The day after receiving his Key Cultivation Student benefits voucher, Chen Mo felt like he had a freshly minted gold ingot, still hot from the furnace, tucked away on him. He practically radiated the swagger of someone with "money and free time (for cultivation)."
It wasn't even light out yet, and he was already squatting at the entrance to the Martial Arts Hall, looking like a starving wolf waiting to be fed, eyes glowing green. He kept rubbing the special card for the Spirit Energy Cultivation Room, with its gilded school crest and premium feel, until he'd nearly polished it smooth.
"Five hundred an hour, and you still have to fight for a slot?" Chen Mo stared at the card, the corners of his mouth curling higher and higher. "Sorry, but I'm a VIP among VIPs now. Free! Three hours a day! And I can cut in whenever I want!" Thinking of ordinary students staying up late and battling over a spot in the room, he couldn't help letting out a smug "Heh heh heh," startling a student on duty as he passed by.
At last, the doors opened. Chen Mo shot inside and made a beeline for the third floor. He moved faster than if a dog were chasing him.
Sure enough, the legendary "Gatekeeper," Old Man, was sitting outside the Spirit Energy Cultivation Room. His hair and beard were snow-white, and he wore a training outfit washed so many times it had faded. He cradled an enamel mug and sipped his tea leisurely, his eyes half-closed. Yet Chen Mo felt that the moment he got close, all his little thoughts and excitement had been X-rayed.
"Good morning, sir!" Chen Mo immediately switched into his most well-behaved mode and presented the special card with both hands. "I'm Chen Mo, a newly selected Key Cultivation Student. I'm here to try out the school's Spirit Energy Cultivation Room."
Old Man didn't even lift his eyelids. He reached out a hand covered in calluses and tapped the card lightly with one fingertip. Chen Mo had no idea how he did it, but with a click, the sturdy-looking Alloy Door slid open. A crisp, rich, and somewhat... unusual scent surged toward him, like a forest after the rain mixed with premium mineral water!
"Whoa!" Chen Mo couldn't help taking a deep breath. The lingering morning grogginess vanished at once, and he felt wonderful from the tips of his hair to the soles of his feet, as if every cell were cheering: "This air costs extra!"
"Go on in. The rules are on the wall." Old Man finally spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "The room has different levels of spiritual energy. Beginners should stick to Level One. Don't assume more spiritual energy is always better. Take in too much, and you'll get a nosebleed at best; at worst, your Qi and Blood will run wild, and you'll be laid up for half a month." He leisurely took another sip of tea, as if he were commenting on the nice weather.
"Thank you, sir! I'll be careful!" Chen Mo nodded like a bobblehead and slipped inside, afraid the door might close before he got through.
The door slid shut silently behind him, and only then did Chen Mo get the chance to take a proper look at this legendary "cultivation sanctuary."
Good heavens! The decor! The atmosphere! It was like stepping into another world compared with the plain, unadorned Martial Arts Hall outside!
The floor was made of some kind of warm, gray-white stone slab. It felt pleasantly warm underfoot, as if tiny streams of energy were creeping up through his soles. It was a hundred times better than the heated floors at home! Pale blue, translucent crystals were embedded in the walls, glowing softly like luminous pearls. The rich spiritual energy came in wisps from these "rich people's lights." In the center of the room stood more than a dozen Soft Cushions that looked incredibly comfortable, and there were several faintly glowing control knobs in the corner, beside a conspicuous warning sign:
[Level One: Spiritual energy concentration ×1.5 (recommended for beginners and those with a Qi and Blood Value below 90)] [Level Two: Spiritual energy concentration ×2.0 (for Martial Artist Realm and above only. Use at your own risk!)] [Level Three: Spiritual energy concentration ×3.0 (for Martial Artist Realm and above only. Use at your own risk!!!)]
There were three ominous exclamation marks after the third level, as if it were warning him: Kid, stay away if you don't want to explode!
Being very much in his right mind, Chen Mo chose the Soft Cushion in the farthest corner, the one that looked the least conspicuous, and sat down cross-legged. He didn't rush to start cultivating. First, like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, he closed his eyes and savored this "paid air."
"My god..." he groaned inwardly. Compared with the spiritual energy in the Small Woods where he usually cultivated, this was like going from a country dirt road straight onto the highway! The spiritual energy no longer felt thin and ethereal; it was almost tangible, swirling around him like mist. With every breath, it rushed into his body, flowing through his meridians and bringing an indescribably gentle, nourishing sensation.
"Could what I used to do even be called cultivation? At best, it was calisthenics for health! This is what proper cultivation... no, martial cultivation, is supposed to feel like!" Chen Mo sighed with emotion.
Once his body had adapted to the environment and his Qi and Blood had grown unusually active, Chen Mo stopped wasting time. He assumed his stance and began circulating the Black Tiger Stance method.
Buzz—
The moment he activated the method, a sudden change took place!
The spiritual energy around him stopped seeping in at a leisurely pace. Like soldiers hearing the call to muster, it surged all at once, forming tiny, invisible currents that rushed toward Chen Mo's body! It seeped in through his skin and his breathing, leaving no opening untouched!
The warm mass of Qi and Blood in his Dantian was jolted by the surging spiritual energy. Like a ladle of cold water thrown into hot oil, it suddenly grew denser and more active, and its circulation sped up dramatically!
[Black Tiger Stance Proficiency +1] [Qi and Blood Value +0.02]
He had barely been meditating for fifteen minutes when the system notification rang out, crisp and clear!
Chen Mo was so startled he nearly disrupted his breathing, but he quickly steadied himself. He glanced at the system clock, then checked the notification again.
"Less than fifteen minutes? One proficiency point? 0.02 Qi and Blood?" Chen Mo felt his heart pounding. "This efficiency... is this some kind of cheat?!" In the past, it took him twenty-five grueling minutes to gain one point. Now the efficiency—
After the initial burst of delight came an even deeper immersion. He let go completely and greedily absorbed this free "experience bundle." The spiritual energy flowed endlessly, his Qi and Blood surged without pause, and each circulation was smoother and stronger than the last.
[Black Tiger Stance Proficiency +1] [Qi and Blood Value +0.02] [Body Tempering Fist (Mental Simulation Practice) Proficiency +1]
The notifications settled into a rhythm, like the most delightful electronic sound effects, ringing out in his mind again and again. Chen Mo could clearly feel his bones and muscles growing denser and tougher under the wash of spiritual energy, his meridians widening slightly as his Qi and Blood surged through them, and even his senses sharpening. He could "hear" the long, powerful breathing of the unknown upperclassman on the Soft Cushion beside him, "smell" the crystals' distinctive scent, like mint mixed with sandalwood, and even vaguely "feel" the paths the spiritual energy took as it flowed through the room like water.
This feeling of growing stronger in every way, with immediate results, was downright addictive!
Before you continue