"Cultivation is like tuning a string inside myself," he thought. "It's the art of sensing Qi—the life energy in everything—and learning to pull it into my veins, my core."
Lu Fan's mind pieced together what little he'd uncovered from scraps of old books and rumors:
Mortal Vein: The beginning. Opening the veins to feel Qi, the seed of power inside everyone, but awakened in few.
Spirit Vein: Strengthening that flow, gaining speed, healing, and sharper senses.
Core Vein: Building a core inside where energy pools and can be shaped, enabling attacks or defense.
Sovereign Vein: Controlling surroundings, bending nature's rules.
Celestial Vein: The realm of legends, beyond human limits.
For now, Lu Fan was at the first step, with only his Mortal Vein just beginning to pulse.