Morning arrived quietly.
Mist clung to the mountains like a thin veil, and dew gathered along the bamboo shutters of the hut. Dao Xuan Tian sat upright on the straw mat, eyes closed, breathing slow and measured. His body felt stable—unchanged from the previous day—but his mind remained alert.
At the edge of his perception, the system interface shimmered.
00:00:02
He did not move.
00:00:01
A soft chime echoed within his consciousness.
System update initiated.
The screen expanded, its glow steadier than before.
Stat Adjustment: Specialized Growth Detected
Physical Attributes: Stable
Eligible Attributes: Cultivation, Mind, Infinity Eyes
Multiplier Applied: 15×
The numbers shifted.
Cultivation: Mortal (200/1000 → 3000/1000)
Mind: 0 (2000/10000 → 30000/10000)
Infinity Eyes: 4 → 60 / 1,000,000,000
A final line appeared, unfamiliar.
New Attribute Unlocked:
Spirit Food: 0 (9th Grade)
Dao's eyes opened slowly.
The change was subtle—but profound.
Unlike the previous surges, there was no violent rush through his muscles, no overwhelming reinforcement of flesh and bone. Instead, the sensation spread inward, settling deep behind his eyes and along the pathways of his meridians.
His thoughts felt… clearer.
Quieter.
As if a persistent fog had been stripped away.
The Infinity Eyes stirred, no longer mere observers. This time, the world did not simply appear sharper—it revealed intent. Dao could sense the quality of qi around him, not just its presence. Thin, impure wisps drifted near the surface, while deeper, richer currents flowed beneath stone and root.
He exhaled slowly.
"So this is Mind enhancement…"
The increase was unmistakable. Concepts that once felt abstract—flow efficiency, qi density, balance—now aligned naturally in his thoughts. Cultivation no longer felt like blind repetition, but a process he could understand.
Then his attention shifted to the unfamiliar line.
Spirit Food.
Dao summoned the system interface again, focusing on the new stat. Additional information unfolded.
Spirit Food:
A measure of the user's ability to infuse qi into consumables.
Quality determined by control, purity, and intent.
Grades range from 9th (lowest) to Infinity (highest).
Dao's gaze flicked toward the small cooking area in the corner of the hut.
A simple iron pot. Dried herbs. Smoked meat. A small sack of grain.
Food.
He had eaten since arriving in this world—but only to survive. Never had he considered cultivation through meals. Yet now, with his enhanced Mind and awakened Infinity Eyes, the idea felt… obvious.
Qi was everywhere.
Why shouldn't it pass through food as well?
Dao gathered water from a nearby spring and lit a small fire. As the pot warmed, he focused, guiding a thin stream of qi through his fingertips and into the ingredients. He did not force it. Instead, he observed—adjusting flow, stabilizing density, minimizing waste.
The Infinity Eyes glimmered faintly.
Qi responded.
The herbs absorbed energy unevenly at first, but Dao adjusted, refining the infusion. Slowly, the contents of the pot began to emit a soft warmth—not heat, but vitality.
When the system chimed again, Dao glanced at the screen.
Spirit Food: 1 (9th Grade)
Dao tasted the soup.
The difference was immediate.
The flavor was deeper, fuller, carrying a subtle warmth that spread gently through his body. It did not strengthen his muscles—but his qi circulation smoothed, stabilizing his dantian and calming his breath.
Not power.
Foundation.
Dao's lips curved into a small smile.
"This… will matter later."
He spent the remainder of the day experimenting—altering qi flow, adjusting intent, observing results. Each attempt refined his understanding, though the grade remained low. Still, progress was progress.
As evening settled, Dao sat on the porch, watching the mist drift between distant peaks. The system interface hovered quietly.
No further increases.
No rush.
Only accumulation.
He understood now: not every day would bring explosive growth. Some days would sharpen the blade. Others would temper it.
Dao closed his eyes and entered meditation.
Behind his eyelids, the Infinity Eyes observed the slow, patient circulation of the mountain's qi. His path forward was becoming clearer—not outward, not yet—but inward.
The mountains would remain his teacher.
For now.