The next morning, the sky above Meadowbrook Village was painted in pale gold, the sunlight filtering softly through the mist that clung to the fields. Xaio Li rose before the villagers stirred, moving with a grace that belied the weakness of his new body. Each step was deliberate, each breath controlled. He had discovered the faint flow of spiritual energy within himself yesterday, and now he was determined to coax it further, to strengthen the fragile vessel that would someday hold the power of an emperor once again.
He knelt in the field, pressing his palms into the earth and closing his eyes. Drawing upon the faint energy around him, he focused on guiding it into his core, envisioning the flow of power like a river he could channel, refine, and control. It was exhausting. Every motion left his body trembling, and sweat ran down his brow, yet the glow beneath his skin grew ever so slightly brighter. Even this weak shell can be shaped… it will not fail me.
Hours passed in meditation and movement. When he opened his eyes, the village was bustling. Farmers moved between the rows of crops, children chased each other across the paths, and merchants set up small stalls along the main road. From the corner of his eye, Xaio Li noticed a figure observing him from the edge of the village—a boy, slightly older, with sharp eyes and a confident stance. Something about the way he carried himself spoke of latent strength, though it was minor compared to the emperor he once was.
The boy approached, hands behind his back, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You're the new kid in the fields, right? People say you're… different. I want to see if you're worth the talk." He shifted his stance subtly, as if ready to strike at any hesitation. Xaio Li did not respond immediately. He studied the boy, reading the subtle movements in posture and breath. A minor cultivator, inexperienced… yet confident. Dangerous if underestimated.
With a casual smirk, the boy lunged. His movements were swift, but predictable—a crude imitation of cultivation techniques. Xaio Li barely moved, stepping aside with a natural balance that betrayed his past life's training. The boy's fist struck air, and Xaio Li placed a single hand lightly on his chest, redirecting the force harmlessly into the ground. The impact sent the boy stumbling backward, shocked and unprepared for such effortless control.
"You… how?" he stammered, wide-eyed. "That… that wasn't possible!"
Xaio Li's gaze was calm, piercing. "Control begins with understanding. Strength comes later." He released his hold and stepped back, letting the boy regain balance. He was not here to harm mortals unnecessarily. Every action now was a lesson in survival and cultivation. Patience, observation, refinement… these are the true tools of power.
The confrontation, brief as it was, stirred something within Xaio Li's body. The faint glow of energy that had been lingering beneath his skin flared slightly, more intense than before. He could feel the pulse of the world, the interaction of energy within him and around him. Each movement, each exertion of control, refined the body, strengthened his connection to the spiritual currents in this mortal realm.
After the boy ran off, muttering to himself about strange powers and hidden skill, Xaio Li turned his attention back to training. He knew the path ahead would be filled with more such challenges. Mortals with hidden cultivation potential, wild beasts, natural disasters—all would test the limits of this body. But every obstacle was a lesson, every trial a spark to fuel the refinement of his mortal vessel.
By afternoon, Xaio Li moved to the edge of the forest once more. He could feel energy lingering in the air—slightly stronger than yesterday. The subtle traces of spiritual currents hinted at wildlife and perhaps other cultivators passing through. He performed a series of exercises: precise stances, controlled breathing, and small bursts of energy manipulation. Each exertion left his muscles aching, but the core of his body felt stronger. The glow beneath his skin pulsed with increasing intensity, evidence that Body Refinement I was beginning to take hold.
Suddenly, a rustling sound caught his attention. From between the trees emerged a pair of small wolves, their eyes glinting with hunger. The village had no idea these predators had been stalking the outskirts. Xaio Li's senses flared. With a calm, deliberate motion, he extended a hand and guided the energy within him outward, creating a subtle but potent repulsion. The wolves yelped and froze mid-step, sensing an invisible force pushing against them. Xaio Li exhaled slowly, letting the energy dissipate. The wolves fled into the forest, unnerved, leaving him alone once more.
He knelt and pressed his palms into the ground, feeling the lingering traces of their energy in the soil. Every encounter, even with creatures weaker than he had once faced, refined his understanding of energy, control, and application. Xaio Li knew that mortals might underestimate him, and beasts would underestimate him, but he would allow it. Every misstep of others was a lesson for him, a chance to observe, adapt, and grow.
As evening approached, Xaio Li returned to the small farmhouse that would serve as his temporary refuge. He sat beneath a tree near the edge of the fields, meditating and reflecting on the day. Body Refinement was slow, painstaking work, especially in a body not yet tempered. Yet he could feel the difference—the subtle pulse of energy was stronger now, more responsive. Movements that had been awkward in the morning felt fluid by sunset. This is only the beginning. Patience, refinement, and observation… I will master this body, and when I do, none will stand against me.
The stars began to appear, tiny pinpricks of light in the deepening sky. Xaio Li lifted his gaze, feeling the rhythm of the world pulse through him. Each star, each gust of wind, each whisper of the night carried energy that he could sense and adapt to. The boy who had been weak, fragile, and mortal was slowly awakening. The faint glow beneath his skin now pulsed in tandem with the heartbeat of the world around him—a signal, a promise of the power to come.
He smiled faintly. Tomorrow, he would push further. Tomorrow, he would test the boundaries of his new body once more. For now, he allowed himself to rest, letting the energy settle, absorbing the lessons of the day, and solidifying the first steps of his reawakening as Xaio Li, the Immortal Emperor reborn.
The world had forgotten him, but the spark within him would never die. And when the time came, the heavens themselves would tremble at the return of the Immortal Dragon Emperor.