"Bring all three of their bodies into the enclosed carriage," Xue Shen said ordering Lian Shou.
"Understood, Master!" Lian Shou replied, a slightly curious look appearing on his face as he wondered why Xue Shen would want the dead bodies.
Then an inappropriate thought popped into his mind, 'Is Master a necrophile!?'
He shook off his impure thoughts quickly. Everyone had their preferences, after all, there was no shame in kink-shaming…
Xue Shen noticed Lian Shou's weird gaze, and expression and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"N-NONE at all, Master! Enjoy yourself!" Lian Shou quickly turned away.
'What the hell is he talking about?' Xue Shen thought, trying to guess Lian Shou's meaning but deciding not to dwell on it.
Once Lian Shou had brought the corpses into the wagon, Xue Shen climbed on in.
"You drive…" Xue Shen said, at Lian Shou.
"Understood, Master!" Lian Shou said nervously, climbing onto the driver's seat. Xue Shen stared at the dead corpses infront of him him, only Li Ning head remained intact, Bao Jia held was split and Quan Ning head was shattered.
"Where do you want to go, Master?" Lian Shou asked, clearly lost at where to head to.
"Away. Far from Baiyan City and Lin City far from any cities."
"Um.. there are four routes leading away from here… there's Caisheng City, the imperial capital, northern city of Beilu"
"And… the forest, where you like to head to, Master?" Lian Shou asked, confusion written all over his face still not knowing where to head to.
"JUST FUCKING GO SOMEWHERE! SOMEWHERE WHERE WON'T BE FOUND FOR A WHILE!" Xue Shen snapped at Lian Shou, his voice sharp enough to make Lian Shou jump.
"Yes! Master!" Lian Shou's grip on the reins tightened, his face spooked.
The horse carriage moved forward, away from Baiyan city and Lin City away from any cities or roads.
'Stats.'
[Name: Xue Shen]
[Level: 10 | EXP: 601/1000]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 22 | Lifespan: 70]
[Race: Human]
[Cultivation: Mortal]
[Bloodline: None]
[Physique: None]
[Spiritual Roots: 1 | Status: Rootless]
[Active Passives: Heavy Blade - 5% dmg, Monstrous power - 10% dmg]
[Talents: None]
[Unspent Stat Points: 0]
[Constitution: 1.4]
[Strength: 10.5]
[Dexterity: 7.8]
[Intelligence: 1]
[Endurance: 3.8]
[Perception: 1.9]
[Charisma: 2]
[Luck: 0]
[Skills: Blade Mastery: Level 1 | 98.5/100]
[Techniques: None]
Shit… I shouldn't have had Lian Shou kill those two," Xue Shen thought. If he had just done it himself instead of making it a spectacle, he could've reached Level 2 in Blade Mastery. But eh, he'd get there eventually—no use crying over spilled milk.
Then he glanced at all the books again, his heart racing as picked up and read every book and their titles.
"Basic Qi Sensing Technique"
"Basic Qi Breathing Technique"
"Ning Family Qi Breathing Technique"
"Body Tempering Technique"
"Stabilizing Qi Technique"
"Spiritual Root Extraction Technique"
"Wolf Qi Breathing Technique"
"Advanced Ning Family Qi Absorbing Technique"
His eyes stared at the dead corpses of Li ning, Quan Ning, and Bao Jia.
Xue Shen placed his palms on Li Ning's decapitated head, gently weaving her hair. "Your contributions won't be forgotten as long as I live." Then, in a strange gesture, he leaned in and kissed Li Ning's forehead. "Rest now, child… For in death's embrace, you'll truly find true peace."
After paying his respects, he opened the one of books and first began reading the Basic Qi Breathing Technique.
"Qi is inside everything. It can be felt across the Continent and beyond, within the rivers and the trees, the plants and all living beings. It exists in every breath of air, every drop of water, and every stone beneath your feet. Qi can be drawn from anywhere, for there is no place, nor being, in existence untouched by it."
Xue Shen eyes narrowed as he read the pages, then turned the page and a visual demonstration appeared, a figure meditating his figure, breathing in Qi.
[Ding! Acquired Basic Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade]
Suddenly large quantities of Information surged into Xue Shen mind, all at once.
'Hmm?… system… you can record techniques?'
[Yes, host. As long as you simply read, and understand the language. All necessary info goes into your mind.]
Xue Shen's nodded. "…that's very useful..."
He opened the Stabilizing Qi Technique book read it.
"Qi can drawn inside your body can be dangerously and detrimental if not properly used, and can lead to Qi Overload."
Xue Shen face grimaced upon reading the text, 'Good thing i didn't immediately try to cultivate with my technique from Yunluo..'
"Qi can be stored in most parts within the body, each suited to different methods of cultivation and uses."
"The most common is the Dantian, located in the lower abdomen, where ordinary cultivators gather and refine Qi as the foundation of their power."
"Body cultivators often store Qi in the Meridians, the blood stream channels Qi throughout all parts of the body, allowing them to strengthen muscles, bones, and their physical attacks."
"Formation masters, alchemists, and those who rely on spiritual techniques store Qi within the Sea of Consciousness, a spiritual reservoir located in the mind, where it can be manipulated with precision for complex uses."
"Those born with Spiritual Roots possess a rare affinity, able to store Qi directly within their roots, a natural extension of their body, granting them unparalleled speed in absorption and remarkable efficiency in cultivation."
"Advanced cultivators can also externalize their Qi, storing it within artifacts or talismans, or other objects, enabling them to channel power through weapons or objects for specialized techniques."
"Understanding the proper place to store your Qi for your cultivation method is the first step toward stable and controlled Qi cultivation, without proper guidance and understanding, Qi Overload is bound to happen."
[Ding! Acquired Stabilizing Qi Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade]
An even larger quantity of Information surged into Xue Shen mind, all at once larger than what the Basic Qi Breathing Techniques had.
'Hm.. I see' Xue Shen muttered his mind intaking all the sudden input of information.
He then started reading the other books after his mind cleared.
[Ding! Acquired Ning Family Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – Middle Grade]
[Ding! Acquired Body Tempering Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade]
[Ding! Acquired Spiritual Root Extraction Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade]
[Ding! Acquired Wolf Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade]
[Ding! Acquired Advanced Ning Family Qi Absorbing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade]
[Ding! Acquired Basic Qi Sensing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade]
Xue Shen closed the last book, leaning back with the back of his hand blocking his eyes. A slight grin appeared, as he tilted his head upward. His mind buzzed with an overwhelming amount of information, leaving him both dizzy and excited.
Xue Shen sat cross-legged appearing to be in deep meditation.
"Haha! I feel it!!" Xue Shen suddenly yelled out spooking Lian Shou.
"Congratulations, master!" Lian Shou said, his mind twisted with all the unspeakable things Xue Shen might be feeling inside the carriage.
The memory of the corpses surfaced, and a shiver ran down his spine and his face turned grim. Under his breath, he whispered, "Not even in death will your corpses remain untouched…"
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully drawing Qi!]
"Now I need to store it…"
He guided the swirling Qi into his dantian, steadying his breath as the Qi poured into him.
Ten minutes later.
His posture didn't stood exactly still, Qi still flowed steadily into his body.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for stepping onto the path of cultivation! You have entered the Qi Gathering Stage!]
[Ding! New stat unlocked: Qi]
[Ding! Unlocked Qi Absorption Rate Tab]
[Ding! Updated Cultivation Tab]
[Ding! Unlocked Qi Capacity tab]
An influx of new system messages of new tabs unlocking appeared before Xue Shen, but he wasn't worried about that right now, instead it was cultivation
At last, Xue Shen could cultivate, he exhaled and opened his eyes. He could feel the Qi swirling in his dantian, it was responsive to his will, almost as if it were an extension of his own body.
`Stats.'
[Name: Xue Shen]
[Level: 10 | EXP: 556/1000]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 24 | Lifespan: 70]
[Race: Human]
[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Stage 1 | Current Qi: 0.02 | Qi Needed for Next Stage: 10,000]
[Absorption Rate Per Day: 0.5]
[Qi Capacity: 100/100]
[Bloodline: None]
[Physique: None]
[Spiritual Roots: 0 | Status: Rootless]
[Active Passives: Heavy Blade – +5% Damage | Monstrous Power – +10% Damage]
[Talents: None]
[Unspent Stat Points: 0]
[Qi: 0.1]
[Constitution: 1.4]
[Strength: 10.5]
[Dexterity: 7.8]
[Intelligence: 1]
[Endurance: 3.8]
[Perception: 1.9]
[Charisma: 2]
[Luck: 0]
[Skills: Blade Mastery – Level 2 | 0.5/1000]
[Techniques: Basic Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade | Stabilizing Qi Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade | Ning Family Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – Middle Grade | Body Tempering Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade | Spiritual Root Extraction Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade | Wolf Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade | Advanced Ning Family Qi Absorbing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade | Basic Qi Sensing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade]
Xue Shen's eyes flicked to the new stat: Qi. Then an idea struck him. 'System… if I can upgrade Qi… does that mean I can use my stat points to upgrade my cultivation?!'
[Unfortunately not, host. Upgrading your Qi stat only increases your total Qi storage. The amount of Qi you can refine and control for a breakthrough is determined solely by you and cannot be increased by upgrading the Qi stat.]
Xue Shen frowned at the text. 'Damn… that's unfortunate. And here I thought…'
'Well no point dwelling on it' Xue Shen thought.
Xue Shen then decided to test one of his techniques, Qi Sensing. He started channeling his Qi outward, he extended his awareness.
In that instant, the world opened up. He felt like an overseer gazing down from the heavens. Every vibration of sound, every sound beyond the enclosed wagon, was clear, and vivid.
He noticed Lian Shou's grim expression and shivering body. 'Is he cold?'
"Doggy Shou, do you want to come warm up in the wagon?" Xue Shen asked.
"N–NO, thank you, m-master! I'm perfectly fine!" Lian Shou said, stumbling on his words, and shivering as his mind twisted the meaning behind the words.
"Suit yourself," Xue Shen scoffed, 'If you're cold, just say so…' he thought.
For a brief moment, he felt omniscient.
But then that sensation shrank. In the same instant, all the Qi in his dantian drained away. Xue Shen's brows furrowed.
"It devours Qi so fast… and its range is pitiful..."
`Stats.'
[Name: Xue Shen]
[Level: 10 | EXP: 601/1000]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 22 | Lifespan: 70]
[Race: Human]
[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Stage 1 | Current Qi: 0.02 | Qi Needed for Next Stage: 10,000]
[Absorption Rate Per Day: 0.5]
[Qi Capacity: 21/100]
[Bloodline: None]
[Physique: None]
[Spiritual Roots: 0 | Status: Rootless]
[Active Passives: Heavy Blade – +5% Damage | Monstrous Power – +10% Damage]
[Talents: None]
[Unspent Stat Points: 0]
[Qi: 0.1]
[Constitution: 1.4]
[Strength: 10.5]
[Dexterity: 7.8]
[Intelligence: 1]
[Endurance: 3.8]
[Perception: 1.9]
[Charisma: 2]
[Luck: 0]
[Skills: Blade Mastery – Level 1 | 98.5/1000]
[Techniques: Basic Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade | Stabilizing Qi Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade | Ning Family Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – Middle Grade | Body Tempering Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade | Spiritual Root Extraction Technique – Rank 10 – Low Grade | Wolf Qi Breathing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade | Advanced Ning Family Qi Absorbing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade | Basic Qi Sensing Technique – Rank 10 – High Grade]
Xue Shen's eyes widened at how much Qi he had used. 'Huh? 80% of my Qi is gone just from using Qi sense!" He muttered to himself. "Hah… I guess if I could use Qi sense constantly, it would be too insane."
Xue Shen then closed his eyes and meditated again, focusing on replenishing his Qi.
Seven minutes later, his Qi was now fully restored.
"Hmm…" Xue Shen muttered.
'According to the books, simply intaking Qi doesn't increase my realm…' He racked his mind, organizing every memory in his mind.
'I must take the Qi I've gathered and refine it. Once refined, I must store it in my dantian and let it be absorbed. When the amount of Qi absorbed reaches the required threshold, I will be able to break through to the next stage, and so on.' Xue Shen thoughts repeated the steps over and over, memorizing them.
"Hmmm…" Xue Shen murmured again, trying to visualize the refining process. The Qi around him suddenly began to fluctuate wildly.
Twenty minutes passed, yet he felt no improvement. Frustration eventually built up inside of him, and he finally asked the system.
"System, why am I not seeing any progress??"