Victor opened his eyes to the vibrant, glowing expanse of the Hidden Valley.
The flow of spiritual energy permeated the air, making his skin tingle. The momentary disorientation of logging back into Ascendant Realms faded as he stretched his arms and looked around.
"Alright, Fang Chen," he said to himself while cracking his knuckles. "Time to get back to business. No angry cultivators, no nosy juniors—just me, some beasts, and my path to greatness."
He glanced at the spot where Ji Yun had been, half-expecting to see the furious cultivator swoop down from the sky. But the valley was peaceful now except for the chirping sound of unseen creatures.
"Gone, huh?" Victor muttered. "Good. I'd rather not get zapped into oblivion today."
He wandered deeper into the valley, scanning for a suitable spot to settle down. After some exploration, he found a secluded area nestled between two cliffs.
It was shaded by an ancient tree with glowing leaves and bordered by a crystal-clear stream.
"Perfect," Victor said before dropping his bag of supplies. "Now let's get to work."
Victor settled into a meditative pose, closing his eyes and focusing on the flow of qi around him. The Shifting Winds Art had already proven its worth, and he was eager to push it further.
The system guided him as he channelled qi into his body, visualizing it as swirling currents of air. The energy moved slowly, responding to his commands.
After hours of practice, a new sensation enveloped him. The qi in his hands condensed, forming a blade-like shape that shimmered faintly.
<[ New Skill Unlocked: Wind Blade ]>
Description: A condensed blade of air capable of slicing through objects and enemies. Its strength scales with qi reserves and proficiency.
Victor grinned while holding up the translucent blade. It pulsed faintly and the edges shimmered with deadly sharpness. "Finally, something cool! Let's see what you can do."
He stood and swung the Wind Blade experimentally. The blade sliced cleanly through a nearby boulder, splitting it in half.
"Not bad," Victor voiced with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Looks like Fang Chen's got some real cutting-edge technology now."
Satisfied with his progress, Victor sat down to cultivate his level further.
The familiar warmth of qi filled him as he focused on his breathing, drawing energy from the valley's rich spiritual environment. The system interface displayed his cultivation level:
Current Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Realm – Stage 1 (12%)
Victor watched as the percentage crept upward which was the result of hours of focused cultivation.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see how far I can push this before—"
A sudden rumble shook the ground, cutting him off. Victor's eyes snapped open, and he turned toward the source of the disturbance.
Emerging from the dense bush up ahead was a massive serpentine spiritual beast. Its scaled body gleamed like polished emeralds, and its yellow eyes glowed with predatory intent.
It was the size of three school buses combined.
"Great," Victor groaned before scrambling to his feet. "Another overgrown snake. What is it with this valley and reptiles?"
The beast hissed, coiling its body as it prepared to strike. Victor activated Wind Dash, darting out of the way just as the serpent lunged. It slammed into the ground where he had been standing, sending up a cloud of dust.
"Missed me!" Victor taunted while summoning his Wind Blade. The shimmering weapon vibrated in his hand as he charged the beast.
The serpent lashed out with its tail, but Victor ducked under the attack and countered with a swift slash. The blade cut through the beast's scales, leaving a shallow gash that oozed dark ichor.
The serpent roared in pain as its movements turned more erratic. It coiled tightly, then launched itself at Victor with its fangs bared.
He swerved towards the left and struck again, aiming for its neck. The blade sliced deeper this time, and the beast thrashed violently.
"Alright, time to end this," Victor muttered before raising the Wind Blade for a final attack.
He channeled all his qi into the weapon causing the wind around him to tremble as it condensed further.
With a powerful slash, he brought the blade down on the serpent's neck. The strike connected with a sickening crunch, and the beast's head separated from its body, landing heavily on the ground.
A jet of black blood burst forth, bathing the surroundings with a contrasting colour.
Victor stepped back, breathing heavily as the serpent's body twitched briefly before going limp.
Beast Defeated: Emerald Serpent
Low-Grade Spirit Crystal
Instruction: Consume beast meat to enhance physique grade.
Victor sighed while wiping sweat from his brow. "Why does every meal have to fight me first?"
After carving up the serpent and roasting its meat over a small fire, Victor sat back and took a bite. The flavour was surprisingly rich, with a hint of spice that made his taste buds tingle.
The system chimed again as he ate:
Physique Grade Enhanced!
Current Physique Grade: Upper Bronze
Victor patted his stomach. "Upper Bronze, huh? At this rate, I'll be made of solid gold by the end of the week."
Once he finished his meal, Victor pulled up his system interface to check his stats. He noticed the accumulated Attribute Points and tapped on the section curiously.
A new display appeared:
Available Attribute Points: +9
Victor's eyes lit up. "Oh, now this is what I'm talking about!"
He distributed the points evenly across his sub-stats, watching as the numbers increased.
"Perfect," Victor proceeded to close the interface. "Stronger, faster, and a little less likely to die horribly. What's not to love?"
The system chimed with a new notification:
<[ New Objective: Find a Nearby Settlement ]>
Description: Venture beyond the Hidden Valley and locate a village or town to interact with NPCs, gather information, and further your cultivation journey.
Victor leaned back against the tree, thinking. He'd been so focused on cultivating and surviving in the valley that he hadn't even considered the possibility of other people.
Apart from the brief encounter with the two fighting cultivators, he'd been completely alone.
"It's about time I see some civilization," he voiced before standing to his feet. "This valley's nice, but I could use a change of scenery—and maybe a less homicidal neighbour or two."
He packed his supplies, adjusted his gear, and set off toward the edge of the valley. The promise of new adventures—and new challenges—lay ahead.