I found a moment's reprieve amid the carnage—a quiet, grim solitude on a pile of shattered stone and rubble. My sword still warm from battle lay by my side as I settled into an uneasy cross-legged position. The system's interface still floated before my eyes, its scarlet glow a persistent reminder of the extraordinary events of the past few days. I activated the status panel and was startled to see that, without even knowing it, I had advanced to the 8th stage of the Body Refinement Realm—teetering closer to the Foundation Establishment Realm. I was stuck at the Qi Gathering Realm for so long but now... Now I have hope.
I exhaled slowly, a wry smile tugging at my lips. "I didn't even notice… yet my Qi has surged tenfold," I mused, remembering the grueling week-long battle since I arrived here, I faced off against all the forces from this city in which every foe I killed filled me with power. My Qi, once a meager trickle, now burned within me as if it had been given a raging torrent—a veritable ocean of potential energy.
Curious, I scrolled through the combat knowledge the system had filtered from the memories of the slain. "Combat Knowledge," it read, though what I was really seeing were fragments of memories—techniques, battle formations, even mundane skills like cooking and the art of the Aura Blade. There were entries for the magic techniques, precise sword movements, and bundled archives of similar martial maneuvers. Then my eyes fell upon something unexpected: a vast collection of magical knowledge. I recalled the mages among those I had dispatched; men who wielded healing incantations and cast weak elemental spells from afar.
"Wait…" I murmured to myself, brow creasing in thought. "Does that mean I can actually learn to use magic here?"
Almost as if in response, the system's text blinked into focus:
> Notice: Since host is a cultivator, all techniques and knowledge will be adjusted to suit your inherent nature.
I snorted softly—"What does that even mean? Meh, as long as I can put this arcane mumbo jumbo into practice, I'm not one to complain." I tapped a few more commands on the interface. "Do I really have to keep all this knowledge? Some of it seems useless in my current state the art of pelvic thrusting, noble etiquette and even building a harem."
The screen flickered, and a new message materialized:
> Option: Convert extraneous knowledge into Enlightenment Points.
> Enlightenment Points allow host to reach enlightenment spontaneously while using them.
A surge of adrenaline raced through me. "Woah, that's insane!" I whispered, running my fingers over the list—the fusion of combat skills, magic techniques, and even medicine-based incantations. I wasn't exactly built to be a Bowman or a Spearman, but now I had access to all that stuff. Magic like fireball, healing magic, and even enchantment theories it was all in here, I know I took down a city but damn this is a treasure trove.
Scrolling further, I discovered even more intriguing data:
> Data Recognition: Healing magic, various offensive spells, enchantment formulations, barrier formation, and advanced mana manipulation theories have been detected.
> Query: Will these be adjusted to function as Qi techniques?
> Response: Affirmative. They will be restructured to align with host's cultivation framework.
> Notice: Knowledge conversion will not be auto-integrated. Please confirm which data to retain.
A flood of possibilities surged in my mind. "Imagine… using elemental magic techniques as a cultivator," I thought, my heart quickening. " This might even allow me to gain multiple spirit roots courtesy of this treasure trove of elemental and healing magic!" I mulled over the list. "Alright, exchange all non-essential combat knowledge for Enlightenment Points—but hold on, I need to keep the knowledge for hunting, battle strategizing, and the umm... Pelvic thrusting method."
I confirmed the conversion, and the system displayed a message:
> Processing Conversion…
For one long, suspended second, my mind was filled with streams of information, all that knowledge I was now understanding more and more of it, all adjust as cultivation techniques. Then, in an instant—like the peeling of a chrysalis—a radiant surge erupted around me. The very air hummed with newly imbued Qi, and I felt as though I were enveloped in the raw energy of the cosmos.
The system beeped, and a final notification flashed before me:
> Congratulations: Host has successfully entered the Formation Establishment Realm.
> Prepare for Tribulation Moment.
I set aside my sword, rising from the rubble with newfound determination. Crossing my legs, I assumed a deep, meditative posture. All around, the remnants of battle lay silent. I closed my eyes and let the energy, now enriched by endless fights and the newly assimilated knowledge, flow inward. I focused with all my might.
A silence prevailed before the heavens responded. Dark clouds gathered overhead, swirling ominously as if in reverence. Then, abruptly, jagged bolts of lightning shattered the gloom, cascading down in ferocious strikes. The air vibrated with the power of natural transcendence, and I remained unmoved at the center of this electrifying tempest. Each bolt that struck resonated deep within my soul.
Time seemed to stretch—a moment that spanned eternity as the tribulation surged through me. Pain and ecstasy intertwined with every surge of energy, yet my spirit remained resolute and unbroken. The Qi inside me roiled and surged, reforming under the intense pressure. Every fiber of my being trembled with the colossal force of the tribulation, yet I endured, each heartbeat affirming my unyielding will.
And then, as suddenly as it had come, the storm subsided. The crackling echoes faded into silence, leaving the air charged with the promise of transformation. I stood slowly, feeling a slight, invigorating lightness in my steps—a subtle yet undeniable shift within. I opened my eyes wide, and the system confirmed what I had almost dared not hope:
> Notification: Tribulation Successful.
> Status Upgrade: Host has ascended to Stage One of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
A burst of joy and triumphant energy surged through me. All the years of hard labor, the simmering frustration in the stables of the Dark Moon Sect, every drop of sweat and every scar—even those battles fought in this savage foreign world—had led me to this moment. I, Si Ming, now stood as a true cultivator in the eyes of the realm—a cultivator reborn through flame, lightning, and perseverance.
A radiant smile broke across my face as I drew my sword slowly, admiring its gleam as if it were a symbol of my newfound future. The world around me, once cloaked in ruin and hostility, now shimmered with the promise of possibility. Every step of my journey—from a lowly laborer sold into hardship to a warrior who slays foes and absorbs their strength—had led me to this first, glorious step into the Foundation Establishment Realm.
I felt invincible. More than that, I felt reborn.
Standing at the threshold of a realm that promised boundless challenges and extraordinary triumphs, I lifted my head proudly, determined to carve my legend among the stars.
Also, if you enjoy my writing and want to support me, consider subscribing to my Patreon: [patreon.com/Writing_when_bored].