THE SUPREME CULTIVATOR RETURNS

THE FIRST STEP

Julian closed the bedroom door behind him and leaned against it for a moment.

The house had become quiet again.

Too quiet.

He could still hear the faint ticking of the old clock hanging in the hallway. Somewhere downstairs, Lily was speaking softly to Sarah, but their voices were too low for him to make out the words.

Julian looked around Ethan's small bedroom.

A narrow bed stood against the wall. An old wooden desk sat beneath the window, covered with university books and a few unpaid bills. The paint on the walls had faded, and one corner of the ceiling showed a dark stain from an old leak.

This was the life he had inherited.

A poor student.

A sick mother.

A younger sister.

And a mountain of debt.

Julian walked toward the window and pushed it open.

Cool air brushed across his face.

He closed his eyes.

There it was again.

That faint sensation.

Spiritual energy.

It was incredibly weak, almost impossible for an ordinary person to notice, but Julian could feel it.

His expression changed.

After centuries of cultivation, he knew spiritual energy better than anyone.

He raised one hand and slowly inhaled.

"Come."

Nothing happened.

Julian frowned.

He tried again, guiding the energy toward his body.

This time, a tiny thread of spiritual energy entered his palm before disappearing almost immediately.

His eyes narrowed.

So it was real.

Earth had spiritual energy.

Just not enough.

"Interesting."

Julian sat cross-legged on the floor.

He placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes.

In his previous life, gathering spiritual energy had been effortless. Mountains of spiritual stones, ancient formations, and powerful treasures had surrounded him.

Now he had none of those things.

He had only a weak body and a tiny amount of spiritual energy.

But Julian wasn't discouraged.

He knew exactly where to begin.

He began guiding the energy through his body.

The process was painfully slow.

His muscles trembled.

Sweat slowly formed across his forehead.

A faint warmth traveled through his veins before disappearing.

Julian continued.

Minutes passed.

Then another.

Finally, he opened his eyes.

His breathing was heavier, but there was a faint smile on his face.

"I can cultivate."

It was only the first step.

A very small one.

But to Julian, it meant everything.

The Supreme Cultivator had returned to the beginning.

And this time, he would build his foundation from nothing.

Suddenly, a soft knock came from the door.

"Brother?"

Lily's voice.

Julian looked toward the door.

"Come in."

The door opened slightly, revealing Lily's worried face.

She looked at him for a moment before stepping inside.

"Are you okay?"

Julian nodded.

"I'm fine."

Lily lowered her eyes.

"The men from earlier... are they really coming back?"

Julian noticed the fear in her expression.

He stood up.

"They won't hurt you."

"But we don't have the money."

Julian walked over and gently placed a hand on her head.

"I said I'll handle it."

Lily looked up at him.

For the first time that day, some of the fear disappeared from her eyes.

"Really?"

"Really."

She gave a small nod before leaving the room.

Julian watched the door close.

His expression slowly hardened.

Three days.

That was all the debt collectors had given them.

Normally, three days would have been impossible.

But Julian wasn't planning to earn the money through ordinary means.

He turned back toward the open window.

The faint spiritual energy outside was still there.

His eyes gleamed.

"If Earth has spiritual energy..."

He looked toward the distant city.

"...then there must be something producing it."

And Julian intended to find out what.

That night, he made his decision.

Tomorrow, he would begin searching for the source of Earth's spiritual energy.

His cultivation had begun again.

And this time, he would not remain weak for long.