The sky was tinged with gold as Lin Feng made his way down the mountain. Trees whispered in the wind, and birds called from distant perches, but the world felt quieter somehow—more deliberate. As if it too sensed something had changed.
Lin Feng's senses buzzed. Every leaf, every stone, every shimmer of Qi around him pulsed with clarity. It was like stepping out of darkness into a world brimming with light.
System Notice: Cultivation Rate Stabilized – Qi Condensation Layer 4 Achieved
Estimated Time to Next Layer (Under Current Conditions): 1 Hour, 12 Minutes
He paused.
"Only one hour to advance again…" he whispered. "Normal cultivators train for weeks… months…"
Was this real?
His hand clenched into a fist. The strength in his muscles felt… different. More controlled. Refined. Qi surged with his breath, dancing through his meridians like a living flame.
No more numb meditation.
No more empty effort.
For the first time in his life, he was a cultivator.
He barely noticed the mist thickening around him as he descended. His mind was consumed by questions.
Why him?
What was the System?
And what did it mean that his severed meridians had been "overridden"?
By the time he returned to Qinghe Village, the sun had dipped below the hills, painting the sky in crimson streaks. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys. A few villagers milled about, preparing for the evening.
Lin Feng walked with purpose. His steps were light, but each movement held new strength. Subtle, but undeniable.
He didn't go straight home. He had to test something first.
Behind the village was a small clearing used for training. Lin Feng had often come here to watch others practice, dreaming of what it would be like to wield Qi.
Tonight, it was empty.
Perfect.
He sat cross-legged on the ground and focused.
New Quest Unlocked: "Ascendant's First Strike"
Objective: Manifest Qi outside the body.
Reward: [Combat Technique: Falling Leaf Slash] + 5 Stat Points
Optional Bonus: Complete within 1 Hour – Unlock Style Modifier (Wind Element Affinity)
Qi surged the moment he focused.
He guided it slowly, carefully, from his dantian into his limbs, toward the surface of his skin.
It resisted him—chaotic, wild. But he persisted.
Minutes passed. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His breathing slowed, honed.
Suddenly, with a sharp exhale, he pushed the Qi through his palm.
A faint shimmer of silver light burst outward, rippling the grass around him.
It faded quickly.
But it was enough.
Quest Complete: "Ascendant's First Strike"
Reward: Falling Leaf Slash (Rank: Mortal High-Grade)
Stat Points Gained: +5
Bonus Achieved – Wind Affinity Detected
New Trait: Wind-Touched (Basic) – +10% Speed & Agility with Wind-based Techniques
Lin Feng gasped.
The technique's name etched itself into his mind like a whisper on the breeze. It was more than knowledge—it was instinct. He could already imagine how to use it, how to guide the motion, how to enhance it with Qi.
He stood slowly.
Raised his hand.
And with a flick of his wrist, he sliced forward.
The wind shrieked as a razor-thin arc of energy tore through the grass, leaving a shallow gash in the earth.
He stared at it, wide-eyed.
This is only the beginning.
That night, Lin Feng sat alone in his room, lit by a single oil lamp.
The System panel floated in his vision.
[Lin Feng]
Age: 16Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation – Layer 4Bloodline: ???Traits: Astral Adaptation, Wind-TouchedPassive Buff: 1,000x Cultivation SpeedStat Points: 5 (Unassigned)Skills: Falling Leaf Slash (Mortal High-Grade)Available Quests: [2]Reputation: [Qinghe Village – Neutral]
His fingers hovered over the stat menu.
Distribute Stat Points?
"Let's test this…"
He placed 2 points in Agility, 2 in Spirit, and 1 in Strength.
Stats Updated.
Agility: 7 → 9
Spirit: 6 → 8
Strength: 5 → 6
A light thrill shot through him.
His senses sharpened again. The air seemed slower. His thoughts clearer.
Every point mattered.
And he had a feeling… soon, he'd need all of them.