rule one

Chapter 3: Earthen Seed Realm

Two Days later.

Outside of Li Ming's cave. Our Protagonist had just returned after spending the little bit of low-grade spiritual stones he had left.

He pushed his identity token inside the engraving on the cave entrance made to activate the formation.

Creak-

The heavy boulder blocking the entrance moved automatically and opened just enough space for him to enter.

This technology never ceases to amaze me. Even when I was reading novels in my previous world the focus was mainly on the protagonist and not on other things.

When Li Ming first used this feature he was like; Ho! so that was how it was.

He had to move with great caution as not to encounter any familiar face, that would result in exposing him that the previous host of this body had long died and in place of him; a soul from earth had taken its place.

From a distance he saw Xiao Chen getting looked down upon, although he had beaten a lot of outer disciples like him but Xiao Chen was still referred to as the 'Trash' and even after so long no strict had been taken against the people who bullied and got bullied.

It showed that the sect did not deeply care about outer sect disciples. Although some might argue that the sect at least provided with an health insurance and that he should be grateful but those people have already been brainwashed by the sect or have never been injuries so serious that the sect had to step in to help either they had enough backing to not care about small accidents.

Li Ming entered the cave under a dazed expression. The scenes that felt straight out of a film, never left his mind. He had Even though this sect was situated in a backwater region, there was no trash on the stone roads of the sect.

And also everyone of the disciples he encountered on the way back did not look bad, and many of them were like him in "Semi-Earthen Seed Realm" not even real cultivators.

I guess.

Semi-Earthen Seed Realm

In reality there was no "Semi" in Earthen Seed Realm, it was just the systems way of telling him how far he was from reaching that realm.

Earthen seed realm was a realm in which cultivators cultivate a special energy that is not Qi but something called Chi. Li Ming had read some murim novels where there was mentions of Chi but not with as much novels where people became immortals cultivating the energy from heaven, qi.

At this stage, the cultivator must first sense and attune themselves to the Earth's energy. This is often achieved through meditation, grounding rituals, and harmonizing with nature.

They learn to feel the Earth's pulse, a rhythmic vibration of life beneath their feet, which serves as a guide for drawing Chi into their body.

Chi, energy of earth. In earthen seed realm, cultivators plant a seed inside their lower abdomen also referred to as dantian. Seed was just a metaphorical term, representing the first accumulation of Chi energy within the dantian.

Planting the seed requires a delicate balance of intent, focus, and physical discipline. A weak or improperly planted seed can hinder progress or cause instability in later realms

Before a cultivator can wield Chi effectively, they must prepare their body as a vessel.

Basic exercises, breathing techniques, and physical training are essential to build strength and endurance. This ensures the body can handle even the smallest amount of Chi without injury.

Once the seed is planted, the cultivator must guide Chi through their meridians (energy channels) to nurture the seed. This circulation strengthens both the seed and the body.

Beginners often face blockages in their meridians, which require patience and persistence to clear, Like: Li Ming.

He knew almost everything regarding this realm, because this was basic knowledge among the outer disciples.

"First logical thing to do, should be to strengthen my physique through exercise."

Li Ming's plan was to first enter the first phase of earthen seed realm. There were a total of three sub-realms inside earthen seed realm.

But he was still far from the first phase, only after reaching the first phase would the sect allow him to borrow a breathing technique.

Lets start~

...

The air was heavy, almost suffocating, but it was here-in this solitude--that he felt closest to the earth.

His gaze fell on the rough sketch he had drawn on a piece of parchment pinned to the wall. It outlined a series of exercises he had pieced together after combing through old manuals and scrolls, inspired by heroes of legend who honed their bodies in similar ways. The movement seemed simple, but their hidden depth intrigued him.

He spread his feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and stretched his arms out in front of him as if cradling an invisible sphere. This stance was deceptively simple, yet the longer he held it, the more his legs trembled and his arms burned.

Swear beaded on his forehead as he whispered to himself, "I . Will . Return."

Minutes passed like hours. His body screamed in protest but he gritted his teeth, grounding himself deeper into the floor. The weight of the earth seemed to press down on him, as if testing his resolve.

An incense stick was burning, stuck inside the gaps, his goal was to hold out until it ran out.

Aghh-

Li Ming's joints screamed. He was gritting his teeth with so much strength that he felt they would break.

Soon he collapsed onto the cave floor, his body drenched in sweat. His muscles ached with a satisfying burn, but his mind felt sharper, clearer. He could feel a faint hum of energy being drawn from the ground beneath him and flowing into his dantian, like the first sprout breaking through the soil.

"Ugh-" Li Ming moaned from pain. The authors of those xianxia novels lied. He experience no feeling of relieve washing over him but instead the Chi that appeared in his lower abdomen was like an untamed beast, wrecking havoc inside his dantian.

Li Ming immediately used the Mist-weave Chi Art, this skill was used to tame the chi inside the lower abdomen.

The Chi that appears or enters the dantian is volatile and chaotic in its initial form. Without proper control, it could damage the meridians or destabilize the seed, leading to stagnation or even a crippling backlash. The Mist-weave Chi Art serves as a taming technique, teaching disciples to regulate this energy and integrate it harmoniously into their bodies.

This art is mandatory for all Mist Sect disciples and is one of the reasons the sect is renowned for producing steady and reliable cultivators.

Yes, you have guessed right, Mist-weave Chi Art is also divided into four sub-stages.

With outer disciple having access to only the first stage of this technique called Energy Identification.

The first step involves sensing the Chi within the dantian. Disciples learn to distinguish between external Chi absorbed from the Earth and internal Chi generated by their bodies.

The Mist-weave Chi Art relies heavily on visualization. Disciples are instructed to imagine the Chi within their dantian as a wild flame. Through the art, this flame is tamed and transformed into a steady, glowing ember that radiates warmth. This ember becomes the foundation upon which all future cultivation is built.

This is where the role of spiritual root is most important and what is the difference between a person of low-grade spiritual root and a high-grade spiritual root.

...

Three Days Later.

The incense stick was still burning, with its smoke rising and dispersing into puffs in the air.

Li Ming laid on the rough cave floor, sweat dripping down his face as he had concentrated just finished taming the volatile energy swirling in his dantian. This was his fourth attempt today at mastering the first stage of Mist-weave Chi Art, and each time, his body had screamed in resistance.

He knew that progress can and should not be rushed, resulting in all the efforts going into waste.

But Li Ming was worried, anxious, and a little nervous. The feeling of having no one with you to say that do not worry we are behind you was taken away from him. He sympathised with the children who become orphans at a young age. At that time when he had it all, he did not count how much the God had been merciful to him and now when he was striped away of every single thing he held dear. How could he condemn and curse at God.

This must be a test.

He tried to raise his fist up in the direction of the sky while lying down, and say, "Just you wait, the people who looked down upon me, I will step over them and build a staircase to ascend to the peak of this world."

Typical Xianxia protagonist lines. But his arms did not listen to him. They just twitched from time to time and even a little force made him feel like it would result in rupturing a nerve causing internal bleeding.

"Is this the difference between a prodigy having high-grade spiritual roots and him."

It sure is as vast as an ocean.

In his past life, he did not compare himself to others, he felt that if he really gave it his all he could be better than him. The thin boundary that separates a loser or a genius was not visible in that world. But here Li Ming closed his eyes, recalling the time an elder had lectured the new disciples about spiritual roots.

"Your spiritual root is like the soil in which the seed of Chi is planted," Elder had said, his gaze sweeping over them. "If the soil is rich and fertile, your seed will grow strong and healthy. But if the soil is poor, the seed will struggle to sprout."

Li Ming remembered how the elder had paused, letting the words sink in before continuing.

"Those with high-grade spiritual roots absorb Chi effortlessly, as if they were born to harness the energy of the Earth. Their meridians are wide, their bodies naturally attuned to the flow of Chi. For them, progress is smooth, and breakthroughs come easily."

A murmur of awe had passed through the group. High-grade spiritual roots were rare, a mark of genius or a blessing from the heavens.

But the elder's next words had silenced the crowd.

"Most of you," Elder had said bluntly, "have low-grade spiritual roots."

The students had shifted uncomfortably, Li Ming included.

"For those with low-grade roots, the path is harder. Absorbing Chi is slower, refining it takes more effort, and your meridians are more fragile. But do not despair. Hard work, discipline, and the right techniques can overcome these obstacles. That is why we teach you the Mist-weave Chi Art."

Li Ming opened his eyes, staring at the dim cave walls. Elder's words echoed in his mind.

"Hard work and discipline…" he muttered. "That's all I need." He was not one to shy away from hard work. But discipline..

Yes, the answer was discipline, what was the difference between the top rankers in any field and bottom rankers of that same field.

Everyone had the talent to achieve the best that was written in their destiny but if someone wanted to go beyond their destiny they needed discipline.

He straightened his back and placed his hands over his dantian. Slowly, he began the breathing technique of the Mist-weave Chi Art, inhaling deeply and visualizing the raw Chi in his core. It was wild and unstable, like a raging fire threatening to consume him.

"Tame it," he whispered to himself. "Shape it into something steady, something I can control."

But as he tried to guide the Chi into a stable flow, it resisted, scattering like smoke through his meridians. Pain shot through his chest, and he gasped, clutching his sides.

Li Ming's gaze fell to the stone floor, where he had drawn diagrams of meridians and Chi pathways. He was also an artist by passion, if he had failed the entrance test; he would have become an artist instead. This was why his knowledge regarding the anatomy of human body was just below the surgeons. The lines seemed tangled and chaotic, much like the energy inside him.

Suddenly, it clicked.

"It's my spiritual root," he said aloud. "It's weak, isn't it?"

He laughed bitterly, the sound hollow in the empty cave. Elder's lecture came rushing back.

"A low-grade root makes everything harder… but it doesn't make it impossible."

Li Ming wiped the sweat from his face and stood up, determination burning in his eyes. "Fine. If my root is weak, I'll work harder. I'll carve a path where none exists."

Why am I muttering lines from the script of some protagonist?

Li Ming decided to adjust his training. Instead of forcing the Chi to flow through his fragile meridians, he would strengthen them first.

-Cultivation: Semi-Earthen see realm (9/10)

Many might argue why try to upgrade spiritual root when you are so close to reaching the first phase in earthen seed realm.

But unfortunately, he was stuck. His body refused to accept any more Chi. The seed that had started to form was still not enough for Li Ming. He did not know how long he could survive in this place but he should at least become the strongest in this sect, of-course, after the Xiao Chen.

He could not stand out like Xiao Chen, or else he "The tallest tree always experiences the strongest winds."

He began with the basic exercises, a simple but effective exercise. He visualized his dantian as a field of dry, cracked soil. With each inhale, he imagined droplets of Chi falling onto the soil, moistening it. With each exhale, the Chi spread deeper, nourishing the roots that had begun to form.

Where did the chi come from? Good question.

Li Ming was using the Chi inside his seed to nourish the land where it was planted. He did not have the strength to do any more exercise for today.

The process was slow, but for the first time, he felt a sense of stability.

-Spiritual roots: Low-grade spiritual root (4/1000)

-Cultivation: Semi-Earthen see realm (5/10)

He had taken out exactly four wisps of chi from the seed, making him feel like the power that he had gained leaving his body but he also felt that the imaginary spiritual root in his body was crazily devouring his chi. For now there was no clear difference because to upgrade to mid-grade spiritual root he still need a nine hundred and ninety six Chi wisps.

May be there are also divisions in between Low-grade spiritual roots.

Li Ming's resolve burned brighter than ever. The seed of Chi in his dantian pulsed faintly, a tiny ember on the verge of becoming a flame.

Chapter 4: Fictile Breathing Technique

98.

99.

100.

A week later, Li Ming was doing push-ups inside his residence. He had not gone out of the cave for a whole week.

Even Li Ming himself was surprised that he can be so diligent. There were no muscles forming in his body because he was saving all his energy inside the seed or nourishing the soil.

-Spiritual roots: Low-grade spiritual root (10/1000)

-Cultivation: First Phase Earthen seed realm (0/100)

Li Ming's whole body felt rejuvenated after breaking through to the first face of Earthen Seed Realm. The Chi that was inside his dantian was also steady inside the seed. If one looked closely they would be able to see that there were some changes in the appearance of the seed in his lower abdomen. Like, the shape and the outer membrane of the metaphorical seed had developed a strange shine and lustre.

Knock, knock!

"Wait."

Li Ming wiped his sweat and changed into his outer sect disciple robe.

Creak-

As soon as the boulder moved away from the cave entrance, Li Ming was blinded by the light coming from the entrance. Li Ming hurriedly covered his eyes with his arm.

"Sir, your food." A servant entered wearing plain clothes, with "servant" written on top-left corner of dress. Li Ming did not like to wear robes that the sect had provided to them; if he had enough power he might have already abolished the robe-system. It wastes to much time in dressing up. Instead, Li Ming preferred the servant clothes with plain dress pants and a simple shirt.

"What is todays news?" Li Ming had been using the servants as a source of information. The best part was, he did not even needed to pay them.

Some of the individuals who were able to become disciples of the Mist Sect were proud and arrogant, they treated servants like they were not human but insects. Anyone dissatisfied by his enemy, rival or just not in a good mood would beat up these servants openly in-front of everyone. Xiao Chen being the angel of justice could not unsee such injustice and he reported it to the sect elders but still no action was taken.

Elders themselves treated the servants like this but not openly, they had a fame and reputation in the sect that needed to be maintained.

Li Ming was also one of the disciples who used to vent his frustration on these servants. He still remembered the time when the system had deemed him 'Trash Disciple' he had thought he would be beaten as soon as he went out. But soon he understood that everyone was doing the same so no one cared what Li Ming did to these servants.

He decided to improve his reputation, who knows there might be some unexpected gains.

"Sir, recently the sect has been in a state of rare peace. Even Xiao Chen has not come out from his cave for some time now. He has also banned the entry of servant disciples to deliver food. No one knows what he is up-to."

Li Ming was about to say that he can go back but saw that the servant was hesitating like he was confused whether to share something or not.

"You can share it first. I will decide whether its useful or not."

"I apologize Sir!!" Immediately the servant was about to bang his skull on the ground but Li Ming's quick reaction saved the servant's skull from bursting.

"I was not scolding you. Haa~... Just say what is it?" Li Ming rubbed his hand on his forehead.

"This news is not confirm, I got it from a fellow servant who works inside the inner sect and he has told me that..."

...

Li Ming was on his way towards the scripture pavilion, from time to time he touched the pouch hanging on his waist belt. Right now he was carrying with him all his wealth.

It was his first time moving around with money, although there would be no thieves in broad day light but who knows. Some senior disciple could be waiting to pounce on any disciple that looked weaker than him and steal their money.

Huu~ those good old times.

He reminiscent about the time when payment could be done through internet, and there was no need to carry around currency with him all the time.

The Scripture Pavilion of the Mist Sect was a two-story stone and dark-wood structure, its weathered exterior adorned with carvings of swirling mist and cascading waterfalls. The first floor, open to outer disciples, housed shelves of aged scrolls and bamboo slats detailing basic cultivation techniques, their scent mingling with faint incense. A spiralling stone staircase led to the second floor, barred by glowing runes, rumoured to hold the sect's greatest secrets and advanced techniques. Shrouded in an aura of mystery, the pavilion stood as both a source of guidance and a symbol of untapped potential.

Li Ming continued walking and soon he reached the entrance where an elder was busy reading a book, with outer disciples disturbing him from time to time. What was surprising was that the elder dealt with all of them calmly. There was no frown on his aged face.

A little different from what I had read?

What Li Ming was talking about was that usual practice of the elder who were stationed to guard the most important place in the sect, where all the information was stored, tend to get angry frequently or were not in their senses, busy in drowning away whatever sorrows they had accumulated from their past.

Li Ming got close the table and ringed the bell, Although there was a distance of only a few inches but Li Ming had seen others doing the same so he followed in their footsteps.

"Elder I am here to borrow a breathing technique." Li Ming stated his purpose. but his heart was beating wildly.

Tch- old problems never go away.

Li Ming clicked his tongue in annoyance. Li Ming was not powerful enough to control the blood flow in his body. Even before he had suffered from this condition. Getting anxious over nothing or entering a new place. He always got nervous.

"Have you reached the First Phase of Earthen Seed Realm?" the elder took a quick glance at his shivering arm then turned his attention to him.

"Yes." Li Ming put forward his left-arm, because from what he knew from reading, the elders usually checked the realm by touching the veins.

"Hmm... I see you are not lying." the elder dismissed Li Ming's odd behaviour and turned his eyes towards his lower-abdomen, Where Li Ming had created the seed.

Shiver-

Li Ming was once again bewildered. Nothing was going according to the script.

"You can only enter the first floor. And the borrowed book needs to be returned within one week. If any pages are missing or torn from the book than you would be punished after checking the degree of damage done to it. Go. "

The elder turned his attention back to reading. Li Ming also saved the instructions given by the elder in his heart.

He still had a loan that had to be repaid as soon as possible.

The elder gazed at the back of Li Ming, seemingly lost in thought.

...

Meanwhile, Li Ming roamed around the first floor, It was bigger then he thought, both in width and length.

"Breathing Technique, Breathing Technique, Breathing Technique."

He muttered under his breath, browsing through the book shelves. His glance landed on the very end of the of the shelves.

"There it is." Li Ming walked briskly past the wooden shelves.

Li Ming looked at some names that immediately attracted his attention.

His eyes scanned the dusty tomes lined up on the last shelf. He had been hoping for something grand--an ancient breathing technique that could shake mountains and part seas. Instead, what he found left him... confused.

His fingers traced over the titles, reading them aloud in a whisper.

"Heaven-Defying Celestial Dragon Breath..." he murmured, eyes widening. "That sounds amazing!" He eagerly pulled the book from the shelf, flipping through the first few pages.

Step one: Take a deep breath and imagine yourself becoming one with the cosmos.

Li Ming frowned. "What does that even mean?!" He skimmed further.

Step two: Breathe out with the intent of summoning the power of an ancient dragon. Results may vary.

He let out a slow sigh and shoved the book back onto the shelf. "Trash."

Still determined, he picked up another book.

"Abyssal Void Emperor's Forbidden Breath?"

Yang Kai?!

He arched an eyebrow. "Sounds ridiculous, but... maybe?"

Take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can. When you feel the abyss staring back at you, exhale with conviction. Congratulations, you have mastered the technique.

Li Ming groaned. "So basically... holding my breath until I pass out? Who writes this nonsense?"

Undeterred, he grabbed the next book.

"Supreme Nine Suns Divine Breathing Art." His heart skipped a beat.

"Nine Suns? That's gotta be powerful!"

This technique allows you to absorb the warmth of the sun into your body. Step one: Stand under direct sunlight for five hours. Step two: Breathe deeply and absorb the heat. Step three: Hope you don't get sunburned.

Li Ming nearly threw the book. "That's not cultivation, that's dehydration!"

Frustration mounting, he snatched one last book, barely glancing at the title. "Unparalleled God-King's Cosmic Breath."

He flipped to the first page.

Step one: Breathe in. Step two: Breathe out. Step three: Repeat until you achieve enlightenment.

Li Ming slammed the book shut. "So basically, just... normal breathing?!"

His shoulders sagged as he slumped onto the wooden floor, rubbing his temples. "Why do all these techniques sound like something an old conman wrote after drinking too much?"

Just as Li Ming was about to give up on this ridiculous pile of books, his eyes landed on a thin, unassuming manual wedged between two absurdly titled tomes.

"Fictile Breathing Technique," he read out loud, his tone skeptical.

Well, at least it's honest.

Unlike the others, this book had no extravagant cover design, no golden lettering proclaiming divine secrets, and--most importantly--no exaggerated claims about summoning celestial dragons or bending reality. It was plain, simple and almost pitifully modest.

Curious, Li Ming opened the first page and began reading.

The body is the vessel, the Earth is the source. One breathe in, one breathe out. Root yourself like a tree, let the chi flow like water, and become steady like stone. No more, no less.

Li Ming frowned. "That's it? No secret mantra? No mystical hand seals?"

He flipped through the rest of the pages. The technique had no flashy movements, just a rooted stance, controlled breathing, and a method to naturally draw in Chi through slow refinement rather than force.

For a moment, he hesitated. Wasn't cultivation supposed to be about grand techniques and explosive power? But then he remembered his struggle--how unstable his Chi had been, how his spiritual root wasn't strong enough to force rapid breakthroughs.

Perhaps...simplicity was exactly what he needed.

Without another thought, Li Ming tucked the book under his arm, a small smile forming on his lips.

...

In an unknown location within the Mist Sect, a youth with short-wild black hair, with a defiance look in his eyes like he was ready to completely obliterate anything that came in his path.

Xiao Chen, put his hand on his chest.

Why does it feel like I have lost something?

Xiao Chen shook his head and continued what he was doing.

...

Li Ming showed the book he had chosen to the elder at the entrance of scripture pavilion.

Hmm?!

The elder showed a surprised expression and took another glance at Li Ming.

"Disciple what is your name?"

"Li... Ming," Our protagonist was a little shocked by the elder's sudden interest. He replayed the memories and he had not done anything that could have made the elder interested in him.

"One week, remember." with that the elder went back to his reading.