Over the following weeks, Luo Chen established a routine that would become the foundation of his life at the sect.
During the day, he attended classes with the other outer disciples. The instruction covered a wide range of topics: the fundamentals of qi circulation, the theory of meridians and dantians, the history of cultivation, and the basic principles of combat between cultivators. Most of the classes were taught by elder disciples or retired inner disciples who had the patience to work with beginners.
The instructor Luo Chen found most valuable was an elderly man named Elder Zhao, who specialized in teaching the fundamental principles of qi circulation. Elder Zhao was in his seventies, with white hair and eyes that seemed to see through to the very heart of things.
One day, Elder Zhao posed a question to the class: "What is qi, and why is it important?"
Most of the disciples offered standard answers: "Qi is spiritual energy," "Qi flows through meridians," "Qi allows us to become stronger."
But Elder Zhao shook his head at each response.
Finally, Luo Chen raised his hand. "Qi is the expression of the laws that govern reality. It is how the fundamental laws of the universe manifest in the physical world. By cultivating qi, we are not just gathering power—we are aligning ourselves with the laws themselves."
Elder Zhao smiled, a genuine expression of pleasure. "Excellent, young Luo Chen. You understand that cultivation is not merely about personal power, but about understanding the fundamental nature of reality. That wisdom will serve you well."
After that day, Elder Zhao began to pay particular attention to Luo Chen, occasionally asking him questions after class or suggesting advanced concepts for him to contemplate.
During the evenings, Luo Chen continued his private cultivation. He discovered that the abundant spiritual energy at the sect allowed him to progress faster than he had at the orphanage. His dantian, which had been barely stable when he arrived, grew progressively stronger and more refined. The two spiraling forces—space and time—began to move with greater efficiency and control.
More importantly, Luo Chen began to experiment with simple applications of his cultivation base. When he ate, he could use his understanding of space to help his body metabolize food more efficiently. When he trained physically, he could use his understanding of time to accelerate his perception, allowing him to move with greater precision and grace.
The other disciples began to notice that Luo Chen was unusually talented.
While most outer disciples required days or even weeks to progress through a single stage, Luo Chen seemed to advance every few days. While others struggled to sense qi during meditation, Luo Chen could perceive it as clearly as seeing colors in the air. While they required hours of practice to execute basic techniques, Luo Chen could accomplish them in minutes.
This rapid advancement attracted attention—some admiring, some envious.