His expression was complicated.
These two children were the Baruch Clan's last hope. Their mother was gone, and the family had declined until all that remained was this dilapidated manor and a few loyal servants. If the boys couldn't rise to greatness, the Baruch Clan would truly be finished.
"Father." Linley ran over, his face flushed with excitement. "I learned the Qi Cultivation Style today! I lasted more than half an hour the first time, and Uncle Hillman said I did really well!"
Hogg crouched down and patted Linley's head. "Good. But don't get conceited. Cultivation is a lifelong pursuit."
"I know." Linley nodded firmly.
Hogg looked at Lin Yun, who was walking over slowly. A trace of curiosity flashed in his eyes. "And you, Lin Yun?"
"One hour," Lin Yun said calmly.
Hogg's hand paused slightly.
One hour, at six years old, during his first encounter with the Qi Cultivation Style.
Hogg understood better than anyone what that number meant. When he had first practiced the Qi Cultivation Style, he had collapsed from exhaustion in less than fifteen minutes. Even a genius like Hillman had lasted only fifteen minutes the first time.
"Don't push yourself too hard." Hogg suppressed his shock and spoke gently. "Your health comes first."
"I know, Father." Lin Yun nodded. "I know my limits."
Hogg looked at his younger son, a strange feeling welling up in his heart. The boy was far too composed—far too composed for a six-year-old. Unlike Linley, he didn't wear his feelings on his face, nor did he beam with joy over a little progress. He was quiet and still, like a deep pool whose depths were impossible to see.
But Hogg didn't ask any questions.
Everyone had their own path to walk. Even a father couldn't walk it for his son.
"Come on, let's go inside for dinner." Hogg stood and took one son by each hand, leading them into the manor.
The sun slowly sank behind them, stretching the three shadows long across the ground.
Lin Yun walked between his father and older brother, his heart unusually calm.
The first day of training was over, but the real challenges had only just begun.
He knew that in the days to come, the Qi Cultivation Style would become a daily practice he never missed. He would practice in the Coiling Dragon World, and he would practice in the Swallowed Star World. He would practice during the day and find time to practice at night, too.
His bodies in both worlds would cultivate in tandem and progress in tandem.
That was his path.
And starting today, he had officially begun walking it.
Night fell.
The lights were still on in Hogg's room in the main house of Baruch Manor.
He sat at his desk, an old, yellowed family genealogy spread open before him. A line of text in an ancient script was written on its front page:
"The Baruch Clan has passed down the bloodline of the Dragonblood Warrior for generations. In the name of protection, we swear never to yield, even unto death."
Hogg's fingers gently traced the words. His gaze fell on the last few pages of the genealogy, where his own name and the names of his two sons were recorded: Linley Baruch, Lin Yun Baruch.
"If..." he murmured, his voice so low that only he could hear, "if these two children truly awaken the Dragon Blood, the Baruch Clan may still have hope."
Outside, moonlight flowed like water, spilling across the ancient manor, weathered by countless years.
In a room at the other end of the manor, Lin Yun lay in bed and closed his eyes.
His consciousness swayed gently between two worlds, as if he were having a long, long dream.
In the dream, a boy named Luo Feng was in the ruins of another world, working hard in silence just like him.
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