Lin Fang got bored as he ate without watching anything in the broken temple.
"Let's see what other people are doing."
In the Chat Channel, there weren't many people talking unlike when they first entered Dao Online.
'It seems people are either busy cultivating or becoming more reserved.' Lin Fang thought.
Although there weren't as many players talking, the chat still refreshed at a fast pace.
"I'm so hungry. Do you guys have any good? Are friends allowed to trade food with each other? Someone add me please!"
"How can you be hungry? There are monsters all over this place, go out and hunt for some meat."
"...I'm vegan…"
"Haha. I brought in a whole box of instant noodles before entering this game."
Reading the last person's chat log, Lin Fang's expression turned to interest.
'How did I not think of that.'
"You brought in a box of ramen? I brought in a pump shotgun, I was shocked when I realised it actually transferred with me."
"No way, is this actually real?"
"Yes, I brought a survival kit with me. I wouldn't be surprised if someone brought in a firearm. I wanted to do that, but unfortunately, I don't have the connections to buy such things. Sigh."
Lin Fang ate the kebab box while watching other players on the chat channel brag about the weapons they brought in.
Even though they had a pump shotgun, were they eating kebabs like him? No, they were starving.
Seeing their miserable state, he instantly felt that the kebab in front of him tasted better.
Lin Fang realised he was not well prepared compared to others but luckily he was doing much better due to his talent.
After laughing for a while at their miserable state, Lin Fang decided to cultivate some more.
He sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes. As the Qi-Gathering skill worked, the surrounding qi in the area slowly gathered towards him and entered his body.
Lin Fang did not care about his surroundings and just focused on cultivating. Meanwhile, other players were not as calm.
Most worried about monsters barging into the temple at night, while some thought the temple was haunted by ghosts.
Lin Fang's reasoning was simple, he would wait until he encountered such problems. In his view, thinking about these things will only lead to one thing… analysis paralysis.
…
The next day arrived, and Lin Fang woke up from his practice.
Glancing outside through the broken doorway of the temple, Lin Fang saw the sun shining.
A whole night passed by and Lin Fang advanced to the next level.
Name: Lin Fang
Realm: Fifth Level of Qi Refining
Spiritual Roots: The Elemental Dao(Ancient)
Special Physique: Dao Body
Luck: Maximum Fortune
Cultivation Manuals: Qi-Gathering Art
Skills: Stone Palm Secret Art (Low-Grade)
"Fifth level of Qi Refining," Lin Fang muttered, staring at his attribute panel. "It's getting slower and slower. It took me nearly twelve hours to break through this time."
He sighed, the frustration clear in his voice.
To him, the pace felt agonisingly slow.
The rapid breakthroughs he'd experienced at the lower levels of Qi Refining had given him a taste of near-instant progress, and now the gradual deceleration felt like an unwelcome obstacle.
But what Lin Fang saw as slow would have been nothing short of miraculous to others.
While he was complaining about the twelve hours it took to advance to the fifth level of Qi Refining, countless other players were still stuck at the starting line, celebrating small victories like sensing the faintest traces of Qi around them.
In the chaotic Chat Channel, the contrast in experiences was evident.
"Finally! After a full day of trying, I think I felt a wisp of Qi!"
"Same here. I'm not sure if it's Qi or just my imagination, but something's happening."
"Damn, it's taken me so long just to figure out how to guide Qi into my meridians, and it still slips away before I can grab hold of it."
If they knew what Lin Fang was thinking—complaining about twelve hours to achieve a breakthrough to the fifth level of qi-refining—they would have likely dropped everything, formed a mob, and hunted him down without hesitation.
Although Lin Fang complained, he knew that cultivation wasn't something that could be rushed or approached like a fleeting hobby.
It was a way of life—a lifelong commitment to self-improvement, perseverance, and discipline. Those who lacked patience, no matter how gifted they were, would eventually stagnate, while even those with average talent could surpass them through sheer determination. Albeit, there is limits shackling those of average talent.
For example, a person with a low-grade spiritual root can never pass Lin Fang's cultivation even if he was very lazy.
Lin Fang knew this intellectually, but that didn't stop him from wishing things would move faster.
It's like those people who join a gym thinking they'll get their dream physique in a few months and then quit.
The truth was, Lin Fang's complaints were born from a misunderstanding of cultivation.
Even with his incredible talent, the process would naturally slow down as he advanced. Early breakthroughs were always quick—foundational stages that required only minimal effort to achieve.
It was a universal rule of cultivation.
Normally, it took about ten days for a person with a high-grade spiritual root to achieve the first level of Qi-Refining from being a mere mortal. There would obviously be considerable differences in the time taken depending on the diligence.
As for people with low-grade spiritual roots, it really depends on fate. If they are lucky, they can enter it in three to six months.
If you are unlucky and not consistent with practising, you may still be a mortal after one to two years.
It only took Lin Fang mere minutes to break through the first level of Qi-Refining, which certainly broke Dao Online's record.