In the interstellar era, cultivation was the mainstream path of humanity. But not everyone had the talent or ability to gain admission to top-tier interstellar universities and receive the most orthodox cultivation education. Some refused to give up their dream of cultivation and could only rely on themselves to persist, without gene techniques, gene potions, or gene martial arts—almost no resources at all. They had to fight, compete, and even... seize! These people were known as interstellar rogue cultivators.
In fact, as the most backward region of the interstellar realm, people from the Solar System rarely managed to enter interstellar universities. The vast majority of cultivators were rogue cultivators... Earth, as humanity's home planet, had the most suitable natural environment for human habitation. Though it wasn't the largest in the Solar System, it had the highest population, and naturally, the most rogue cultivators.
Cultivation was profound and extensive. It wasn't just about secluding oneself in bitter training; it required various external conditions to stimulate progress. Some tempered their bodies using the gravitational pressure of the ocean depths, others forged steel-like bones in volcanic magma—there were all kinds of methods. As the world's third pole, the Himalayas, with its harsh environment that was a death zone for ancient Earth humans, was nothing to interstellar cultivators. Instead, it served as an ideal natural condition to hone one's physique and refine one's spirit. Over time, it became revered as a sacred cultivation site on Earth, where rogue cultivators of all backgrounds lived in seclusion.
Feng Lin stepped off the hovering flycar and saw a bustling crowd at the foot of the Himalayas, gathered into a lively town filled with shouts. "Top-tier snow mountain cave dwelling! 1,000 star coins a day, comfortable conditions, rapid cultivation!" "Snow summit ice spring spot, 5,000 star coins per person, enjoy ice spring tempering, a powerful physique!" "Himalayan cliff luxury suite, view the snow scenery, nourish the soul!" ... Voices hawked their wares like tour guides at a scenic spot.
Feng Lin paid them no heed, knowing these were Himalayan cultivation brokers who monopolized prime cultivation locations to earn star coins. But since cultivation was about tempering the mind, what was the point of such indulgent comfort? The ancient Earth hermits lived alongside green mountains and clear waters, enduring poverty, often without a steady meal, yet they found joy in it. Though they lacked extraordinary power, they were true cultivators! If these people sought pleasure, why come to the world's third pole? Even if they awakened mythical genes, they were nothing but false cultivators! The heart is the path; strength is the method! The two could not be conflated.
Feng Lin kept walking, heading straight up the mountain. "Hey! Young man, wait! You're here to cultivate, right? I have top-tier cultivation suites with ice springs for cold baths, meditation caves, high-pressure wind valleys... want to give it a try?" A cultivation broker spotted Feng Lin, his eyes lighting up as he approached.
Whoosh! The wind howled past. Feng Lin didn't stop, brushing past him, his entire form turning into a blur, drawing gasps as he swiftly ascended the mountain, vanishing from sight in an instant. He lightly tapped the ground with his toes, his body rising rapidly as if climbing a ladder of clouds.
Snow and wind raged, biting cold gusts howled like sharp blades, cutting into faces, the air thin and suffocating. These harsh natural conditions were once deadly zones humans could hardly approach. But Feng Lin seemed oblivious. After all, the ultimate evolution of a cultivator was to become an interstellar being capable of surviving independently in the cosmos with a long lifespan. This level of ability was just the surface.
Feng Lin continued upward, quickly reaching an altitude of over 6,000 meters. Looking into the distance, snow-capped mountains stretched endlessly, boundless, with heaven and earth bowing beneath his feet, filling his heart with vastness and the thrill of conquering nature. Along the way, he spotted scattered artificial structures around him—these were interstellar rogue cultivators undergoing bitter training here. Ordinary people wouldn't come to suffer in such a place.
This height still didn't satisfy Feng Lin. The higher one stood, without cloud cover, the more abundant the stellar energy. He rapidly ascended, heading toward the highest peak of the Himalayas, Mount Everest, moving swiftly, leaving no trace on the snow, like a flash of lightning. The cold wind howled fiercely, and even Feng Lin felt a deep chill, but it couldn't hinder his movements.
Since ancient Earth times, the Himalayas' Mount Everest had been steadily growing. Ten thousand years had passed, and it now exceeded 10,000 meters in height. Even with Feng Lin's speed, it took over an hour to reach the summit. Standing alone on the solitary peak, he surveyed all the lesser mountains below, alone between heaven and earth. The majestic wonders of nature lay before him, calming his body and mind as if undergoing an invisible baptism.
Feng Lin sat cross-legged, the cold wind rustling his clothes. As he reached the summit, dusk was falling. Stars emerged, unobscured by clouds, their silver light dotting and illuminating the entire world. Countless starlight cascaded onto Feng Lin, carrying a hint of coolness. A crescent moon hung high in the sky, the world bathed in pale white, free from the clamor of human life.
Feng Lin's mind settled, calm and undisturbed, without a ripple. Every pore on his body seemed to open, his form becoming like a black hole, drawing in the stellar energy from the space around him. The stars dimmed, as if a piece of the infinite starry canvas had been devoured by some terrifying interstellar beast, the mosaic no longer perfect, leaving an abrupt void. Within a thousand meters, strands of stellar energy converged into silver threads, forming a visible spectacle, breathtakingly beautiful. These energies entered his body through pores and acupoints, circulating endlessly, nourishing every part.
Like a gentle breeze caressing his soul, Feng Lin felt a cool clarity, his spirit lucid, gradually feeling as if it were floating. His spirit seemed to feast on a great tonic, rapidly expanding, surging like a flood from his brow. His mind was utterly released, breaking free from the constraints of his flesh, bathing in starlight, drifting through the cosmos, free and unbound, sensing all of heaven and earth.
But unlike before, when his spirit could only perceive external things, now Feng Lin's spirit drove his telekinesis, tangible enough to shake all things.
Boom! Like a thunderclap exploding. The power of his mind roared wildly through the void, violent as a hurricane. Invisible force swept outward, the wind growing fiercer, lifting layers of snow, creating a blizzard that howled across the sky. Feng Lin sat motionless, the void above his head trembling, forming a visible phenomenon. Clusters of snow gathered, coalescing into a solid snow cloud floating above him, lingering without falling.
As the instigator, Feng Lin didn't notice this. He was immersed in a mysterious state of unity between heaven and man, as if merged with the universe itself. His mind expanded infinitely, each star feeling like a distant yet majestic life, his heartbeat syncing with the pulse of humanity's home planet. His mind turned into a torrent, sweeping mightily in all directions, wherever it passed, heaven and earth were overturned.