The lone lantern in Aryan's room cast a warm, flickering glow, a stark contrast to the cold, analytical light of the system panel hovering in his vision. He sat on the edge of his bed, the silence of the sleeping house a world away from the quiet scream of his aching muscles and the throbbing pain in his right hand. Laid out before him on the rough blanket were the tangible results of his first foray into the world of cultivators: a small pile of gold coins, a grotesque but valuable poison sac, a heavy bag of spirit stones, and the jade bottle from his father.
His mind, however, wasn't on the physical treasures. He was replaying his father's words, his father's gaze. The weight of that look, heavy with a desperate, burgeoning hope, was a more potent catalyst than any pill. The old Aryan would have crumbled under such pressure. The new Aryan absorbed it, transmuted it, and refined it into fuel. It was a resource, just like the spirit stones, but one that nourished his resolve rather than his Qi.
He turned his attention to the system panel, focusing on the analysis of his self-created technique.
[Technique Analysis: Void Piercer... Warning: Current technique is inefficient, causing significant backlash. It is recommended to purchase a foundational 'Finger Technique' manual from the store to refine Qi pathways and mitigate physical damage. Cost: 300 SP.]
The ache in his fingers was a testament to the truth of the system's warning. He had forged a weapon from raw power and desperation, but it was a crude, flawed tool that harmed the wielder as much as the target. He couldn't afford such inefficiency.
"System, show me the recommended manual," he thought.
The store interface shifted, displaying a single item. It was a simple, unadorned digital representation of a scroll.
[Manual: Iron-Core Finger (Mid-Grade)]
[Description: A foundational technique focusing on conditioning the fingers and creating stable, efficient Qi channels within the hands. Teaches precise Qi compression and projection for piercing and striking attacks. Reduces physical strain and Qi leakage.]
[Cost: 300 SP]
This wasn't a new sword, but the whetstone that would sharpen all future blades. It was the foundation upon which a skyscraper of lethal techniques could be built. A flaw in a weapon could be fixed or the weapon thrown away; a flaw in the foundation brought everything crashing down. It was the only logical investment.
"Purchase."
[300 SP will be deducted. Confirm purchase?]
"Confirm."
His balance dropped to 965 SP. A stream of cold, intricate information flowed into his mind. It was less like an edge and more like a subtle architectural blueprint, superimposing itself over his existing knowledge. He saw the flawed, brute-force pathways he had created for the Void Piercer, and the manual provided a new, elegant design. It showed him how to reinforce the meridians in his fingers, how to create a cyclical flow that braced his very bones, how to compress the Qi in stages to lessen the explosive strain on his body.
He didn't practice it yet. His body was too fatigued, his hand too injured. First, he needed to heal and, more importantly, to advance. He looked at the jade bottle his father had given him. A Mid-Grade Body Tempering Pill. Its value on the open market would be immense, far exceeding the fifteen gold he had just earned. This was a parent's love and hope, distilled into a single, potent elixir.
He uncorked the bottle. A rich, medicinal aroma, far more potent than his own system-purchased pill, filled the room. He tilted the bottle, and a single, deep green pill, smooth as a polished river stone, fell into his palm. He could feel the energy concentrated within it thrumming.
He popped the pill into his mouth and simultaneously grabbed a handful of spirit stones, placing them in his lap. He closed his eyes and activated the Supreme Immortal Scripture.