Time flowed with a deceptive languor in the Verdant Heaven. What felt like weeks to Lin Mu stretched into years in the outside world. He meticulously adhered to his self-imposed schedule, returning to his village every few days (Verdant Heaven time) to spend a day or two with his unsuspecting parents. He helped with the farm work, listened to the village gossip, and maintained the image of a diligent but unremarkable son.
The contrast between his two lives was stark. In the village, he was still Lin Mu, the boy with the useless Spirit Root. He endured the occasional well-meaning pity and the casual dismissal. But within the Verdant Heaven, he was transforming at an astonishing rate.
Years of dedicated cultivation had seen him break through the initial stages of Qi Gathering. The nascent Qi vortex in his dantian had solidified, becoming a steady source of internal energy. He could now channel this Qi with greater control, enhancing his physical abilities beyond that of any ordinary mortal. His senses were incredibly sharp; he could hear the rustling of leaves from afar and perceive subtle changes in the air currents.
The system diligently recorded his progress. With each passing year in seclusion, he gained the promised cultivation points and a random attribute boost. Sometimes it was a slight increase in strength, other times a subtle improvement in his mental clarity or the sensitivity of his senses. These incremental improvements, accumulated over decades, were beginning to create a significant difference.
He continued his cautious exploration of the Verdant Heaven. He learned to navigate its varied terrains, from the luminous forests to the crystalline rivers. He observed the strange creatures, noting their habits and the unique energies they possessed. He even managed to establish a tentative, wary understanding with the serpentine creature from the luminous pool, which he had begun to call 'Lumi'. Lumi seemed drawn to the high concentration of spiritual energy around Lin Mu and would often observe his cultivation from a distance.
His understanding of the medicinal herbs within the Verdant Heaven deepened. His Earthly knowledge, combined with the unique properties of these flora, allowed him to concoct simple but potent tonics that further aided his Qi refinement. He even discovered plants that seemed to resonate with specific elemental energies, hinting at deeper cultivation paths.
One day, after nearly fifty years within the Verdant Heaven (a little over a month outside), the system issued a new notification:
[Congratulations! You have reached the Peak Stage of Qi Gathering.]
[Requirement for next breakthrough: Accumulate sufficient Qi and achieve a stable mental state.]
Lin Mu felt a surge of satisfaction. Fifty years of solitary dedication had finally brought him to the precipice of the next major stage. He could feel the dense, swirling Qi within his dantian, almost tangible. His control over it was far more refined than he could have ever imagined back in the village.
His thoughts drifted to his first Dao Companion, hinted at by the system. He hadn't encountered anyone within the Verdant Heaven who felt particularly 'fated'. Perhaps this connection lay in the outside world. The thought added a new dimension to his returns to the village. He began to observe the people around him more carefully, looking for any subtle cues or unusual connections.
During one of his brief returns, he noticed Ling Yue. She was a few years younger than him, a quiet girl with an unusual affinity for herbs. Even with her limited talent, she possessed an uncanny ability to identify and utilize medicinal plants. He recalled the system's description: "destined individuals… unique talents… significant destinies intertwined with his own." A faint stirring of intuition told him that she might be the one.
He started to pay more attention to her, observing her from a distance as she gathered herbs in the foothills. He noticed her gentle nature, her meticulous care for the plants, and a subtle resilience in her eyes that belied her frail appearance.
One afternoon, he saw her struggling to reach a rare herb growing on a precarious ledge. Without thinking, he moved with a speed and agility that would have astonished anyone who knew the 'useless' Lin Mu. He reached the ledge in a few swift steps, plucked the herb, and offered it to her with a quiet smile.
Ling Yue looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. She had always known Lin Mu as the quiet, unremarkable boy from the village. This sudden display of agility and the gentle confidence in his eyes were unexpected.
"Thank you, Brother Lin," she said softly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
It was a simple exchange, but as their fingers brushed while he handed her the herb, a subtle warmth spread through him, a faint resonance that felt… different. The system remained silent, but a seed of possibility had been planted.
Back in the Verdant Heaven, Lin Mu's focus shifted slightly. While his cultivation remained paramount, the thought of his first Dao Companion lingered in his mind. He wondered how their destinies would intertwine, and what synergistic abilities the system had hinted at.
The weight of years spent in solitude was beginning to feel less heavy, replaced by a quiet anticipation. The bloom of his hidden talent was beginning to show its first, tentative buds, promising a future far beyond the dusty fields of his birth. The Eternal Earthling's journey was no longer just about solitary growth; it was beginning to weave itself into the tapestry of others' fates.