The morning sun rose casting its golden rays over the grand estate where Alex resided. The light slipped through the curtains, illuminating the handsome features of the young man sprawled across his bed.
Alex stirred as the warmth of the sunlight hit his face, his dark lashes fluttering slightly before his deep black eyes slowly opened.
For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling as his mind adjusted to the reality of his new world.
It had only been a short time since he had transmigrated, but every day was proving to be an adventure—filled with new knowledge, unexpected encounters, and relentless training.
With a sigh, he sat up, stretching his arms before turning his attention to the stack of books beside his bed.
His fingers brushed over the leather-bound covers before settling on one that immediately caught his interest.
Flipping the book open, he quickly became absorbed in its contents.
The world he was now a part of was called Lumi, a planet three times the size of Earth. Unlike Earth, Lumi was infused with spiritual energy, allowing cultivators to defy normal limitations—strengthening their bodies, extending their lifespans, and even ascending to godhood.
The world was divided into eight massive continents, each with its own rulers.
The continent he currently resided in was called the Celestial Dragon Empire, and its history was far grander than he initially thought.
Long ago, this land was ruled not by emperors, but by a divine being—a Dragon God.
According to the book, thousands of years ago, a mighty dragon descended upon this continent. This dragon was no ordinary beast—it was said to be a divine existence, blessed with wisdom and power that far surpassed mortal understanding.
For centuries, this Dragon God ruled the continent, guiding powerful cultivators, shaping the land, and establishing laws that even now continued to influence the empire.
But eventually, the Dragon God transcended the mortal realm, ascending to godhood and vanishing into the higher planes of existence.
Though the divine dragon was no longer present, its influence remained—passed down through bloodlines, hidden in ancient ruins, and whispered in legends by those who still believed that one day, it would return.
Alex's fingers tightened on the book.
"A literal Dragon God existed in this world… and actually ascended?"
This wasn't just a fairy tale—this was proof that cultivation could lead to true godhood.
"So it's possible to break free from mortality…"
His heart raced at the realization.
If a dragon could ascend, then what was stopping him from doing the same?
He had no ties to this world. No obligations.
Why shouldn't he aim for the top?
Before he could continue reading, a knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Young Master, may I come in?"
Alex blinked before responding, "Yes, come in."
The door opened, revealing Lila, her expression as calm and composed as ever.
She carried a tray of freshly prepared food, the aroma quickly filling the room.
"Where should I place this?" she asked.
Alex motioned toward the bed. "Just put it here."
With a graceful nod, Lila placed the tray down.
"Is there anything else you need, Young Master?"
Alex shook his head. "No, that's all."
Lila bowed slightly. "Then I shall take my leave. Enjoy your meal."
She turned and exited, leaving Alex alone once more.
Looking at the steaming food, Alex let out a sigh of satisfaction.
"The food here never disappoints."
He quickly ate, and as always, it was delicious.
After finishing, he turned back to the stack of books, this time picking up one titled:
"The Fundamentals of Qi Cultivation."
This book detailed the true essence of cultivation—how Qi was the foundation of all power.
It described the process of absorbing Qi into one's dantian, refining it, and breaking through into higher realms of strength.
There were three fundamental steps for beginners:
1. Sensing Qi – Meditating to become aware of Qi in the surroundings.
2. Absorbing Qi – Drawing the Qi into the dantian (spiritual core).
3. Refining Qi – Strengthening the body and mind using cultivated energy.
Alex nodded to himself, understanding more and more.
"So this is how people grow stronger in this world."
He was about to pick up another book when suddenly—
[Ding!]
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[Daily Quest: Work Out]
[Description:
Your body is weak! A cultivator must maintain their physical form. Complete the following exercises to strengthen yourself.
1. Run 5 kilometers.
2. Perform 30 push-ups.
3. Hold a plank position for 1 hour without interruption.
Rewards:
+3 Agility
+2 Charm
Penalties:
Failure to complete the objective within 24 hours will result in -1 for all attributes.
If you fail, you will be unable to attempt this quest again for 3 days.]
Alex stared at the glowing blue screen in disbelief.
"WHAT THE HELL?! THE WORKOUT DOUBLED?!"
He groaned, rubbing his face.
"This system is going to kill me before I even start cultivating!"
Letting out a deep sigh, he muttered, "Here we go again…"
Despite complaining, Alex forced himself through the training.
He ran 5 kilometers—inside his room, pacing like a caged beast.
He dropped to the floor, pushing through 30 push-ups, his arms trembling.
Finally, he held a plank position for 1 hour.
By the time he collapsed onto the bed, he felt like his soul had left his body.
"Damn… that was brutal."
His arms ached, his legs burned, and his entire body screamed for rest.
Then—
Another notification appeared.
---
[Status Updated!]
---
[Status]
Name: Alex Midnight
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Age: 17
Bloodline: ????
Title: [None]
Cultivation Level: First Level of Body Awakening Realm
Cultivation Type: Qi Cultivation / Dual Cultivation
Status: Weak (Recovering), Exhausted
Level: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 2
Agility: 1 → 4
Stamina: 5
Intelligence: 5
Charm: 4 → 6
Soul Strength: 10
Mental Strength: 10
Affinity: [None]
Skills: [None]
---
Alex grinned despite his exhaustion.
"My stats are improving. Slowly but surely."
Then—
Another notification popped up.
---
[Due to the host's understanding of Qi, the system has granted the Beginner's Qi Knowledge.]
---
Just as he was about to celebrate—
A sharp pain stabbed through his head.
His vision blurred, and knowledge poured into his mind like a flood.
Then, as the pain faded, a sudden knock at the door startled him.
He froze.
"Who could it be this time?"
Taking a deep breath, he walked toward the door