Kailash sat on the edge of the village, squinting at the sun sinking below the horizon.
His arms ached from swinging the Beginner's Sword all day, his legs felt like they were filled with lead, and his brain was tired of thinking about Qi.
He had made some progress, sure, but it wasn't enough.
Not even close.
He sighed, staring at the 1 Qi point he had gathered.
One down, nine to go. "At this rate, I'll be 90 before I hit Basic Level 2," he muttered.
As he sat there, mulling over his slow progress, a thought struck him.
There was one person in the village who might have some real advice.
Everyone knew Elder Biran, the old hunter who used to be a cultivator.
The man was practically a legend, or at least he was to a bunch of farmers.
If anyone could give him the lowdown on cultivation, it was him.
Kailash stood up, stretched, and made his way toward Elder Biran's hut.
The small house sat on the outskirts of the village, near the forest, where the air was quieter, and the evening breeze carried the scent of pine and earth.
As he approached, he could hear the soft scrape of metal against stone.
Biran's sharpening something again, Kailash thought.
He knocked on the door and heard the familiar gruff voice. "Come in."
Kailash pushed the door open and stepped into the dimly lit room.
Biran sat by the fire, his scarred hands methodically running a knife across a whetstone.
The man had the look of someone who had seen more than his fair share of battles and never backed down from any of them.
His right leg, twisted and useless, was a constant reminder of those days.
"What brings you here, boy?" Biran asked without looking up.
Kailash shifted awkwardly. "I... I was hoping to ask you about cultivation."
The old man's hands paused, and he finally looked up, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. "Cultivation, huh?"
He set the knife down and leaned back in his chair, the firelight casting long shadows across his face. "Thought you were just a kid playing with sticks."
Kailash rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, I'm serious now. I've been trying to gather Qi, but it's slow. Really slow. I figured you might know a thing or two about how this whole cultivation thing works."
Biran snorted. "A thing or two, eh? I've spent my whole life learning about it, and I barely scratched the surface."
Kailash shrugged. "Well, I'm just looking for the basics. You know, before I become some Qi-sucking sword master."
Biran's lips twitched into what might have been the ghost of a smile. "Alright, kid. Sit down. If you're serious, I'll tell you what I know. Just don't expect miracles."
Kailash quickly sat down on the floor, eager to soak up whatever knowledge the old man would offer.
Biran leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. "First thing you need to know is that cultivation's a long road. You're not going to be flying around or shooting fireballs anytime soon. You're in the Basic Realm right now. It's the first step, and there are ten levels. You need to gather Qi, bit by bit, to move up. Each level requires more Qi than the last."
Kailash nodded, already familiar with the struggle of gathering Qi. "Yeah, I've got that much. I'm at Basic Level 1, but I need more Qi to hit Level 2."
Biran raised an eyebrow. "How much you got?"
Kailash smiled sheepishly. "Uh, one. One Qi point."
Biran stared at him for a long moment, then burst into laughter, the sound deep and rough like gravel. "One Qi? You've got a long way to go, boy. You'll need ten Qi just to hit Level 2."
Kailash groaned. "That's what I figured. So, how do I gather it faster?"
Biran shrugged. "There's no quick way. The Foundational Qi Absorption Technique is basic, but it works. You've just got to keep practicing. Meditate, breathe, pull in Qi from the environment. It's all around you the air, the trees, the earth. You've just got to grab it."
Kailash sighed, feeling the weight of the task ahead. "Yeah, but it's like trying to catch water with my hands. I can feel it, but it keeps slipping away."
Biran chuckled again. "That's how it is at first. But the more you practice, the easier it gets. Eventually, you'll start pulling in more Qi without even thinking about it. You're just starting out, so don't expect to be a master in a week."
Kailash leaned forward, eager for more. "And after the Basic Realm? What comes next?"
Biran's expression grew more serious. "Next is the Foundation Realm. That's when you start using Qi to strengthen your body, your mind, and your spirit. It's when you stop being just some kid swinging a sword and start becoming a real cultivator."
Kailash felt a thrill of excitement at the idea. "How far did you get?"
Biran's eyes darkened slightly as he glanced down at his injured leg. "I made it to Basic Level 5 before this," he said, tapping his leg. "Never made it to the Foundation Realm. But I've seen what it does to people. They become... different. Stronger, faster, smarter. It's not just power. It's survival."
Kailash nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of what the old man was saying. "So, I've got to get through the Basic Realm first."
Biran grunted in agreement. "That's right. Ten levels, and you're only at one. Focus on gathering Qi and building your strength. The sword will come later, once you've got the energy to actually use it properly."
Kailash looked down at his hands, clenching them into fists. "So I just keep practicing, huh?"
Biran leaned forward, his voice taking on a harder edge. "Let me tell you something, kid. Cultivation isn't just about practice. It's about persistence. Most people give up long before they even hit Basic Level 2. They get frustrated, they get tired, and they quit. But if you stick with it, if you push through that wall you'll start seeing the results. And then, nothing will stop you."
Kailash sat there, he understood Cultivation, it wasn't those he used to read in webnovel, the real Cultivation
It wasn't glamorous.
It wasn't fast.
But it was the truth.
And if he wanted to survive in this world, no, if he wanted to thrive he had to be patient.
"Thanks, Elder Biran," Kailash said, standing up. "I'll keep at it."
Biran nodded, his eyes sharp despite his age. "Good. And don't come crying to me when it gets hard. You'll be fine."
Kailash couldn't help but grin. "No promises."
That night, back in his small hut, Kailash sat down cross-legged on the floor.
The firelight flickered softly in the corner as he pulled up his status screen.
[Status]
Name: Kailash Varuna
Age: 12
Cultivation Level: Basic Level 1
Qi: 1/10
Strength: 2
Agility: 3
Endurance: 4
Intelligence: 7
Luck: 1
Skills: Basic Swordsmanship (Beginner), Foundational Qi Absorption (Beginner)
"Still at one," Kailash muttered, eyeing the Qi: 1/10 part of the screen. "Well, at least it's something."
He closed the status screen and took a deep breath, ready to practice again.
Biran's words echoed in his mind. "It's about persistence."
Kailash wasn't about to give up, not after everything that had happened.
He settled into his meditation stance, focusing on his breathing.
The night air was cool, and the village was quiet around him.
He could feel the Qi in the air, faint but present, swirling around him like invisible threads.
Slowly, he reached out with his mind, pulling the energy toward him.
It was still hard, like trying to grasp smoke, but this time, he was ready.
He wasn't expecting instant results. He wasn't rushing.
Bit by bit, he felt the Qi enter his body. It was small, barely a spark, but it was real.
He smiled to himself, feeling the warmth spread through his chest.
"Nine more to go," he whispered.