Seizing Immortality: One Day at a Time [ Xianxia LitRPG Isekai ]

[DaoTian]

Zhen transmigrates to a world of cultivation and finds himself in the body of a disciple of a demonic sect. Except everyone in this sect is a spy, killing inside the sect is punishable, and he is immediately involved in a conspiracy with a major immortal sect.

Luckily, he came to this world with a power. Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Secrets.

Every day, he would get one chance to peek into the secrets hidden by the world.

His first target?
His new leader, the spy who was the former top young genius of Celestial Summit Sect that wanted kill him.

What to Expect:
— In-depth look at each cultivation realm and how they work.
— Balanced mix of action and Dao enlightenment with intense conspiracies.
— Main character is ruthless when needed.
— Well-paced story with hidden plots and schemes.
— Strong cast of characters that keep you hooked.

RoyalRoad | Patreon

 

[DaoTian]

The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm light on the cozy living room. The faint scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.

Zhen sighed contentedly, sinking into his favorite armchair. He picked up the remote, feeling the familiar buttons beneath his fingertips, and turned on the TV, the screen flickering to life with vibrant colors. Ready for a relaxing evening of binge-watching his favorite show.

"It's the perfect time for some downtime," he murmured, a relaxed smile forming on his lips.

He took a sip of his coffee, savoring the rich, bitter flavor that warmed him from the inside out. A bowl of popcorn sat on the side table, beckoning him to indulge. The soft shine of the fleece blanket draped over the back of the couch caught his attention.

"Ah, almost forgot my blanket." Zhen stood up, the cool air hitting his skin as he moved away from the warm spot he'd created in the armchair.

He walked over to the couch, the soft carpet beneath his feet cushioning each step. Grabbing the blanket, he felt its plush texture against his fingers, a comforting reminder of the high end price he had paid. Worth every penny.

He wrapped the plush blanket around himself and sat back down, a sudden, sharp pain exploded in his chest, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, the room tilting alarmingly as the colors around him blended into a chaotic swirl.

As his consciousness faded, his last thought was a desperate wish.

No, no, not now. Damn it, I just wanted to watch my show!

The last thing he felt was the remote slipping from his grasp, clattering to the floor with a sound that seemed to echo endlessly in the darkening room.


— — — — —


His eyelids were tightly shut, and his body felt heavy, like he was submerged in a dense fog. Instead of soft fabric, rough stone scraped against his skin. Wherever he was, it wasn't the carpet or the hospital bed he was expecting.

Lying on a hard surface, and a metallic tang filled his mouth, accompanied by a sticky liquid on his left side.

Cough Cough.

He tasted the iron flavor of blood. Panic flared within him. Blood?

Wait, no, no, no, no— He couldn't die yet. He still had to watch that show.

Then suddenly, a cool chill washed away his dizziness as he struggled to sit up.

Opening his eyes, he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. A couple more glances revealed that he was lying in the center of a strange circle etched into the stone floor, glowing faintly with an eerie blue light. The walls around him were rough, unchiseled stone, reminiscent of the trip to the caves in the Whispering Hills. There was also a simple mat and a small fire pit with faint embers glowing, providing the room with some dim light.

What had happened?

Where was he?

His heart pounded in his chest, his breaths coming in shallow, rapid gasps. He tried to keep his panic at bay, focusing on calming down.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

He knew better than to act impulsively. He had learned enough from his Boy Scout training to know that panicking would only make things worse. Rash actions could lead to severe consequences, especially in such a startling situation.

It felt like all the built-up pressure was suddenly released, a dam bursting inside his head. Along with the pain came a flood of memories that didn't belong to him.

He saw flashes of another life, another person's experiences melding with his own.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed back onto the hard stone floor, his eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness once more.


— — — — —


A sharp jolt of pain shot through his skull, dragging him back to consciousness. He blinked rapidly, disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. Panic surged through him as fragmented memories of another life flooded his mind.

Amidst the barrage of memories, he strung together a couple of memory snippets that explained his situation.

Transmigration. He had somehow crossed over into another world.

It felt like the plot of a novel he'd once scoffed at, but the weight of the memories in his head was undeniable. The realization hit him like a freight train: he was no longer in his own body.

"Seriously? I didn't even watch the intro! How did I end up here?" he muttered, bewildered. His new surroundings were a stark contrast to his previous life – gone were the comforts of modern technology, replaced by the rustic charm of a natural cave.

The rough stone walls were dimly illuminated by the embers of a small fire pit and the blue glowing circle, casting flickering shadows that danced eerily around him.

Rubbing his aching temples, he took a deep breath and tried to focus. The memories swirling in his mind began to settle, revealing the life of the body's former occupant.

"The original owner was also called Zhen. How creepy..." he muttered a bit eerily before shaking off the discomfort.

Li Zhen, born into a family teetering on the brink of poverty; his childhood was a patchwork of mundane struggles and simple joys. But fate, with its twisted sense of humor, had other plans. When debts mounted, and choices dwindled, his parents made the desperate decision to sell him to the nearby demonic sect— the Abyssal Harmony Sect.

Luckily, Li Zhen had a natural affinity for cultivation and two years after he started cultivating, he had already reached the seventh realm of Qi Condensation was a nominal disciple.

The Abyssal Harmony Sect was considered a first-rate sect in the region, and only those who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage could become its outer disciples.

His rapid ascent was fueled not just by talent but by a lucky encounter during a mission—a forgotten shrine where the air thrummed with ancient energy, allowing him to break through the eighth realm of Qi Condensation and firm up his foundation. As Li Zhen advanced rapidly through the realms, he caught the eye of a greedy inner disciple.

Eager to become an outer disciple before his nineteenth birthday, Li Zhen had secured a ten-day retreat in the coveted Qi Cave, a sanctum saturated with dense spiritual energy. His plan was meticulous—fasting pills to sustain his body and undisturbed meditation to refine his qi.

However, destiny, ever capricious, had one more twist in store. On the first day of his retreat, an explosive surge of energy overwhelmed him as he pushed for the ninth realm. The balance of qi within spiraled out of control, throwing his cultivation into disarray and reducing him back to the seventh realm.

Now, he was in his place, with weakened strength. Although Abyssal Harmony Sect had some weird rules, it didn't take a genius to see that his future was miserable.

His boy scout training from his previous life kicked in—a habit of adaptability that had served him well during childhood. Since he was in this situation anyway, panicking would do no good. It was best to adapt and play it by ear.

First things first. Assess the situation. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his racing heart. The cave was silent except for the faint crackling of the dying embers.

He focused on calming himself, deep breath in, deep breath out. The sense of panic that had gripped him began to subside, replaced by a growing curiosity about this new world.

From his brief memory, he realized that this world was very similar to the novels he used to read. There were many dangers in this world, whether it be abnormal creatures or humans themselves.

This world revolved around 'strength' or the law of the jungle.

After a while, he didn't feel as panicked as he thought he would be, nor was he so scared that he would lose his mind. Of course, he did feel a slight panic, but it was overshadowed by his interest in cultivation and this new world.

The thrill of adventure and the prospect of discovering new abilities ignited a spark of excitement within him. He had already set his mind to become a cultivator. Well, it's not like he had much choice regarding this.

And the first step to do that is to accept his new identity.

Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "From this moment forth, I am Li Zhen, disciple of Abyssal Harmony Sect."

There was a brief moment of stillness, and just as he began to feel a bit foolish posing alone in the cave, golden words burned in the air before his eyes.


Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.
Target: None


He looked to the side to see the exact words still burning in the air, not matching up with his reality at all. What did they mean? He had no clue. He could certainly use some sage insights, though.

 

[DaoTian]

Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.
Target: None


The glowing golden words hovered in the air, frustratingly vague. Li Zhen narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the message. The Target was the key; finding something to target was priority number one. But after a sweep around the cave, there was nothing that he could target.

The cave was sparse, with only the etched circle on the floor, the mat, a rolled-up scroll, and the dying embers in the fire pit. There was also the question of how to target. Moving his gaze around did nothing for the golden words.

After wasting half an hour searching every nook and cranny, he still couldn't find anything to target. Frustration gnawed at him, but he forced himself to remain calm. With nothing much to do, he decided to check the energy that he could feel subtly thrumming around him.

He picked up the Refinement Scroll that was provided with the Qi Cave. From Li Zhen's memories, he knew this was the basic Refinement Technique given to the disciples of the Abyssal Harmony Sect. He unrolled the scroll, the parchment crackling softly, and began to read.

Refinement Techniques allowed a cultivator to convert the qi or absorbed from their surroundings to their own internal qi.

The Hundred Stars Refinement technique cycled the qi through the meridians, forming stars in the acupoints to increase the quality of the qi. His fingers traced the ancient characters, each stroke a path to a deeper understanding.

These types of words might be the work of a lunatic or a writer, but he was sure he was sensing this qi around him.

As he got a basic understanding of the scroll, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. The intricate pathways and the concept of forming stars in his acupoints fascinated him. He closed his eyes, imagining the flow of qi, feeling a gentle hum within his body.

Idly, he checked the target again, and the sight nearly made him fall to his feet in shock.


Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.
Target: Valid


The hell? Zhen muttered, rubbing his eyes as if seeing things. But the words remained the same, steady and unchanging. It had clearly been None at first, and he certainly hadn't searched for any insights.

Was it the Refinement Scroll? That made a little sense. Both have scrolls in their name. He turned his head away from the scroll, and the words changed back.


Target: None


He hurriedly looked back at the scroll, and the message returned to Valid when he focused on the scroll. His heart pounded with excitement and curiosity.

Does that mean my abilities work on scrolls, but that still didn't explain the Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal parts? Were the scrolls divided into three categories? He didn't think so. It seemed too simplistic.

Regardless, this was the opportunity he had been waiting for. So long as he played his cards right, that is. It was finally looking like something was going his way.

The golden words of the Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights hovered before his eyes, their glow casting a warm light over his focused expression. Good enough.

He summoned up the burning words and… pushed for lack of a better term. It felt as if something was snapping into place and filling what was once an empty space.

The golden words flashed and began to shift, new sentences materializing before Zhen's eyes.


Hundred Stars Refinement

The Hundred Stars Refinement is created by the Sect Master of Abyssal Harmony Sect from Opening Heaven Scripture. To create the Hundred Stars Refinement, Sect Maste—

Split the Chaos, Open the Heavens. Create the Three Thousand Dao and the Starry Sky—


His eyes widened as he read about the Opening Heaven Scripture and how the Sect Master had derived the Hundred Stars Refinement from it.

The knowledge was both enlightening and overwhelming. More complex than the Refinement scroll he read earlier. Half of it flew over his head, while the other half, which he understood, was cloaked in flowery, poetic language that seemed to complicate what might have been simple concepts.

A burning sensation traveled through him, but he ignored it, his mind too engrossed in the knowledge to pay attention to anything else. Each sentence seemed to unravel and reweave itself in his mind, creating a tapestry of information that was as beautiful as it was bewildering.

As soon as he finished reading, the golden words disintegrated and reverted to the previous message. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He couldn't remember half of what he read, but he was sure there were some changes.


Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.
Target Available In 16:42:33


Well… it was different, at least. He supposed it was his fault for assuming it would show him a user manual or something more straightforward after using the ability.

The timer in the golden words continued to tick down. He glanced at it, noting that he had less than seventeen hours until the next revelation. The passage of time both surprised and frustrated him.

He had spent a third of the day deciphering some esoteric knowledge that felt more like an abstract poem than practical guidance.

He felt like he had just experienced the so-called Enlightenment that cultivators referred to, and it was not to his liking.

Suddenly, a wave of weakness washed over him. His legs wobbled, and he nearly fell to his knees. A hollow, empty sensation spread through his body, draining his strength. His vision blurred, and his head felt light, as if he were about to faint.

What's happening? he whispered, panic creeping into his voice. He had expected to feel invigorated, but instead, he felt as though the energy had been sucked out of him.

He stumbled to the mat, collapsing onto it as he tried to focus on his breathing. Deep breath in, deep breath out. The weakness persisted, gnawing at him from the inside. He closed his eyes, attempting to center himself and understand what was happening.

From the memories of Li Zhen, he knew that overexertion in cultivation could lead to a depletion of one's qi, leaving a person feeling hollow and weak. It was a common mistake among novice cultivators, pushing themselves too hard without adequate preparation or rest.

Was this weakness the price he had to pay for activating his ability? He wasn't sure, but it felt like it was only half right. The energy drain seemed too severe for just accessing knowledge. Perhaps there was more to the cost of using the Sage's Daily Scroll than he initially realized.

After steadying himself, he tried to work out what he had learned, his mind racing as he replayed the events in his head.

Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights was a pain in the ass to parse out the meaning of at first, but he felt he had a good idea of it after actually using the power.

The Daily Scroll contained information about whatever was set as a Target, and he had to concentrate his mind to set a target. The new information would contain insights related to the target.

However, he could feel the understanding slipping away, as if the knowledge was too advanced for him to fully grasp. There was a reason why the Hundred Stars Refinement was used as a basic refinement method by disciples of the Abyssal Harmony Sect. Maybe the knowledge of Opening Heaven Scripture was too esoteric for his mind.

The word Daily was the issue. That was way too slow, but Zhen knew that it was just his inner laziness talking. Even getting some aid in this situation was heaven sent.

Would it only work on scrolls? He didn't think so. The term Scroll must refer to the golden words flashing in front of his eyes. He would have to wait for sixteen hours to check it out.

Now, Zhen had a basic understanding of the mysterious energy he'd been feeling inside him since he woke up in this world. The memories helped him know what qi is, but after reading the golden text, he felt that his senses were more responsive to it as his understanding had taken a qualitative leap.

Qi.

With his new experience, he gained a new understanding of fanciful tales of cultivators throwing fire from their hands and breaking rocks with a flick of a finger. All of it, from those supernatural phenomena to his newfound super strength, were powered by qi. Naturally, after hearing all that, his first thought was to experiment.

 

[DaoTian]

Li Zhen sat up straight as the feeling of weakness passed. He wasn't sure what was wrong, so he stopped worrying about it. There shouldn't be anything more wrong than him waking up here, so in front of that, everything could take its time to understand.

Hundred Stars Refinement

Shifting his weight to sit with his legs crossed in the center of the circle. From what he knew, the circle was a simple Qi Gathering formation.

There were three steps to properly complete one cycle of Hundred Stars Refinement.

First, he aligned his breathing with the Hundred Stars Refinement technique. He inhaled deeply, counting the seconds, then exhaled in short, controlled bursts—nine shallow exhalations followed by one deep inhalation. The rhythm was vital, a beat that his body and mind synchronized with, much like a musician finding the groove of a song.

As he continued this controlled breathing, Zhen felt a subtle shift in the air around him. The spiritual qi of the cave, rich and potent, began to stir in response to his disciplined breath. It flowed towards him, drawn by the harmony he had established with his breathing pattern. The qi was like a gentle breeze at first, brushing against his skin, but quickly intensified, surging towards him like a tidal wave as the Qi Gathering Circle started to activate.

Cultivation. The act of absorbing qi to break through the body's limits.

The human body needed an effective rhythm to inhale spiritual qi and synergize with heaven and earth.

Nine shallow exhalations and one deep inhalation...

With each cycle, the spiritual qi surged like a tidal wave. Zhen felt like every pore in his body was gaping wide, greedily absorbing the spiritual qi. The qi entered his body through every pore, a sensation that was both invigorating and soothing. It felt as though countless tiny hands were massaging his muscles, easing away the fatigue and stress that had accumulated over time.

His body responded eagerly, drinking in the qi like a parched desert soaking up rain. The comfort was almost overwhelming, a wave of pleasure that threatened to break his concentration. It felt too good!

But Zhen held firm. He focused on the next step of the Refinement, guiding the qi through his meridians with deliberate care. With qi in hand, he began to twist and turn it until it matched the pattern described in the technique book.

The technique book had suggested imagining a hundred stars, each one a point of light representing the qi circulating through his system. Each star point would act his refinement location, providing him area to easily convert the ambient qi.

He tried to hold this image in his mind, but the sheer intensity of the sensation made it difficult. A sharp pain lanced through his body, jolting him out of his meditative state. The qi writhed within him, threatening to break free from his control. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain calm. Maybe not a hundred…

He should start with one. One is good… There is nothing wrong with one.

He thought that cultivation would bring him new heights of pleasure; instead, no one informed him that it also brought new heights of pain. He felt cheated…

After controlling his rhythm again, he soon focused on the refinement.

The pain subsided, replaced by a steady warmth that spread through his body. He could feel the qi settling into a harmonious flow, each breath drawing in more energy, each exhalation purging impurities from his system.

Now came the hard part. The cultivation method had its own specific pattern to flow qi in, but more than that, it required him to recite a sutra as he did so. He didn't know exactly how that helped, and the book didn't see fit to tell him. Zhen thanked all the last minute cramming he had ever done as he recited the painfully memorized sutra.

Something about a hundred stars floating in the starry sky or something. Maybe forming a constellation. The language was flowery and full of metaphors he couldn't understand, and he slowly got lost in trying to parse them. His qi was still cycling, and Zhen felt some peace for the first time since he found himself in this world.

Within his growing qi, he could almost see a speck of light appear in one of the acupoints. It grew with every passing rotation, and he could feel the quality of it was much greater than what he currently had.

That thought gave him a pause— He should at least have seven stars in his body due to his seventh realm, but he didn't notice anything other than qi—

The thought disrupted his rhythm, and a spurt of blood flowed from his lips. Zhen realized the meaning of why concentration was crucial in cultivation. It was one thing to know and another to feel the consequences. He suppressed his errant thoughts and focused on the Hundred Stars Refinement. How could anyone practice this in one go… His modern mind is not equipped for these meditation exercises.

With a yell, the speck of light illuminated inside his body.

He followed the flow of his qi as it completed its natural cycle around his body. With an effort of thought, he took control of it and manually directed another cycle, then another, and another, faster and faster. As the circulation sped up, he felt the qi in the air around him enter his body. Every cycle washed away whatever differences there were in the ambient qi until it became his own and permanently expanded his reserves.

Zhen felt the qi in the cave lessened considerably as his body absorbed it. Before he thought that the qi would be consumed, a fresh wave of qi started entering the Cave as a new wind bellowed in the cave.

Suddenly, the speck of light vibrated violently and rapidly started to absorb all the qi inside his meridians.

After focusing for a whole ten minutes, the qi in his body lessened, he saw that it wasn't just a speck of light. Now it became a glowing star spinning at the acupoint.

After every trace of qi on his body was absorbed by the star, it lit up as a supernova, and erupted with a massive amount of his own qi that started flowing through his meridians again.

Zhen exhaled the turbid qi, his eyes shining brightly with remaining spirituality. As his qi flooded out in a white starlight, the star's burst of qi was ringing in his skull, and he roared with it, his qi rising with it before doubling back. He was slick with sweat and heaving, but…

He could easily observe his first star in the acupoint. It was the source for the qi inside his body.

Invigorated. He felt strong. He felt giddy. For the first time since he transmigrated, he felt like he finally owned this body.

He looked within and found that his qi capacity had grown and the qi had become white. The star, however, was rotating in the acupoint. He didn't know why there was only one star. That information almost disrupted his refinement.

According to Hundred Stars, he should have seven stars at a minimum, and he was not sure the reason for the absence of stars in his acupoints?

A sliver of worry crept into his mind. Did that mean he had been dropped again from the seventh realm to the bottom? Whether it was the technique or something he did, he needed to meditate and check again.

He had to at least reach the ninth realm in Qi Condensation to ensure his safety and progress outside. The thought almost disrupted his focus, but he forced himself to remain calm. There was still time, and with the speed that first star was created, he was sure he could complete it on time.

Zhen looked around the cave and felt that the qi had returned to the level that he now dubbed normal. A sigh escaped his lips. A cultivation cave was really a treasure. He silently praised the previous Zhen's decision to save his spirit stones to reserve the cave for ten days.

Thankfully, he had his personal clock for timing or he would have gone crazy without much to do.



Target Available In 05:59:12



Another six hours. And eight more days. In a bare bones cave.

Zhen stood up, his legs a bit wobbly from the intense cultivation session. He steadied himself and walked toward the fire pit in the corner of the cave. The flickering flames held a mesmerizing quality, drawing him in, providing a distraction to clear his mind from the worries of his cultivation.

As he approached, he noticed the embers glowing with a steady, intense heat. They didn't emit any smoke, which struck him as unusual. The fire pit's warmth enveloped him, providing a comforting contrast to the cool cave air.

He crouched down beside the fire pit, extending his hands toward the heat. The warmth seeped into his skin, easing the lingering tension from his body. He stared into the embers, losing himself in their steady glow. The rhythmic dance of the flames seemed to mirror the cycles of qi he had been guiding through his body.

For a moment, Zhen allowed himself to simply be, without the pressures of cultivation or the mysteries of his current state. The absence of smoke from the embers was peculiar, but it provided a clean, unclouded heat that seemed almost purifying.

At least heat was something familiar from his old world. From his body, to the environment, to the air itself, everything in this world was different from what he had been used to for the past twenty-five years.

He crouched down beside the fire pit, extending his hands toward the heat. The warmth seeped into his skin, easing the lingering tension from his body. He stared into the embers, losing himself in their steady glow.

For a moment, Zhen allowed himself to simply be, without the pressures of cultivation or the mysteries of his current state but that didn't last long. Even some new fire magic stones were not enough for him to notice it.

Standing up from his crouched position, he took a deep breath, inhaling the pure, smoke-free air. The warmth from the embers had rejuvenated him, providing a moment of peace amidst his chaotic thoughts. He knew he needed to meditate further, to understand the anomaly in his cultivation. As he watched the embers, his thoughts gradually settled, and clarity began to seep back into his mind.

 

[DaoTian]

Despite Li Zhen's peaceful meditation, he did not, in fact, enjoyed it for long.

After a cursory exploration of the dimly lit surroundings, the novelty wore off, and the oppressive silence only heightened his sense of boredom. His hyperactive mind forced him to do something. And the only thing he could do was practice his refinement method.

He settled into the center of the circle, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and sensed the qi in the cave reacting. Just as he felt a flicker of calm, a sudden flash of light burst forth, shattering the cave's dim monotony.

Zhen's heart leaped into his throat, and he scrambled backward, his thoughts racing. His mind raced with scenarios of attacks, ambushes, assassins, and other threats. Being in a cave was not reassuring at all.

But no attack came. As quickly as it had appeared, the light faded, leaving behind a single, tattered parchment on the ground. Zhen's eyes widened in disbelief after the mystical transfer as he cautiously approached the object, his heart still pounding in his chest.

He reached out and picked up the parchment, feeling the rough, uneven texture beneath his fingers. The paper was not at all like the smooth surface he was accustomed to. He carefully unrolled the parchment, revealing a series of hurried scribbles.

His eyes scanned the letter, the memories helping him to understand the words.


Disciple Li Zhen,

You have gone above the allotted qi for your ninth realm Qi Condensation breakthrough. Additional fines have been levied for not providing prior notice, and the next usage of qi will be charged at double the rate.

Fine - 200 Qi Condensation Spirit Stones

Additional Qi Cost: 2x

You could also end your cultivation early.

Total Dues: 211

Nominal Area Qi Gathering Cave
Disciple Feng Ling


His heart sank. Just the word fine was enough to introduce stress in his inner mind. It had not even been a day since he had come to terms with the fact that he was indeed in a cultivation world. Yet, this simple parchment grounded him in the harsh reality that even here, bureaucracy thrived.

His mouth fell open in disbelief at the exorbitant dues that he accrued. For a moment, he was raging to go flying to lodge a complaint. But he controlled himself. The Seventh realm Qi Condensation Li Zhen might have been barely strong enough to demand an answer, but with his current first realm cultivation, he would be lucky to avoid enslavement, let alone demand answers.

The cave is not a treasure at all. It's a damn money pit.

He sighed, contemplating his situation. There was no way he could leave without at least regaining his former strength. To do so would be suicidal so leaving early was not an option.

All the excitement he felt earlier dissipated, replaced by a sinking realization of his strength. It was just a small dose of what personal strength meant in a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.

With great powers, comes great debt.

There was nothing he could do. Strength ruled all, and he had become a broken cultivator, fallen to the First Realm of Qi Condensation. He would have to dig himself out of this hole, one painstaking step at a time in just nine days.

Before practicing, he started to go over Li Zhen's memory. There should be something there he could use. He saved a hundred spirit stones for his breakthrough and was penniless. Now he was even not penniless but beyond it.

Surprisingly, he retained all the memories of the previous Li Zhen except for his personal cultivation, Any enlightenment, progress, or insights he might have gained during his cultivation were missing. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

Even the fact that he was once an Eighth realm Qi Condensation Cultivator was because the previous Li Zhen had booked this cave to break through to the ninth realm.

During this time, he dedicated himself to adjusting his mindset and familiarizing himself with his new environment. One of his primary focuses was delving into the depths of his acquired memories, gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the body he now inhabited.

This process proved to be immensely beneficial for him. As he delved deeper into the recesses of his mind, he unearthed a wealth of knowledge that shed light on his newfound capabilities.

When comparing this new body to his previous one, he found that he possessed greater strength, agility, and overall prowess. The memories he accessed revealed that the previous Li Zhen had diligently practiced martial arts from a young age, and for that, he would like to thank his sect.

After that, he checked his supposed ability. Testing the idea of having a system, he playfully uttered commands like "System," "Panel," "Properties," and "Status."

When no response came, he felt a mix of frustration and amusement. Perhaps he was missing something, or perhaps there was no system at all. Either way, he knew he couldn't rely on it.

With no other options, he gritted his teeth and resumed his cultivation, fully aware of the exorbitant costs involved. Burning four times the money for half the result.

Sitting cross-legged, he took a deep breath and centered himself, entering a state of tranquil rhythm with his breathing. The dim glow of the cave's blue circle flickered softly around him as the qi began to respond to his call. Slowly but surely, he felt the ethereal energy start to flow toward him, a gentle yet persistent current that enveloped his body and seeped through the pores.

The rush of energy made him temporarily forget about his pain as he started to go through the stages of the Hundred Stars Refinement.

The initial rush of energy was a soothing balm that momentarily made him forget the harsh realities of troubles as he navigated the stages of the Hundred Stars Refinement.

As he focused, the qi coalesced within his acupoints, swirling and condensing with increasing intensity. The sensation was both exhilarating and challenging, requiring him to maintain precise control over the influx of power.

The qi started being rapidly absorbed by the star rotating in his acupoints. He wasn't sure why, but the formation of the star was easier than the previous one. Achieving a second star in his acupoint brought a sense of accomplishment, though it quickly depleted the qi in the chambers.

The rapid replenishment of the qi only added to his frustration, as it felt like a deliberate ploy to drain him dry. They sure as hell couldn't wait for him to use more of the qi. He realized it was just muttering of his poor mindset, but cursing helped lessen his blood pressure.

There was also something else. This time, Zhen noticed something peculiar about the qi he was absorbing. He was not sure, but he felt the qi he was absorbing contained some traces of starlight or something that would accumulate in his acupoint before converting to a star. This discovery intrigued him, adding a layer of mystery to his cultivation process. Was it due to his increasing realm that he started noticing the subtleties of qi?

He checked the golden words trying to get a sense of time passed.


Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.
Target: 00:30:47


After achieving the second star in under five hours, he felt a slight release of the tension that had been building within him. His body was brimming with energy, and he felt stronger. Clenching his fist, he felt the muscles tensing and the air vibrating around him. The sensation was exhilarating, a reminder of the power he sought to reclaim.

Rather than rushing to the third realm, he decided to wait for the golden words. That was the only thing that might help him breakthrough, because he was certain he wouldn't be able to rush to the ninth realm of Qi Condensation even with the money pit cave.

The first word, Sage, might refer to someone, perhaps the owner of whatever artifact or power he had stumbled upon. Or it could simply be a title or a name. Sage could describe a vast number of cultivators, so for his peace of mind, he started believing it referred to a general class of people rather than someone specific.

But what if it's not? What if it's someone incredibly powerful watching my every move? He shook his head. No, no, that's just paranoia talking. Focus on what you can control.

Daily Scroll, was also easy to understand, possibly indicating the frequency he might be able to use this skill. As for the Scroll, he wondered if it was only possible to target scrolls or if it could also be used to target different things.

As for Heavenly, and Earthly, he just termed it as cultivation jargon refer to all things. Probably just fancy words for the big stuff and the little stuff, he mused.

What he was interested in was about Mortal Insights.

Now, this sounds like something I can actually use. Maybe it means he could learn more about himself, his own potential or his situation. That could be the key to rapid advancement.


Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.
Target: 00:00:47