《I'M A CULTIVATION NERD, WHO TRAVEL THE WORLDS [XIANXIA]》 Chapter 01: Bumper to the Afterlife Chapter One: Bumper to the Afterlife I always thought if I were to die young, it¡¯d be something dramatic¡ªsaving a child from a burning building or maybe heroically choking on a chicken bone during finals week. Never, ever, did I think it would involve a car and a complete stranger¡¯s inability to figure out where the brake pedal was. The day had started so mundanely. College classes had dragged on as usual¡ªthree hours of lectures where the professor¡¯s monotone voice could have been weaponized in a war zone. I walked out of the campus gates feeling as free as a bird until I realized I had an entire evening of assignments waiting for me. ¡°Oh well,¡± I muttered, stretching. ¡°At least the air smells like freedom.¡± Freedom, as it turns out, smelled a lot like roasted peanuts and exhaust fumes. The streets were their usual chaotic selves. Vendors yelled about discounts, kids darted around like caffeinated squirrels, and somewhere in the distance, a dog barked in disapproval of the universe. I shoved my headphones in and shuffled down the crosswalk like any other college student, half in my own world, half wondering if ramen or instant noodles would be tonight''s dinner. That¡¯s when I heard it. ¡°OH, SH¡ªMOVE! MOVE! DAMN BRAKES!¡± The shout ripped through my earbuds like a banshee on steroids. My head snapped up just in time to see a gleaming hunk of metal charging toward me like an angry bull at a matador convention. ¡°What the¡ª?!¡± My brilliant survival instincts kicked in. I froze. Like a deer in headlights. Perfect. Great job, brain. The driver, a middle-aged guy with a face redder than a ripe tomato, was leaning halfway out of the window. His hands were flailing, and his curses were so colorful they could paint the Mona Lisa all over again. ¡°GET OUT OF THE WAY, YOU IDIOT!¡± he screamed, yanking at the wheel. Now, this might sound weird, but in that moment, my brain decided to focus on the most random detail: his mustache. It looked like two fuzzy caterpillars doing a jig. What an odd thing to notice before dying.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Time slowed to a crawl. Or maybe it sped up. Who knows? One second I was standing, the next I was flying. Not in a majestic, superhero way¡ªmore like a ragdoll tossed by an angry toddler. The world spun, and all I could think was, Wow, this asphalt is going to ruin my jeans. When I hit the ground, everything went black. Not the kind of ¡°black¡± where you close your eyes and it¡¯s dark but comforting. No, this was the void. No light. No sound. Just... nothingness. ¡°Hello?¡± My voice echoed like I was shouting into an empty cave. ¡°Is anyone there? Did I... die?¡± No response. Figures. Even in the afterlife, customer service is nonexistent. I tried to move but realized I wasn¡¯t standing, sitting, or even lying down. I was just... floating. Suspended in some weird limbo. So this is what it feels like to be a marshmallow in hot cocoa. Time was impossible to measure. Minutes? Hours? Years? All I knew was that I had way too much time to think. And by ¡°think,¡± I mean panic. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s reason this out,¡± I muttered, waving my nonexistent arms. ¡°I got hit by a car. That¡¯s clear. But where¡¯s the light at the end of the tunnel? The pearly gates? The big guy upstairs? Heck, I¡¯d even take a paperwork line in the underworld. But noooo, I get... this.¡± My voice grew louder with every word, my frustration bubbling over. ¡°Is this a budget afterlife? Did I not accumulate enough karma points for the premium package?¡± I snorted at my own joke, but the sound faded quickly into the void. I wasn¡¯t even sure if I was smiling. ¡°Maybe this is just purgatory. Yeah. A timeout for the soul. Makes sense. I¡¯ve been late to class so many times that even the universe decided I needed detention.¡± Just as I was getting comfortable with my sarcastic self-pity, the void shifted. At first, it was subtle¡ªa faint pull, like someone had hooked a string to my chest. Then it wasn¡¯t so subtle. The pull turned into a yank, dragging me like a fish on a line. ¡°HEY! What the¡ª?! I¡¯m not a kite!¡± I yelled, flailing. Not that flailing helped. The force was relentless, spinning me faster and faster. It felt like being sucked into a cosmic toilet bowl. ¡°WHOEVER¡¯S DOING THIS, I HOPE YOU STEP ON A LEGO!¡± And then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. The darkness shattered like glass, and I was slammed into... softness? "Wait it''s not fully soft... It''s kind of hard and cold... By any chance is it ground? I could feel it in my cheeks, it''s really mud.. . For a moment I thought I went to accident scene. But air feels different, it''s not like anything before, how should I put it''s fresh, unlike the usual air full of pollution, clean- with the slight smell of herbs I think. I blinked. Once. Twice. My head was pounding, my body felt weirdly light, and my vision swam like I¡¯d just gotten off a rollercoaster. When the world finally came into focus, I realized I was staring at a unbelievably blue sky. ¡°Wait... Unbelievably blue sky? Herbs?¡± I mumbled, sitting up. ¡°Did I wake up in a traditional medicine shop? N-no how could a sky pop out a medicine shop?¡± I looked down at my hands and froze. They weren¡¯t myhands. Gone were the slightly calloused fingers from years of video games and cheap pens. These hands were smooth, slender, and... dainty? ¡°What. The. Hell.¡± I scrambled out , my heart pounding like a drum. The person staring at me had a sharp eye which was genuinely no matched with his old face features, long white beards , and an a air that practically screamed, ¡°Wuxia drama character.¡± ¡°What kind of discount reincarnation is this?!¡± I yelled, ¡°I didn¡¯t sign up for this! Who do I talk to about a refund?¡± ¡°Young Master, did you wake up?¡± a young voice called. I stared at the him, my mind spinning. Young Master? Oh no. Oh no, no, no. I¡¯ve read enough novels to know where this is going... And thus began my second life¡ªthrown into a world I didn¡¯t recognize, in a body that wasn¡¯t mine, with the overwhelming realization that things were about to get a lot weirder. *** Chapter 02 : First day The outer disciple''s gathering place was grand ¡ªa massive courtyard paved with the same bluish stones that seemed to be everywhere in the sect., this place was call gathering place as the name suggest , there were minimum hundreds if not thousands of teenagers packed in this place all look like they knew what they are doing and if some don''t know ,they were pretending they knew. I found myself a space at back of gathering crowd, wondering what I was doing there? Well of course I also joined in pretending, it was less awkward that way right! At that moment sounds came, "seniors coming! " Well I don''t know which back bencher hissed it but the whole crowd became silent, everyone was nervous. Five figures emerged the larger building which was overlooking the gathering place. Unlike there uniform was grand while the colors remain same it was decorated with patterns that seemed alive. There walking style had unknown grace, it''s like they floating rather than walking. The one in the lead was a woman who looked to be in her thirties but my instincts tell that ¡ªlet''s not consider their age as important factor ,well in other words it might be deceiving. Her appearance including what she wore were slightly more decorated, with patterns, I could tell by just a glance that in all of them she had the real power weather it''s social or personal you guys can understand right? " I''m senior sister yun''er, I''ll be responcible for outer disciples basic training, you all stand here because you had shown potential, from this point forward you have to keep in mind that your potential alone is nothing, if you don''t put effort and stay proud with having only potential weather you die or live, rise or fall you solely be responcible for it. " Well that was grand. Let me clear from this point on I have to do only one this and that is focus on cultivation, of course there''s also side works which is somewhay important. Suddenly the air grew heavy, as if the atmospheric pressure doubled. And everyone including me started to grasp and staggered. "This is merely a friction of spiritual pressure, from point forward you go through more of it, you have to learn to withstand it, those who can''t" Senior sister yun''er said nonchalantly " Well, mortal world always needs farmer and merchants". The pressure increased, Oi! Oi! Can you see! this guys are monitoring who can withstand through it, I''m sure those who caught there eyes would be the centre of attention, no I have to keep a low profile but let''s maintain a slight dignity. In a world where people can spit mountain with a sword, being a bottom tier can be worry some. As I was maintaining a balanced strugglished posture where I was neither fainting but also can''t stand though truthfully if I try i can stand fully through a bit struggle, there were some who also didn''t fain guess leaving some guys whocan''t stand the pressure and faint all of them had good potential. And as I was told ,that serior sister murmured saying " Interesting" Though she slightly far away for everyone to hear if not focused, " Few show great potential. " After who knows how much time passed but literally only few minutes passed the pressure vanished . I almost tipped over by that sudden pressure release, but everyone wasn''t like me some sprawling on the stone courtyard as their legs gave out. "Those still standing, step forward, " Senior instructed. After looking around not more than thirty disciples out of all those huge crowd was standing. Those who standing fromd a ragged like before the senior, of course I was also there. Every one was trying to maintain there face complosure." "Your dormitory assignments are change, " She announced. " You will be moved to dormitory One ¡ªbut don''t be to happy as it''s not a reward, what was given ...it can also be taken, we expect much more improvement moving forward. But i don''t want your expectations, moving forward I''m gonna be transparent. "The rest of you ," She addressed them " You must remember this moment this feeling, and yearn to climb higher, now return to your dormitory and reflect. "If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Well now that i think being having in there blacklist rader by failing to withstand the pressure ,my position comparably perfect. With that encouraging speech, she and her companions turned and left, their robes swishing dramatically in wind . In this situation I can think only one reason for them doing this particular thing, it''s not wrong or anything like that,maybe they just wanted to do that... Yes! You are thinking right... "Show-offs" A disciple, probably only a year or two ahead of us, began calling out names and new room assignments for those of us who''d remained standing. I moved to cell 9 in Dormitory One with a instructions to move my belongings apparently time was limited to today. Wow! What a generous promotion in day 1, well moving can be done after filling my new stomach. I run around searching for dinning hall, latter informed that it''s beside the dormitory building , with big latters engraved ¡ªthe Outer Peak'' Dining Hall. The hall was already crowded when I arrived, filled with both new disciples and older outer disciples who''d returned from whatever task had occupied them during the day. The set up was simple ¡ª show identification jade to receive a bowl of rice and some unknown dishes, I don''t seem to know and a soup with made of herbs I think, and find your place in open dining space. I ended up sitting at a large table where other disciples were also siting. I figured they were also new disciples. The food was surpriseingly tasty, "Did anyone else feel like they were dying during that pressure test?" one of my tablemates asked quietly. He was a skinny teen with nervous eyes, his hands still shaking slightly as he held his chopsticks. "Pretty sure that was the point," another replied, this one a girl with short-cropped hair. "My cousin''s in the lunar Moon Peak. She said their initiation was even worse¡ªthey had to stand under a waterfall for an hour while enduring spiritual pressure." "The Lunar Moon Sect sits on a mountain range famous for its spirit waterfalls," someone further down the table chimed in. "My family trades in cultivation resources¡ªeach sect''s trials are usually related to their particular strengths." I was here''s there gossip carefully, every information was a treasure for me now. so much happened but i still don''t know this worlds cultivation nature. I got jumbled memories from this original body but those are unrelated. There were basically there customs, culture, local traditions, info etc but they were miles way from immortal culture. "I heard White Cloud Peak specializes in something called the Verdent Path," I focus on the conversation, hoping to learn more information. Of course they do," the trader''s son replied, a bit condescendingly. "Whitecloud Peak is one of the Five Great Sects of the Eastern Continent. Each has their own interpretation of the heavenly dao¡ªWhite cloud Peak focuses on flexibility within limitations, meaning it can adjust to changing conditions and stresses while still maintaining its inherent structure and strength, much like how a tree adapts to different seasons and environments while remaining a tree. Well truth to be told "I don''t get to understand anything" But sitt nodded in agreement to maintain the atmosphere. The conversation continued, with various disciples sharing rumors and snippets of information they''d gleaned about the sect and cultivation in general. Most of it went over my head, but I filed away everything I got. After dinner, I returned to my original cell it''s was time to gather my belongings. It didn''t take long¡ªI''d only been here for a few hours, after all. The new cell in Dormitory One was virtually identical to the old one, just located in a different building. Here I was thinking it would be luxurious, what we got in name of luxury was expectations. I was arranging my things a door knock came, it was the next door neighbor. I saw in the day when pressure test was going on. "It''s ling dong, cell ten next door neighbor. Here''s a greeting gift and i guarantee you needs it " He said and handed me with a smiled face. "I needs it" I looked at the greeting gift well there was basic study materials like general knowledge. "Well everyone not supposed have prior knowledge, but everyone has there own family network, I saw you were silent in dining hall , and figured that either you might not know, or thinks flunting family connection childish , and I saw you you were not that Stugglish in test, well either way worth befriending." He said. "Thanks, I''m Lu Ming " I replied. "Pleased to be friend, okay later .btw A piece of news is enlightenment ceremony don''t be late, make sure to read this. " wow guy has such keen sense, well I also think he is worth befriending but I have to stay cautious a little more next time I settled down in my desk and began reading those study notes he left by the light looked like a glowing crystal engraved in the wall. The basics, according to these notes, were both simpler and more complex than I''d expected. Every living thing apparently had something called a spiritual core, a sort of energy-based organ that existed alongside the physical body. Most people''s cores remained dormant their entire lives, but cultivators learned to awaken and develop theirs. The notes went into extensive detail about breathing exercises and meditation techniques, with warnings about the dangers of incorrect practice. Apparently, trying to force one''s spiritual core to awaken too quickly could lead to something called qi deviation, which sounded extremely unpleasant. I was deep in a passage about the importance of maintaining mental clarity during meditation when another bell rang¡ªcurfew. I changed into the sleeping robes provided with my sect outfit and lay down on the narrow bed. Chapter 03: Inner world Inner world Though I sleep, sleep didn''t came eventually, I keep seeing the scenes those roads, made of concrete, the horns of car, the last curseing before hitting, they keep coming, I keep trying to refuse acknowledging that i died, maybe I was really hallucinating or some kind dream, I kind of lost in that dream.... But no, there''s no way this was possible, everything here was too real. The senary that i saw in the daytime, the horrible pressure I felt, those disciples, the things I ate even the taste was real ¡ªeven I can''t imagine those things. And then a sound " Dong-" Started reverberating through the dormitory, I must have dozed of , time for morning gathering. The air was especially crisp at this time, I joined the crowd, everyone was moving they all had a purpose some enthusiastic while other was somewhat down, may be also afraid. I''m not a great face reader so i couldn''t tell. This time were arranged in a neat rows according to the dormitory assignments And annoyingly enough i was placed at front, well all of those who survived the pressure test were placed at front, it was uncomfortable. I preferred to be a back bencher and observe from behind than being a toper and be a spike in everyone''s eyes. But that wasn''t an option anymore. Senior sister yun''er arrived again, this time she was accompanied by several senior disciples. They bought some type of pots full of small something like bottles and distributing through the crowd. "Today you will begin your cultivaton journey" She announced "in these bottles in my hands is spirit gathering water, drawn from secred peak. It will become a catalyst in awakening of your spiritual core ¡ªthat is if you have the capacity. ¡ª So everyone let''s not fail In it okay?! " She finished with a giving a sharp eye to everyone. When the bottle came to me i saw it was filled with a liquid looked similar to normal water, I drunk it in one sip. It tasted like... Well, like water of course but there a tingling something, it''s hard to explain, like there are many type- priced water in modern world some price millions, so think of it tasing a imported luxurious water with similer taste difference. Though I doubt you tested neither me "tee-hee". It felt cool going down, then seemed to spread a gentle warmth through the upper body. " Close your eyes, " Senior sister yun''er instructed. "Focus on that warmth. Feel it gathering, condensing. This you first hurdle in path of your cultivaton ¡ªlearning to sense your own spiritual core. I did as instructed, concentrating on the strange warmth in my chest. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but gradually I became aware of... something. A sort of density in the center of my chest, like a drop of heavy water staying in still air. "For most of you, this is all you will achieve today," Senior sister yun''er voice continued. "A few may sense the shape of their core. Fewer still might not be" She was continued . I heard murmurs and shifting feet, but I kept my eyes closed, focusing on that strange sensation in my chest. The warmth was growing stronger, the density more pronounced. And then, suddenly, I wasn''t just sensing it¡ªI was seeing it. Not with my physical eyes, which were still closed, but with some other kind of perception. In the darkness behind my eyelids, a small point of heavy green water drop? pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Open your eyes, disciple" I opened my surprised eyes blinking in the brightening dawn. She stood stood some meters besides me , studying a boy with an intensity that moment ¡ª I sighed relief, I thought it was me! She asked, "What did you see", he answered normaly, " A.. A point resembling a water drop. Pulshing with my heart. " ¡ªYes I also see that great. "Nothing more? " She asked with slightly nodding. I became nervous did I messed up? "Yes , I saw an empty space within it ,I only saw it. " He said, and "dang" I messed up. "Hm" She made a gesture and one of the senior disciple handed him a jade marble. "Hold this". He took the marble and that jade marble lit up. And senior yun''er reacted again. " Your doing great, you may have fulfilled your first requirement. " She replied, likely everyone also heard as some started murmuring among themselves. And i thought the hell with first requirement i didn''t saw the space what should I do. She raised her voice to address the crowd again. "Those who saw their core, step forward. Those who merely felt it, remain in place. Those who sensed nothing... consider this your first warning." Well at least I the core, let''s future that out later. About thirty disciples stepped forward, including me and, I noticed, ling dong. Senior Sister wun''er walked along our line, handing each of us one of the jade marbles. "These are Spirit Resonance Beads," she explained. "They will help you visualize and interact with your core. Practice with them during your meditation. We''ll monitor everyone , test your progress for one month. Those who show sufficient advancement will begin true cultivation techniques. Those who do not..." She let the sentence hang. The rest of the morning was spent learning basic meditation postures and breathing exercises. By lunch, my legs were cramping from sitting cross-legged for hours, and my head was swimming with terms like ''qi circulation'' and ''spiritual meridians.'' "Wow, you were great, but there was seem to have some problem, you looked concerned. " "Well, apparently I think I was something missing ." I asked him, "what did you see? " "What could it be, like other guys I also saw a "space" and ¡ª" I interrupted, "yes that''s it, you also saw a space, where it gotten wrong! I didn''t saw any space". Ling dong said , " Well, let''s figure out slowly ¡ªlet''s go outside and stress would run. " I told him to go alone as I gained quite the attention thanks to senior sister. And of course I have to cultivate , i reminded him keep my situation secret. I sat on bed playing with the jade marble, every time i focus , that marble resonante with my spiritual core. My routine become like like morning gathering, which ends at noon after that eating and other time i practice alone. Ling dong came several times to take me out but i turned him down saying I''m gonna cultivate. It''s been a whole week, though my efforts I didn''t drew any more attention who what happens so let''s just " Focus " I muttered to myself. I was doing the same thing this whole week there''s no noticeable changes except I can now sense my spiritual core more easily. I seemed to fall behind in class they talk about expansion and what-not which don''t even understand. Thr jade marble turned green in contact of my spirit energy. It pulsed just like the first time but now I have Familiar with this. I recalled the words... Close your eyes, sense the connection between that water drop and this bead. The sense was subtle at first, a signal before triggering something major. And then the pulsing glowing water drop seemed to be have appeared ripples, and it trying to burst out? I don''t think it''s the right word. Warning Inner World Structuring Initializing This word appeared before my eyes like a floating green pop up display, it''s just like a game settings, or should I say character windows which we in video games. Host Detected. Spiritual assistant System actviting... Analyzing Spiritual Resonance.. Compatibility Check: Passed Starting Inner World Manifestation The Water Bubble Was Growing Bigger and Bigger or Maybe I was Becoming smaller, at some point within a blink every thing become a dark void ¡ªdamn it''s too confusing, this spiritual or what-not things. But this time the void wasn''t felt like before, this time it''s feel like it''s actually empty, hiw should I put it a blank canvas? Inner world satus ¡ª Size - 1 cubic meter Spirit Density - 100 Features - N/A State - currently in dorment state Tutorial initiating... Proceed? "Y-Yes? " I was going speak to found out I was a energy body , I had no vocal option, though it seems my thoughts was enough . But that''s not enough, suddenly a spiritual figure pop up , it was palm sized spirit type thing but it had humanly features, and it wore a distinct green colored dress. It talked, " Welcome to your inner world Master, I''m you spiritual assistant name Vernor. this place represents your spiritual foundation and will grow along side you as you made progress in your cultivaton path. Currently your inner world is in its most basic state. Functions and other assisting modules will be added as you increase you spiritual energy and gain insight. " And again a screen pop up.. Available Actions Loading... Inner World status Status View Energy Flows reading Exit Inner World I thought, It''s here my cheat is hear, I''m sure other cultivator don''t get a game interface when in damn worlds people don''t even know what internate is? Great. ... Just great with it my survival chances increased by atleast 50%. Okay so let''s check... "Inner World Status" I thought. Status Checking... Inner world Space - 1m x 1m x 1m of residual spirit energy Density - Minimal Recommendation - Beginning Basic Spirit energy circulation Vernor asked, " Master any questions..? Chapter 04 : System As Vernor asked, there were several problems well I was happy by getting a system which I only read on web novel''s . That''s not the problem the problem was how I got that, it''s not like I have a super powerfull god relative who gave it to me ans send me here, nah it''s impossible, though for a moment I was considering that, the second was Vernor was unbelievably cute. So even if he was cute it was important, " Umm.. Vernor? I''m lu ming, but what are you a AI? " Vernor seemed Confused, " Master, I don''t know what a AI is. I am a manifestation of your inner world principles. I was formed and shaped by the resonance between your spiritual core and the system activation. I work is to assist you in developing and maintaining you inner world. "The answer I got was not the answer I expecting, on other hand it raised so many more questions". Well I decided to focus on present instead of thinking those, " So vernor what should I do, how should I devlop this place " "According to the System''s analysis, the most practical first step would be establishing proper energy circulation," Vernor explained, waving his hand to create a diagrams in the void. "Your current spiritual energy intake is unstructured. By implementing basic circulation patterns, we can increase energy density and begin expanding the available space."
Task Generated: Establish Basic Energy Circulation Reward: Increased energy efficiency, potential space expansion Difficulty: Beginner
"The System can provide real-time feedback on your circulation attempts," Vernor added. "Would you like to try?" "Let''s do it," I agreed. "Show me how to establish proper energy circulation."
Initiating Basic Circulation Tutorial... Step 1: Visualize energy flow paths...
As Vernor began explaining the process, there were various diegrams, I couldn''t help but smile. Of course it was untill I became tired of living, and hungry for attention that is, and I never gonna let that happen. And more so, now that I had a cute spiritual AI to help me figure it out.
Basic Tutorial Beginning... Loading... Please wait...
--- He found himself standing in the heart of his newly discovered inner world¡ªa one-cubic-meter space that seemed simultaneously boundless and claustrophobic. The energy within drifted aimlessly, resembling Green fireflies trapped in an invisible jar. ¡°Wow,¡± Lu Ming muttered. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ small.¡± ¡°Your observational skills are impressive, Host,¡± Vernor said, unimpressed. ¡°Size is irrelevant at this stage. What matters is structure. Now pay attention.¡± Suddenly, a translucent diagram materialized in Lu Ming¡¯s mind, projected by Vernor. It resembled a glowing network of interconnected nodes and pathways, reminiscent of a cosmic circuit board. At the center was a larger node¡ªthe Origin Node. ¡°Focus on the Origin Node,¡± Vernor instructed. ¡°It corresponds to the area near your navel in the physical world and is the foundation of all energy flow. Gather energy into this node. Slowly. Carefully. Don¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Rush, yeah, I got it,¡± Lu Ming interrupted, rolling his eyes. ¡°I was going to say, ¡®don¡¯t blow yourself up,¡¯ but your interpretation works too.¡± Lu Ming grimaced. ¡°Noted.¡± He directed his consciousness toward the Origin Node, visualizing the golden motes converging. They resisted at first, scattering like panicked birds. Lu Ming gritted his teeth, pushing harder, his brow furrowing with the effort. Sweat began to bead on his forehead.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°This is harder than it looks,¡± he muttered. ¡°Correction: It is difficult. But that¡¯s largely due to your lack of discipline.¡± ¡°Wow, Vernor. Thanks for the vote of confidence.¡± ¡°I am merely stating facts. Shall I continue with the instructions or schedule a pity party instead?¡± Lu Ming groaned. ¡°Just tell me what to do.¡± ¡°Good. Now, expand the energy outward,¡± Vernor said, ignoring the sarcasm. ¡°Let it flow along the paths I¡¯ve shown you. Create circulation, ensuring a continuous loop.¡± Lu Ming exhaled deeply, visualizing the energy branching out from the Origin Node like tiny streams feeding into a network of canals. The energy hesitated, faltering like a novice dancer unsure of their steps. But with Vernor¡¯s incessant coaching¡ª ¡°Careful. That¡¯s too fast. Slower. No, slower! Do you want to destabilize the node?¡± ¡°I get it, I get it!¡± ¡ªthe energy finally began to flow. The first circuit was sluggish, like an old wheel creaking into motion. But as it completed its loop, the pathways began to brighten. The flow smoothed, gaining momentum with each rotation. ¡°It¡¯s working,¡± Lu Ming whispered, awe tinging his voice as the once-chaotic motes of energy now danced in harmonious rhythm. ¡°Indeed,¡± Vernor replied, a rare hint of approval in his tone. ¡°You¡¯ve established your first circulation pattern. While rudimentary, it allows you to absorb ambient spiritual energy and refine it within your inner world.¡± Lu Ming opened his eyes, a faint glow lingering in them before fading. He felt¡­ different. Lighter, yet grounded. Like a dam within him had broken, releasing a gentle stream where there had once been only silence. ¡°Is this it?¡± he asked, his voice a mix of excitement and exhaustion.
Current Status: Inner World Size: 2.3 cubic meters Energy Density: 33/100 Features Unlocked: Basic Circulation Paths
¡°This is merely the beginning,¡± Vernor replied. ¡°Your current circulation pattern is basic, capable of processing only a fraction of your potential. With time, you will refine and expand it, improving its efficiency. For now, focus on stabilization. Consistency is¡ª¡± ¡°Key. Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ve heard the mantra,¡± Lu Ming interrupted, smirking. ¡°Anything else, Coach Vernor?¡± ¡°Yes. Avoid reckless behavior. You are operating at the intelligence threshold of an infant in this domain. Do not overestimate your abilities.¡± Lu Ming chuckled. ¡°Noted. I¡¯ll try not to blow myself up¡­ again.¡± ¡°Excellent. Your survival benefits us both.¡± "Say, Vernor. You aren''t this talkative when you first appeard some time ago, what''s the cathch? " "Well, host the system is helping me in quickly adapting as your preference. And I''m also processing Host''s dormant previous life memories in real time, to be helpfull to host." "You can access my memories? Lu ming asked, " Well system bind to your soul and so am I, it would be unheard of if that''s not the case ¡ªThough I have to say host''s dieing moment was grand in various ways. " "Shut up, don''t peek on my memories".i replied, so what should I do, it was a embarrassing way of dieing, how can let him peet in it. And there''s had many other shameful things. And suddenly door knocked, guess who it was ¡ªit was ling dong, he was carrying a bowl in his hand. "What happened to you, you didn''t went to eat, wait you seem different.... Did you also made it to qi condension stage? " Asking questions at the same time he handed me the bowl. "Well, the problem was hindering me was solved, by the way thanks for it" I sincerely thanked, I started to feel hungry and time.. "You should feel thankfull, if not for me you can forget about eating today, " He sneered, " As compensation we should treat me later as well. " "We''ll see that when the time comes" I answerd. "Okay, bye see yaa... " He turned around and leave as he come, I also finished eating. And as always started meditation. Now my recent quest was making that newly established path stable. Next day morning senior sister wun''er , " Oh! Your energy circulation improved a lot compared to the past week, but its not stable." She commented," I''m trying my best senior sister" I replied , yes I''m trying my best to not let notice, "Keet it up, remember spiritual energy flows like water through channels, don''t try to force it, guide it with precision". Well tencnically I did what she said but there''s a twist..
System notice ¡ª Due to creating almost fully precised circulation paths.. It''s Potentially identiffible risks - higher than 90% (increased) Advanced Camouflage ( Activated)
Yes! that''s how it is, thank god system had this feature, or I was going to be in a tight situation. Wait I was now in a cultivation world where any one can be gods right, thank (system) . "Yes, senior sister I''ll try hard. " He was trying hard to look concerned "You look having hard time, wanna go eat something latter. " Of course it was ling dong. How much does he need to eat, "No thanks, I''m gonna cultivate, another time may be. " I declined politely. The morning session ended, without to much noise. It''s meal time and I was super hungry, but before we got the chance a commotion broke out in the hall . "A inner disciple coming" A warnning spread, around in lightning speed, Every one was silent and eyes in ground. So as I , it was the first thing that old elder warned me about. The whole rooms pressure starting to rise up, like a heavy fog. Even system give me a warning
Warning: Elevated spiritual pressure detected
Recommended Action: Maintain steady circulation to prevent energy disruption. Shut your damn window, do you think I would be Unscratched if I resist it. You better note it down that our first priority is not attracting attention. And that when it happened, " You there, " That inner disciple said suddenly, "yes you, the one resisting the pressure. " See didn''t I tell you, I saw with a narrow view it was one of the top candidates in new recruits, he was surprisingly well build was means nothing in front of absolute power. "What''s your name, " He demanded, "Interesting, you just a new recruit try to resist us? " He said while raising a eyebrow. "Well no matter, come to the training ground, at evening, we will do some training, you gaining practical experience", he said making a a hand symbol in both hands. Wow, would you see that gaining practical experience, great, just great. " He is in trouble, that guy is Mo Feng, one of the rising star among the inner disciples. He''s known for taking... Special care of his juniors who shows potential. " Ling dong whisperedwhispered in my ears. "Special care? " "Well nothing serious, only that his last training partner was spent only a week in healing hall ¡ªSo try your best to not gain his interest, or you might also get some ''special care''.. " He said. Wonderful, I seem to avoided a disaster, if I followed system''s instructions I might be there in his place. *** Chapter 05 : Rule of this world Rule of this world In this world, there¡¯s an unwritten rule¡ªone that echoes through the ages, no matter the era or realm: be rich and stay comfortable. It''s a truth so universal, it might as well be etched into the heavens. If you have wealth, the world opens its arms to you¡ªsoft beds, warm meals, and respect from everyone around you. But if you''re poor? Well, the world hands you a broom and points to the nearest floor. Poverty here isn¡¯t just a state of being; it¡¯s an invitation to the noble art of sweeping. Think about it¡ªwhether it¡¯s a sect or a city, wealth buys freedom. Freedom to train in the best halls, freedom to eat something that doesn¡¯t taste like boiled dirt, and freedom from back-breaking chores. No points? No privilege. It¡¯s almost philosophical when you think about it. Life isn¡¯t fair; it¡¯s transactional. In the modern world, it¡¯s money. Here, it¡¯s Sect Points. Either way, you¡¯re playing the same game. The only difference is the currency. So the mantra is simple: Earn, rise, and enjoy the perks. Because if you don¡¯t, well, there¡¯s a floor somewhere with your name on it. It''s this simple. --- The sun bathed the white cloud Peak Sect¡¯s training grounds in golden light, illuminating the disciples gathered in neat rows. Most of them looked groggy, some barely keeping their eyes open. At the front stood Senior Sister Wun¡¯er, her demeanor sharp and energetic, as though she thrived on the collective misery of her juniors. She clapped her hands. ¡°Alright, everyone, eyes on me! Let¡¯s start the day with something fun. What¡¯s the difference between a lazy disciple and a spiritual rootless mortal?¡± The crowd blinked in confusion. Wun¡¯er grinned mischievously. ¡°Nothing. Both will end up sweeping the floor for life!¡± A wave of groans rippled through the group, with a few stifled chuckles. Jin Rui , standing toward the back, leaned toward a fellow disciple. ¡°I think I¡¯d prefer sweeping the floor. Less pressure.¡± ¡°Quiet in the back!¡± Wun¡¯er¡¯s sharp eyes zeroed in on him, making Jin Rui straighten up immediately. You think why I specially called his name well he is one top ten, so of course I know his name. She cleared her throat, her teasing tone giving way to a more serious one. ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the Sect Points System¡ªyour lifeline here at White Cloud Peak Sect. For those of you who are new, let me explain how it works. For those of you who aren¡¯t, listen anyway, because I know half of you are still clueless.¡±
System Update ¡ª New features available - Resource tracking Efficiency calculations
A few disciples shifted uncomfortably, and Lu Ming smirked. Vernor materialized beside my shoulder, "Master what do think of this new features. " "Well they are helpfull in very practical way, let''s wait and see" Senior sister wun''er said, ¡°Points are everything in the sect,¡± Wun¡¯er continued. ¡°They¡¯re your currency, your reputation, and your ticket to survival. Want access to advanced cultivation techniques? Points. Need to buy rare herbs or a spiritual weapon? Points. Want to avoid cleaning latrines during Beast Wave Season? Guess what? Points!¡± The crowd murmured, and one disciple raised a hesitant hand. ¡°Senior Sister, how do we earn points?¡± ¡°Good question, Junior Brother!¡± Wun¡¯er said, her voice dripping with mock enthusiasm. ¡°There are plenty of ways to earn points: completing sect missions, helping out in the alchemy lab, sparring with fellow disciples, or even cleaning the training grounds. Of course, the more dangerous or demanding the task, the more points you earn. For example, going into the Deadwood Forest to collect rare herbs? High risk, high reward. Cleaning the library? Low risk, low reward. Sweeping the latrines?¡± She smirked. ¡°Well, you get the idea.¡± Another disciple piped up. ¡°What about losing points?¡± Wun¡¯er¡¯s smile turned icy. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m glad you asked. Points can be deducted for rule-breaking, failing to complete assigned missions, or¡ªmy personal favorite¡ªshowing up late to morning gatherings ,well you can take sick leave at least¡± The disciples stiffened, and a few glanced guiltily at their late-arriving peers who stood awkwardly at the edge of the group. ¡°Now,¡± Wun¡¯er continued, ¡°the Sect Elders have made it clear that this month, they want every disciple to pull their weight. That means earning points. If your balance falls too low¡­¡± She trailed off, letting the ominous silence hang for a moment. Again Jin Rui couldn¡¯t resist muttering under his breath, ¡°What? We get turned into spirit beast chow?¡± Wun¡¯er¡¯s sharp ears caught the comment, and she shot him a withering look. ¡°Junior Brother Jin Rui , since you¡¯re so curious, why don¡¯t you start us off? I¡¯ll personally assign you a mission after this.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The other disciples snickered, and Jin Rui sighed. ¡°Well, that backfired.¡± ¡°Let this be a lesson to all of you,¡± Wun¡¯er said, pointing at Jin Rui. ¡°Earning points is not just about survival; it¡¯s about pride. Represent the sect well, contribute to its success, and in turn, you¡¯ll grow stronger. Dismissed! And remember: earn your points, or I¡¯ll find creative ways to motivate you.¡± Then she gestured and several senior disciples sarted giving a jade tablet in every ones hand, I also get one.
System notice ¡ª Point management menu added Balance - 00 Available Tasks ¡ª ? Alchemy room helper ( upto 7 point per hour) ? Herb Gathering ( upto 5 points per hour ) ? Formation Maintenance ( 3 points per hour) ? Messenger Duties (1 - 2 points depending on employer) ? Combat practice assistant ( 5 points per hour)
I don''t even have check the content in the jade tablet, system gave me a clean-organized details. "The most basic spiritual resources available to outer disciples are priced as follows, In this list You can Check" Senior Sister Liu continued.
System Update ¡ª Added feature, point store price tracking
1. Sect Robes (Outer Disciple Standard) ¨C 10 Points Want to look like you belong? Pay up. Or embrace being the ¡®unique¡¯ disciple in mismatched rags." 2. Basic Spiritual Pills (for daily cultivation) ¨C 30 Points each "Want to grow stronger? Feed your inner world. No freebies here, buddy." 3. Access to the Basic Training Grounds ¨C 15 Points per hour "The good news? You can train. The bad news? Training costs." 5. Simple Meals in the Outer Court Hall ¨C 2 Points per meal "Rice and soup. No frills, no flavor, but it keeps you alive." 6. Spirit Stones ¨C Starting at 10 Points per stone "These are the currency of cultivation¡ªand trust me, they¡¯re worth every drop of sweat. But get ready to grind." 7. Medicinal Herbs or Ingredients ¨C Starting at 10 Points each ( vries in grade and rarerity) "A single leaf of something useful costs more than you¡¯d expect." The price list is a reminder that in the sect, Sect Points are life. Whether it¡¯s food, training, or just maintaining dignity, everything comes with a cost. If you can¡¯t earn, you¡¯ll soon learn the true meaning of ¡°bare essentials.¡± I thought to myself, ¡°Creative ways? I¡¯m starting to think Senior Sister Wun¡¯er moonlights as a demon.¡± The thought of getting custom mission from her, but one thing was certain: the Sect Points System was no joke, and neither was Senior Sister Wun¡¯er. Now that I think about Mordern and this world has something Similar after all. "So, Vernor what do you think..." I asked it. " After analysing all resources I can say that ¡ªEstimated points needed for optimal monthly progress: 500" "That''s... A lot of points, " I replied to vernor. "Indeed, it estimated that most disciples would struggle to gather 250 -300 points while maintaining cultivation schedule. " "Additionally," Senior Sister Wun''er said, "you may now purchase sect manuals and technique scrolls appropriate for your cultivation level. Basic techniques cost 50 points. More advanced methods will become available as you progress." After that all day was free to decide what to do and other tasks, and I was well can''t able to choose one I choose, which will keep me busy while maintaining my income and cultivation efficiency. I sat cross-legged in my tiny dormitory room, the jade tablet in my hand displayed the list of tasks available to outer disciples. Each task came with its own point reward, and i stared at the list with the intensity of a man trying to stretch his meager funds in a high-end grocery store. Suddenly, Vernor¡¯s holographic avatar¡ªappearing as a small glowing green sphere¡ªmaterialized in my inner world. ¡°Analyzing task efficiency and long-term benefits,¡± Vernor announced in its usual clinical tone. ¡°Master, I must say, your current options are... uninspiring.¡± ¡°Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence,¡± I muttered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry the glorious sect economy doesn¡¯t cater to lazy freeloaders like me.¡± Vernor ignored the sarcasm and continued. ¡°Let¡¯s evaluate: - Alchemy Room Helper (7 points/hour): High potential for earning, with access to knowledge about alchemy techniques and ingredients. - Herb Gathering (5 points/hour): Mediocre pay for manual labor. High exposure to insects and possible back pain. - Formation Maintenance (3 points/hour): Minimal pay for menial tasks. Likely to be boring and tedious. - Messenger Duties (1-2 points/hour): Laughable earnings. Master, even you have more dignity than this. - Combat Practice Assistant (5 points/hour): Decent pay but physically demanding and with the possibility of being punched in the face repeatedly.¡± I leaned back, rubbing his temples. ¡°And what¡¯s your genius recommendation, oh wise system AI?¡± ¡°Alchemy,¡± Vernor declared with unwavering confidence. ¡°Alchemy?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°You mean babysitting cauldrons and washing mortar bowls? Sounds like a blast.¡± ¡°You¡¯re missing the big picture,¡± Vernor said, pulsing in annoyance. ¡°Alchemy isn¡¯t just about cleaning tools. It¡¯s about understanding the spiritual properties of herbs, mastering the delicate balance of energy infusion, and creating elixirs that could save or enhance lives. In other words, it¡¯s useful.¡± Lu Ming squinted. ¡°And what¡¯s in it for you? Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice how excited you sound.¡± ¡°Think of it as an investment,¡± Vernor replied smoothly. ¡°Alchemy knowledge would significantly boost your long-term survivability. Imagine crafting your own pills instead of paying exorbitant prices at the sect store. Not to mention, alchemists are always in high demand, even among inner disciples and elders.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying if I do this, I could eventually make some serious spirit stones?¡± ¡°Precisely. You¡¯d move from being a broke floor-sweeper to a respected, well-compensated disciple. Plus, alchemy could synergize with your inner world cultivation. The inner world you¡¯re nurturing thrives on understanding life and energy. This could accelerate its growth.¡± I scratched my chin, considering the idea. ¡°I guess that makes sense... But what about all the work? I¡¯ll probably have to learn a ton of complicated stuff.¡± ¡°Master, your mortal world university degree required you to memorize hundreds of useless facts about history, economics, and mathematics,¡± Vernor quipped. ¡°Alchemy is infinitely more rewarding. And unlike your exams, I¡¯ll be here to guide you.¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± I admitted grudgingly. ¡°But if I do this, I¡¯m not just going to be some lackey washing cauldrons forever.¡± ¡°Of course not. We¡¯ll use this position to gain insider knowledge, practice basic techniques, and network with skilled alchemists. Eventually, you¡¯ll surpass them all.¡± ¡°Surpass them, huh?¡± I grinned. ¡°And more importanttly it''s align with your cause, alchemy masters doesn''t need to talk with lot people they can just work.¡± ¡°Alright, Vernor. You¡¯ve sold me. But if I end up as some junior alchemist scrubbing cauldrons for eternity, I¡¯m blaming you.¡± ¡°Noted. Now, let¡¯s proceed to register for the alchemy task. And remember, Master in your mordern term¡ªno great cultivator ever rose to power by sweeping floors or delivering messages, those happens only in fictions.¡± With Vernor¡¯s encouragement, Lu Ming signed up for the Alchemy Room Helper" task, determined to turn this small opportunity into the first step of his peacefull cultivation empire. Chapter 7 : Alchemy hall Next day afternoon, I found myself in alchemy room, sorting herbs. Whan I entered the alchemy room, the air thick with the mingling scents of herbs, minerals, and a faint acrid tang of burnt residue. Rows of shelves lined the walls, holding jars filled with colorful powders and dried plants. Cauldrons of various sizes gleamed in the light of glowing spirit stones embedded in the ceiling. I looked around, a mix of curiosity and mild apprehension on his face. ¡°Alright, Vernor, first day as an alchemy genius. What could possibly go wrong?¡± ¡°Plenty,¡± Vernor replied. ¡°Let¡¯s start by ensuring you don¡¯t embarrass yourself. " ¡°Need help? Some of these can be tricky for beginners.¡± A girl with a cheerful smile approached me. She picked up the herb I had just sorted and tilted her head. ¡°This one¡¯s not Spirit Ginseng. Look at the tips¡ªthey¡¯re slightly darker.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ not?¡± I replied, already questioning my life choices. ¡°That¡¯s False Spirit Ginseng,¡± she explained patiently. ¡°They look similar, but the tip is the giveaway. Spirit Ginseng has a faint glow at the tip, while this one looks like it¡¯s been through a bad breakup.¡± She pointed out the difference with a knowing smile, " And there''s also, Look at this one¡ªsee the texture of the leaves? And this one? The smell is a giveaway. Spirit Ginseng has a sweet aroma, while False Spirit Ginseng smells a bit¡­ earthy, like wet socks.¡± Great. Now I¡¯ll associate wet socks with ginseng forever, I grumbled, though I was secretly grateful for her guidance. ¡°Oh. That¡¯s helpful.¡± I scratched my head, wondering if my ability to sort herbs was on par with a blindfolded goat. ¡°I¡¯m Yun Fei. I watch over Section A , you can think me a supervisor of room A ,¡± she said with a light laugh, clearly used to clueless newcomers. ¡°Lu Ming. As you can see, I¡¯m a complete newbie at this¡­ as in, the herb just called me out on my mistake.¡± Yun Fei burst into laughter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, most disciples are. They come here lured by the high points, but most of them end up leaving after a few days. Turns out, making cauldrons explode isn¡¯t for everyone.¡±
[System Update: Alchemy-related features unlocked.] Basic Herb Identification: Activated. Alchemy Efficiency Boost: +10% for identification tasks. Progress: Novice Alchemist (Complete Newbie).
¡°Great,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°Now even the system¡¯s mocking me.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Yun Fei raised an eyebrow. ¡°Nothing, nothing! Just saying it¡¯s nice to meet someone who knows their way around,¡± I said quickly. ¡°Mind if I work near you? You know, in case I mix up a Spirit Ginseng with, uh¡­ firewood.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Sure, it''s good to have company who doesn''t nag all the time instead of work.¡± Yun Fei gestured to a messy heap of herbs on the table. ¡°Your task is simple: sort these herbs by type and quality. Simple doesn¡¯t mean easy, though.¡± ¡°Easy enough,¡± I said with misplaced confidence. ¡°Not bad,¡± Yun Fei teased, looking over my shoulder. ¡°Thanks for the confidence boost¡± I muttered, glaring at the herbs like they¡¯d insulted my ancestors. By the end of the day, my sorting had improved significantly. Yun Fei clapped me on the back. ¡°Not bad for your first day. You have grate eye. " "Thanks," I said . "Think I could make this a regular thing?" "Supervisor''s hours are fixed - same time every afternoon. Don''t be late!" She waved and headed off toward the outer disciples'' dining hall.
[System Notification: Progress Updated.] [Task Completed: Herb Identification.] Total Points: 35. Progress: still Complete Newbie (With Slight knowledge)
Additional Function Activated - Social network tracking " Yun Fei " Added. "Social Network tracking? When I get this" I thought, vernor popped out " Social network is also substantial factor in everyone''s life, it''s helpful to keep track of it, you can even track your relationship lavel. " As he said. Well whatever let''s check this first, I said ¡°35 points?¡± I said, blinking at the notification. ¡°I might actually survive this.¡± ¡°Comforting thoughts,¡± I replied dryly. As I left the alchemy room, Vernor chimed in. ¡°While your performance was¡­ adequate, there¡¯s much room for improvement. Tomorrow, let¡¯s aim for 50 points.¡± I sighed. ¡°Sure thing, Vernor. But if I end up glowing green from some herb accident, I¡¯m blaming you.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Vernor¡¯s voice remained emotionless. ¡°Noted.¡± Yun Fei called after me, ¡°See you tomorrow, then !¡± I shook my head, but I couldn¡¯t help smiling. Day one was rough, but at least It was rewarding. So, guess now what comes? "Yes, it''s shopping time" Lets hit the shop and then hurry to dinner. The sect''s supply hall was a massive building near the central plaza, its shelves stocked with everything a cultivator might need - assuming they had the points to pay for it. "One Spirit Stone," I told the stern-faced elder managing the basic supplies section, handing over my jade tablet. He waved his hand over it, deducting 10 points, and handed me a crystal about the size of my thumb. It pulsed with pure spiritual energy.v Item Acquired: Low-Grade Spirit Stone Quality: 33/100 Energy Content: 1000 units Recommended Use: Inner World Enhancement And with that i went to hit dinner, and guess whom o show, of course it''s ling song, he was hurriedly stuffing his treasures in mouth. "Hey ling dong what are doing? " "Of course stuffing, I mean getting ready to cultivate, you will not understand you are just a nerd, who hanged on one thing cultivation. " "Fair enough, okay enjoy". That evening, in my room, I examined my new spirit stone while reviewing the day''s lessons. "Ready to begin enhancement procedures?" Vernor asked, materializing in my inner world. The space had developed nicely over the past weeks. Basic circulation paths created patterns of flowing light, and the energy collection array hummed quietly in the center. Still, there was plenty of room for improvement. "Let''s here your opinion?" "Expanding your inner world would be the best thing to do right now," Vernor advised. "A larger inner world means more room for future developments and faster spiritual energy absorption." Made sense. "Let''s do it." Vernor guided me through the process of breaking down the spirit stone and incorporating its energy into my inner world''s structure. It was like watching a magical construction project - glowing lines of force extended from the central array, pushing against the void and gradually expanding the available space.
Enhancement in Progress Space Expansion Foundation forming... Current Status: 39% Estimated completion time: 4 hours
"Oho! it would take quite some time huh! " *** The morning sun painted the sect courtyard in hues of gold, its warmth mingling with the crisp air as disciples gathered in orderly rows. At the front stood Senior Sister Wun¡¯er, her composed demeanor radiating an air of quiet authority. I found himself among the crowd, as always standing at front of the row . My thoughts were scattered, half-focused on the lecture and half-wondering whether breakfast would involve steamed buns again. ¡°Silence,¡± Wun¡¯er began, her voice cutting through the murmurs. ¡°Today¡¯s topic is the foundation of cultivation¡ªthe formation of the primordial seed within your spiritual core.¡± The disciples straightened, their chatter dying down. A translucent projection appeared behind Wun¡¯er, a vivid visualization of an empty inner world with a single glowing speck at its center. ¡°This is the seed of creation,¡± she said, her voice calm yet commanding. ¡°It is the spark that ignites your cultivation journey. Without it, there is no path forward.¡± My curiosity was piqued, and Vernor and system chose that moment to chime in.
[System Notification: Formation of the Primordial Seed¡ªGuidance Available.] [Note: Success in this stage will solidify your cultivation foundation. Failure may require repetitive attempts. Effort: Moderate to High.]
¡°Repetitive attempts?¡± I thought. ¡°Great, just like trying to fry an egg without burning it.¡± ¡°Focus,¡± Vernor¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°This is no trivial matter. The primordial seed is the anchor for all your future growth. Neglecting this step is equivalent to building a house on sand.¡± Senior Sister Wun¡¯er continued, her tone tinged with the wisdom of experience. ¡°To form the primordial seed, you must first stabilize your spiritual core. Gather your energy, refine it, and channel it toward a singular point within your inner world. This point will serve as the seed¡¯s foundation.¡± She gestured toward the projection, which now showed streams of glowing energy spiraling toward the central speck. ¡°Balance is key. Too much energy, and the seed will collapse. Too little, and it will fail to form. Let the energy flow naturally, like water filling a cup. Impose your intent, but do not force it.¡± I closed his eyes, taking in her words. In my mind¡¯s eye, i visualized my own inner world¡ªa dim, cubic meter of space with faint motes of light drifting aimlessly.
[System Notification: Initiating Seed Formation Process.] [Step 1: Gather Energy.]
¡°Begin by drawing the energy within your spiritual core,¡± Vernor guided. ¡°Picture it converging at the center, a single point of light waiting to take shape.¡± I inhaled deeply and focused. Slowly, the motes of golden light in my inner world began to drift toward the center. At first, they scattered like frightened birds, refusing to coalesce. ¡°Don¡¯t rush,¡± Vernor advised. ¡°Stability is more important than speed.¡± Time stretched as I poured my focus into the task. Gradually, the motes stopped resisting, spiraling toward the central point. My brow furrowed in concentration, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
[System Notification: Energy Stabilized. Proceed to Step 2: Compression.]
¡°Now, compress the energy into a single point,¡± Vernor said. ¡°Like molding clay, shape it into something tangible within your inner world.¡± The task proved harder than it sounded. The gathered energy pulsed and flickered, resisting compression. It felt like trying to hold water in his hands. ¡°Steady your intent,¡± Wun¡¯er¡¯s voice echoed in his memory. ¡°Your will must be firm, yet gentle.¡± I exhaled slowly, calming my thoughts. I visualized the energy compressing, its chaotic movement settling into a calm, rhythmic pulse. Slowly, the point of light began to stabilize.
[System Notification: Compression Complete. Proceed to Step 3: Imprint Intent.]
¡°Imprinting your intent is the most critical step,¡± Vernor said. ¡°What do you desire from your cultivation? What path do you wish to walk?¡± I hesitated. What did I want? Power? Freedom? Understanding? My thoughts raced, but one truth stood out¡ªi wanted to move forward, to grow stronger, and to carve out a place for myself in this vast world. With that thought, i projected my intent into the seed. A faint warmth spread through my inner world as the green light ball absorbed my will, glowing brighter and more defined.
[System Notification: Primordial Seed Formation Successful.]
A subtle hum resonated within me, a sensation both alien and comforting. I opened my eyes, my breathing steady but heavy. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ done?¡± i murmured. Senior Sister Wun¡¯er¡¯s gaze swept over the crowd, her serene smile unchanged. ¡°Those who succeed will feel a resonance, a sign that your seed has formed. This is only the beginning. The seed is fragile; nurturing it will require constant effort and discipline.¡±
Primordial Seed Status State: Stabilized Size: Minimal Potential: Unlimited
Vernor¡¯s tone carried a hint of approval. ¡°You have taken your first true step, Master . The road ahead is arduous, but now you have a foundation. Cultivate wisely.¡± I let out a small, triumphant sigh. For the first time, I felt connected to something greater¡ªa journey just beginning, its end yet unwritten. I looked other disciples as Senior Sister Win''er moving between students, checking their progress. Some looked excited, others confused, and a few seemed almost in tears - whether from joy or frustration, I couldn''t tell. Then I looked at ling dong , he noticed my gaze and looked and send thums up, he mostly likely , we''ll talk later. I wonder how long it''ll take for me acchive a minor success in it,