Chapter 4 An Unexpected Mentor

Jian's heart pounded as he glanced around, searching for the source of the deep voice that had just echoed across the mountainside. The energy he had felt moments before lingered in the air, pulsing with a strange, almost sentient warmth. He looked at his hand, still pressed against the faintly glowing stone.

"Strong martial spirit indeed," the voice repeated, a touch of amusement this time.

Jian scrambled back, nearly tripping over the uneven rocks behind him. His mind whirled as he looked around, expecting to see a figure looming above him, but there was no one-only the empty mountains and the slowly dissipating light.

"W-Who...?" he stammered, voice barely audible over the rush of blood in his ears.

A faint shimmer appeared in the air before him, coalescing into a figure of an older man with a wiry frame, long silver hair flowing around his shoulders, and a long beard that seemed to drift like mist. His eyes, a sharp, piercing gaze, observed Jian with a blend of curiosity and mild irritation.

"You can hear me, can't you?" the old spirit said, raising a brow as he examined Jian's awestruck face.

Jian opened his mouth, struggling to find his voice. "I... Yes. But... are you... are you a ghost?"

The spirit snorted, crossing his arms. "Hardly. I am the spirit of a great cultivator from a time far beyond yours."

Jian blinked, staring at the spectral figure in shock. "A great cultivator?"

The spirit curled his lips into a disdainful smile ."Haven't you heard the term 'great cultivator' before?"

Jian stared unwavering at the spirit. "Of course, I have. But I haven't heard of a spirit of a strong cultivator wandering around"

The spirit couldn't help having a mocking smile on his face "What an ignorant boy! When you reach a certain level in your cultivation, your spirit can still remain when you meet your demise. Unless your spirit gets destroyed by a similar powerful cultivator, it'll still remain"

Jian stared intently at the spirit "You're really telling the truth?"

The spirit waved a hand, brushing the question aside. "I could tell you stories, but I suspect you'd be more interested in understanding why you're still such a mess with your cultivation."

Jian's face flushed. "What...what do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" The spirit's eyebrow arched higher. "You're all potential, no foundation. Like trying to build a fortress on quicksand."

Jian winced, the bluntness of the words hitting a bit too close to home. "So...you're saying my cultivation is weak?"

"Did I stutter?" the spirit replied, voice thick with sarcasm. "Yes. Weak, unstructured, barely held together." He studied Jian, a hint of exasperation crossing his face. "And here I thought I'd been awakened by a worthy successor."

Jian's face turned red, but a surge of stubborn pride made him straighten his back. "I'm not weak. I've just...had trouble advancing."

The spirit sighed, shaking his head. "And you wonder why you've struggled. Let me guess-you've spent all your time chasing strength without a thought for proper technique?"

Jian opened his mouth to argue, but found himself faltering. "Well, I've been focusing on improving my control and training my martial energy, but it feels... slippery, like I'm grabbing smoke."

The spirit nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Exactly. You lack a solid foundation. Your internal energy is scattered, unrefined-no wonder you're struggling to make progress."

Jian frowned. "But the elders have always told me to push harder, to try to harness as much power as I can..."

"Ah, yes," the spirit interrupted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Brilliant advice. Forget about balance, control, understanding. Just force your way forward, why not?"

Jian stared, struggling to process what he was hearing. "So...what should I be doing, then?"

The spirit looked at him for a long moment, as though deciding if he was worth the trouble. Finally, he sighed. "Your energy should flow like water. Yet you treat it like a beast to be wrestled into submission. That's why it eludes you."

Jian listened, frowning as he tried to grasp the concept. "So...you're saying I need to let my energy flow?"

"Not just let it flow," the spirit corrected. "Guide it. Channel it with intent, rather than brute force. Right now, you're just throwing yourself at it headfirst, hoping something will stick."

Jian's face flushed as the words hit home. He had always thought that pushing harder, forcing his way through, would eventually lead to a breakthrough. The idea of focusing on something as intangible as "guiding" his energy was entirely new to him.

He looked back at the spirit, hesitant. "And you...know how to do this?"

The old spirit smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Didn't I just tell you I was a great warrior? The art of guiding martial energy was second nature to me. Though clearly," he added, his tone mocking, "it's a lost skill in your generation."

Jian bristled, feeling his pride take a hit yet again. "Well, if you're so great, why don't you teach me?"

The spirit looked at him, folding his arms as though waiting for something.

Jian cleared his throat. "...Old spirit, will you help me?"

The spirit huffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh, so now you ask for my help?"

Jian swallowed, his determination hardening. "Yes. I... I need your guidance. If you truly are as great as you say, then... well, perhaps you could be my teacher."

The spirit raised an eyebrow, as if he hadn't expected Jian to ask so directly. For a moment, he seemed to consider the request, his gaze thoughtful.

"Fine," he said finally, his tone begrudging. "I will teach you, since it seems there's no other hope for you."

Jian's face lit up, excitement surging within him. "Thank you, Old Spirit!"

The spirit narrowed his eyes, his expression sharpening with displeasure. "Old Spirit? Hmph. You will call me 'Master.'"

"Master?" Jian repeated, taken aback. "That sounds... a bit formal, doesn't it?"

The spirit leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Would you rather call me 'esteemed guide of infinite wisdom'?"

Jian smothered a grin, glancing away. "Um...how about just 'Old Spirit?' Seems simpler, doesn't it?"

"Old Spirit?" The spirit sputtered, clearly offended. "Do you see an 'old spirit' here, boy?"

Jian looked him over, then shrugged, trying to keep a straight face. "Well...you are a spirit...and kind of, you know, old..."

The spirit's eye twitched, and he muttered something under his breath before sighing. "Very well, if that's all you can manage with your lackluster imagination, 'Old Spirit' it is."

Jian tried to suppress a laugh but failed, a grin breaking through his serious demeanor. "Thank you, Old Spirit."

The spirit shot him a look of mock severity. "Laugh it up, boy. It's you who needs me, not the other way around."

Jian quickly straightened, nodding with a barely concealed smile. "Of course, of course."

The Old Spirit rolled his eyes, looking somewhat resigned. "What's your name, boy?"

"Jian Chen," he replied, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment at being scrutinized by the old warrior.

"Jian Chen," the spirit echoed, as if testing the name on his tongue.

"Now, let's get back to the matter at hand. You felt that surge of energy when you touched the stone, didn't you?"

Jian nodded, his expression growing serious as he remembered the overwhelming force he'd experienced.

"Do you have the slightest idea what happened?" the spirit asked, folding his arms and fixing him with an intense gaze.

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