Chapter 11: The True Reality Of A Cultivation World
Chen Yu groaned as he woke, the soft glow of the morning light filtering through the cave's entrance doing little to lift his spirits. His body felt like it had been through a meat grinder—aching, bruised, and sore from the trials of the previous day. He forced himself to sit up, muscles protesting with each movement. His stomach rumbled loudly, reminding him that the few Spirit Berries he'd found last night had barely done anything to stave off his hunger.
"Man, I've nearly died twice since I got here, and I haven't even been in this world a week," he muttered, stretching his stiff limbs. "If this keeps up, I'm going to start keeping a tally." His eyes darted toward the cave's entrance, warily scanning for any threats. Everything seemed clear, at least for now.
Chen Yu rubbed his eyes, shaking off the fogginess of sleep. "Alright, Chen Yu, time to get moving. If I don't figure out how to cultivate properly soon, I'm gonna end up dead before the next dice roll." He stretched once more, feeling the familiar twinge of pain that now accompanied every movement. He needed a proper place to train, food, and maybe, just maybe, a place to not be hunted by spiritual beasts for five minutes.
The system had mentioned a settlement about 30 li to the east, and that was his best shot for now. If he could reach it, maybe he'd find a sect, some allies, or at least someone who could give him more information on this world's cultivation methods. He'd read about a hundred ways to die horribly in xianxia worlds, but now that it was real, it was a whole new kind of stress.
He stepped outside the cave, inhaling the crisp morning air. A thick mist clung to the ground, wrapping the forest in an eerie shroud. The silence of the woods wasn't comforting—if anything, it put him even more on edge. He'd already encountered two mid-tier spiritual beasts, and the idea that something worse was lurking just beyond the fog wasn't out of the question.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted back to Earth. He had spent countless hours reading about worlds like this one, where cultivation was a ticket to power, adventure, and a bit of wish-fulfillment. But here? It was nothing like the novels. The reality was a whole lot harsher, and it hit him every time his heart pounded from fear.
"This isn't a game," he thought, the seriousness settling in deeper with every step. "People can die here. I can die here." The fantasy of being an overpowered hero was quickly being replaced by the cold truth of how fragile he really was.
Just as he started to mentally curse his dice roll, his Universal Eyes picked up something. Movement. A few clearings away. His heart skipped a beat. "Great," he muttered under his breath, crouching low and activating his eyes to enhance his vision. "Please don't be another beast…"
Through the mist, three figures appeared, moving through the trees like they were on a mission. Each of them was dressed in simple robes with swords at their sides—clearly cultivators. Their expressions were grim, focused, and Chen Yu immediately felt the warning bells go off in his mind.
He crouched down further behind the thick underbrush, debating his next move. These people could be friendly... or they could be the kind that would cut first and ask questions later. If there was anything he'd learned from the countless novels he'd read, it was that approaching cultivators without knowing their intentions was a risky gamble.
The three figures moved with purpose, their eyes scanning the area around them, like they were searching for something—or someone. Chen Yu's heart raced as he weighed his options. Should he reveal himself? Follow them from a distance? Or just get the hell out of there?
Suddenly, the cultivator at the front—a young man with a scar running down his left cheek—raised his hand, stopping the group in their tracks. "Wait," he said, his voice low, but carrying an edge of authority. "Do you hear that?"
Chen Yu's breath hitched. "Crap." He had been so focused on staying low that he hadn't realized the sound of his steps might have given him away. The other two cultivators froze, their hands drifting toward the hilts of their swords. Tension thickened in the air as they listened intently, their eyes narrowing as they scanned the forest.
Chen Yu strained to listen, his heart pounding as he crouched low, trying to figure out what the cultivators had picked up on. He heard nothing beyond the faint rustle of leaves and distant bird calls. For a brief moment, he considered moving closer, but before he could act, a sudden chill ran down his spine—a deep, primal sense of foreboding. His breath hitched, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
From the shadows, a hulking figure exploded into view—a Shadowclaw Bear, far more monstrous than anything Chen Yu had encountered. Its thick, dark fur gleamed menacingly, and its glowing red eyes locked onto the cultivators. The creature towered over the trees, claws as long as swords and its maw filled with razor-sharp teeth, each as deadly as a dagger.
"It's a Shadowclaw Bear!" one of the cultivators shouted, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "Prepare yourselves!"
Chen Yu's heart sank. He had barely survived the Shadow Panther—this thing was in a completely different league. A mid-tier spiritual beast was terrifying enough, but this was a high-tier one, judging by its sheer size and the dense aura of Qi it radiated. He knew he wasn't even remotely equipped to handle it, but something inside him stirred. He couldn't just sit back and watch, could he? What if these cultivators were overwhelmed?
The cultivators reacted with practiced precision, quickly spreading out to surround the beast. Their movements were fluid, their blades drawn and gleaming in the dim light. Each step was calculated, their eyes locked onto the bear, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Chapter 12: It Should Have Been Me Who Died
The cultivators reacted with practiced precision, quickly spreading out to surround the beast. Their movements were fluid, their blades drawn and gleaming in the dim light. Each step was calculated, their eyes locked onto the bear, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Blazing Crescent Slash!" one of them shouted, a cultivator with flame-like patterns on his robes. His sword glowed with fiery energy as he slashed down, a crescent-shaped arc of flame racing toward the bear. The Shadowclaw Bear roared in response, swiping its massive claws through the air, dispersing the flaming crescent with ease.
Chen Yu's Universal Eyes flared to life, and for the first time, he truly focused on the flow of Qi around him. He could see the energy coursing through the cultivator's body as he executed the move—a fiery aura enveloping his sword just before he struck. The cultivator's Qi control was tight, precise. So that's how they amplify their techniques, Chen Yu realized. The Qi wasn't just powering the attack—it was shaping it, guiding the elements.
Another cultivator, this one dressed in robes with blue cloud patterns, dashed forward, his sword leaving streaks of light in its wake. "Cloud Piercing Thrust!" he yelled, his blade thrusting forward like a spear. The speed of the attack was incredible, but the Shadowclaw Bear was faster than it looked. With a snarl, it twisted its massive frame, batting the sword aside with its claws before charging at the cultivator with a ferocity that made Chen Yu's heart skip a beat.
"Iron Body Formation!" the third cultivator shouted, slamming his palm into the ground. Earth Qi surged around him, creating a shimmering barrier of hardened earth between the charging bear and his companion. The bear's claws slammed into the barrier with a deafening crash, cracks splintering through the earth shield as it pushed against it.
Chen Yu watched, transfixed, as the battle raged before him. Every move the cultivators made was deliberate, their attacks infused with their unique Qi signatures. His Universal Eyes picked up on the intricate flow of energy in their bodies, from the moment they channeled it from their dantian to when they released it into their weapons. It wasn't just brute strength—Qi was flowing like a river, being shaped and molded into techniques.
This... this is what real cultivation looks like.
For a brief moment, Chen Yu felt a twinge of envy. These cultivators, while not the strongest, had mastery over their Qi, something Chen Yu was struggling to grasp. But as he watched, a spark of realization ignited in his mind. They weren't just attacking randomly; each move was part of a larger strategy, balancing their techniques with the flow of the battle. If he could learn to control his Qi like that, to shape it into something useful, he wouldn't need to rely so much on random luck.
His mind raced as he replayed what he'd just seen. The Blazing Crescent Slash was imbued with fire, but the cultivator had manipulated the fire Qi to follow the arc of his sword, giving it range and power. The Cloud Piercing Thrustwas infused with wind, increasing the speed of the strike. And the Iron Body Formation—it was earth Qi, solidifying into a shield to defend against the bear's raw strength. Every element had its purpose, its strength, and they used them in harmony.
Suddenly, Chen Yu felt his Qi stir in his dantian. He was at the very first stage of his Primal Heavenly Body Technique, able to sense and manipulate the five elements. Could he use that to heighten his reflexes? To sharpen his movements? He focused, remembering how the cultivators channeled their Qi before an attack. He felt for the wind element, willing it to circulate faster, making his body lighter, his reflexes sharper. If he could move just a little quicker, he might be able to survive in situations like this.
The Shadowclaw Bear roared again, breaking through the Iron Body Formation with a brutal swipe of its claws. The barrier shattered, sending cracks across the earth, but the cultivators held their ground, their faces set in grim determination.
Chen Yu crouched behind the underbrush, his heart pounding as he watched the battle unfold. The Shadowclaw Bear was a hulking, terrifying beast, far stronger and more dangerous than anything he had ever encountered. The cultivators fought bravely, their swords flashing in the dim light as they coordinated their attacks. But Chen Yu could see it in their faces—the exhaustion, the mounting fear. This wasn't a fight they could win without help.
"I have to do something," Chen Yu muttered, clenching his fists. But what? He was barely getting the hang of his elemental abilities, and the bear was a high-tier spiritual beast. He didn't stand a chance against it head-on, but if he could assist the cultivators from a distance... maybe he could tip the scales in their favor without putting himself at risk.
His eyes darted to the shifting ground beneath the bear. Earth element. That had worked before—he could destabilize it. He placed his hands on the forest floor, concentrating on the Qi in his dantian, channeling it into the ground. He didn't need to do much, just enough to make the bear stumble.
"Alright, easy does it," he whispered, feeling the energy surge through his fingertips. The ground beneath the bear shifted slightly, creating a loose patch of soil. The massive creature roared in confusion as its footing became unsteady, one of its giant paws slipping just as one of the cultivators landed a direct hit to its side.
"Blazing Crescent Slash!" the flame-robed cultivator bellowed, his sword cutting through the air with a fiery arc. The blow struck the bear's thick hide, searing it and earning another pained roar from the beast.
Chen Yu's lips twitched into a grin. It was working. His intervention was making a difference. He focused harder, shifting the earth beneath the bear once more, sending it stumbling back. Another cultivator, a man in robes embroidered with cloud patterns, leaped forward. "Wind Slice!" he shouted, his sword glowing with wind Qi as it cut into the bear's exposed flank.
Chapter 13: What Have I Done?
The coordination between the cultivators was impressive, and for a moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand. Chen Yu felt a surge of confidence. "I can help! I'm actually helping!" he thought, excitement bubbling in his chest. But they needed more. The bear was massive, and even with their skill, they weren't doing enough damage to bring it down quickly. They needed an opening.
His mind raced. The bear was staggering, but it was still too dangerous. He had the element of fire in his arsenal. If he could disorient the bear just long enough for the cultivators to land a killing blow, that might be all they needed. Chen Yu focused, summoning the fiery Qi from his dantian, his hands crackling with heat as small flames flickered to life in his palms.
"Alright, Chen Yu, small bursts. Nothing crazy." He aimed at the bear's hind leg, hoping to destabilize it further with a jolt of heat. The flames shot forward, small and controlled, and struck the creature's fur. The beast roared in pain, bucking wildly as the fire singed its skin. One of the cultivators leaped forward with a cry of triumph.
"Now! It's weakening!"
"Iron Body Formation!" the third cultivator, dressed in sturdy brown robes, shouted as he slammed his palm into the ground. The earth around him shifted, forming a shield that blocked one of the bear's frenzied swipes. "Go for the legs!"
The cultivators pressed their advantage, their swords flashing as they aimed for the bear's now-exposed limbs. Chen Yu's heart raced. It was working. They were going to win. But then, just as he prepared to send out another bolt of fire, the system's mechanical voice echoed in his head.
[Warning: Unstable elemental usage detected. Elemental imbalance may cause unintended consequences.]
Chen Yu blinked, momentarily frozen. "Unintended consequences? What does that even—"
But before he could reconsider, a flicker of excitement shot through him. He had another card to play. Lightning. If a small bolt of fire worked, then a jolt of electricity would be even better, right? He could shock the bear into submission, maybe even paralyze it long enough for the cultivators to finish it off.
Ignoring the system's warning, he focused on summoning the lightning Qi. It crackled along his fingertips, unstable and volatile, but he aimed it at the bear's side, hoping to send a debilitating shock through its massive body. "Just a little boost," he muttered, releasing the bolt.
The lightning shot from his hand and struck the bear squarely in the side. For a split second, Chen Yu thought he'd done it. The bear froze, its muscles twitching violently as the electricity coursed through its body. But instead of collapsing, the beast's eyes flared brighter, and its body seemed to absorb the energy. It let out a bone-chilling roar, shaking off the cultivators' attacks as if they were nothing.
The system's voice returned, its tone flat and devoid of emotion.
[Alert: Element of lightning has revitalized the Shadowclaw Bear. High-tier beasts possess affinities for absorbing certain types of spiritual energy.]
Chen Yu's stomach dropped. "What? No… no, no, no! I made it stronger?!"
The bear's wounds began to heal, its Qi surging with newfound vitality. One of the cultivators looked up in disbelief. "What the—how is it recovering?!"
"Fall back!" the female cultivator shouted, her voice tight with panic. "It's absorbing energy—something's gone wrong!"
Chen Yu watched in horror as the bear, now fully rejuvenated, let out another deafening roar and charged forward with terrifying speed. It slashed through the Iron Body Formation like it was made of paper, sending the cultivator who cast it flying through the air. He slammed into a tree with a sickening crack, his body crumpling to the ground, motionless.
"Blazing Crescent Slash!" the flame-robed cultivator yelled, desperation in his voice as he swung his sword, but the bear was faster now—too fast. It swiped his blade aside and lunged, its jaws clamping down on his shoulder with a brutal crunch. His scream filled the air as the bear shook him violently before tossing him aside like a ragdoll.
Chen Yu's breath caught in his throat. "No… no, this isn't happening… I was trying to help…"
The last remaining cultivator, the woman with the determined expression, gritted her teeth and charged forward one last time. "Wind Slice!" she cried, her sword glowing with wind Qi as she aimed for the bear's neck. But the bear was ready. It twisted its massive body, swatting her attack aside with a brutal swipe of its claws. She flew back, hitting the ground with a dull thud, her sword clattering uselessly beside her.
Chen Yu's entire body shook as he watched the Shadowclaw Bear turn its glowing eyes toward the fallen cultivators. They were broken, defeated, and now, one by one, it moved in for the kill. The woman tried to crawl away, but the bear's massive paw came down on her back, pinning her to the ground as it lowered its jaws.
"No!" Chen Yu screamed, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of the beast. He tried to stand, to move, to do anything, but his legs felt like lead, his body frozen with terror and guilt.
The bear finished its grisly work, blood staining its fur as it turned and lumbered back into the forest, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. Chen Yu sank to his knees, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"I did this," he whispered, staring at the lifeless bodies around him. "I tried to help… and I made it worse." His hands shook as the reality of his actions sank in. He had been so sure he could make a difference, but in the end, his inexperience had cost the cultivators their lives.
The Shadowclaw Bear let out a triumphant roar, its massive form towering over the fallen cultivators, blood dripping from its claws. Despite the injuries it had sustained in the battle, it stood victorious, its glowing red eyes still burning with primal fury. Steam rose from its nostrils in the cool morning air as it surveyed the carnage around it, and then—its gaze shifted.
Straight to Chen Yu.
Chapter 14: Was Breaking Through Always This Easy? (1)
For a moment, time seemed to stop. The beast's eyes locked onto him, narrowing as if it had finally sensed his presence. Chen Yu felt every muscle in his body seize up with pure, unadulterated fear. His heart pounded so violently it felt like it would burst out of his chest. Sweat beaded down his brow, and a cold chill spread through him as the bear took a lumbering step in his direction, each thud of its paws sending shockwaves through the ground.
"Crap, crap, crap..." he muttered under his breath, panic surging through him. There was no hiding now. No running. His legs felt like lead, frozen by the suffocating aura of death that radiated from the bear.
I'm going to die.
It wasn't just a fleeting thought. Chen Yu could feel it—death was approaching, slow and deliberate, wrapped in the hulking form of the spiritual beast now stalking toward him. Every step the bear took felt like a countdown to his last moment.
"Do something!" his mind screamed at him. He grasped desperately for his Qi, the element of earth, wind, anything. But his body felt heavy, his limbs sluggish from overexertion. His Qi reserves were nearly depleted, and whatever energy he had left was chaotic, unsteady.
The bear closed the distance between them, its glowing eyes locked onto him with deadly intent. Chen Yu stumbled back, his vision blurring as panic seized him. He couldn't summon the strength to run, to fight, or even to hide. He was cornered, and the beast knew it.
The system chimed in coldly, but it offered no comfort.
[Warning: Mortal danger detected. Qi reserves are critically low.]
"No kidding," Chen Yu muttered shakily, forcing himself to take another step back. His mind raced, searching for any way out of this nightmare. But the bear was nearly upon him now, its breath hot and foul as it exhaled with a low growl.
He tried to reach for the element of wind, hoping to make himself lighter, faster—anything to escape. But as he fumbled with his control, his body trembled, the Qi swirling weakly in his dantian. His vision swam, and the world around him seemed to blur.
Think, think! He had read hundreds of cultivation novels—there had to be something he could do. But this wasn't fiction. This wasn't a game. This was real, and right now, he was a hair's breadth away from being mauled to death by a beast that wouldn't stop until his bones were splintered under its claws.
The bear stopped a few feet away from him, towering like a mountain of muscle and fury. Its red eyes glinted with malice, its mouth open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth ready to tear him apart. Chen Yu's breath hitched as he stared at the beast, his hands trembling uncontrollably. This is it. I'm really going to die here.
Just as the bear began to take another step, something changed.
The beast's eyes flickered—its massive form wavered, as if its strength had suddenly drained away. Its next step faltered, claws dragging through the dirt. The triumphant glow in its eyes dimmed, replaced by a dull glaze as its body swayed. Chen Yu blinked, too stunned to process what was happening.
With one last, rumbling growl, the Shadowclaw Bear collapsed to the ground, dead before it even hit the dirt.
Chen Yu's heart pounded in his ears as he stared at the fallen beast, unable to move or comprehend what had just happened. He stood frozen, his body still shaking from the adrenaline and fear coursing through him. Was it a trick? Had the bear somehow passed out? He didn't dare step forward, his instincts screaming at him to keep his distance.
Then, the system's voice chimed in, cold and mechanical as ever.
[The Shadowclaw Bear has died. Cause: Internal spiritual damage and severe blood loss.]
Chen Yu blinked, his mind struggling to catch up with the words. "It's… dead?" he muttered, almost in disbelief. His legs gave way, and he slumped to the ground, his entire body trembling with exhaustion and relief. The overwhelming fear that had paralyzed him moments before began to ebb away, replaced by an almost numbing shock.
He exhaled shakily, wiping the sweat from his brow. The bear was dead. It had been on the verge of collapse the entire time. But just moments ago, he had felt death approaching him, so real and so close he could almost taste it. His hands still shook as he looked down at them, trying to steady his breathing.
"Damn it… I was about to die." His voice was barely a whisper, the reality of how close he'd come settling heavily on him. "I... I actually thought I was done for."
The silence in the forest was deafening now. The lifeless body of the bear lay motionless, and the fallen cultivators around him told a grim story of a battle lost. Chen Yu sat there for a long moment, staring at the carnage around him, his mind still racing. He had survived, but just barely—and not because of any skill on his part. His Qi had been depleted, his control unstable. He was weak, and he knew it.
"Gotta… get stronger," he muttered, clenching his fists as he looked down at his hands. "I can't just rely on luck." But even as the words left his mouth, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had been given a second chance.
He took a deep breath, steeling his resolve. If he was going to survive in this world, he couldn't afford to be naive or complacent. He had to be strong. He had to be smart.ion and fear. He had no idea how far he had run, but he couldn't hear the bear anymore. For now, he was safe.
He stayed on the ground, gasping for breath, his mind racing. The image of the dead cultivators flashed through his thoughts, their broken bodies lying lifeless on the forest floor. He had tried to help, but it wasn't enough. In this world, death could come at any moment, without warning.
"This isn't like Earth," he realized, his fists clenching in the dirt. "There are no second chances here. If I want to survive, I have to get stronger. I have to be better."
He thought back to the Heavenly Body Technique, the stages he needed to master, the power he needed to attain. He had been lucky to stumble upon it, but luck alone wouldn't be enough to keep him alive. He had to work hard, train diligently, and never let his guard down.
He went outside the cave and looked around the clearing, noting the sun's position in the sky. It was still early, and he had plenty of daylight left to continue his journey east. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, and set off once more.
Chen Yu sat in the small clearing, his body and mind still reeling from the intense emotions of the day. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the forest, and the air was thick with the scent of pine and earth. He could still feel the weight of the cultivators' deaths, their sacrifices a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of this world.
But amidst the sorrow and fear, there was a spark—a newfound determination burning in his chest. He had narrowly escaped death today, and the experience had changed him. He could feel a shift deep within, an awakening of something powerful.
"If I'm going to survive, I need to get stronger," he muttered to himself. His voice was steady, resolved. "I need to push myself beyond my limits."
Chen Yu closed his eyes and began to focus inward, channeling his thoughts and emotions into his dantian. He could feel the Qi swirling within, like a storm brewing in his core. His understanding of life and death had deepened, the stark reality of this world pressing down on him.
As he meditated, the air around him grew heavy with Qi, a dense mist that seemed to gather from every corner of the forest. The world itself seemed to respond to his inner change, the trees around him whispering secrets of ancient times as the energy in the atmosphere thickened, swirling in a gentle vortex centered on his still form.
"I'm done being weak."
And then, he felt it—a small click, like a lock tumbling open in his soul.