Li Wei took a deep breath, steadying himself as he stood before the final door. His body ached from the trial of strength, and his mind still reeled from the illusion of doubt in the trial of willpower. But he was close—one last challenge remained.
The stone door was different from the others. Instead of carvings of warriors or celestial beings, this one bore the image of a single figure seated in meditation. A circle of balance surrounded them, half illuminated like the moon, the other half dark as the void.
The moment Li Wei reached out, the door glowed softly and silently opened.
A notification flashed.
[Final Trial: Understanding]
Objective: Comprehend the truth hidden within.
Failure Condition: Inability to grasp the essence of the trial.
Li Wei stepped inside.
The chamber was… empty.
No guardian. No illusions.
Just an endless space of swirling energy—Qi, in its rawest form. The ground beneath his feet was smooth, like polished jade, but there were no walls, no ceiling. Just the flowing current of energy surrounding him.
At the center of the space, floating mid-air, was a single scroll.
It radiated a strange force, almost like it was alive.
Li Wei approached cautiously. The moment he extended his hand, the scroll unfurled on its own, revealing a set of symbols and diagrams—intricate, shifting, incomprehensible. They twisted and changed constantly, making it impossible to grasp their meaning at a glance.
A whisper echoed through the space.
"Understanding is not found in sight alone."
Li Wei frowned. What was that supposed to mean?
He studied the symbols again, trying to find a pattern. But the moment he thought he understood something, the script shifted, morphing into something completely different.
This was nothing like memorizing a technique or analyzing battle formations.
This was… alive.
The Test of Perception
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
Li Wei remained seated, scanning the scroll, trying to force the knowledge into his mind.
But no matter how hard he focused, the symbols never stopped changing.
Frustration built up inside him. His Qi was real. His skills were improving. But how was he supposed to learn something that refused to be read?
Another whisper echoed.
"Understanding is not forcing the mind but freeing it."
Li Wei's breath caught.
Forcing the mind…?
Was he going about this the wrong way?
He exhaled slowly. Instead of trying to read the symbols, he closed his eyes.
For a few moments, there was only silence.
Then—he felt it.
The flow of Qi around him.
It wasn't chaotic, as he had first assumed. It was harmonized, like a river that adjusted its course effortlessly around rocks and obstacles.
He took another deep breath, letting go of his need to control, and allowed the Qi to guide him.
When he opened his eyes, the symbols on the scroll had stopped shifting.
They formed coherent words.
The Secret of Ethereal Flow
"Heaven and Earth exist in balance. The Ethereal Vein bridges the two, neither bound by mortal constraints nor divine law. Only by harmonizing one's essence with the void can true mastery be attained."
Li Wei's mind trembled.
This wasn't just a lesson—this was ancient knowledge, lost to time.
Most cultivation techniques relied on storing Qi within the dantian, like collecting water in a jar. But what if, instead of collecting, one could become part of the flow itself?
Like a river, constantly adapting, never stagnant.
Li Wei felt a surge of excitement.
This was exactly what he needed.
Instead of being limited by fixed techniques, his Ethereal Vein could allow him to move freely, adapt to any situation, and wield Qi more fluidly than others.
The scroll glowed, its energy flowing into him.
A notification appeared.
[Final Trial Passed: Understanding]
[You have obtained: Ethereal Flow Technique]
The chamber rumbled. The swirling energy condensed, forming a glowing doorway.
Li Wei stood up.
The trial was over.
And he had gained something far more valuable than he had expected.
Returning to the Vault
Stepping through the glowing doorway, Li Wei found himself back in the ancient vault where the trials had begun.
Shen Wujian was waiting for him, a knowing smile on his face.
"You have done well," the old man said. "Tell me, what did you learn?"
Li Wei clenched his fists, feeling the energy within him respond naturally, as if it had become an extension of his body.
"I have learned that Qi is not something to be controlled forcefully," he said slowly. "It is something to be understood, to flow with."
Shen Wujian's smile deepened. "And?"
Li Wei's eyes shone with determination. "And that my Ethereal Vein is not a weakness—it's my greatest strength."
For the first time, he truly believed it.
Shen Wujian nodded approvingly. "Good. Then your real journey begins now."
A final notification appeared.
[Main Quest Progress Updated]
Current Goal: Master the Ethereal Flow Technique.
Li Wei exhaled, gripping the ancient book that now held his new cultivation technique.
This was only the beginning.
He had conquered the trials, but now, he had to prove himself—not just in the game, but in reality as well.
With new power in his hands and countless challenges ahead, he took his first step toward true cultivation.
And the world would soon come to know his name.
End of Chapter 10
In this chapter, Li Wei faces the Trial of Understanding, learning that true mastery does not come from force but from adaptation. By embracing the flow of Qi, he gains the Ethereal Flow Technique, which allows him to cultivate in a unique way.
With this knowledge, his journey as a true cultivator officially begins.
What challenges await him next?
Find out in Chapter 11: A New Path Forward!