Victor had barely taken his first step toward the Misguided Misty Paths when his system interface lit up with multiple notifications in rapid succession.
---
[New Quest Issued!]
<[ Quest: Return to Lingyun Town after One Year. ]>
- The town remembers. Your actions have already set events into motion. Return in a year and face the consequences—or reap the rewards.
[New Objective Unlocked!]
<[ Objective: Survive the Misguided Misty Paths. ]>
>> Danger Level: High <<
<[ Recommended Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment Realm – Early Stage ]>
(Current Level: Qi Refining Realm – Stage 4)
<[ Warning: Entering before reaching the recommended level may result in instant death. ]>
[Hidden Quest Successfully Completed!]
<[ Hidden Quest: Confrontation with a Powerful Family & Successful Escape. ]>
-You have survived a deadly encounter with one of the four great families of Lingyun Town. Few live to tell such a tale.
Rewards Earned:
+10 Stat Points
+10% Mastery in Phantom Mirage Step
+5% Mastery in Shadow Crescent Strike
Bloodline Unlocking Progress +5%
+50 Currency Gained
---
Victor stared at the notifications in disbelief. "Hold up. Hidden quest? That was a hidden quest?!"
He exhaled sharply. Man, if I knew that getting my ass nearly handed to me by Qin Han was an achievement, I would've acted even cooler while doing it.
He quickly dismissed the pop-ups and pulled up his status interface to check his stats.
---
[Status Panel]
Name: Fang Chen
Bloodline: Void Emperor (Unlocking Progress: 37%)
Cultivation Realm: Qi Refining Realm – Stage 4 (10%)
Martial Sword Techniques:
Shadow Crescent Strike (Mastery: 40%)
Phantom Mirage Step (Mastery: 45%)
Cultivation Arts:
Shifting Winds Arts (Mastery: 49%)
Attribute Points Available: 17
---
Victor rubbed his chin. "Alright, let's put these points where they count."
He pulled up his sub-stats window, a more detailed breakdown of his physical and qi attributes.
---
[Sub-Stats]
Strength: 21
Agility: 26
Speed: 25
Endurance: 29
Perception: 30
Qi Control: 14
Constitution: 12
---
He focused on Agility (+3), Speed (+3), Strength (+3), Constitution (+2) and Qi Reserves (+4), feeling his body subtly adjust the moment he allocated the points.
His limbs felt lighter, his breathing steadier, and there was a noticeable warmth in his core—his qi reserves had increased slightly.
Victor clenched his fist and grinned. "Alright. That's more like it."
With his stats upgraded and his rewards claimed, he turned his attention back to the path ahead.
...
...
About fifteen minutes later, the Misguided Misty Paths stretched before him. It was a winding trail that disappeared into thick, shifting fog. The mist moved unnaturally, curling and swirling like it had a mind of its own.
Occasional whispers echoed from within—faint voices calling out, some familiar, some distorted. The entire place radiated an eerie, foreboding aura.
Victor shuddered. "Yup. Definitely screams 'instant regret.'"
Then he glanced back at his system's recommendation.
<[ Recommended Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment Realm – Early Stage ]>
Current Level: Qi Refining Realm – Stage 4
"…Yeah, nope. Not even gonna pretend I can handle this right now."
He dropped down into a cross-legged position just before the entrance, shutting his eyes. "Looks like I'm gonna have to grind for a bit first."
Taking a deep breath, he activated his cultivation method.
Immediately, qi from the surrounding area began to flow toward him, gathering like a swirling vortex. His spiritual core pulsed, absorbing the energy and refining it within his meridians.
Victor focused on stabilizing his qi flow, ensuring he didn't rush the process. He knew that cultivation wasn't just about accumulating energy—it was about breaking past limits and refining the body and spirit.
As he cultivated, the world around him dimmed and his senses sharpened.
---
[System Notification]
Cultivation Progress: Qi Refining Realm – Stage 4 (10% → 30%)
---
Victor smirked, but he didn't get distracted. He remained fully immersed in the process, allowing his body to steadily draw in more qi.
Time passed.
An hour.
Two hours.
---
[System Notification]
Cultivation Progress: Qi Refining Realm – Stage 4 (30% → 70%)
---
Victor could feel the energy accumulating within his body, pushing against his current limits. He gritted his teeth. Almost there... just a bit more.
The air around him began to subtly shift as his qi reserves swelled, approaching the final threshold for a breakthrough.
Suddenly—
---
[System Notification]
Cultivation Breakthrough Imminent! Prepare for Advancement to Qi Refining Realm – Stage 5!
---
Victor's entire body tensed as a surge of pure spiritual energy flooded his meridians. His qi network expanded, allowing for greater circulation.
A faint glow surrounded his figure as his body adjusted to the next level.
---
[System Notification]
Breakthrough Complete!
You have advanced to Qi Refining Realm – Stage 5!
---
Victor opened his eyes and his vision felt sharper than before. His muscles felt stronger while his qi flow felt smoother.
But he wasn't done yet.
He closed his eyes again, diving deeper into cultivation.
If he wanted to survive the Misguided Misty Paths, he had to push beyond all the stages of the Qi Refining Realm and step into Foundation Establishment.
For the next few days, Victor remained in meditation. He absorbed every bit of qi he could from the environment, refining his core, strengthening his body, and fortifying his spirit.
---
[Days Later…]
Victor's aura suddenly flared, sending a shockwave through the air. The ground around him cracked, and the wind picked up violently as his body began to change.
---
[System Notification]
Major Breakthrough Imminent! Prepare for Ascension to Foundation Establishment Realm!
---
Victor gritted his teeth as his qi channels widened, allowing an entirely new level of energy to course through him.
Then—BOOM!
A pillar of golden energy erupted from his body, shaking the land itself.
---
[System Notification]
Breakthrough Complete!
You have ascended to Foundation Establishment Realm – Early Stage!
---
The moment Victor's Foundation Establishment breakthrough was complete, his body trembled violently as an overwhelming surge of qi coursed through his veins.
His meridians expanded and his very soul felt as though it had stepped into a higher state of existence.
He barely had time to process it before—
His vision darkened.
The world around him dissolved in an instant. The cool mountain breeze, the swaying trees, the quiet sound of nature—all gone.
Instead, an eerie silence wrapped around him like a suffocating blanket.
Victor's senses screamed in confusion. He felt weightless as if he had been tossed into an abyss. But then—
Wait… this place…
The moment the darkness lifted, Victor recognized where he was.
A familiar, mythical realm stretched out before him.
The floating stone platforms. The endless horizon of swirling mist. The engraved patterns on the ground pulsed with ancient energy.
His eyes widened in realization. "Holy shit… I'm back."