A whole month had passed since Ni Tian moved to the Northern Dragon Hall.
During that time, he hadn't practiced a single martial technique, but he had read hundreds of scrolls and memorized thousands of lines of ancient texts.
He learned about the meridian paths of qi, the ways to open and expand them, and the seven methods of internal breathing.
He discovered how energy was classified within the body and learned the principles of meditation and how to read energy flows through the pulse of veins.
He even read history.
Especially about the Three Kingdoms Era, the time said to mark the birth of martial arts in the Northern Continent, and the beginning of what was known as the "True Cultivation Era."
And although the Northern Continent was the smallest of the four great continents, it was home to the strongest cultivation sects — specifically: the Four Heavenly Sects.
Uncle Han had taught him so much…
Philosophy, history, even the literature of sages.
But he couldn't understand… why?
Why all this effort, when he hadn't even started actual combat training?
And as the days went by, his heart began to drift toward boredom.
One morning, as Ni Tian was reading an old scroll, Uncle Han entered with a calm smile and said:
"You're studying hard, that's good… but come now, we have somewhere to go."
Ni Tian looked up, bored:
"Where to?"
The old man turned toward the door and replied:
"Come with me. You'll see."
As they left the hall, they found Hao Ran preparing some bags and organizing tools carefully.
Ni Tian looked at him and asked:
"Are we going somewhere?"
Hao Ran smiled and said:
"Yes. I've packed everything. We'll only be gone for half a day."
The three of them left the city, walking along a mountain path until they reached a vast farm, surrounded on all sides by open fields.
The air was fresh, the sky a clear blue, and in the distance, tomato leaves sparkled under the sunlight.
Ni Tian stopped and stared at the scene, then turned around, confused:
"Why are we here? This is… a farm."
Uncle Han sat on a wooden chair Hao Ran had prepared, placed his hands behind his head, and said:
"Today… your training begins, Ni Tian."
Ni Tian's eyes widened, and he jumped up excitedly:
"Finally! Give me your toughest training, old man!"
Uncle Han laughed and pointed toward the fields:
"Then… start picking."
Ni Tian froze, blinked twice, and said slowly:
"...What?"
Uncle Han replied with mock seriousness:
"I told you, start picking tomatoes. From now until sunset, gather all the ripe fruits — leave none behind… and if you miss any? Start over."
"That's not training! That's farm labor!"
Uncle Han smiled, his voice like that of a sage:
"My boy, cultivation… begins with the soil."
Ni Tian sighed and bent down reluctantly toward the first plant.
But what he didn't know… was that this simple task would lead him to a forgotten cultivation art...
An art taught only to those who kept patience and understood the true rhythm of the earth.
Let me know if you want a more poetic or more martial tone for the translation!