He gasped, the sound lost in the sound of lives lived and unlived. Up? Down? Irrelevant. He was adrift in a storm of sensations, a million echoes of sights, sounds, smells. A thousand realities unfolded before him. He was a king on a golden throne, a beggar shivering in the gutter, all at once. He was king, and beggar all at once, and none at all.
He was there, but he was looking from the outside. At that moment, he felt it was he who sat at the peak, yet the person there looked not quite like him. It did not act exactly like him, though similar. The person he saw mirrored his own features, his movements, yet somehow felt alien. And yet, he knew — it was him. It must be him.
"Master, does the timing of your final tribulation have to coincide with the War in Heaven? Your disciple begs you, lend your strength to the Sect." The voice came from nowhere, its source unseen, yet its urgency unmistakable.
"Little Shouwei, I—"
≪ Alert ≫
Based on your sleep patterns and current time, you have successfully completed a sleep cycle conducive for peak alertness. Further sleep may lead to grogginess upon waking and suboptimal cultivation efficiency.
≪ Recommendation ≫
To maximize energy levels, it is advised to rise and begin your day.
Grumbling under his breath, Qiu Zhen cracked open an eye. Blurry shapes slowly resolved into the rough-hewn wooden beams of his crummy hut in the Hidden Valley Sect's Outer Disciple Quarters. "Alright, alright," he rasped, his throat like sandpaper. "Getting up, getting up." He tried to prop himself on his elbows, but his entire body felt like it was filled with lead.
A strangled whisper escaped his lips. "Just what was that..." His dream swam, coming in and out of focus.
≪ Alert ≫
Anomalous energy signature of〔Immortal Realm〕Cultivator has been identified. The source and intent are unclear.
≪ Analysis ≫
Based on current diagnostics, you appear to be experiencing the aftereffects. This is likely a consequence of the detected interference.
This wasn't the first time, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. With a grimace, he spoke into the seemingly empty room, his voice rough. "System, can you... eliminate the energy?" The room remained silent, but a faint hum resonated within his head, acknowledging his request.
≪ System Failure ≫
The detected energy signature far surpasses the system's capacity for defense. Furthermore, at your present cultivation level, the probability of effectively countering such an interference is 0%.
He'd chuckle softly, a familiar response to his recurring question. It had been asked so many times, that it felt almost routine. But the answer never changed. That internal voice he'd acquired years ago insisted that it relied on his cultivation level. Yet therein was the problem — he had a fractured cultivation core, a condition that baffled all who knew of it.
Qiu Zhen couldn't gather and condense Qi as others did, all because of this mysterious damage. Nobody knew how his Dantian had shattered, or how he managed to survive with such a handicap. Make no mistake — he could still manipulate Qi, even if only with great difficulty. However, the instability of his pathways resulted in unpredictable energy surges, internal injuries, and constraints on his power output. Essentially, the conventional cultivation route was entirely barred for him.
"Status."
系统状态 ⋄ System Status
Name: Qiu Zhen
Status: Alive
Cultivation Level: Qi Condensation |> Early Stage
Spiritual Energy Reserves: 20%
Merit Points: 350
Health: Stable
Mental State: Determined
System Diagnostic Logs:
‣ Anomaly detected: Disruption in spiritual energy flow.
‣ Core integrity compromised: Fragmentation detected.
‣ Spiritual resonance imbalance detected.
‣ Critical damage sustained: Core rupture confirmed.
System Notes:
‣ Several fragmented pieces of the cultivation core are scattered across the mortal realm. Retrieval and reintegration of these fragments are essential for complete core restoration.
系统状态 ⋄ System Status
Half-dressed, he squinted at the status screen shimmering before his eyes. Taking the first step down, his gaze darted from the screen to take in the deserted House, his eyes tracing the familiar emptiness.
The tiny hut was in rough shape, to say the least. The walls, made of uneven wooden planks, had large gaps letting in slivers of light and plenty of drafts. Dirt covered the floor, and in the dimness, it was hard to tell if it was bare earth or worn floorboards. A single, thin straw mat lay in the center, its edges frayed. In the corner, a chipped ceramic pot sat on a dented metal stand. The air was stale and smoky.
A swift flick of his wrist sent a vial sailing through the air. It landed soundlessly in his palm. He tipped it back, and a handful of Fasting Avoidance Pills disappeared into his mouth.
A grimace flickered across his face as he popped the pills into his mouth. Swallowing the pills was like downing a mouthful of dirt infused with lemon peel. Convenience had its price.
"Ugh," he gagged slightly as the bitter after-taste assaulted his mouth.
≪ Alert ≫
A reminder regarding the upcoming Sect Examination and its significance within the system framework. The "Tutorial Quest" remains incomplete. Achieving a Top 3 placement in the Sect Examination is a mandatory requirement for quest completion.
≪ Benefits of Completion ≫
‣ Unlocking the "Main Quest" with substantial rewards to accelerate your cultivation journey.
‣ Access to the main system functionalities and resources.
A familiar eye roll threatened to break out.
Of course, he hadn't forgotten the Selection Day, the most important event for any Outer Disciple. However, doubt ate at him. Here he was, a mere Early Stage Qi Condensation cultivator. How could he possibly compete with those who already danced with the Middle or Late Stages, let alone snag a coveted spot in the Inner Sect, much less crack the Top 3?
Cai Lin. She is at the Late Stage of Qi Condensation. As a descendant of the Hidden Valley Cai Family, she has benefited from significant investments to reach her current cultivation level, even if she is at the lowest end of the Late Stage.
Jian Chen. Though only in the Middle Stage of Qi Condensation, Jian Chen is a prodigy with a blade. Grandson of Elder Jian, he possesses the Low-Grade Profound Technique, Hundred Hidden Steps, which is an exceptional movement technique. This combination assures him a strong position in the upcoming trials.
Mei Lin. The youngest of the three, she is a member of the Verdant Valley Mei Family's Cousin Branch. While still in the early stages of Qi Condensation, she has a trump card - a Top-Grade Profound Treasure. This advantage makes her a serious contender for the top spot in the Examination, despite her lower cultivation level.
In the cultivation world, backing means a lot — perhaps even everything. The difference between being a rogue cultivator and coming from a powerful family is like that between heaven and earth, mud and clouds.
He would shake his head, a soft chuckle escaping him. Without treasures or techniques, how is he supposed to contend with them? Not to mention, he isn't even a serious opponent for someone at his stage. With his cultivation core shattered, even using Qi to temper his body was nearly impossible.
≪ Alert ≫
In your present realm reliance on Qi is not necessarily the sole metric for success. The disparity between you and your opponents will become more pronounced once you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. At that point, manipulating and utilizing Qi efficiently becomes the cornerstone of cultivation.
At this early stage of cultivation, the manipulation of Qi is still developing. Hence, overcoming an opponent with superior skill is a viable possibility, despite your Core, even if they possess a stronger physical body.
Zhen's retort, whatever it might have been against this 'System', died on his lips before he could voice it. A young servant appeared, his expression serious but respectful. "Disciple Qiu," the servant said directly, "the Elder has sent me to bring you to a gift before the Selection starts. Please, follow me."
...
His jaw dropped. Spread before him were four items. The most prominent was a ring - an undeniably expensive one. It was a Spatial Ring, no wonder. A knot formed in his stomach. Why was the Elder showering him with such gifts?
≪ Alert ≫
Based on system analysis, several treasures have been identified in your possession. Here's a list ordered by rarity, from least to most rare:
Treasure —〔Smoke Bombs of Shifting Shadows〕
‣ Mortal, Middle Grade
‣ These deceptively simple clay canisters contain a special blend of herbs and alchemical salts. When thrown, they explode in a thick, swirling cloud of opaque smoke. It subtly shifts and distorts light, creating crude duplicates of the user within the cloud.
Treasure —〔Mending Pills〕
‣ Mortal, High Grade
‣ They are pea-sized spheres with a subtle, swirling pearlescent sheen. These pills are considered a high-grade Mortal treasure due to their unique ability to temporarily stabilize unstable Qi within a cultivator's body. It is immensely helpful in breakthroughs, when suffering from injuries or combatting external influences.
Treasure —〔2 Bull-Head Chain〕
‣ Profound, Low Grade
‣ This simple weapon consists of a thick, black iron chain roughly six feet long. Attached to each end are the ferocious heads of bulls, crafted from dark, polished obsidian. It channels the raw power of a cultivator's Yang energy. Unlike typical, profound treasures that utilize refined spiritual Qi, the chain harnesses the powerful, but often uncontrolled, energy surges that come with anger, restlessness, or heightened emotions.
Forget the weapons — those mending pills were the real deal. With them, he could at least fight at his stage and avoid disgracing his ancestors. He stared hard, blinking a few times to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him. Those were mending pills. He knew, oh did he know, about their abilities. The cost was astronomical, far beyond anything he could ever hope to afford. Now, here they were, laid out before him.
But, he had no idea what to choose.
≪ Alert ≫
Analyzing compatibility of selected items with the Host's existing profile...
2 Bull-Head Chain — Compatibility at 34%. This item has the highest synergy with the Host's profile, allowing effective use of the uncontrolled Yang energy surging from the ruptured core. Selection of this item is strongly advised for optimal alignment with current energy state and combat needs.
Mending Pills — Compatibility at 20%. These pills provide short-term stabilization but will result in diminished effectiveness over time due to incompatibility with the Host's current core condition. Caution advised; this choice may lead to complications.
Smoke Bombs of Shifting Shadows — Compatibility assessment advises against selection. These items lack necessary alignment with the Host's energy profile and could destabilize current defenses.
Wow, he didn't even need to ask — the System was pretty useful, wasn't it? It had seldom been wrong, so he saw no reason to question its guidance. But as he reached out, his hand halted midair, and he bit his lip. A thought struck him: caution was warranted. The old idiom whispered in his mind — overreliance on a crutch can lead to ruin when it's pulled away.
He took the 2 Bull-Head Chain.