Chapter 7: Breakthrough Training
Two weeks.
Li Wei had two weeks to jump from Mortal Realm Stage 3 to Stage 5.
Under normal circumstances, that would take months—even years for someone with poor talent. But he had three advantages:
Yue Mei's brutal training regimen.
The System's cultivation guidance.
Desperation.
"Again!" Yue Mei barked.
Li Wei concentrated, gathering Qi in his dantian, and attempted Shadow Step for the hundredth time that day.
His body flickered—and he moved forward exactly half a meter before stumbling.
"Pathetic!" Yue Mei threw a pebble at his head. It bounced off with surprising force. "You're thinking too much! Shadow Step is INSTINCT, not calculation!"
"Easy for you to say," Li Wei panted. "You've been doing this for years!"
They were training in a secluded clearing outside the city. Far enough that no one would see them. Close enough that Li Wei could run back if assassins showed up.
Yue Mei had been relentless for five days straight.
Morning: Qi circulation exercises.
Afternoon: Shadow Step practice.
Evening: Actual guild missions to earn money.
Night: Meditation for cultivation advancement.
Li Wei had never been so exhausted in his life. But it was working.
[ CULTIVATION PROGRESS ]
Mortal Realm Stage 3 → 62% to 4
> Keep pushing! Breakthrough soon!
"You're getting close to Stage 4," Yue Mei observed. She sat cross-legged on a rock, watching him with critical eyes. "But you're forcing it. Cultivation isn't about brute force."
"Then what IS it about?"
"Understanding." She hopped down gracefully. "Mortal Realm is about the body. Each stage strengthens a different system. Stage 1 is bones. Stage 2 is muscles. Stage 3 is blood."
Li Wei nodded. Zhao Tian's memories confirmed this.
"Stage 4 is MERIDIANS," Yue Mei continued. "The Qi pathways. You need to expand them. Make them flow faster and smoother."
"How?"
She pulled out a small pill—pale blue, glowing faintly. "Meridian Cleansing Pill. Expensive. I stole it from the guild's treasury."
Li Wei's eyes widened. "You STOLE—"
"For you! Romantic, right?" She tossed it to him. "Take it during meditation tonight. It'll hurt like hell, but you'll break through to Stage 4."
Li Wei caught the pill, heart clenching. "Thank you."
Yue Mei's expression softened. "You keep thanking me. The old you never did that."
"The old me was an idiot."
"Yeah." She smiled. "He really was."
[ AFFECTION UPDATE! ]
Target: Yue Mei
78 → 80
Milestone Reached: Genuinely In Love
> She'll protect you for real now.
That night, Li Wei sat in his tiny inn room, the Meridian Cleansing Pill resting in his palm. Yue Mei was in the room next door—she'd insisted on staying close "for protection."
Li Wei swallowed the pill.
For three seconds, nothing happened.
Then—PAIN.
Every meridian in his body felt like it was burning from the inside out. Impurities that had built up over years—over Zhao Tian's lifetime—were forcibly expelled.
Li Wei bit down on a cloth to keep from screaming.
The System activated:
[ BREAKTHROUGH IN PROGRESS! ]
> Cleansing meridians...
> Follow the rhythm! Circulate Qi through the 12 primary pathways!
[ VISUAL GUIDE ACTIVATED ]
A glowing map appeared in his mind—twelve lines of light showing the proper Qi circulation pattern.
Li Wei forced his Qi to follow the paths. Heart meridian. Lung meridian. Liver meridian. One by one, the pathways burned clean.
Sweat poured down his face. His body shook. But he didn't stop.
Can't stop. Need to break through. Need to survive.
The twelfth meridian cleared. Light exploded through his body.
[ BREAKTHROUGH SUCCESS! ]
Mortal Realm Stage 3 → Stage 4
New Stats:
Strength: +15%
Speed: +20%
Qi Capacity: +30%
> Shadow Step efficiency improved!
Li Wei collapsed backward, gasping.
Stage 4. One more to go.
The door burst open. Yue Mei stood there, concern on her face. "I felt the energy spike—are you okay?!"
Li Wei gave a weak thumbs up. "Stage 4. Success."
Her worry melted into pride. "Good! Rest tonight. Tomorrow we push for Stage 5."
"Tomorrow?! I just—"
"Nine days left until the exam," she said seriously. "No time to waste."
Li Wei groaned. This was going to be a long week.
Day 10 of training.
Li Wei stood in the clearing, body aching, mind exhausted. But he was ready.
"Show me," Yue Mei said.
Li Wei took a breath, gathered his Qi, and activated Shadow Step.
His body blurred—and reappeared five meters away. Perfect execution.
Yue Mei clapped. "Again! Faster!"
Li Wei did it again. And again. Ten times in a row without error.
"Good!" Yue Mei grinned. "Now add combat!"
She threw a dagger at his face.
Li Wei Shadow Stepped reflexively—appeared behind her—
She was already there, fist aimed at his gut.
He barely dodged.
"Better!" she laughed. "You're actually THINKING now!"
They sparred for an hour. Li Wei lost every exchange, but he was improving. Learning. Adapting.
[ SKILL PROGRESS ]
Shadow Step: Basic → Intermediate
> New Effect: Can chain 2 steps in quick succession!
That evening, Li Wei meditated with every spirit stone he'd saved from guild missions. The energy flowed into his dantian, expanding it, strengthening it.
He was so close to Stage 5. Just a little more—
Click.
The bottleneck shattered. Power flooded through him.
[ BREAKTHROUGH SUCCESS! ]
Mortal Realm Stage 4 → Stage 5
Academy entrance requirement: MET
> You did it! :)
Li Wei opened his eyes, feeling different. Stronger. Faster. More alive.
Yue Mei burst into the room (she had a key somehow). "YOU DID IT!"
She tackled him in a hug.
Li Wei laughed, hugging her back. "I did!"
"You're actually going to survive this," she said, voice muffled against his shoulder. "I really thought you'd die."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
She pulled back, eyes shining. "The exam is in two days. You ready?"
Li Wei nodded.
Ready as he'd ever be.