Sitting cross-legged in the temple's central hall, Lin Fang closed his eyes and recalled the Qi-Gathering Art from memory. The process felt natural, as though it had always been a part of him.
Unlike other games, Dao Online didn't reward players with experience points or levels for killing monsters. However, killing monsters was supposed to drop something, but no information was given on what that was yet.
Information should start circulating soon enough after players start killing monsters. However, Lin Fang was sure that it would take some time as people valued their lives.
"Dying in this world, means you are delaying your practice compared to others."
Progress came only through dedicated practice, and Lin Fang was determined to make the most of it.
As he focused, the air around him began to shift. Invisible currents of spiritual energy flowed toward him, converging into his body and travelling along his meridians. The sensation was strange and exhilarating, like a rush of cool water through his veins.
The energy collected in his dantian and formed a faint presence that pulsed with life. Lin Fang's breathing slowed, his body radiating a faint aura as the spiritual energy settled.
When he opened his eyes, a light breeze swept through the temple, scattering the dust around him.
"Did I break through already? This speed is a bit too fast no? Okay, it's really way too fast." He shook his head in disbelief.
It's only been ten minutes at most since Lin Fang started cultivating.
Lin Fang clenched his fists, marvelling at the new strength coursing through him. On a whim, he threw a punch toward a rotting wooden board nearby.
Boom.
The board snapped cleanly in half, splinters flying through the air.
Lin Fang stared at his hand, a grin spreading across his face. "This is... incredible."
Unable to contain his excitement, he summoned his attribute panel again.
[Name:] Lin Fang
[Realm:] First Level of Qi Refining
[Spiritual Roots:] Gold (Ancient), Thunder (Ancient), Ice (Ancient), The Elemental Dao(Ancient)
[Special Physique:] Dao Body
[Luck:] Maximum Fortune
[Cultivation Manuals:] Qi-Gathering Art
[Skills:] None
"Haha! I really levelled up!" Lin Fang exclaimed, his laughter echoing through the empty temple.
The sheer speed of his progress was astounding. To break through to the first level of Qi Training in just twenty minutes? It must be unheard of.
"I am no longer a mortal, I am a cultivator," He chuckled.
"Let me quickly check what the others in the Chat Channel are up to," Lin Fang muttered, curiosity lighting up his expression as he opened the interface. "I wonder if I'm the first person to become a cultivator."
The Chat Channel sprang to life, a chaotic flow of text flooding the screen. Despite the relentless pace, certain messages caught his attention.
"Does the Qi-Gathering Art even work? Why do I not feel anything entering my meridians?"
"Person above, what's the grade of your spiritual root?"
"It's...Grade 2..."
"I think that's the reason. I have a fifth-grade spiritual root. However, I can feel the qi around me. It's faint, but it's there. I think it'll take me around a few weeks to actually become a cultivator and enter the First level of Qi Refining."
Lin Fang chuckled under his breath as he read the comments, shaking his head. "Grade 1? No wonder you're struggling," he muttered.
He continued scrolling through the chatter, quickly piecing together the experiences of other players.
"My wind spiritual root is third grade, and I've been trying for so long. I can't even feel a flicker of qi. This game is rigged!"
Another butted in.
"I have a fourth-grade gold spiritual root, and I finally felt something. It's like trying to grab smoke. How am I supposed to cultivate like this?"
The messages piled on, players sharing their frustrations over their slow progress or outright failures.
The differences were striking. Lin Fang leaned back, smirking to himself as he glanced at his own attribute panel.
Spiritual Root: The Elemental Dao(Ancient)
Ancient-grade spiritual roots, he thought, his smirk widening. Compared to everyone else's low and mid-grade roots, it's no wonder my progress is on a completely different level.
"I've been at it for an hour, and all I've got is a cramp in my leg. I think I'm doomed."
"Haha, same here! First-grade water spiritual root. I might as well quit while I'm ahead."
"You're not alone in this accursed world!"
Lin Fang couldn't help but feel amused by their struggles.
He decided to test the waters, typing a casual message into the Chat Channel.
"What's everyone's current progress? Has anyone managed to reach the first level of Qi Training yet?"
The responses were instantaneous.
"Not even close. I think it'll take me a few more days to feel anything substantial"
"Are you joking with us? Have you been paying attention to the previous message, people aren't even able to feel Qi, let alone breaking through to the first level of Qi Training."
"How about you? Do you have some freakishly high-grade spiritual root or something?"
Lin Fang leaned back, debating how much to reveal. Eventually, he just ignored them and closed the Chat channel.
"Continue to cultivate," He muttered.
After closing the Chat Channel, Lin Fang did not know that the Chat Channel had exploded.
"What's your spiritual root grade? Spill it!"
"If you say ninth-grade or higher, I'm logging off. I can't handle that right now."
"Come on, share your secret!"
..
Half an hour later…
A stronger feeling rose from within Lin Fang's body.
'I should have risen to the second level of the Qi Refining realm.' He thought, but this time he didn't glance at the attribute panel again not wanting to waste time.
"Just keep cultivating."
He planned to just keep working hard to see how far he could practise at one time. Time passed by quickly.
Lin Fang's eyes opened slowly, as his long lashes fluttered slightly. Rising up from the group he looked outside through the door.
'It's already getting dark? How long did I cultivate for?" He muttered as he saw the sun had already set with a red colour painting the sky.
He thought back to when he first came, the sun was just overhead which meant it was noon time, but now the sun had already set.
Lin Fang couldn't help but sigh, as he marvelled at the power of time.
"Time is indeed like a sword if you don't cut it…it will cut you."