Xu Ran had always been a man of unyielding ambition. A genius scientist on Earth, he possessed a mind that could understand the deepest mysteries of the universe. His work had transformed countless lives, and his intellect had made him famous. Yet, in spite of his immense knowledge, there was something he could never understand: true power.
He had devoted his entire life to the pursuit of immortality, of transcending the limitations of the human body. But despite all the technology and knowledge he had at his disposal, there was one thing that always eluded him — the key to eternal life and untold strength. He had heard of ancient tales, of myths and legends that spoke of beings with unimaginable power. Warriors who could control the elements, sages who could ascend beyond the mortal realm — these were the things Xu Ran had dreamed of, but in his heart, he knew that such things could never be real. They were just stories.
Then, when age finally caught up to him, Xu Ran passed away. His body, though brilliant in mind, was still bound by the cruel grasp of time. But what the genius could never understand in his old life, the universe had decided to reveal in his new one.
Xu Ran awoke with a sudden gasp, his body jerking upright as a strange, foreign sensation overtook him. His lungs filled with air, but it wasn't the sterile, cold air of a hospital room. No, this air was fresh, thick with life. His senses were overwhelmed by the sight of a vast forest — towering trees, colorful flora, and a sky so vast it made his head spin. The world around him was vibrant, alive in ways he had never imagined.
At first, Xu Ran didn't understand what had happened. His memories were still intact — the decades of work, his scientific breakthroughs, and his eventual death. But now, he was… here. This wasn't the world he knew.
He stumbled to his feet, wiping the dirt from his clothes. "Where am I?" he muttered. The landscape before him was alien, untouched by civilization. The air was thick with the scent of life, the trees whispering softly in the breeze. He had been reborn, and yet, this wasn't Earth. This world felt ancient, primal, and full of energy.
The memories flooded him in waves. He was no longer Xu Ran of Earth. His new body — young, strong, and brimming with vitality — was not his own. He was now the first human of this new world, the first to experience its untainted beauty and power.
A wave of realization struck him. He was reborn in the age of beginnings, in a time when nothing was yet carved into stone. A time when gods and immortals were only whispered about in myths.
As he took his first steps in this new world, Xu Ran felt a strange, almost electric pulse in the air. At first, he thought it was just the heat of the environment or some physiological reaction to his rebirth. But as he walked deeper into the forest, the sensation grew stronger — an undeniable feeling that something in the very air was alive, pulsing, vibrating with power.
Xu Ran's scientific mind kicked into overdrive. This wasn't normal. The world he had known, the Earth, had been governed by cold, hard science — by physics, biology, and chemistry. But this... this was something different.
"What is this?" he muttered, placing a hand on the trunk of a nearby tree. As his fingers brushed the bark, he felt the same energy surge through him, as though the tree itself was alive in a way he had never known. It was as though the very essence of the world itself was infused with a power — a force — that could not be explained by his old scientific understanding.
But Xu Ran wasn't one to dismiss the unknown. He had spent his entire life pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. This thing — this force — was no different. He needed to understand it.
Tentatively, he extended his senses, trying to draw in the energy that surrounded him. The air was thick with it. It wasn't oxygen, nor any chemical compound he could identify. This was something else — something alive.
He took a deep breath, drawing the energy into his body. It felt different, but not unpleasant. It flowed through his lungs, down into his chest, and into his very core. A warmth spread through his body as if his cells were drinking in sunlight after a long, cold winter.
It was then that he realized: this was spiritual qi. The very energy that had powered the myths and legends he had once studied. It was real.
Xu Ran stood still, focusing all his attention on the energy inside him. He had read about ancient breathing techniques used by monks and warriors to harness energy. Could this be the key to understanding this new force? Could he use something as simple as breath to control it?
His heart beat faster, but he slowed his breath, focusing deeply. Inhaling slowly, he drew more of the spiritual qi into his body. It flowed in, and with it came a sense of clarity — his senses sharpened, his muscles grew more taut. The world around him came into sharper focus, the colors of the trees, the movements of the animals — everything seemed more vivid.
Xu Ran could feel the energy circulating through him. It wasn't just a random flow; it felt purposeful. Like a current that could be controlled if he knew how. He exhaled, pushing the energy to his limbs, feeling them strengthen with each breath.
This was it. This was the key to everything he had ever wanted.
Days passed as Xu Ran refined his technique. He practiced the breathing method tirelessly, but it became clear that he couldn't just rely on instinct. He needed a structure, a foundation upon which to build. He needed a system.
He thought back to the ancient martial arts techniques he had read about in his past life. The practices of monks and warriors who had mastered the flow of energy in their bodies. Could it be that the same principles applied here?
Finally, after days of experimentation, Xu Ran created his first cultivation technique. He named it: The Ninefold Breathing Method.
The technique was simple, yet effective. It involved nine phases, each one progressively refining the flow of energy within the body. It would start with basic breathing, moving through several stages where the energy would be condensed, purified, and then circulated in a specific pattern through the body's meridians. With each cycle, the body would become more attuned to the world's spiritual qi, growing stronger and more capable of harnessing it.
"This is only the beginning," Xu Ran said, his voice full of quiet determination. He could feel his body already growing stronger with every breath, every cycle. But he knew that this was only a small taste of what was to come.
His journey had just begun, and he could already feel the path to immortality stretching out before him.
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End of Chapter 1
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