Name: Gabriel
Cultivation Level: 7th Layer of Qi Condensation
Power Boost: 37,954/1,000
Gabriel sat in his living quarters, leaning back in his chair, marveling at the massive number of Power Boost points he had accumulated.
37,954 points… That means I can use Power Boost 37 times, right? But... I still don't know how it works.
He furrowed his brow, unsure about the exact mechanics of the system. He hadn't yet tested the Power Boost to its fullest extent, and while part of him wanted to use all his points at once, he knew he couldn't be reckless.
Taking a deep breath, he focused inwardly and commanded—
"System, Power Boost!"
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Ding! Specify the number of boosts you desire to receive!"
Gabriel hesitated for a moment. I'll start with just one, to see what happens.
"System, boost me once!"
"Ding! Task established! 1,000 Points deducted! Boosting in progress!"
The moment the system confirmed the boost, Gabriel felt a sudden warmth bloom in his chest.
At first, it was subtle—like stepping into the sun after a cold night. But with every passing moment, the heat grew stronger, surging through his veins, flooding his muscles, bones, and nerves with overwhelming energy.
His body trembled involuntarily.
Is this… the Power Boost?
The warmth spread, filling him completely. But instead of pain, the sensation brought pure euphoria—a wave of pleasure so intense it nearly overwhelmed him.
Gabriel had lived a long life and experienced much, but nothing in his past came close to this. It felt as if every cell in his body was greedily absorbing the energy, basking in it.
It was like the most luxurious bath, combined with joy, excitement, comfort, and an overwhelming sense of bliss—multiplied a thousand times over.
The experience seemed to last forever, but when it ended, he was left with a sense of loss—yet also satisfaction.
Gabriel gasped, gripping the armrests of his chair as he tried to regain his bearings. His chest heaved with each breath as the intensity of the experience faded.
He smiled, a deep, exhilarated laugh escaping his lips.
"That was… A-MA-ZING!"
The sensation alone had been worth the effort of gathering thousands of Power Boost points—let alone the actual increase in power.
After the boost, Gabriel now understood a few key details about how the system worked.
First, the Power Boost only affected his physical attributes—strength, endurance, resistance, and talent. It did not increase his cultivation or spiritual power in any way.
Second, the increase in physical power was staggering. Just a single Power Boost had quadrupled his strength, stamina, and overall physical capabilities. While he hadn't yet tested it fully, he suspected that his current physical power was now on par with the peak of the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation!
If I use up all of my Power Boosts, would I be able to reach the power level of Foundation Establishment? Gabriel thought, his mind swirling with possibilities.
He had no plans to save them. Instead, he was determined to use every single Power Boost all at once, eager to see just how strong he could become.
"System! Boost me ten times at once!" he commanded, a sense of excitement filling him. This time, he wanted to intensify the experience and prolong that incredible feeling.
"Ding! Task established! 10,000 Points deducted! Boosting in progress!"
Once again, the familiar warmth spread through him, but this time, it was far stronger—broader, more powerful.
"A… Amazing!" Gabriel muttered in awe as the sensation overwhelmed him. He collapsed into his chair, his body consumed by a joy so intense he couldn't control it. The sensation was far more pleasurable than anything he had ever experienced—it was better than any drug.
For more than an hour, Gabriel sat, drowning in that incredible feeling. It was as if every fiber of his being was immersed in pure bliss. His muscles and skin shimmered, glowing with an energy they had never possessed before.
When he finally opened his eyes, his heart raced.
I'm at least 20 times stronger than I was before! he thought as he assessed his power.
With my physical strength alone, I should be as strong as the peak of the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation. If I use the remaining boosts, I'll likely reach the strength of the 1st Layer of Foundation Establishment!
The thought filled him with excitement—such progress in just a single day! Gabriel couldn't help but feel elated. Although estimating his strength without actual tests was difficult, he was confident his calculations were close to the truth.
"System, Boost me 26 times at once!" Gabriel ordered without hesitation, eager to push his limits even further.
"Ding! Task established! 26,000 Points deducted! Boosting in progress!"
A powerful surge of warm energy flooded his body. It felt different from before—deeper, more intense. The wave of power was almost overwhelming, and Gabriel's vision blurred as the energy spread through him. His body trembled as the warmth sank deeper into his muscles, bones, and nerves.
This wave lasted far longer than the previous ones—two full hours—before it finally began to subside.
Gabriel's mind was spinning, still processing the overwhelming sensations. I never used drugs when I was on Earth, but… I imagine this is what it would feel like. No, even drugs couldn't compare to this.
This strange warm energy—it was unlike anything he had ever known. It seemed to strengthen his body without causing any damage or hidden injuries at all. It was pure enhancement, a rush of vitality and power.
Of course, he couldn't be 100% sure it didn't have any side effects, but given that it came from his system, he would be shocked if there were any consequences.
He stood up, walked over to the full-length mirror in his room, stripped off his clothes, and gazed at his reflection.
His muscles still held the same powerfully defined six-pack, firm and sculpted. They were soft when they needed to be, but hardened with strength when called for.
However, despite the noticeable increase in his strength, his muscle mass remained the same as before. The warm energy he had absorbed had not increased the volume of his muscles, but rather improved their quality.
Fortunately, my muscle mass, physical qualities, height, and weight haven't changed, Gabriel thought, relieved. Otherwise, explaining these sudden changes to others would have been difficult.
While the sect didn't scrutinize its outer disciples too closely, any drastic physical transformation would attract attention. If he had suddenly grown a massive physique, it would be obvious to anyone with eyes that something extraordinary had occurred. Considering his position as the center of attention, deputy elders—and possibly even the higher-ranked elders—would definitely become suspicious. They'd ask about his sudden burst of muscle growth, and Gabriel wasn't ready to answer any uncomfortable questions.
Name: Gabriel
Cultivation Level: 7th Layer of Qi Condensation
Power Boost: 954/1,000
I'm still at the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation, Gabriel thought, but then added with a hint of satisfaction, my combat power should now be as strong as someone in the 1st Layer of Foundation Establishment.
But that, of course, came with its own set of problems.
I still need to cultivate the old-fashioned way to reach Foundation Establishment if I want to enter the Inner Sect, he reminded himself. The system's PowerBoost was incredible, but it couldn't help with his cultivation progress.
A sigh escaped Gabriel's lips. It's a shame the PowerBoost doesn't affect my cultivation. He could only imagine how much easier his path would be if it did.
I should take a few days off and leave the city to test my strength, he decided. Knowing one's true power is important. If I test myself within the sect, it'll be far too risky. Someone might catch wind of it.
After all, a Qi Cultivator at the 7th Layer suddenly gaining the physical strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator—without any clear explanation—would raise suspicions. Anyone with a brain would immediately know something had happened. Even though the sect's surface may appear righteous, Gabriel knew that many of the Deputy Elders, or even some of the official Elders, had been stuck in their cultivation for years without a breakthrough. They'd be curious about how Gabriel had suddenly grown so strong.
In short, revealing his true strength too soon was dangerous. It was better to wait until he could defend himself before exposing his abilities.
I still have two months of unused holidays; it shouldn't be too difficult to arrange, Gabriel thought.
Outer disciples didn't have the luxury of coming and going as they pleased. They were allowed only 30 days of leave per year. Most outer disciples were too eager to make a breakthrough to even consider taking time off, so very few ever used their full allotment of leave.
After getting dressed, Gabriel headed toward the Personnel Affairs Division of the Outer Sect to request the necessary permission and paperwork to leave the sect for 10 days. He may not use all of the time, but he preferred to take more days off than necessary, just in case he needed extra time.
As soon as he stepped out of his quarters, the system dinged.
Ding! PowerBoost points +1!
"Hey, Julia, long time no see!" Gabriel said sarcastically, noting that it had been exactly 10 hours since their last conversation.
Julia, who had apparently been waiting outside his door for over an hour, finally spoke up, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Gabriel, hi! I wanted to train my muscles a bit… Do you want to come with me?" she asked, her voice trailing off.
Gabriel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "I think it's best for us to cultivate up to Foundation Establishment before we focus on training our physical bodies," he said, his tone calm.
Julia's face fell slightly, but she quickly perked up. "We can cultivate together in the same room!" she suggested eagerly.
No thanks, Gabriel almost shouted, but he bit back the words. Julia was a useful and renewable source of PowerBoost points, and he knew it was better not to alienate her.
"Of course, but not now," Gabriel said with a shrug. "I'm planning on taking a vacation for a few days."
Julia seemed curious, but she held back her questions. Instead, she said, "Okay, let's do it when you get back!"
"I'm heading to the Personnel Affairs Division now. See you later!" Gabriel said quickly, walking away without waiting for a response.
While he didn't want to lose a renewable source of points, he couldn't deny that Julia's persistence was becoming annoying.
"See you later," Julia called after him, watching as he walked away.