"Like I thought, even if I can infinitely use magic as long as I absorb mana from different sources, it still exhausts my mind," Damian murmured, closing his eyes.
"And that's not the only side effect. I can feel my mind becoming clearer and lighter, and my understanding of magic seems to have improved as well."
"Shit... there are only six days until the class selection begins," Damian muttered, slapping his forehead and shaking his head.
He stood up and glanced outside.
It was still dark, and the sun had yet to fully rise and grace Italy with its light and warmth.
Damian recounted everything that had happened before he fell asleep, a sleep that had lasted two days.
It had been two days, and the news of someone clearing the [Plague Silk Spider Dungeon] must have already reached the ears of the Awakeners' Association.
"If the saintess is the same as the one I knew before my regression, then she must have gone to the association to find out my identity. The association should also be aware of my existence, although I don't know what they've managed to uncover about me," Damian mused, crossing his arms as he calmly watched the sun rising.
"I should assume they've found everything about me. I just hope they won't disturb me," Damian thought to himself, closing his eyes.
He began reflecting on everything he knew, both from before his regression and after.
"Well, I guess there's nothing to do but wait for the class selection now," Damian said with a slight smile.
"Since there's nothing to do, I might as well start my Qi cultivation," he added, recalling something. "A sub-ability of 'extraction'?"
Damian's eyes widened as he remembered he hadn't checked his status in a while.
He knew that from his last battle, he had gained many things.
"Status," Damian called out.
The system immediately manifested his status, projecting it into his field of vision where only he could see it.
________________________________
[Awakener: Damian Ignatius]
[level: 33]
[Class: None]
[Qi Cultivation: Body Refinement Realm(Peak)]
[Magic Cultivation: 2nd Circle(Outline)]
{Flame - 2nd Ring(Outline)
Wind - 1st Ring(Perfect)
Earth - 1st Ring(Perfect)
Water - 1st Ring(Perfect)}
[Titles: Regressor, Solo Hunter]
[Achievements: First Killer Titles, First Dungeon Clearer]
[Talents: Elementalist, Martial Lord, Rumination clarity]
[Abilities: Extraction(Unique), Warrior's Will(Inherited)]
[Strength: 45 ║ Agility: 56 ║ Vitality: 54 ║
Stamina: 56 ║ Perception: 66 ║ Mana: 120 ║
Qi: 0 ║]
{Stat Points: 65}
[Spells: Fireball, Flame Spear]
[Skills: Swordsmanship(High), Archery(Basic), Axe-Wielding(Basic), Spearmanship(Basic), Spellcasting, Multicasting]
[Techniques: Serpentine Dual Flow, Wind Dance, Soundless Lotus Cuts]
[Cultivation Method: The Titan Body Refining Art]
________________________________
"Damn, I only leveled up seven times after killing hundreds of monster spiders?" Damian sighed, feeling as though his heart had been broken.
He then shifted his focus to his unique ability, Extraction.
[Unique Ability: Extraction]
[An unknown ability unique only to the user, Damian Ignatius. The extent of this ability's growth is still unknown.]
[Effects:
1. Absorption - Allows you to extract and absorb energy from any target.
(Conditions: I. The target must have a physical form.
II. Only energy you already possess can be absorbed. Any energy that you don't already possess cannot be absorbed.)
2. Assimilation - Allows you to incorporate new types of energy you don't already possess into your body through absorption.
(Conditions: You must have physical Attunement with the energy.)
"Assimilation? I can assimilate new kinds of energy into my body, huh." Damian rubbed his head as the information about this sub-ability flooded his mind, his lips curling into a grin.
"This is great! I can't wait to try this out," Damian muttered to himself. "But before that, I need to get ready to enter the first Tower Realm."
[Cultivation Method: The Titan Body Refining Art]
[Rank: Mortal]
[Effect: Allows your body to absorb 1 Qi per 10 seconds.]
His computer-like mind swiftly processed the details about [The Titan Body Refining Art] while simultaneously recalling everything he had learned about Qi from the [Knowledge of Qi], a book he had obtained from the United Sword Guild.
The information, including how to start cultivating, cultivation levels, and the requirements for breaking through each realm, resurfaced in his mind.
Thanks to his [Rumination Clarity] talent, his enhanced mental acuity allowed his brain to organize the knowledge efficiently.
[Conditions to Begin Qi Cultivation]
1. Active Dantian (Cleared)
2. Qi Attunement (Cleared)
"I meet all the conditions to start Qi cultivation," Damian muttered as his mind pieced together the details of the first cultivation realm.
[1st Qi Cultivation Realm: Body Refinement Realm]
[The first Qi cultivation realm requires the user to refine their body using Qi to prepare for higher levels of cultivation. This realm is divided into five layers, each corresponding to specific parts of the body:
1. Skin Refinement
2. Flesh Refinement
3. Bone Refinement
4. Organ Refinement
5. Marrow Refinement]
"I've already reached the peak of the Body Refining Realm," Damian said with a satisfied smile.
This achievement had occurred when Damian attempted to absorb the enormous mana from the source core of the [Forest Heart Creeper].
The surplus mana that couldn't be stored in his mana core had automatically been redirected to temper his body.
His skin, flesh, bones, organs, and marrow had all been refined simultaneously.
The overwhelming pain had forced him to roll on the ground in agony, but the results were worth it.
His body had grown stronger, his appearance had become strikingly beautiful, he had gained a few inches in height, and his stats had improved significantly.
"Now that I think about it, refining each organ with Qi would have taken a lot of time, but it would've been a slow and painless process. Since that massive amount of mana tempered my entire body all at once, I had to endure that excruciating pain," Damian realized.
"Wait. The [Knowledge of Qi] stated that only Qi can be used for cultivation. So how did my excessive mana refine my body?" Damian wondered, his brows furrowing as he reviewed everything he had learned from the system reward [Knowledge of Mana].
"Mana and Qi are similar forms of energy, but they're fundamentally different. Their effects are distinct, yet they share some similarities."
Damian's mind processed the information about mana and Qi simultaneously, searching for connections between the two energy types.
Despite his efforts, he couldn't uncover anything new.
"This is fascinating. I'll need to learn more about mana and Qi when I get the chance," Damian mused.
He could sense he was on the verge of some kind of breakthrough, but the feeling slipped away, leaving him frustrated.
"It's like missing a fleeting moment... the moment has passed." Damian sighed, shaking his head.
"Now, to continue my Qi cultivation," Damian muttered.
To breakthrough to the second cultivation realm, Damian had to refine every part of his body, which he had already completed.
He was now in peak condition to cultivate Qi.
[2nd Qi Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation Realm]
[There are 20 meridians in your body, with 12 primary meridians and 8 extraordinary meridians, all corresponding to the acupoints (Qi points).]
[Breakthrough condition: Open all 12 primary meridians using the Qi obtained from breathing.]