Wen Ran sat cross-legged on the ground, the air around him thick with spiritual energy. Each deliberate breath drew more of the energy into him, strengthening his body and spirit. The flow of energy circulated in a steady rhythm, nourishing every corner of his being. Every fiber of his body cried out with a desperate desire to break free from the confines of mortality, to transcend beyond its limits.
The copper bracelet on his wrist pulsed faintly, amplifying his cultivation speed. In front of him lay six items he had purchased from the old man, alongside an additional pill from the system. Picking up the golden Ethereal Essence Pill, Wen Ran examined it closely, admiration flickering in his eyes.
"Ethereal Essence Pill... What a mysterious creation," he murmured, his fingers tracing the faint inscriptions etched on its surface. But even this pales compared to the pill I purchased. His sharp gaze lingered on the pill. If I'm right, this was crafted by a true master of alchemy. In my past life, I encountered godlike entities proficient in this art. But I never had the time to learn… His thoughts grew resolute. In this life I'll master every skill that can make me stronger. The gods may be more powerful now than ever, but I will surpass them. Even if I regain my former strength, it won't be enough. I need to go beyond. To reach limits no mortal has ever dared. To seize immortality and end the reign of the gods. This world belongs to humans, not gods.
His resolve burned fiercely, driving him forward. Without hesitation, he placed the pill under his tongue. He didn't swallow it. Instead, he let the outer layer dissolve slowly, releasing its potent energy bit by bit. A faint, bitter taste filled his mouth, followed by a torrent of spiritual energy so powerful it made his body tremble.
The pain was immediate and overwhelming, as though his veins were alight with fire. Yet, Wen Ran endured, knowing that swallowing the pill outright would waste most of its energy. My mouth feels like it's on fire, but I must endure! he told himself, pushing through the agony. This wasn't cultivation—it was pure torture, a test of willpower and resilience.
The room began to shake faintly, the tremors barely perceptible. Wen Ran could feel his cultivation surging, his dantian expanding as it absorbed the pill's energy. The growth was violent, forceful, and unlike anything he had experienced before. His dantian, the reservoir of his spiritual power, swelled to twice its size, the sudden expansion nearly tearing him apart. The searing pain threatened to rip a scream from his throat, but Wen Ran gritted his teeth and held firm.
A sharp explosion of energy within his dantian marked his breakthrough to the fifth circle of the Spirit Gathering Stage. Yet, the pill's power was far from exhausted. The energy coursing through him felt endless, an uncontrollable torrent that he struggled to contain. Holding it in any longer would undoubtedly lead to his body exploding from within.
"Just one more push!" he growled through gritted teeth, his breath ragged. Above him, an invisible vortex began to form, drawing spiritual energy from the air with terrifying speed. The dense energy spiraled downward, merging with the pill's power inside him. This… I can barely endure it... Did I overestimate this body? Panic began to creep into his mind as he felt sharp cracks forming in his dantian. The container that held his spiritual power was reaching its limit, showing signs of imminent destruction. If it shattered completely, his cultivation would be lost forever, leaving him a cripple.
Rage and frustration bubbled to the surface. "Damn system, do something! If this keeps up, I'll die—and then what?!" Wen Ran shouted, his fury directed at the system. He had expected it to accelerate his growth, to give him the strength to dominate. Instead, it felt like every step forward was carved out of his own blood and sweat. You call yourself a system, yet I have to do everything myself?!
The pain in his dantian intensified, the cracks widening with each passing moment. His thoughts blurred between anger and desperation. Yet, amidst the chaos, a sliver of his unyielding resolve flickered. No… I won't break here. Not now. Not ever.
His cultivation journey teetered on the edge of disaster, the room trembling in response to the storm raging within him. Wen Ran had no choice but to press forward, knowing that the price of failure was far too steep to pay.
[Would you like assistance?]
[Yes/No]
[If you choose Yes, you will have to endure the system challenge. If you choose No, you will die.]
"What the?!" Wen Ran's concentration faltered, nearly causing him to lose control of his spiritual power. This had to be a joke, right? His rage flared, his eyes burning with frustration and disbelief.
If I ever meet the being behind this system, they're getting slapped into the next realm. His thoughts churned furiously, but he knew he had no choice. To survive, he had to accept.
"Yes!"
The moment the word left his lips, his body was engulfed in an ethereal light. A refreshing aura enveloped him, repairing the cracks in his dantian and rejuvenating his meridians. His spiritual root shone with a brilliant golden glow, radiating strength and vitality.
BOOM!
A surge of energy erupted within him, propelling his cultivation to the sixth circle of the Spirit Gathering Stage. His brown eyes flashed with a golden hue, and for a moment, he felt invincible.
It's not over yet?
The potency of the pill continued to astound him. The seventh circle loomed tantalizingly close, and Wen Ran's brow furrowed as sweat beaded on his skin. In my past life, it took me six days to reach the peak of the Spirit Gathering Stage. Now, I might break that record in mere days. This system… it might actually be worth something.
BOOM!
Another surge of energy erupted from within, coursing through his body like an unstoppable wave. The sheer power was almost overwhelming, but Wen Ran held firm, his will unyielding. His strength surged, his aura grew sharper, and his entire being felt as though it had been reborn. He had ascended to the seventh circle, stepping firmly into the late stage of the Spirit Gathering realm. Such speed… it was nothing short of astonishing.
His body brimmed with unspent energy, threatening to destabilize him. Even with the system's stabilization, it was too much for his current vessel. I need to release this energy now—or risk shattering my foundation.
Without hesitation, Wen Ran donned the fox mask and his new black clothes, his movements sharp and precise like a seasoned warrior. In a flash, he bolted toward the nearby woods, his speed far surpassing any ordinary human's. The landscape blurred around him as he covered a full
Stopping beside a towering tree, Wen Ran clenched his fist, feeling the raw power swirling within him. He drew a deep breath, focusing his energy, and then struck.
CRACK!
The air around his fist rippled faintly. When his fist met the sturdy tree, a sharp cracking sound echoed through the forest. The bark splintered at the point of impact, leaving a noticeable dent in the wood. The tree groaned under the strain, and though it remained upright for a moment, the damaged section gave way. With a final, creaking protest, the tree cracked in half and collapsed onto the forest floor with a resounding thud.