After ensuring that the merchant was on his way to safety and the bandits had retreated deep into the forest, Lin Feng found a quiet spot on the roadside to sit and reflect on the changes he had undergone. Pulling up his status screen, he anticipated seeing the results of his recent encounters and experiences.
Status: Lin Feng
Name: Lin Feng
Race: Human
Class: Novice Cultivator
Level: 2
Cultivation Stage: Qi Condensation Stage 1
Skills:
Basic Qi Gathering - Level 2
Enhanced Perception - Level 1
Rapid Fire Fist - Level 1 (New)
Unique Skill:
Heart of True Belief - Level 1
Attributes:
Health: 90/120
Qi: 30/50
Stamina: 45/100
Strength: 17
Agility: 15
Vitality: 20
Endurance: 15
Wisdom: 12
Intelligence: 14
Dexterity: 18
Charisma: 11
Luck: 8
Spiritual Awareness: 25
Mystical Affinity: 21
Legacies:
Legacy of the Crystal Oracle - Level 1
Free Skill Points: 4
Free Stat Points: 5
Lin Feng studied the screen intently, noting the new additions and changes. His level had increased, and a new skill, Rapid Fire Fist, had been cataloged, likely as a result of his improvised combat technique during the skirmish with the bandits.
With interest, he observed the "Free Stat Points" and "Free Skill Points" entries. Lin Feng decided to use these points to enhance some of his attributes, aiming to improve his overall capabilities. He allocated one stat point to Strength, increasing it to 18, and one to Agility, bringing it up to 16. These improvements, he hoped, would give him a better edge in physical confrontations.
Additionally, he distributed the remaining three points among Endurance, Dexterity, and Wisdom, enhancing each to 16, 19, and 13 respectively. This balanced approach aimed to bolster his resilience, precision, and cognitive abilities, which were all crucial for the challenges ahead.
Feeling a bit more fortified and prepared, Lin Feng rose from his spot. The enhancements had given him a slight but noticeable increase in confidence. He resumed his journey toward Zhuyan, each step marked by a growing sense of purpose and anticipation. The road ahead promised not only potential dangers but also opportunities to test his new skills and further his understanding of the cultivation world he was now a part of.
As he walked, Lin Feng pondered the complexities of his abilities and the mysterious "Heart of True Belief." His mind was full of strategies on how to integrate his skills more effectively in combat, and how he might continue to evolve and adapt to meet whatever the path ahead held for him.
Lin Feng's journey through the dawn was swift and uneventful, his mind focused on reaching Zhuyan and the vast library it housed. As the sun climbed higher, the silhouette of Zhuyan's towering walls and bustling towers began to loom on the horizon. Excitement tinged with a hint of nervousness bubbled within him as he approached; this city was a crucial waypoint on his journey of discovery.
The streets of Zhuyan were alive with activity. Merchants hawked their wares loudly, vying for the attention of passersby, while children darted between the crowds, their laughter ringing in the air. Lin Feng took a moment to absorb the vibrant life around him before heading towards his primary destination—the city's renowned library.
Navigating through the vibrant streets, Lin Feng found himself drawn to a series of posters plastered along the bustling market square. Each poster featured announcements and invitations from the various sects and clans of Zhuyan, advertising openings for new disciples and upcoming public lectures on cultivation techniques. Lin Feng paused to read through them, intrigued by the competitive spirit and the open display of power among the sects.
The Azure Dragon Sect, one of the city's most prestigious groups, seemed particularly prominent. Their posters boasted of advanced training programs and successful disciples who had achieved remarkable feats in recent city-wide tournaments.
He finally arrived at a grand square dominated by a magnificent fountain depicting an ancient cultivation legend. Turning left, he found himself standing before the great oak doors of the Zhuyan Library. It was an imposing structure, its façade adorned with bas-reliefs of historical and mythical scenes that spoke of a deep, storied past.
Lin Feng stepped inside and was immediately enveloped by a profound silence, a stark contrast to the cacophony of the city. The library was a cavernous space filled with towering shelves crammed with scrolls and books. Soft candlelight flickered from the walls, casting gentle shadows and illuminating paths between the rows of ancient texts.
Approaching the main desk, Lin Feng noticed that the library was indeed managed, but was publicly accessible—a common arrangement in large cities where knowledge was revered as a communal asset. The librarian, an elderly man with a kindly demeanor, noticed Lin Feng's attire and the travel-worn look about him.
"You must be a traveler. From far off?" he asked, his voice echoing slightly in the high-ceilinged room.
"Yes, from Qinghe," Lin Feng replied, adding respectfully, "I am here to study cultivation arts. I've heard great things about your collection."
"Ah, seeking knowledge, are you? Very well, you are welcome here. Use our scrolls wisely, and may you find the path you seek," the librarian said, gesturing broadly towards the endless shelves.
Thanking him, Lin Feng delved into the rows of scrolls, each step taking him deeper into the realms of arcane knowledge. He was particularly interested in texts about Qi manipulation and enhancement techniques—a field he felt was essential to mastering his cultivation level.
Lin Feng began his day of study with a detailed scroll on Qi manipulation techniques. Sitting quietly in a corner of the library, he practiced the exercises described in the text. As he meticulously followed the instructions, Lin Feng felt his Qi responding more fluidly than before.
Status Update:
New Skill Acquired: Enhanced Qi Flow - Level 1
Startled by the sudden appearance of this message, Lin Feng laughed. Encouraged by this initial success, Lin Feng moved on to a complex treatise on elemental balance within a cultivator's body. The concepts were intricate, demanding focused study, but as he began to understand and apply the principles, Lin Feng sensed a harmonious alignment of his internal energies with the elemental forces around him.
Status Update:
New Skill Acquired: Elemental Harmony - Level 1
During a break in his intensive study session, Lin Feng's concentration was momentarily disrupted by the arrival of a group of young cultivators. They wore the light blue robes of the Azure Dragon Sect, and among them, a particularly confident young man approached Lin Feng.
"You're not from around here, are you? First time in Zhuyan?" he asked in a tone that started off as slightly condescending but shifted to curiosity.
"Yes, I'm here to study. Is there something I can help you with?" Lin Feng responded, maintaining a polite demeanor.
The young man's expression softened as he extended a hand, introducing himself as Cheng Wei of the Azure Dragon Sect. "Here," he said, offering Lin Feng a small booklet. "This contains basic Qi control techniques our sect uses. Consider it a welcome gift."
Lin Feng accepted the booklet with thanks, intrigued by Cheng Wei's sudden generosity. "Thank you, Cheng Wei. I appreciate this."
Cheng Wei nodded and suggested, "If you're serious about cultivation, you might consider joining a sect like ours. It's good to have allies in a place like this."
With this piece of advice, Cheng Wei returned to his group, leaving Lin Feng to ponder the possibility of joining a sect in the future.
Refocusing on his studies, Lin Feng spent the rest of the day engrossed in texts about advanced meditation techniques and mystic symbols used in cultivation. Each new piece of knowledge refined his skills and expanded his understanding of cultivation.
Status Update:
New Skills Acquired: Deep Meditation - Level 1, Mystic Symbol Mastery - Level 1
After spending a productive day immersed in ancient texts and absorbing new cultivation techniques, Lin Feng was interrupted by a gentle but firm voice of the librarian. "Young master, we are closing for the evening," he announced, a polite reminder that the day had come to an end.
Lin Feng looked up, slightly disoriented by the shift from the deep concentration of his studies. He quickly gathered his books and the scrolls, thanking the librarian for her assistance before stepping out into the dusky evening of Zhuyan.
The city had transformed with the setting sun; the lively bustle of the day gave way to a quieter, yet still vibrant, nightlife. Lin Feng walked through the streets, his mind still racing with all he had learned. Despite the excitement of the day's achievements, a practical concern suddenly struck him—he had nowhere to stay for the night.
Wandering somewhat aimlessly through the winding streets, Lin Feng found himself standing before a modest inn. The warm light spilling out from its windows suggested a cozy refuge from the cool night air. With a mix of hope and fatigue, he approached the counter, only to be met with a less than enthusiastic reception.
"We're fully booked, no rooms left," the innkeeper said gruffly, barely looking up from his ledger.
Lin Feng, unsure of what to do next, lingered at the inn's entrance. He tried to negotiate, "Please, if there's any place I could just rest for the night, even it's not a proper room, I'd be grateful."
His persistence was met with annoyance. "I said no rooms. Try the inn across town if you're desperate," the innkeeper dismissed him without another glance.
However, Lin Feng couldn't bear the thought of wandering through an unfamiliar city at night to find another inn that might also turn him away. He decided to stay put and continued to plead for any available space, even if it was just a corner to lay his head.
Hours dragged on as Lin Feng sat quietly by the inn's entrance. His presence seemed to irritate the innkeeper further, and soon enough, it wasn't just a cold shoulder he was dealing with. Patrons of the inn, perhaps spurred by the innkeeper's evident disdain, began to mock Lin Feng for his plight. Some threw scornful looks, others made derisive comments, and a few even jeered at him as they passed by.
The pinnacle of his ordeal came when the innkeeper, frustrated by Lin Feng's stubbornness to leave, grabbed a broomstick and started prodding him, trying to drive him away like an unwanted animal. Each jab was meant to humiliate as much as it was meant to hurt.
But Lin Feng endured.
With each prod of the stick, each jeer and scoff from the passersby, Lin Feng's resolve hardened. He understood that enduring this humiliation was a test of his will, a different kind of cultivation. Through this bitter experience, he found himself detaching, focusing on his inner strength and the skills he had learned.
Status Update:
New Skill Acquired: Endurance of the Stoic - Level 1
This newfound skill fortified Lin Feng's mental resilience, allowing him to maintain composure and dignity in the face of public scorn and physical discomfort. It was an unexpected, yet valuable, lesson in the harsh realities of his journey.
Eventually, the innkeeper, exasperated and perhaps slightly impressed by Lin Feng's endurance, grudgingly offered him a place to sleep in a small storage closet. "Fine, stay in the closet if you must, but leave first thing in the morning and don't make a fuss," he grumbled.
Lin Feng accepted the meager offer with a nod, grateful for any shelter for the night. The closet was cramped and smelled of mothballs and old wood, but it was enough. He settled down among the boxes and cleaning supplies, wrapping himself in a thin blanket.
As Lin Feng lay in the darkness, the day's lessons and trials replayed in his mind. From the high of acquiring new cultivation skills to the low of being mocked and shunned, it had been a day of extreme contrasts. Yet, each experience, whether positive or negative, contributed to his growth as a cultivator.
He drifted off to sleep with a sense of peace, knowing that each humiliation endured and each barrier overcome was a step forward on his path. Tomorrow would indeed bring new challenges, but Lin Feng was ready to meet them with a strengthened spirit and a resilient heart.