The first light of dawn slipped through the thin bamboo shutters, painting the wooden floor of the hut in a soft amber glow.
Dao Xuan Tian lay still on the straw mat, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing. The warmth left behind by yesterday's enhancement lingered faintly in his limbs, subtle yet unmistakable. At the edge of his perception, the translucent system interface hovered silently.
00:00:03
He had waited an entire day.
Now, the system was about to act again.
A soft chime echoed within his mind, and the screen brightened.
System active
Name: Dao Xuan Tian
Age: 14
Talent: Infinity Eyes – Unknown Grade
Cultivation: Mortal (200/1000)
Mind: 0 (2000/10000)
Current Stats:
Strength: 500
Agility: 900
Endurance: 700
Spirit: 1290
Infinity Eyes: 4 / 1,000,000,000
(Qi Absorption Rate ×10)
Countdown: 00:00:00
The numbers vanished.
Then—
The world roared.
A violent surge of warmth exploded through Dao's body, far beyond the gentle reinforcement of the previous day. His muscles tightened as if forged anew, bones humming under immense pressure. The air inside the hut trembled, and outside, pine needles shivered as though brushed by an unseen wind.
Stat Increase: 200×
Updated Stats:
Strength: 100,000
Agility: 180,000
Endurance: 140,000
Spirit: 258,000
Mind: 0 (2000 → 2000/10000)
Cultivation: Mortal (200/1000)
Dao's breath hitched.
This was no longer merely enhancement—it was transformation.
His senses sharpened violently. He could feel individual muscle fibers contracting, blood racing through reinforced veins, qi responding instinctively to his will. Though still mortal in realm, his body now far exceeded any ordinary human.
The Infinity Eyes flickered faintly at the edges of his vision, no longer dormant. Though still insignificant in total progression, their presence felt heavier—more aware.
Tenfold qi absorption.
Even at this microscopic level, it was terrifying.
Dao slowly sat up. The straw mat crinkled softly beneath him, yet the hut felt smaller, as though it could no longer comfortably contain him. Outside, the mountains loomed in silence, their peaks waking like the backs of ancient beasts.
He closed his eyes and steadied his breathing.
Testing came first.
Dao pressed his palms flat against the earthen floor and inhaled deeply.
At once, qi surged.
What had once trickled now flowed like a narrow stream, dense and obedient. The mountain's energy responded immediately, pouring into his dantian with startling speed.
Absorbing…
Dao felt it clearly—the difference was undeniable. What had taken minutes yesterday now took only moments. His dantian filled rapidly, stable and controlled.
Satisfied, he opened his eyes.
The world had changed again.
Qi threads wove visibly through pine trunks and stone. Mineral veins glimmered faintly beneath the earth. Even the air itself seemed layered, currents shifting as birds stirred in the distance.
The Infinity Eyes granted no omniscience—only clarity.
But clarity was enough.
Dao rose to his feet. The wooden floor creaked faintly beneath him as he reached for the rusted sword leaning against the wall. Its weight vanished the instant it touched his hand.
He swung.
The blade cut cleanly through the morning mist, sending a ripple of displaced qi racing across the slope. Pine needles burst loose in a green cascade, and a fist-sized stone cracked free, tumbling into the ravine below.
Dao exhaled slowly.
He spent the next hours in disciplined silence.
Gathering firewood required little effort now—logs split cleanly under minimal force. He returned to the hut and spread the scrolls across the table.
The Basic Qi Gathering Technique no longer challenged him.
He set it aside and opened another scroll.
Fundamentals of Meridian Flow.
As his fingers brushed the ink, the Infinity Eyes stirred. Beneath his skin, meridians ignited into glowing pathways—rivers of light branching through his body.
Dao traced them with his mind, identifying resistance at several nodes. With careful breathing, he guided thin streams of qi through the blockages, smoothing them slowly, methodically.
Progress was still measured.
But no longer discouraging.
The system's rhythm echoed quietly in his thoughts. Every cycle would make this easier. Every day would compound his advantage.
As the sun climbed higher, Dao stepped outside. Cool air brushed his face as he walked to the cliff's edge. The sea of green stretched endlessly below, bathed in drifting mist.
He knelt and pressed his palms against the stone.
Qi answered.
For a fleeting instant, the Infinity Eyes flared.
The world dissolved into pure energy—leaf, stone, wind, all revealed as variations of the same vast flow. The vision was brief, but it left his heart steady and his resolve sharpened.
By sunset, Dao returned to the hut.
He lit a single lantern. Shadows danced quietly as the system interface flickered once more.
09:59:58
Less than a day remained.
Dao settled onto the straw mat, scrolls spread around him. Though the Infinity Eyes dimmed once more, their first truth was already clear:
No energy would ever be wasted on him again.
He lay back and closed his eyes.
"Tomorrow," he murmured softly, "I'll be stronger than today."
Outside, the green mountains stood silent and ancient—unaware that something had begun to grow beyond their control.