Ding!
Hearing the system's notification Lei Ming was startled at first.
"A new section?"
He murmured as he searched for it on his panel.
At the bottom, underneath the 'Spirits' section was a new one, titled 'Techniques'.
Its uses were pretty straightforward. Here, Lei Ming was able to see the current techniques he had at his disposal. Depending on whether his strength was high enough to use them was deemed by the system, those like the Earth Grade Stoneshattering Cleave were greyed out with the words '(Locked') next to them.
[Techniques: Heavenly Sky Qi Refining Technique - Mortal Grade, Stoneshattering Cleave - Earth Grade (Locked)]
Seeing that the technique from the manual he had just used to cultivate now appeared caused the excited Lei Ming to jump from where he was sitting in excitement.
"I can finally enlighten my first spirit! I wonder who it will be though?"
Lei Ming pondered out loud, but after only a couple of breaths threw that thought away.
"Ah who cares, I'm sure the System won't screw me over. System, add 500 points to the Heavenly Sky Qi Refining Technique!"
Ding!
"The Host has elected to enlighten the spirit of the Heavenly Sky Qi Refining Technique!"
"500 Enlightenment Points have been deducted from your balance."
"Congratulations! You have successfully enlightened the spirit of the Heavenly Sky Qi Refining Technique, Qinglan"
The air around Lei Ming shimmered, and a soft, azure mist began to gather before him, swirling in delicate patterns like a dance of wind and water. He blinked, leaning forward, his heart pounding with excitement.
Slowly, the mist condensed, taking the form of a woman. Qinglan appeared, her ethereal figure emerging from the haze, slender and graceful, with long azure hair that flowed like a gentle breeze.
Her robes of pale blue and white seemed to be woven from clouds, with patterns of drifting clouds and winding streams. Her deep cerulean eyes sparkled with an inner light that held a strange mix of serenity and… amusement?
Lei Ming's mouth dropped open. He had expected something… spirit-like, but this? He quickly straightened up, trying to look dignified. "So, you're… Qinglan?" he asked, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
Qinglan gave him a calm smile, her eyes twinkling. "Indeed, I am Qinglan," she replied in a soft, melodic voice that seemed to carry the tranquility of a clear morning sky. "The spirit of the Heavenly Sky Qi Refining Technique, at your service, Master Lei Ming."
Lei Ming nodded, trying to maintain his composure. "Oh, right, right. So… you're here to help me cultivate?"
Qinglan's smile widened, and there was a playful glint in her eyes. "Help? Oh, I suppose you could say that," she answered lightly. "Though I might say you need quite a bit of help, judging by how you nearly botched the breathing technique on your first try."
Lei Ming's face flushed. "Hey! That was my first time trying it!" he protested, crossing his arms defensively.
Qinglan chuckled softly, a sound like the tinkling of a distant stream. "Of course, of course. But if you'd like to actually advance in your cultivation, we might need to work on your patience… and perhaps your coordination. You almost choked on your own qi."
Lei Ming stared at her, unsure whether to feel offended or amused. "Wait, do spirits always tease their masters like this?"
Qinglan tilted her head, her azure hair flowing like mist in the wind. "Only when the master is… so entertaining," she replied with a sly smile. "Now, let's see what we can do about that stubborn meridian of yours."
Lei Ming blinked. "My meridian is not stubborn, it's… wait, how did you know about that?"
Qinglan's eyes sparkled again. "I know everything about your cultivation, Master Lei Ming," she replied, her voice full of mock solemnity. "It's my job, after all. That, and keeping you from getting out of line."
"Whatever, whatever. Just tell me in detail, what exactly are your abilities?"
Lei Ming asked, changing the subject. He was eager to see if she had any abilities that he could use with his cultivation currently.
Becoming serious now, Qinglan began to list off her abilities and what they did, "Master, I currently have three abilities at my disposal.
The first is Qi Manipulation. I can essentially manipulate the surrounding qi and condense it for either attack or cultivation purposes.
My second ability is called Spiritual Insight. I am able to analyze other techniques, point out their flaws, and even amend them depending on their complexity. I am also able to detect spiritual herbs, rare spirit ore, etc.
The last one is my Mist Form. I can dissolve into a cloud of azure mist, becoming intangible and almost invisible to the naked eye. This is useful if you need a scout, or I can wrap myself around you, providing a shield.
However, all of these are limited by your meager first level of Qi Refining cultivation. My mist form would probably only last a few breaths before you ran out of spiritual energy."
Lei Ming sheepishly looked down at his feet after hearing Qinglan's last remark about his cultivation.
Qinglan was about to say something else when Lei Ming's eyes widened at the sound of hurried footsteps outside his door. He heard a voice, unmistakably Bai Yuelin's, calling out in a slightly impatient tone, "Lei Ming! Are you in there? I have the first item you asked for!"
Lei Ming froze, his heart skipping a beat. Panic surged through him as he glanced back at Qinglan, who was still standing calmly in the middle of the room, her ethereal form glowing softly.
"Uh, Qinglan," he whispered frantically, "where do I put you? I can't let her see you—she'll think I'm some sort of weirdo talking to myself!"
Qinglan rolled her eyes with a smile. "Master, all spirits have access to the 'Spirit World,' a part of the subspace your system is linked to. I can return there anytime," she explained calmly.
Lei Ming blinked. "Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
"I was about to, but you seemed more interested in my abilities than basic spirit management," she replied with a teasing smirk.
"Alright, alright! Just—go there for now!" Lei Ming urged.
Qinglan chuckled softly, dissolving into a swirl of azure mist. "Very well, Master. I'll be in the Spirit World… and do try not to embarrass yourself too much," her voice trailed off as she vanished completely.
Before Lei Ming could even sigh in relief, the door burst open, and Bai Yuelin barged in without waiting for an invitation.
"You sure took your time, didn't you?" she huffed, folding her arms. "What were you doing in here, hiding from me?"
Lei Ming quickly composed himself, trying to appear casual. "Oh, just… organizing a few things. You know, making the place feel like home," he lied, giving her a weak smile.
Bai Yuelin raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Right… Well, here's the item you asked for." She handed him a small, wrapped bundle. "It's a Mortal Grade weapon, the Ironbark Saber. It should help you while you are still in Qi Refining. Not exactly rare, but it's better than nothing."
Lei Ming accepted the bundle with a nod. "Thank you, Senior Sister. I really appreciate it."
Bai Yuelin gave a slight snort. "You better. Now, when do you plan to contact that author you mentioned? I'm not here to run errands for free, you know."
Lei Ming's mind raced. "Ah, about that… I've sent a message already," he fibbed, thinking quickly. "But you know how these reclusive writers are—they take their time replying. Very… secretive types."
Bai Yuelin tapped her foot impatiently. "Well, you better make it happen soon, or I might just reconsider helping you out," she warned, though there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
Lei Ming nodded eagerly. "Of course, of course. I'll keep you updated as soon as I hear back. Trust me, Senior Sister, I won't let you down!"
Bai Yuelin eyed him for a moment, as if weighing the truth in his words, before finally nodding. "Fine. But I'll be expecting results soon," she muttered. "And next time, don't make me wait at the door like a servant," she added with a glare, turning on her heel to leave.
As she exited, Lei Ming let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "That was close…" he muttered under his breath.
Almost immediately, Qinglan's voice chimed in his mind, "Very smooth, Master. Though, I'm not sure she bought that story entirely."
Lei Ming groaned inwardly. "I don't need commentary right now, Qinglan. What I really need is to improve my cultivation as quickly as possible."
"Well, she was quite pretty, even though she is no match for me of course. I don't know exactly what you have going on with her, but you better not get on her bad side. I probed her cultivation level and she appears to already be at the seventh level of Qi Refining."
Qinglan shared her insights with a shocked Lei Ming.
"The seventh level?! Are you positive? She can't possibly be much older than I am, and to reach that level already?"
Qinglan responded indifferently, "While it is impressive for her to reach such a high level at her age, you should have no problems doing the same. Matter of fact, if you can't surpass her with the tools you have, you might as well give up on cultivating."
Qinglan was blunt, but her words made sense.
Lei Ming had a massive advantage over others. Only time would tell if he used it properly or not.
Lei Ming took a deep breath, letting Qinglan's blunt words sink in. He knew she was right. With the system on his side, he had a massive advantage—one that most cultivators could only dream of. If he couldn't surpass Bai Yuelin's level within ten months, he had no right to call himself a cultivator.
"Alright, Qinglan," he muttered, a new resolve hardening in his voice. "You're right. I need to stop whining and start making progress. The seventh level of Qi Refining… by the end of the year. That's my goal."
Qinglan's voice chimed in his mind with a hint of satisfaction. "Now you're talking, Master. Set your sights high, and don't let distractions—like pretty cultivators—get in your way."
Lei Ming rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."
He turned his attention back to the bundle Bai Yuelin had handed him.
Unwrapping it carefully, he revealed the Mortal Grade weapon—the Ironbark Saber.