The following morning, the small village remained in a deep slumber as the first rays of sunlight broke through the grey clouds, casting a faint light on the clustered houses. The air was cold, as if nature itself was waiting for something unfamiliar to happen.
Liu Chen had woken early, his eyes gleaming with new determination.
Yesterday was just the beginning, a small step on a long, perilous path.
But he knew that the path of cultivation was not traveled quickly; it required patience, cunning, and, most importantly, intelligence.
Liu Chen sat in his modest room, the mysterious book passed down from his father placed in front of him.
It wasn't just a book; it was the key to everything.
The book didn't just contain teachings on soul cultivation; it was a map to secrets that went beyond what ordinary cultivators could understand.
Slowly, he leafed through the pages, trying to absorb every word and every line.
With each page, new ideas seeped into his mind like drops of water into an ocean of possibilities.
As Liu read, the familiar translucent screen of the cultivation system appeared before him:
**"First Level of Soul Cultivation Unlocked."**
The system appeared simple on the surface, but it was deceptive in its depth.
There were multiple levels, each unlocking new sets of abilities and knowledge.
But the system depended on something else even more important: Souls.
Each soul Liu Chen gathered from nature's creatures would grant him a small boost in spiritual power, but the process was not merely about collecting souls; it was a long and complex operation requiring wisdom and patience.
After finishing his examination of the book and system, Liu Chen rose and walked toward the village's central square.
For the villagers, it was just an ordinary day. Farmers were heading to the fields, children were running and playing in the alleys, but Liu felt something was different.
As he walked among the people, he noticed how they looked at him with a hint of suspicion.
Liu was not well-liked in the village; on the contrary, he was considered eccentric, a person who didn't speak much and didn't participate in communal activities. But Liu didn't care.
He knew his relationships with the villagers would remain superficial and temporary. No one here mattered to him.
No one deserved his trust. In the end, he saw them all as mere tools in his grand plan.
When he reached the square, he saw Zhang Ming standing in a distant corner.
As Liu had expected, Zhang was waiting for him.
Liu approached him slowly, his expression calm but full of hidden confidence.
"Did you come alone?" Zhang asked in a low voice, as if afraid someone might overhead.
Liu nodded.
"Yes, as you requested. Did you bring what you promised?"
Zhang pulled a small leather pouch from his bag and handed it to Liu.
Liu opened the pouch slowly and found three glowing soul cores inside.
"These are from the forest creatures, as you asked," Zhang said proudly.
A faint smile appeared on Liu's face as he took the cores without hesitation.
"Good work, Zhang. You'll find that our cooperation will bring you many benefits."
Zhang believed that Liu was leading him toward a great opportunity to gain his own power.
He dreamed of joining a powerful sect and thought Liu held the key.
But to Liu, Zhang was nothing more than a chess piece to be moved at his will.
After the meeting, Liu headed back toward the forest.
This time, he had a clearer plan. The cores he obtained from Zhang were useful, but they wouldn't be enough.
He needed more souls to progress in his cultivation, and he knew the forest hid many spiritual creatures he could exploit.
He arrived at the forest entrance, where the air was colder and heavier.
The towering trees and tangled shrubs formed a natural labyrinth.
But Liu moved lightly, guided by the directions provided by the system.
Every step he took was calculated, every movement was pre-planned.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, he sensed the presence of spiritual beings watching him from afar.
This feeling wasn't unfamiliar to him.
The spiritual creatures were intelligent, sensing danger and trying to avoid it.
But Liu did not pose an immediate threat; he knew how to hide his intentions, how to deceive even nature itself.
After hours of searching, Liu found his next target: a small phantom beast that took the form of a faint mist moving between the trees.
The beast was nearly invisible, but the system had clearly pointed it out.
This creature harbored a strong soul, one that could significantly enhance Liu's power.
Liu began to move slowly toward the beast, but this time he didn't plan to attack it directly.
Phantom beasts were known for their difficulty to catch, as they could vanish and merge with the surrounding mist.
So Liu needed a clever trick to capture it.
Liu recalled some simple techniques he had learned from the mysterious book.
One of them involved using spiritual energy to lure spiritual creatures to a specific location.
He sat on the ground and began gathering his spiritual energy, using the system to guide its flow. After a few moments, he felt faint vibrations in the air.
The beast was approaching.
When the phantom beast was close enough, Liu suddenly opened his eyes and unleashed a swift strike of his spiritual energy toward the heart of the creature.
The beast tried to escape, but Liu had already closed off all its paths.
In an instant, the phantom beast collapsed before him, and its soul began to dissipate into the air.
After defeating the creature, Liu began absorbing its soul using the system.
The energy he gained felt different from the previous souls; it was deeper and more complex.
Liu could feel a change within him, as if every cell in his body was growing stronger.
The system displayed a new message before him:
**"Phantom Beast's Soul Absorbed. Increase in Spiritual Energy: 25 Units."**
This was the largest boost he had received so far. But Liu wasn't satisfied.
He knew the path was still long, and he needed more souls to reach his ultimate goal.
Liu returned to the village as evening approached, already contemplating his next move.
He knew things wouldn't remain this way for long.
Eventually, he would need to face stronger opponents and engage in more complex battles.
But Liu feared nothing. He knew he possessed the strongest weapon: his intelligence and cunning.
That night, Liu sat alone in his room, studying the ancient book once again.
Every page contained new secrets, and every secret opened a door to greater power.
He knew that time was on his side and that, in the end, he would become stronger than anyone else.
As the stars shimmered in the cold night sky, Liu Chen sat alone in the darkness, plotting his next step in his journey toward dominance.