Zhen Wu sat in his room, the morning light filtering through the window.
His expression was contemplative.
'The system has been largely passive until now. It provided information when asked, but not offering guidance. Perhaps it has more capabilities I haven't explored.'
He spoke internally.
'System. Show me available options that might interest me.'
Text appeared in his vision immediately.
[AVAILABLE SYSTEM FEATURES]
[1. CULTIVATION STATUS]
[2. SOUL CULTIVATION STATUS]
[3. STATUS]
[4. SHOP]
[5. MISSIONS]
Zhen Wu's eyes scanned the list.
The status sections held little appeal. He could assess his own cultivation progress well enough through direct spiritual sense examination.
But Shop and Missions...
Those were interesting.
'Open Shop.'
The interface shifted.
[SHOP]
[AVAILABLE CATEGORIES]
[1. CULTIVATION - UNLOCKED]
[2. EQUIPMENT - UNLOCKED]
[3. - LOCKED]
[4. - LOCKED]
[5. - LOCKED]
Zhen Wu selected Cultivation.
The display expanded into a long list.
[CULTIVATION CATEGORY]
[SPIRITUAL ROOT ENHANCEMENT]
- Basic Cultivation Potion (Rank 1) - 50 Points
- Concentrated True Will Potion (Rank 2) - 150 Points
- Perfect Core Formation Potion (Rank 3) - 500 Points
[SOUL ENHANCEMENT POTIONS]
- Minor Soul Strengthening Potion (Rank 2) - 200 Points
- Major Soul Fortification Elixir (Rank 3) - 500 Points
- Divine Soul Tempering Liquid (Rank 4) - 1000 Points
[TRUE WILL DEVIATION CORRECTION]
Slight True Will Deviation Remedy (Rank 1) - 75 Points
Meridian Cleansing Solution (Rank 2) - 200 Points
[HEALTH RESTORATION]
Basic Healing Pill (Rank 1) - 35 Points
Rapid Recovery Elixir (Rank 2) - 100 Points
Complete Restoration Pill (Rank 3) - 400 Points
'So the system operates on a point economy.'
He scrolled further, examining more entries.
Some potions caught his interest, but nothing really piqued his interest.
'I should be able to earn points through missions. I doubt the system would have a shop section without a way to actually buy from it.'
He backed out and selected Equipment.
[EQUIPMENT CATEGORY]
[STORAGE DEVICES]
- Basic Storage Ring (5 cubic zhang) - 50 Points
- Advanced Storage Ring (50 cubic zhang) - 200 Points
- Spatial Tear Pouch (100 cubic zhang) - 500 Points
[FORMATIONS] - 1 use only
Privacy Barrier Array (Rank 1) - 100 Points
True Will Gathering Formation (Rank 1-2) - 150-300 Points
Soul Cultivation Formation (Rank 2) - 500 Points
Defensive Perimeter Formation (Rank 3) - 900 Points
[CULTIVATION AIDS]
- True Will Attraction Totem (10 sticks) - 75 Points
- Meditation Focus Fruit - 150 Points
- Dantian Pressuring Device - 300 Points
Zhen Wu's eyes stopped on one entry.
Soul Cultivation Formation (Rank 2) - 500 Points.
The description expanded when he focused on it.
[SOUL CULTIVATION FORMATION - RANK 2] [A specialized formation that enhances soul development regardless of current cultivation realm. Typically, soul cultivation begins at True Will Condensation realm when the soul has matured sufficiently. This formation bypasses that limitation, allowing Body Refinement cultivators to begin soul strengthening early. Effects: +50% soul development speed, stabilizes soul foundation, prevents soul deviation during early cultivation.]
'This could work even at my current realm. But... five hundred points.'
He backed out again and selected Missions.
[MISSION SYSTEM]
[SELECT A MISSION TO BEGIN]
[WARNING: Mission failure results in point deduction equal to 50% of mission reward]
Three missions appeared.
[MISSION 1: MASTER'S DISCIPLE] [Become the personal disciple of an elder ranked Soul Transformation or higher] [Reward: 1000 Points] [Time Limit: 20 Days] [Failure Penalty: -500 Points]
[MISSION 2: SECT CONTRIBUTION]
[Complete 10 sect missions ranked Grade 1 or higher] [Reward: 800 Points] [Time Limit: 25 Days] [Failure Penalty: -400 Points]
[MISSION 3: BREAKTHROUGH] [Advance to Body Refinement Realm, Stage 2 within 3 days] [Reward: 250 Points] [Time Limit: 3 Days] [Failure Penalty: -125 Points]
Zhen Wu studied each mission carefully.
Mission 1 was almost instantly tossed aside. Becoming the disciple of one of elders wasn't hard, but the consequences that followed could be very harsh.
Firstly, becoming one of the elder's disciple meant that Zhen Wu had to spend his time around a much more powerful cultivator with no real way to assure his safety.
Secondly, that would mean choosing a side between the elders which is almost impossible because the other elders wouldn't allow it. They are not fools, they wouldn't allow anyone to possess such power.
Having Zhen Wu as their disciple meant that the specific elder would have authority over all the other elders as the master of such a talented cultivator.
Even though Zhen Wu was only at the Body Refinement realm, his real value and political power was more than that of a fourth realm or even fifth realm cultivator, as his cultivation potential was as high as the Heaven itself.
It was almost as if the sect had an additional elder, if this morning he wanted Instructor Qing Yue expelled, a few hours later her replacement would have been already decided.
Choosing to complete this mission was risking his benefits, a thing that he would never agree to do.
Mission 2 was dangerous. Sect missions ranked Grade 2 involved combat with specific hostile individuals or rank 2 beasts. In his current state, at the Body Refinement realm, with no proper way to fight or to defend himself it would be nothing less than courting death.
But Mission 3...
Three days to reach Stage 2.
He was already close. Another week of normal cultivation would suffice.
But could he compress that to three days?
'My cultivation speed is exceptional, with focused effort and perhaps some resources...'
His thoughts paused.
'If I fail, I lose 125 points. But I haven't earned any points yet. Would that put me into negative points? What are the consequences of that?'
The system offered no clarification, it stayed silent once more.
Zhen Wu weighed the risk carefully.
Then he selected Mission 3.
[MISSION ACCEPTED: BREAKTHROUGH]
[TIME REMAINING: 71 HOURS, 59 MINUTES, 54 SECONDS]
A countdown appeared in the corner of his vision, numbers ticking downward.
Zhen Wu stood immediately.
No time to waste.
He left his room and walked to the courtyard's center.
Then he stopped, turned toward seemingly empty air, and bowed.
"Brother Zhao Lin, I apologize for the sudden request. I want to attempt advancing to the second stage. Is there any possibility the sect can arrange a cultivation room for me?"
For three seconds, silence.
Then Zhao Lin materialized beside him.
The guard's expression showed surprise.
'He's already close to breaking through to the second stage? It's been less than a week since his awakening.'
Outwardly, Zhao Lin's voice remained professional.
"The sect has indeed made such arrangements available for young master. Supreme Elder Feng anticipated you would need cultivation resources soon."
Relief washed over Zhen Wu, though his expression showed only gratitude.
"Thank you, Brother Zhao. I owe the sect a great debt."
Zhao Lin raised his right hand.
His palm began glowing with white light, growing brighter with each second.
The light expanded to envelop both of them.
The courtyard vanished.
When the light faded three seconds later, they stood in a completely different location.
A massive building stretched before them, five stories tall, constructed from a type of dark stone that seemed to absorb light.
"The Inner Sect Cultivation Halls." Zhao Lin said. "Normally, inner disciples have the right to reserve a normal room once every month for no more than one day. Extended stays or higher ranked rooms require payment in contribution points or true will stones."
He gestured toward the building.
"However, since the sect has decided to nurture young master properly, you may reserve a third rank room as often as needed, free of charge."
Zhen Wu's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Third rank?"
"Each room contains multiple formations. Privacy barriers to prevent observation or interference. True will gathering formations that consume true will stones to maintain steady income of true will. Third rank rooms can sustain approximately five times the ambient true will concentration."
Zhao Lin began walking toward the entrance.
"Supreme Elder Feng determined that third rank rooms are currently sufficient for your needs. Body Refinement realm cultivation doesn't require massive true will quantities compared to later realms. Your dantian's capacity is still relatively small. Placing you in a fifth or sixth rank room would be wasteful and potentially dangerous. Excessive true will can damage underdeveloped meridians."
They entered the building.
The interior was cool, quiet. Hallways stretched in multiple directions, lined with doors.
"Third rank rooms also include personal servant assignments." Zhao Lin continued. "They'll provide food, maintain the formations, receive information and ensure you're not disturbed."
They stopped before a doorway marked with the character for "three."
"How much time does young master require?"
Zhen Wu calculated quickly.
The mission gave him three days. But cultivation breakthroughs were unpredictable. Better to have buffer time instead, even if he fails the mission, he predicted that he would be close to breaking through to the second stage.
"Four days."
Zhao Lin nodded and placed his hand on the door.
True will flowed from his palm into the formation array carved into the doorframe. The array lit up, glowing characters rearranging themselves.
"The room is now keyed to young master's spiritual sense. Only you, the elders, and the sect leader can access it while you occupy it."
The door swung open.
Zhen Wu looked inside.
The room was spacious. Ten zhang wide, ten zhang long. Far more luxurious than standard rank 3 cultivation rooms.
The floor was polished spirit jade, carved with intricate formation patterns.
In the center sat a raised platform, perfectly flat, with cushions arranged for meditation.
True will stones were embedded in the walls at regular intervals, each one glowing faintly.
'This is definitely the elders' work. A standard third rank room shouldn't be this well appointed.'
Zhen Wu turned to Zhao Lin and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Brother Zhao. For everything."
"Cultivate well, young master. The sect has high expectations."
Zhao Lin vanished, flickering out of existence.
Zhen Wu entered the room.
The door closed behind him with a soft click at his command.
Immediately, he felt the difference.
The true will density was noticeably higher than outside. Not at the level of the immortal realm but still way better than the outside.
He walked to the center platform and sat down in a cross legged position.
His hands came to rest on his knees.
His eyes closed.
The golden dome began manifesting around him.
In the corner of his vision, the countdown continued.
71 hours, 47 minutes, 12 seconds.
Zhen Wu's breathing steadied into a deep, measured rhythm.
His consciousness turned inward, examining his dantian.
Stage 1 of Body Refinement meant the dantian had been awakened and could store true will. Stage 2 required expanding the dantian's capacity and reinforcing its walls to handle greater pressure.
He could feel his current limitations. The dantian was perhaps seventy percent filled right now, his progress towards stage 2 was a little over thirty five percent he estimated.
To cultivate was a time consuming process. The first step was to suck true will from the surroundings into one's meridians. The second step was to process the true will through the meridians into the dantian. The third step was to enhance the dantian with acquired processed true will.
His meridians began drawing in true will from the surrounding environment.
The process was faster here. Much faster.
The enhanced density of true will, combined with his exceptional spiritual root, created cultivation efficiency he'd never experienced even in his previous life.
'This might actually be possible.'
All that could be heard was the rhythm of breathing, the beating of his heart, and the flow of true will.