The setting sun cast long, dancing shadows through the ancient trees as Li Xuan and Jian made their way back from the Whisperwood Thicket. The air, once thick with the tension of the hunt, now felt charged with anticipation. Li Xuan carried the bundled boar meat and rare herbs, but his mind was alight with a far more potent prize: the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill. He had 57 Sect Points, more than enough for the 50 points required. The long, arduous journey of the Body Tempering Realm was about to culminate in a spiritual leap.
"Sect Leader Li Xuan," Jian said, his voice still edged with awe from witnessing Li Xuan's effortless defeat of the Shadow Boars, "the villagers will be astonished by the bounty you've brought. No one has taken down two Shadow Boars in a single day, let alone by themselves." His words, filled with genuine admiration, were a stark contrast to the initial wary suspicion. Li Xuan realized that his display of strength had inadvertently served as a powerful recruiting tool.
"It is the strength of the Falling Leaf Sect, Jian," Li Xuan replied, maintaining his composed facade. "When one cultivates diligently, one can achieve great feats." He subtly shifted his grip on the bundles, eager to be back at the sect. He needed quiet, privacy, and most importantly, the pill.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the Hamlet of Clear Stream, Li Xuan instructed Jian to proceed to Elder Jiao's hut with the meat, explaining that he needed a moment to prepare for their discussion. Jian, still reeling from the day's events, merely nodded and headed into the village, his steps more confident with the valuable cargo.
Li Xuan, however, veered off, heading directly towards the secluded path leading back to the Falling Leaf Sect. He needed to be alone. He needed to seize this moment.
The instant he stepped into the familiar, echoing space of the secret vault, he knew what he had to do. Qing'er, who had been diligently tending to the burgeoning farm with her unique cultivation, looked up, her eyes bright.
"Sect Leader Li Xuan! You're back! You have more meat!" she exclaimed, her gaze falling on the bundles in his hands.
"Indeed, Qing'er," Li Xuan said, his voice tight with controlled excitement. "A great haul. But first, I have an important task. Continue with your cultivation. I need to focus on a personal breakthrough for the sect."
He found a quiet, undisturbed corner of the vault, far from the subtle activity of Qing'er's farm work. He sat cross-legged, closing his eyes, and willed the Sect Store to appear before his mental vision. His finger (mentally) hovered over the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill.
[Confirm purchase: Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill (50 Sect Points)?]
[Current Sect Points: 57. Remaining Sect Points: 7.]
"Confirm," Li Xuan thought, his breath held.
A small, exquisitely crafted jade-green pill materialized in his palm. It was smooth, cool to the touch, and emanated a faint, sweet aroma that seemed to invigorate his spirit just by inhaling it. This was the pinnacle of cultivation aids for the early stages.
He looked at the pill for a moment, then, without hesitation, brought it to his lips and swallowed.
The moment the pill entered his stomach, a profound warmth spread throughout his Dantian. It wasn't the slow, steady warmth of daily cultivation, but an intense, almost searing heat that expanded rapidly, coursing through his meridians. Li Xuan gasped, clenching his fists as the raw power of the pill began to force open his cultivation bottlenecks.
His Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2) cultivation, which had felt like a smooth, flowing river, now became a raging torrent. The Qi within him surged, purifying his blood, strengthening his bones, and refining his flesh to an even greater degree. He felt as though every cell in his body was being meticulously re-forged, shedding impurities and absorbing pure spiritual energy.
Pain, sharp and intense, lanced through his body as his meridians stretched and expanded, accommodating the influx of energy. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his brow, but he welcomed it. This was the pain of progression, the agony of ascension. He remembered the thrill of leveling up in games, but this was visceral, real, and far more impactful.
He dimly heard a worried murmur from Qing'er, but he was too deep in the throes of the breakthrough to respond. His entire being was focused inward, guiding the tumultuous Qi, forcing it to follow the pathways laid out by his rudimentary cultivation manual, but amplified a thousandfold by the pill.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. The initial fiery pain subsided, replaced by an overwhelming sense of clarity and power. The world around him seemed to sharpen. He could perceive the subtle flow of ambient Qi in the air, feel the tiny vibrations of the earth beneath him. His mind felt vast, capable of holding intricate thoughts and processing information with lightning speed.
Then, a final, exhilarating surge, like a dam truly breaking, and the tumultuous Qi settled. It flowed now with a quiet, powerful rhythm, a steady, immense reservoir within his Dantian. The warmth radiated outwards, making him feel both grounded and incredibly light.
A triumphant chime resonated within his mind, louder and more resonant than any before.
[Cultivation Breakthrough Achieved! Li Xuan has entered the Qi Condensation Realm (Stage 1)!]
Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes. The world seemed to shimmer with a new vibrancy. Colors were more vivid, sounds clearer, the very air tasted sweeter. He flexed his hands, feeling an incredible surge of strength. He stood up, and his movements were fluid, effortless, imbued with an intrinsic grace. He was no longer just physically strong; he was spiritually potent.
His cultivation now proudly displayed: Qi Condensation Realm (Stage 1 - 0% progress). He had done it. He had leaped past the Body Tempering Realm in a matter of weeks, a feat that would take most common cultivators years, if not decades, of painstaking effort.
Qing'er stood a short distance away, her face a mixture of concern and utter astonishment. "Sect Leader Li Xuan," she breathed, her voice trembling slightly. "Your aura... it's like the mountains. So vast, so powerful."
Li Xuan grinned, a genuine, powerful grin that radiated confidence. "Indeed, Qing'er. The Falling Leaf Sect's methods are profound. This means I can protect you, and the sect, more effectively. It also means we are truly ready to establish our presence in this world."
He felt the immense power of the Spirit Sword calling to him, a faint hum of recognition from the weapon now that his own cultivation had reached the Qi Condensation Realm. He would need to explore its full potential soon.
His mind immediately shifted to the next objective: "Establish a Basic Sect Income Source." With his newfound strength and the valuable goods he had acquired, this task seemed far less daunting. He still had 7 Sect Points remaining. Enough to consider a few more small purchases, perhaps the Basic Water Purification Kit (5 points).
But first, he had to return to the hamlet. Elder Jiao and his villagers were waiting for an answer, and Li Xuan now had an even more compelling argument for why they should entrust their young to the care of the Falling Leaf Sect. He would not just offer a path to cultivation; he would demonstrate it. The shrewd gamer in him knew this was the ultimate play.