Back in the dormitory, Wang Lin sat on the corner of his simple bed, his thoughts still lingering on the battle and the system announcement. He looked up at the ceiling, taking a deep breath to calm his swirling emotions. However, in the midst of the silence, his mind returned to the sect's reward.
The pill… and the skill," he muttered, feeling a surge of anticipation mixed with apprehension.
He took out the small jade bottle he had received from his bag. Inside lay the pill that the elder had said would allow him to transition to the Qi Condensation stage. Next to the bottle was also an ancient scroll, which contained the skill he had chosen earlier.
"Qi Condensation," Wang Lin said to himself, running his fingers over the smooth surface of the bottle. "Am I really ready for this?"
He knew that breaking through to the next stage meant not only a leap in power, but also a greater responsibility. Cultivating to the Qi Condensation level was opening the door to a world of more advanced skills, but also to much more dangerous challenges.
"First of all, I need to understand this skill," Wang Lin thought, picking up the scroll.
The text inscribed on it was in ancient but still legible calligraphy. The skill was called "Primordial Dragon Fist", and it was a technique that converged condensed Qi into devastating attacks, capable of destroying defenses and breaking barriers. However, it required extremely precise control of Qi, something Wang Lin did not yet possess.
"This is far beyond what I'm used to," he thought, frowning. "But if I want to be strong, I need to adapt."
Putting away the scroll, he turned his attention to the pill. He held it tightly in his hand, feeling the faint heat it gave off.
"I can't hesitate," he muttered. "If I truly want to change my fate, I need to take this step."
With one last breath, Wang Lin placed the pill in his mouth, closing his eyes as he felt a wave of heat spread throughout his body.
As soon as Wang Lin swallowed the pill, an intense heat began to spread from his abdomen, radiating throughout his body. It was as if a flame had been lit inside him, burning with increasing strength. His skin felt tingling, as if thousands of invisible needles were piercing his flesh, but at the same time, a revitalizing energy flooded every cell.
His breathing became labored. The heat soon gave way to a crushing weight, as if he was being pressed down by an invisible mountain. Wang Lin clenched his teeth, feeling sweat run down his face as drops of pain and relief mixed together.
Suddenly, a burst of energy surged through his meridians. It was like a raging river invading previously restricted channels. His meridians, which had previously seemed thin and fragile, now expanded, withstanding the raw power of the Qi flowing through them. Wang Lin felt every fiber of his body vibrate, as if it were being rebuilt from the inside out.
What... is this? he thought as an intense pain shot through his head, followed by a sudden clarity. He could feel the Qi around him much more clearly, as if it were an extension of himself.
His heart pounded, and he felt a deep connection with the world itself. It was as if the universe around him had expanded, allowing him to see further, feel more intensely, and think more deeply.
When the energy finally stabilized, Wang Lin opened his eyes. His breathing was still heavy, but he felt completely different. He clenched his fists, feeling the force pulsing through them. The world seemed clearer; every sound, every detail in the room seemed alive. Standing up, Wang Lin flexed his fingers and found his movements more agile, his body lighter. He punched the air and felt the force of his energy materialize around his fist, vibrating as if it were ready to be used in combat. "Amazing," he muttered, a confident smile appearing on his face. "That's it… I'm stronger now!" His breathing finally steadied, and Wang Lin felt the peak of Body Refinement no longer be a limit. He was prepared for the next step: the beginning of the Qi Condensation stage. As Wang Lin was still adjusting to the new force coursing through his body, he was interrupted by a familiar sound, echoing directly in his mind.
\DING! REWARD AVAILABLE\
A transparent screen appeared before him:
---
Congratulations, Wang Lin!
You have broken through to the Qi Condensation stage.
**Rewards:**
- Cultivation Technique: Harmonized Body and Qi (Level A)
Description: An advanced technique that allows you to simultaneously cultivate Qi and strengthen your body. Maximizes Qi control and efficiency while increasing stamina and physical strength. Ideal for a combat style based on brute force.
- New Progress System:
Your cultivation technique will now be accurately tracked. With each advancement, you will see your progress represented from 0% to 100%. Upon reaching 100%, %, you will advance to the next cultivation level.
---
Wang Lin, puzzled, thought aloud, "Body and Qi Harmonized?"
As soon as he accepted the technique, a stream of information flooded his mind. He saw images of powerful cultivators combining physical strength and Qi techniques in perfect harmony, their actions creating waves of destruction on the battlefield. The technique seemed to require intense focus, but it promised extraordinary results.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor of his dormitory, Wang Lin began practicing the technique for the first time. He took a deep breath, guiding the newly formed Qi in his dantian to travel through his meridians, while at the same time tensing his muscles, making them work in sync with the flow of energy.
--
Current Progress: 1%
A message appeared before him as he cultivated. Wang Lin was surprised, but at the same time, determined. He now had a clear metric to track his growth.
As he continued practicing, he felt his body gradually grow stronger, while the Qi moved with increasing fluidity. He knew that although the path ahead would be arduous, he now had a tool that would allow him to reach even higher levels.
____________
"One hundred percent, huh?" He muttered, with a determined smile. "Let's see how far I can go."
After two intense days of cultivation, Wang Lin opened his eyes and felt the weight of the time that had passed. He had devoted these 48 hours almost entirely to cultivating the **Harmonized Body and Qi** technique. His body was stronger, his Qi was denser, and he felt a deeper connection between his physical strength and the energy within him.
Current Progress: 70%
He was astounded. The speed of his cultivation exceeded any expectations he had. He had never imagined that his cultivation ability could evolve so quickly. The combination of Qi and physical strengthening seemed to be what he needed to master the art of brute force that he cherished so much.
As he stood up and stretched his muscles, a surge of energy coursed through his body, giving him a feeling of growing power. "Almost there…" he thought, already feeling the urge to continue, but before he could return to cultivation, the mission the sect had given him flashed through his mind again.
"Now it's time to learn the new skill."
Wang Lin headed to the training room where the younger disciples usually trained. It was a more secluded, quiet room where he could learn without interruptions. When he entered, an elder who seemed to be in charge of the training area watched him with a curious gaze.
"Are you here to learn your new skill?" The elder asked, and Wang Lin nodded with a faint smile.
The elder handed him a scroll, and Wang Lin unfolded it. As he read it, a sense of accomplishment washed over him. The skill he had received was called **"Iron Heart Fist", and it was a perfect martial technique for those like him who based their fighting on brute force. The technique concentrated Qi in his hands, amplifying the strength of his fists and allowing him to launch devastating attacks capable of breaking even the toughest defenders. With the scroll in hand, Wang Lin headed to the center of the training room, ready to begin learning the technique. He took a deep breath and slowly began the movements, incorporating the skill into his body. Feeling the Qi converging into his hands, he concentrated, and when he threw a punch, he felt a surge of strength far greater than he had ever felt before. After finishing training, Wang Lin realized that using the skill could generate a devastating impact, but he also felt that the technique required a lot of control. The Qi needed to be guided precisely so that the force would not be wasted. Even so, he knew that he was one step closer to achieving unparalleled strength. "Now, with this and the cultivation technique, there is no limit to what I can achieve." Wang Lin thought, determined to completely master the skills the sect had given him.