As the colossal bug went to clamp its teeth around his head, seeking to end his life in one fowl swoop. John's senses flared as he sensed the immanent attack, his blade materialized in his hand and drew an arc as he pointed it behind him.
"Heaven reaping blade seventh technique: Supernova". He calmly stated as the technique ended. Energy exploded forth and shot out in an arc from his dagger and created a crack in the carapace of the centipede's midsection. A slight trickle of green blood oozed out of the miniscule crack in shining black carapace (I know centipedes have exoskeletons, but this guy is an evolved dungeon centipede)
He quickly ended his cultivation, the eight whirlpools on his back dying out as his qi was redirected into his heart. Two rings flared to life as the qi pumped into the runic language inscribed upon his heart. His blood quickly absorbed the qi and redirected it throughout the entirety of his body, activating his new battle technique. The Qi-Forging Circuit refining the internal strength into physical resilience and strength.
As he exhaled a shimmering cloud flowed out, as he stood up his qi flared around him. As danger loomed over his head, the vicious beast lunged forward again seeking to snuff out his life. The greed in the beast's eyes flared as the rich scent of medicinal herbs rooted itself in its olfactory receptors. Its antenna twitched fervently as its cell membranes picked up on the potent herbs, and rage coursed through the creature as it focused on the insignificant individual that got in its way.
In an instant a layer of black obsidian spread across his back and hardened across all of his skin. While white fire burst forth from his wrist, molding the obsidian into a full set of plate armor with spikes protruding from the elbows and shoulders. Instantly allowing him to block the follow up bite from the insect by deflecting it away with his forearm bracer.
He lifted his dagger which had grown into a scythe like weapon with the dagger forming the sharp edge of the blade, a bright light shone in his eyes. He grinned, eyes blazing. "Fried bug for lunch? Don't mind if I do." White fire danced across the blade as he struck out toward the colossal beast, the handle became akin to a fluid as it shot the blade forward at the beast.
[Artifact {Training dagger of Disciplina} has evolved due to users' action]
{Reaping blade of the grim}
-Able to change form on command (The scythe is its natural form, but any form works while in combat).
-Battle mode: increases all image abilities, increases damage from elemental affinities and from purgatory flames.
-Normal mode: great all-around tool for farming.
A large gash appeared as the flaming blade ripped through the centipede's side, an ear-piercing screech as the white flames consumed its flesh green blood exploded out but was quickly consumed by the flames burning the wound. Whipping the blade back, he quickly side stepped as a large blast of excruciatingly hot acid shot at him from the jowls of the monstrous centipede.
His image flashed about as he expertly executed his godly footsteps technique, as a continuous rain of flaming acid rained down. As time continued the acid became less frequent from above but began to melt the barren area around his pond. This caused the whole area to begin sinking slightly as the top layers were melted off. The acrid stench permeated through the area as more and more ground melted. They began sinking further into the ground as tough stone, dirt, and minerals dissolved in the fierce battle for superiority between the acid and the ever-expanding white flames.
Gritting his teeth in frustration John continued dodging to the best of his ability, but he knew if he continued being passive it would kill him or ruin his crops. The trashing beast colliding with him more frequently, he shot off and crashed into the walls of the pit. He felt his bones crunch and blood trickle out of his mouth as a rib pierced it. The beast looked down on him as its blood freely flowed, his broken body heaped into a crater from the force of his impact. The beast surged forward, massive mandibles open wide to chomp him in half. He raised his head eyes half open, as he slammed his hand on the ground. The scythe liquidizing as he executed his earth manipulation to his maximum output. As the looming beast reached mere feet from him the liquid exploded forth in a massive spike piercing into the jaw of the beast, ripping its lower mouth off completely.
He leaped from the ground ignoring the extreme pain spreading through his body, he forced his qi to circulate faster as he exploded forward with power. He bellowed from the bottom of his soul "I HAVE TO END THIS NOW!!!!!". For just a moment he dashed beyond his normal limits, slipping through the defenses of the colossal beast. His blade materializing once more in his hand through his soul link to the artifact. As he dashed around the beast his blade began slashing the body of the beast. His attacks began to chain together like they never had before. His focus reached a new level of calm as dawning and comprehension flooding every corner of his mind while he continued his attack. In the crucible of combat, fire bowed to him. Earth whispered secrets. Blades sang his name. Every aspect associated to fighting, fire, earth, and bladed weapons coalesced and solidified themselves into their own Dao's which he has mastered in the moments of stress.
The cracks on the carapace expanded rapidly until it finally collapsed, raining solid black metallic chunks all around the pit. Causing its exoskeleton to become accessible, and his blade rained down, whipping all around the massive form of the beast, its movements slowed. Unable to move due to the connecting joints shattering from the immense heat and seemingly endless slashes finally breaking the beast.
Green blood exploded everywhere as he finally ended the beast, its shell shattering and organs were consumed by the ever-growing white flame. The entire corpse of the beast incinerated, leaving only the partially sunken in ground as evidence of its existence. Once there was not an ounce of the creature left, the flames coalesced into his sword insignia having taken on the very slightest tint of blue on the most external parts of the flames.
His armor dissolved all together in a flash of light before it combined into a ball and shot into his heart. He had no time for confusion as the moment that the armor disappeared, he collapsed into unconsciousness.
Several hours passed as he lay in an exhausted heap as all his remaining qi flowed from his dantian into his blood, sticking back together his body from the inside. He awoke with a jolt, sweet pouring from his brow as he slowly moved trying to avoid increasing his injuries. He crawled out of the pit slowly shambling to his cabin, mindful of his broken arm from blocking the beast's numerous attacks. He quickly threw in all his pre-gathered ingredients into his biggest pot making a stew from a few left-over crayfish, cherry tomatoes, rice, and green onions along with his premade broth. His large pot of crayfish stew slowly bubbling over the fire. He quickly made a bowl, and his starvation took control as he ravenously devoured the stew as if it was his last meal. Once every drop of his third bowl was devoured a golden light emanated from his stomach as a ding resounded in the small cabin.
[Dao of earth has infused into crayfish stew creating a potion]
{Crayfish potion of vitality}
-Boost metabolic processes and enhance the body's natural healing capabilities
-Increases base stats and boosts the effectiveness of body cultivation.
Power surged through him as his wounds visibly healed, the bruises on his ribs from bust blood vessels faded and punctured lung sealed, his bones more slowly than the other parts began to adjust and fix their positioning as new bone connected to the broken pieces. His broken arm which was in a makeshift cast using the arm guard of his obsidian like metallic armor, straightened out and strengthened. His awe was through the roof at that point as weeks of healing had instantly occurred and his whole body overflowed with energy. But that was just the start as another ding resounded, and his jaw dropped even more.
[Unread notifications are being displayed]
[Profile updated. Due to user's actions, Class {Dungeon Gardener (g+ rank)} has evolved after required conditions were met, Sub Class also unlocked due to contributions]
[John Ross]
Level: 48
Physique: (Ashwrought Frame) Locked
-Forged from sacred ash: the residue of purged sin and scorched soil
Class: Dungeon Farmer (G+ rank)
Sub Class: Monarch of The Seventh Inferno
-Commands the deepest purgatory flame
Affinities/Dao: Initial tier Dao ofEarth (mastery), Initial tier Dao of Necrotic flames (mastery), Dao of Combat (mastery), Dao of Blades (mastery)
Authorities: Goddess of Earth and Harvest's apostle, (Purgatory ingerno) Locked [Necrotic flames], Sigil of Annihilation, Rune of Decimation, Heavenly Earth sigil.
Body cultivation: Bone Refinement (67%)
Energy Cultivation: Energy Condensation realm (3rd circle)
(Authors note: The energy cultivation realm is the initial realm for cultivators it goes Energy gathering which he surpassed once his dantian was formed, Energy Condensation realm where the energy is refined into a purer form. There are four other realms for this stage after this, which will be explained as we get to them)
"When did my physique change, and what's going on with this sub class". He felt excitement raising in his chest as new abilities and power sources were acquired.
[Power absorbed from Demonic Centipede of desolation, has refined the user's physique, and mastery over Necrotic flames unlocked sub class]
"Wow, look at this talkative system today, it's ignored me for months. I guess it's making up for its rudeness all this time". He shrugged it off as he laid down to rest, while his broken body may have been restored, his mental fatigue was still present. He felt a searing migraine as his mind had been slightly overwhelmed from the compression of four dao simultaneously. It seemed like his existence was striving for a higher state while still experiencing the side effects of his mortal state.
He let sleep take him as he drifted off into the calmness of rest, his breath steady, his body still. Yet within the quiet of slumber, his mind stirred with visions vivid, elemental, and profound.
He saw the essence of flame, not merely as heat and destruction, but as passion incarnate—flickering with emotion, dancing with fury, illuminating the path of transformation. It whispered of rebirth through trial, of forging strength in the crucible of adversity.
Then came the cycle of earth, slow and deliberate. He felt its weight, its patience, its unyielding rhythm. It spoke of endurance and quiet power, of roots that hold firm through storms and stone that remembers every step. The Dao of Earth was not just stability it was memory, legacy, and the promise of return.
Combat surged all around him next, a torrent of motion and intent. He saw fists clash, bodies twist, wills collide. But beneath the violence lay clarity: the Dao of Combat was not chaos, but purpose. Every strike was a question, every defense an answer. Victory was not dominance, but rather it was understanding the rhythm of conflict and the heart of one's opponent.
Finally, blades shimmered in his vision—curved, straight, jagged, elegant. Each weapon radiated sharpness, but more than that, precision. The Dao of Blades was the art of decision, the moment of clarity when hesitation vanished and intent became action. It was the edge between life and death, between mercy and resolve.
As the images faded into the depths of sleep, he did not merely witness them—he felt them. Each Dao etched itself into his spirit, not as knowledge, but as truth. He was beginning to understand on a much deeper level than before. His mind catching up with the experiences of his body and atoning to his new mastery. More than anything, he realized that these Daos were not distant ideals. They were already within him, waiting to be controlled. The dream had not taught him techniques—it had shown his own understanding to him like looking in a mirror.
His eyes flared as realization dawned on him and a dazzling beam shot from his hand, as earth and pale fire merged. A figure began forming under his watchful eyes, a metallic humanoid statue with no features appeared. From the stillness of earth, he breathed life into the humanoid form materializing before him. Reaching a height of approximately three feet a metal statue formed, initially it was rough and unrefined but as he poured his realizations and understanding of the living parts of earth the cycle of death and new life of fire, soul and ambition of combat, and the refined sharpness of awareness from blades it began taking shape. Limbs sleeked, joints articulated, and it changed from looking like a child's drawing into the mathematical planned blueprint of an architect.
Finally, the form stabilized, and the statue flared to life as his intent flowed into the form through his mana (mana is used to explain the conversion of qi into elements external to the body, while qi is used to explain the power and utilization of the body, internals and martial arts).
[Item created]
{Farming golem}
-Due to its sleek and highly articulated joints as well as the intent and mana used while making this, the golem has gained the ability to utilize the user's farming related skills and abilities. Power can be refilled automatically while in presence of user, and simple tasks are able to be executed upon command.