Scene 1 – Testing the Limits of the Body
The morning sun cast a golden hue over Willow Shade Village, painting long shadows across the fields. Li Feng stood on a dirt path near the riverbank, his muscles tensed in preparation.
Training the mind was crucial, but the body had to keep up.
If spiritual cultivation could sharpen perception and reinforce willpower, then a strong body would ensure he could endure the strain of prolonged mental exertion.
He started with simple exercises:
Push-ups to build endurance.
Squats to strengthen his legs.
Breath control to regulate exertion.
The goal wasn't just muscle development—it was synergy.
Body, mind, and spirit had to be one.
By the time he finished his third set of exercises, sweat clung to his back. His breathing was steady, but a dull ache spread through his limbs.
That was good. It meant progress.
He sat down beneath a tree to recover, his mind already shifting back to the spiritual sea.
What if meditation wasn't just about stillness?
Could he integrate it into movement?
Closing his eyes, he controlled his breath, letting his awareness expand beyond his body.
The rustling of leaves.
The chirping of distant birds.
The faint vibrations of footsteps on the ground.
He focused, trying to extend his spiritual sense beyond his usual limits.
At first, everything was chaotic—too much information at once. But as he refined his control, the noise faded, replaced by a heightened awareness of his surroundings.
Was this a glimpse of what powerful soul masters felt?
If so, then training the spiritual sea had more benefits than he initially thought.
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Scene 2 – Parents' Reaction
By the time Li Feng returned home, his clothes were drenched in sweat. His father, Li Wei, looked up from sharpening a sickle.
"You've been training again?"
Li Feng nodded. "I want to get stronger."
His mother, Mei, frowned. "Strength isn't everything, Feng'er. You don't have soul power yet. There's no need to push yourself so hard."
He hesitated. He couldn't tell them about his experiments with spiritual cultivation—not yet.
"I just don't want to be weak," he said instead.
His father sighed, setting the sickle down. "Hard work is good, but you need to balance it. Strength comes with time, not just effort."
Li Feng understood their concern. To them, he was just a boy without innate soul power, training relentlessly despite the odds.
But he had no choice.
If he wanted to change anything, he had to push forward, even if no one understood yet.
"Just be careful," Mei added, brushing dust off his shoulder. "There's more to life than strength."
Li Feng smiled faintly. "I know, Mother."
But knowing wasn't the same as agreeing.
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Scene 3 – Theories on Martial Souls and Mind Over Matter
That night, he sat outside, gazing at the stars.
His mind drifted back to martial souls and their influence.
What if a martial soul wasn't just a tool, but an extension of the self?
Ultimate attributes slowed cultivation because their affinity with soul power was too extreme. Evil Fire influenced the user's impulses, making them unstable.
Then… could martial souls be trained?
Not just in combat, but in willpower?
What if someone with an unstable martial soul cultivated their mind enough to override those flaws?
It came back to one principle: I think, therefore I do.
If the mind dictated the body, then a strong enough will should be able to resist external influences—even those of a martial soul.
This was the key to breaking limitations.
It wouldn't be easy, but that was the path he had chosen.
Tomorrow, he would push further.