Duō Yī slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in his cozy bedroom. The servant, Lǎo Zhōng, rushed to his side.
"Master Duō Yī, you're awake!" Lǎo Zhōng exclaimed, relief washing over his face.
Duō Yī nodded weakly, still feeling the lingering fatigue.
Lǎo Zhōng hastened to inform Duō Yī's mother, Duō Líng Méi.
Minutes passed before Duō Líng Méi burst into the room, tears streaming down her face.
"Little Yīng, oh, my child!" she sobbed, embracing Duō Yī tightly. "I was frantic with worry when they found you unconscious in the abandoned courtyard. Your body is fragile, darling. Please, avoid strenuous activities and always take servants with you on walks."
Duō Yī reassured his mother with a gentle smile.
"I'll be careful, Mother."
After an hour of nagging and sobbing Duō Líng Méi left Duō Yī to rest and recuperate.
Once Duō Líng Méi and Lǎo Zhōng left, Duō Yī let out a sigh of relief.
"Finally, some peace."
His gaze shifted to the blue status panel that has been hovering before him all the while :
[Name: Duō Yī]
[Race: Human]
[Status: Damaged Soul(X),weak constitution (R)]
[Realm: Mortal]
[Life Span: 13/19]
[Abilities: HIVE]
[Active Cells: 0.01%]
[Energy Reserve: 0.01/100]
[Cellular Regeneration: 0.05%]
Duō Yī pondered, "Six years left... I must resolve my damaged soul and increase my lifespan, dying twice isn't something I plan to do"
He focused on the HIVE ability:
[HIVE: Collective Consciousness, Unified Entity]
[Definition: A symbiotic network of interconnected bodies, ensuring mutual growth and survival.]
Sub-skills:
[One for All: Simultaneous Control]
[Allows control of all bodies within the hive, sharing resources and experiences.]
[Current Controllable Hosts: 1]
[All for One: Resource Allocation]
[Redirects gained properties from the hive to a specific host.]
[Replication: Hive Expansion]
[Generates perfect replicas of the main hive, free from previous status effects.]
[Current Replicas: 0]
[Qi Required: 1]
[Lizard's Tail: Survival Protocol]
[Ensures the hive's survival by severing connections with compromised replicas.]
Duō Yī's jaw dropped.
"Isn't this cheating? With enough clones, I could gather qi passively... And Lizard's Tail makes me practically immortal!"
A shiver ran down his spine.
"But what about Jiang Shèng's ability to kill me through my avatar? Are there similar abilities in this world?"
Duō Yī's thoughts swirled with possibilities.
As he contemplated, the status panel updated
[Notification: HIVE Energy Requirement Met]
[Unlocking Sub-Skill: Network Resonance]
A new sub-skill appeared.
[Network Resonance: Enhanced Synchronization]
[Amplifies resource sharing and coordination among hive members.]
Duō Yī's eyes sparkled.
He had wondered if the HIVE skill had the same limitations as his avatar skill did. Where he could only control one body at a time. But with the appearance of this skill, that worry faded.
"This is just the beginning."
Duō Yī's excitement grew as he explored the HIVE abilities. He focused on Replication, eager to test its limits.
[Replication: Hive Expansion]
[Generates perfect replicas of the main hive, free from previous status effects.]
[Current Replicas: 0]
[Qi Required: 1]
Duō Yī concentrated, channeling his qi into the Replication skill.
The room began to blur, and a faint, shimmering light coalesced beside him.
A perfect replica of Duō Yī stood before him, identical in every detail.
[Notification: Replication Successful]
[Current Replicas: 1/1]
The replica, labeled "Yī-1," gazed at Duō Yī with identical eyes.
Duō Yī beamed with excitement.
"Let's test the limits of One for All."
He focused on Yī-1, attempting to control its movements.
Yī-1 mirrored Duō Yī's actions, moving in perfect synchrony.
[Notification: One for All - Simultaneous Control Established]
Duō Yī experimented with Yī-1, pushing the boundaries of their connection.
He discovered:
- Shared sensory experiences
- Coordinated movement and actions
- Instant resource transfer
As the test concluded, Duō Yī dissolved Yī-1, absorbing its experiences and knowledge.
[Notification: HIVE Energy Reserve +0.01]
The status panel updated:
[Active Cells: 0.02%]
[Energy Reserve: 0.02/100]
[Cellular Regeneration: 0.06%]
Duō Yī grinned.
"This is incredible. With HIVE, I can cultivate qi passively, explore the world, and remain virtually immortal."
But as he celebrated, a faint warning echoed in his mind.
"Be cautious, Duō Yī. Your abilities may attract unwanted attention and I have already died once. What is to say similar or even stronger abilities than Jiang Shèng's didn't exist."
Duō Yī's thoughts turned serious.
"I'll need to balance my growth with discretion."
Duō Yī's determination solidified. Becoming a cultivator was his best chance at extending his lifespan and repairing his damaged soul.
His father, Duō Chén Yǒng, was a renowned figure in the province. As an outer disciple of the White Crane Sect, he had reached the seventh layer of the Qi Gathering Realm.
Duō Chén Yǒng's story served as motivation for Duō Yī. Although his father couldn't breakthrough to the next realm, he established the Duō Clan and maintained ties with the White Crane Sect.
Every five years, Duō Chén Yǒng could refer a select few talented descendants to the sect. This opportunity could be Duō Yī's ticket to immortality.
The Qi Gathering Realm, the first stage of immortal cultivation, offered a lifespan of a hundred years. Duō Yī was determined to reach this realm before the next referral period, mere months away.
With a clear goal, Duō Yī waited for the Replication skill's cooldown to finish. He then re-summoned a clone, Yī-1.
"Since my body can't cultivate, why not use another one?" Duō Yī thought, smiling.
As a mortal, he could currently summon only one replica. However, this singular clone would pave the way for his cultivation journey.
Yī-1 stood before Duō Yī, awaiting instructions.
"Cultivate qi," Duō Yī ordered, focusing his thoughts.
Yī-1 began to meditate, absorbing the surrounding qi. Duō Yī monitored the clone's progress through their shared connection.
[Notification: Qi Gathering Initiated]
[Current Qi: 0.01/100]
The cultivation process had begun.
With Yī-1 cultivating, Duō Yī turned his attention to the White Crane Sect. "What requirements do I need to meet to join the sect?" he wondered. Researching the sect's entrance criteria, Duō Yī discovered
- Reach the Qi Gathering Realm's third layer
- Demonstrate exceptional talent
- Obtain a referral from a respected figure (like his father)
Duō Yī's resolve hardened. "I'll achieve all three. I have to."
After hours of letting the clone gather qi, Duō Yī attempted to recall the clone to absorb the amassed qi
Duō Yī's eyes widened as the error message appeared:
[Error: Qi within clone exceeds parameters body can handle. Unable to recall clone.]
He felt frustrated.
"What's the point of gathering qi if I can't collect it?"
Duō Yī reviewed his status board, noticing a previously overlooked detail:
[Weak Constitution]
He compared it to the replica's status board:
[Yī-1]
[Name: Yī-1]
[Race: Human]
[Status: Damaged Soul(X)]
[Realm: Mortal]
[Life Span: 13/19]
[Abilities: HIVE]
The Weak Constitution status was absent from Yī-1's board.
Duō Yī recalled the Lizard's Tail skill
[Lizard's Tail: Survival Protocol]
[Ensures the hive's survival by severing connections with compromised replicas.]
A daring idea formed in his mind:
"Can I transfer my consciousness to Yī-1 and make it my main body?"
Hours passed as Duō Yī debated the risks.
Finally, he steeled himself and transferred his consciousness to Yī-1.
With trembling thoughts, he activated Lizard's Tail.
Duō Yī shut his eyes, bracing for the worst.
Minutes ticked by.
Opening his eyes, Duō Yī checked his status board:
[Name: Duō Yī]
[Race: Human]
[Status: Damaged Soul(X)]
[Realm: Mortal]
[Life Span: 13/19]
[Abilities: HIVE]
His former body, now labeled Yī-1, appeared as a separate entity:
[Yī-1]
[Name: Yī-1]
[Race: Human]
[Status: Abandoned ]
[Realm: Mortal]
[Life Span: 0/19]
Duō Yī's heart swelled with excitement.
"I did it! I've overcome my Weak Constitution limitation."
His gaze shifted to Yī-1. "Now, let's see how long this abandoned body lasts."
Duō Yī observed Yī-1's gradual decay, fascinated.
[Lizard's Tail Notification: Abandoned Body Dissolving]
As Yī-1 dissolved, Duō Yī felt a surge of energy.
[Notification: HIVE Energy Reserve +0.05]
His connection to the HIVE strengthened.
Duō Yī realized
"With Lizard's Tail, I can replace my body whenever it's compromised."
A new strategy unfolded in his mind "Cultivate qi with clones, then transfer my consciousness to the strongest one."
Duō Yī's determination grew.
After the successful change of bodies he was met with the notifications
[ Qi Requirement Met]
[Breakthrough to Qi Gathering Realm: Stage 1]
Duō Yī's eyes sparkled with excitement.
He settled onto his bed, closing his eyes and folding his legs.
With a deep breath, Duō Yī focused his thoughts.
"Breakthrough, begin."
The air around him seemed to charged with anticipation.
Thirty minutes passed, and Duō Yī's eyes snapped open.
[ Breakthrough Successful]
[Qi Gathering Realm: Stage 1]
[Current qi:0/200]
A warm, golden light enveloped his body, and his qi pulsed with renewed vitality.
Duō Yī's status board updated:
[Name: Duō Yī]
[Race: Human]
[Status: Damaged Soul(X)]
[Realm: Qi Gathering Realm - Stage 1]
[Life Span: 13/50]
[Abilities: HIVE]
His lifespan had increased to 50 years, a tangible result of his breakthrough.
Duō Yī felt invigorated, his senses heightened.
"Cultivation is incredible."
He pondered his next steps.
"Father's referral to the White Crane Sect is within reach. But what about my Damaged Soul status?"
"Meh I'll figure that out later"
With renewed determination, Duō Yī began planning his journey.
"I'll refine my qi, strengthen my foundation, and prepare for the White Crane Sect's entrance exam. But first I have to be among the ones selected to be referred"
The path to immortality stretched before him, filled with challenges and opportunities.Duō Yī smiled, ready to face whatever lay ahead.