On The Path Of Cultivation To Become God

Ming Ming looked up at Chen Tian with pleading eyes filled with hope.

If she could get Chen Tian help, she was sure she could make progress before the expedition day.

Chen Tian paused for a moment, considering Ming Ming's request before nodding.

"Sure, I don't mind," he replied, his voice calm yet firm. "You two are also going to join." He glanced at Aria and Emilia, who were standing nearby. Since he had already committed to helping them train, adding another person wouldn't make much of a difference.

Ming Ming's face lit up with excitement, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Thank you, Chen Tian! I won't let you down!"

Aria and Emilia exchanged eye contact but nodded in agreement. They had already benefited greatly just by breaking to the Qi Refinement Realm, and with Chen Tian help, they knew they had to push themselves even further.

"Alright," Chen Tian said, his gaze sharp and focused as he looked at all three of them.

"I am going back home."

Suddenly, Leng Zhiqing stepped forward, her eyes cold and distant as she addressed Chen Tian.

Chen Tian turned to look at her, sensing the tension in her words and demeanor. "Leng Zhiqing, is something wrong?" he asked, his brows furrowing slightly.

He really didn't like the way she was speaking to him.

"No, nothing is wrong; Mother is surely worried about us. It's been a day since we left. It will be good if one of us returns."

Chen Tian studied Leng Zhiqing for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. Her response seemed logical, but there was an edge to her voice that unsettled him. He wasn't sure if it was frustration, worry, or something else entirely.

"Alright," he finally said, his tone measured. "If you think that's best, then go ahead. Just be careful on your way back."

"I can ask someone to give you a ride if you need it," Ming Ming offered.

"Thank you, Ming Ming." Leng Zhiqing didn't refuse her offer.

Without another word, she turned and walked away, her back straight, but there was something about her posture that felt almost... strained.

Ming Ming also followed her.

Chen Tian stood there for a moment, watching Ming Ming and Leng Zhiqing disappear from view. His focus shifted back to Aria and Emilia, both of whom were standing at attention, ready for his instruction. He crossed his arms and gave them a scrutinizing look.

"Alright, before we begin, let's address something important," Chen Tian said, his tone firm yet instructive.

"Both of you have already broken through to the Qi Refinement Realm, which means you're no longer bound by the limitations of mortals. However," he paused, his sharp gaze locking onto them, "you're still fighting like mortals."

Aria blinked in surprise, and Emilia tilted her head in confusion. "Fighting like mortals?" Aria asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"

"Your martial art techniques—while impressive—are rooted in mortal principles," Chen Tian explained. "They rely on physical strength and speed, which is fine when you're not a cultivator. But now, you're not just using muscles and reflexes anymore. You're wielding Qi, an energy that goes far beyond what a mortal body can normally handle."

Emilia frowned slightly, her eyes narrowing as she processed his words. "So you're saying... we need to abandon what we've learned?"

"Not exactly," Chen Tian said, shaking his head. "Your martial arts can still be useful. But you need to adapt them. You need to stop thinking like mortals and start thinking like cultivators. For example..."

He raised his hand, letting a small surge of Qi ripple through his fingers. "This—Qi—is an extension of your body, your mind, and your will. With it, you can reinforce your strikes, defend yourself, and move faster than you ever could before. But you're not using it effectively yet."

Aria clenched her fists, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. "So how do we change that? How do we start thinking and fighting like cultivators?"

Chen Tian smiled faintly at her eagerness. "Good question. First, let's break down your biggest flaw—you're relying too much on your body. You're still thinking in terms of punches, kicks, and counters. That's fine when you're sparring against other mortals, but against a cultivator or a real threat, it's not enough. You have to integrate Qi into every movement, every strike."

He stepped forward and motioned for Aria to take a stance. "Show me your fighting stance," he instructed.

Aria quickly assumed her martial art stance, her feet spread apart, knees slightly bent, and fists raised defensively. Chen Tian circled her, his eyes critically observing every detail.

"Your stance is solid but stiff," he remarked. "You're grounded, but that makes you predictable. You're relying too much on physical stability, which slows you down." He stopped in front of her and demonstrated a quick movement, his body shifting fluidly as he lightly tapped her leg with the side of his foot.

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"See? If I can break your stance, you lose balance. And in a real fight, that's a weakness."

Aria gritted her teeth but nodded, clearly taking his words to heart.

"Now, Emilia, step forward," Chen Tian said, turning to the other woman.

Emilia moved forward and used another martial art form stance, but Chen Tian quickly shook his head. "You're making the same mistake," he said. "You both need to incorporate Qi into your movements. Let it flow through you; guide you. If you can do that, you'll be faster, more unpredictable, and your strikes will carry far more power."

He stepped back and gathered a small amount of Qi into his legs. In an instant, he dashed forward and then disappeared, reappearing behind them within the blink of an eye. "Like this," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Both Aria and Emilia turned, eyes wide in surprise.

"See how fast I moved?" Chen Tian continued. "That's the difference between a mortal fighter and a cultivator. You need to be able to move like that—faster than your opponents can react. And you need to hit harder with more precision. You're not just using fists and feet anymore. You're using Qi."

Emilia furrowed her brow, clearly intrigued. "So… how do we start?"

Chen Tian smiled slightly, appreciating their willingness to learn. "We'll start with the basics. First, I want you both to focus on your Qi, feel it flowing through your body. Once you have a strong grasp on that, we'll work on integrating it into your movements—strikes, dodges, everything."

Aria and Emilia nodded, determination gleaming in their eyes.

"For now, forget about your martial arts. It's time to refine your Qi manipulation. It won't be easy, but once you master this, your fighting ability will be leagues above what it is now."

Aria clenched her fists, her voice full of resolve. "We're ready, Chen Tian. We won't let you down."

"Good," Chen Tian replied with a nod. "Now let's get to work."

For the next several hours, Chen Tian guided them through intense training, focusing on their Qi control. He corrected their postures, showed them how to enhance their movements, and demonstrated how to channel Qi into their strikes.

Even someone like Aria and Emilia had a hard time keeping up with the demanding training.