Chapter 7: The Path of No Return
Li Wei sat in stunned silence as the golden light surrounding him gradually faded. His heart pounded against his chest, his mind reeling from the implications of what had just happened.
**[Ethereal Synchronization: First Layer Unlocked.]**
**[Your real body will now gradually absorb Qi.]**
This wasn't just a power-up in the game. It was **real cultivation**—something that defied logic and science. His body, once weak and sickly, was now **growing stronger** by absorbing Qi from *Celestial Ascension Online*.
But how far could this go?
Would he eventually be able to perform **cultivation techniques** in reality? Would his physical body evolve beyond that of a normal human?
Shen Wujian's voice broke through his thoughts. "You have taken your first step, but do not mistake this for mastery. The Ethereal Vein is still unstable. If you do not refine it properly, the synchronization will spiral out of control."
Li Wei frowned. "What happens if that occurs?"
Shen Wujian's gaze darkened. "Your soul may become trapped between both realms, unable to exist fully in either."
A cold chill ran down Li Wei's spine.
**Trapped between worlds?**
That meant neither truly alive in reality nor completely existing in the game. Would he become some kind of ghost, stuck in an eternal limbo?
He clenched his fists. **No.** That wouldn't happen.
"I understand," he said firmly. "Tell me what I need to do."
Shen Wujian nodded approvingly. "You must stabilize your Qi foundation. The first stage of all cultivation begins with the 'Body Refinement Realm,' where one tempers their body to withstand the flow of spiritual energy."
Li Wei took a deep breath. **Body Refinement Realm.**
In the game, this was the first step for all cultivators before they could harness **true techniques**. Normally, a player had to spend weeks grinding quests and hunting spirit beasts to gather enough Qi to advance past this stage.
But for him… this was different.
He wasn't just a player. **His real body was part of this now.**
---
### **Tempering the Body**
Shen Wujian gestured to the air, and a golden text box appeared in front of Li Wei.
**[New Quest: Stabilizing the Ethereal Vein]**
- **Objective:** Absorb and refine Qi to complete the first stage of Body Refinement.
- **Reward:** Unlock the Second Layer of Ethereal Synchronization.
- **Warning:** Failure to refine Qi properly may result in energy deviation.
Li Wei read the warning carefully. Energy deviation… that usually meant **Qi going berserk inside the body**, leading to internal damage or even permanent disability.
He took a deep breath and sat down, legs crossed.
Closing his eyes, he focused on his dantian—the core of his cultivation. A faint warmth pulsed in his chest, flowing outward like ripples in a pond. This was the **Qi he had gathered so far**.
Now, he needed to **refine** it.
Following Shen Wujian's guidance, he slowly cycled the Qi through his meridians, guiding it along the **Ethereal Vein**. Unlike a normal cultivator's meridian flow, his Qi moved **twice as fast**, resonating with his soul in both the game and the real world.
And then—
**His consciousness flickered.**
For a brief moment, he could feel both realities at once. He could feel his real body sitting on his bed, muscles subtly tensing. He could feel the faint energy coursing through his veins.
It wasn't just virtual anymore. **His real body was cultivating.**
The realization sent a thrill through him.
This was **real.**
His strength, his power—it was **no longer bound by the limitations of reality.**
---
### **The Hidden Dangers of Synchronization**
Time passed in a blur.
Li Wei lost track of how long he had been meditating. Qi continued to flow through him, tempering his body, strengthening his muscles, sharpening his senses.
Then—
**CRACK!**
A loud, bone-deep sound echoed through his body. His eyes snapped open.
His system interface flashed.
**[Breakthrough achieved: Body Refinement Stage 1.]**
The moment he processed the notification, **pain surged through him**—not in the game, but in **reality.**
He gasped, feeling his real body convulse. His muscles ached, his bones trembled as if they were being reforged from within.
This wasn't normal. No player had ever **felt pain** from a breakthrough before.
**Was this the price of real cultivation?**
He gritted his teeth, enduring the discomfort. The pain wasn't unbearable, but it was enough to remind him that this was **not just a game anymore.**
A few minutes later, the pain subsided. Li Wei took a deep breath, sweat dripping down his forehead. He flexed his fingers.
Stronger.
He could **feel it**—his body was **physically stronger.** His once frail muscles had **tightened**, his breathing was deeper, his entire frame felt **lighter yet more powerful.**
And then—
**A notification appeared in his real-world vision.**
**[Body Refinement Stage 1 achieved.]**
**[Your real body's vitality has increased.]**
Li Wei's breath caught.
He wasn't wearing his VR headset.
But the system notification was still **there.**
Appearing in **reality.**
His pulse quickened. **What did this mean?**
Was the game's interface **merging** with his real world?
Had the boundary between *Celestial Ascension Online* and reality already begun to blur?
His mind raced with questions, but before he could process them, his vision suddenly darkened.
A new notification appeared—one he had never seen before.
**[WARNING! You have absorbed too much Qi too quickly.]**
**[Synchronization Instability Detected!]**
Li Wei's body tensed.
And then, before he could react—
**The world around him shattered.**
---
### **End of Chapter 7**
Li Wei has successfully broken through to **Body Refinement Stage 1**, and his **real body has begun to change.** But something is happening—his synchronization is becoming unstable, and the lines between game and reality are beginning to blur.
What will happen when he awakens?
And what **price** will he have to pay for pushing the limits of his power?