Jiang Chen didn't stop running until the sounds of battle, even the faint echoes, had completely faded behind him. He pushed his Basic Stealth Technique to its limits, his Body Tempering Stage 5 (Peak) allowing him to cover ground with surprising speed and silence. Only when he was well within the familiar, though still vast, territory of the Azure Thunder Sect's outer forests did he finally slow down.
He leaned against a thick tree trunk, gasping for breath. His lungs burned, but it was a pleasant burn, the kind that came from extreme exertion, not from injury. He pulled out the Rogue Cultivator's Storage Pouch, gripping it tightly. Its weight felt substantial, a testament to his daring gamble.
[Host, optimal location for immediate cultivation detected. Within a hidden cave, approximately 150 meters to your northeast. Spirit Qi is slightly denser there due to natural formations. Recommend utilizing newfound resources post-haste.] The System's voice was back to its usual, enthusiastic self.
Jiang Chen followed the System's subtle guidance. He quickly found the hidden cave, its entrance obscured by thick vines and overgrown bushes. It was small, damp, and smelled faintly of earth, but it offered perfect seclusion. He crawled inside, finding a relatively dry spot, and sat down cross-legged.
He opened the storage pouch. Inside, along with the 12 Low-Grade Spirit Stones and 3 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, was a small, dusty scroll. He pulled it out, unfurling it carefully.
[Item acquired: Basic Qi Gathering Technique Scroll (Mid-Grade). System Note: This technique is a significant upgrade from your Basic Cultivation Manual and is essential for breaking through to the Qi Gathering Realm. A fortuitous discovery!]
Jiang Chen's eyes widened. A direct technique for the Qi Gathering Realm! This was incredibly valuable. The Basic Cultivation Manual had only taken him to the peak of Body Tempering. This scroll was his direct path to becoming a true cultivator, no longer just a physical warrior.
"System, integrate the Basic Qi Gathering Technique," Jiang Chen commanded, a thrill running through him.
A new wave of information, far more complex and intricate than the Body Tempering manual, flooded his mind. It detailed the process of forming a Qi Sea in the dantian, compressing the loose Spirit Qi into a liquid-like state, and creating the core foundation of a true cultivator. His Divine Comprehension absorbed it all rapidly.
"Alright," he breathed, his gaze falling on the Spirit Stones. "Time to truly cultivate."
He picked up one of the Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. It pulsed with a noticeable, vibrant energy. He held it in his palm, closed his eyes, and began to absorb.
The difference was immediate and profound. Instead of a steady stream, a powerful torrent of pure Spirit Qi surged into his dantian. His dantian, which had previously felt like a full but static pool, began to churn. The raw Qi compressed, swirled, and slowly, incredibly, began to liquefy. It was an intense, almost painful process, his body shaking with the sheer volume of energy.
He poured all his focus into guiding the transformation, following the precise instructions of the new technique. The energy from the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone was immense, fueling the fundamental change within him.
BOOM!
A profound explosion echoed within his body, not outward, but inward. It felt like a barrier shattering, a dam breaking. His dantian transformed into a vibrant, swirling vortex of liquid Spirit Qi, a true Qi Sea. The feeling of power was intoxicating, washing over him, making every cell in his body hum with vibrant life.
[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully broken through to the Qi Gathering Realm Stage 1! A monumental leap! Rewards: 100 System Points, Qi Sensing Ability unlocked, and Qi Circulation Art (Basic) acquired!]
Jiang Chen gasped, opening his eyes. He felt utterly transformed. The air around him, once an invisible medium, now pulsed with visible currents of Spirit Qi. He could see them, faint shimmering threads weaving through the cave. His Minor Spirit Affinity had suddenly blossomed, enhancing his perception tenfold.
He raised his hand. With a thought, a faint wisp of green Spirit Qi materialized above his palm, dancing like a tiny flame. He had done it. He was a true cultivator!
[Analysis: Host's Qi Sea is remarkably stable and pure for a first breakthrough. This is a direct result of your Divine Comprehension and Minor Spirit Affinity, combined with the high-quality Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.]
He immediately checked his status.
[Current Cultivation Realm: Qi Gathering Realm Stage 1
Spirit Qi: 950/1000 (Liquid Qi Sea formed)
System Points: 130 (After spending 100 for the breakthrough reward)]
He still had two Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and twelve Low-Grade Spirit Stones! This was an unimaginable fortune for a newly broken-through cultivator. He could push his cultivation even further!
"Qi Sensing Ability? Qi Circulation Art?" Jiang Chen asked, excitement bubbling.
[Qi Sensing Ability allows you to detect the cultivation realms and Spirit Qi fluctuations of other cultivators and beasts. Extremely valuable for avoiding danger or identifying targets. Qi Circulation Art (Basic) is an advanced technique for refining your liquid Qi Sea and pushing it through meridians for enhanced combat application or faster passive cultivation.]
This was amazing. He was no longer just physically strong; he now possessed the fundamental power of a true cultivator, and the means to sense others. He had truly shed his servant skin.
Jiang Chen quickly consumed another Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, eager to consolidate his new realm. The powerful torrent of Qi further solidified his Qi Sea, expanding it, making his cultivation base incredibly robust for Stage 1. He then consumed his final Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, pushing his Qi Sea to its very limits for Stage 1, nearing Stage 2.
He felt an immense satisfaction. He had arrived in this world a dying servant, but in just a few days, he had become a Qi Gathering Realm Stage 1 cultivator with incredible potential. The fight he had just witnessed, the cultivators who had seemed like gods, now felt like a distant, achievable goal. Young Master Li? He was a mere insect.
He would cultivate until the sun rose. The sect gates would open, and he would walk back in, not as 'Ming,' the disposable servant, but as Jiang Chen, a rising star in disguise, ready to face whatever the Xuanjie Continent threw at him.