Rise at Every Step

"Alright."

Fat Dragon took a deep breath and said seriously, "The two of us are fellow countrymen. In this strange world, that makes us family. It looks like you still don't understand this world, or you wouldn't have said something like cultivation aptitude. Let me give you a rough explanation of this world."

"This is a world of cultivation."

"But it's a tiny bit different from the cultivation worlds we used to read about in novels. There's no such thing as aptitude here. Anyone can cultivate—it only depends on whether they're willing, or rather, whether their initial Trait is suited for cultivation."

"Traits?"

"That's right!"

Fat Dragon nodded heavily. "This world is like one enormous cultivation game. Secret realms even have fixed opening times, and there are all sorts of rankings, such as the 'Prodigy Rankings,' 'Beauty Rankings,' 'Cultivation Rankings,' and so on."

"Regional announcements also pop up from time to time. They clearly state when and where a fortuitous encounter will appear, and countless cultivators gather there when the time comes."

"There are also things like 'Sect-Founding Decrees,' 'City-Founding Decrees,' and 'Nation-Founding Decrees.' And once you're wanted, a red name appears above your head."

"My cultivation is currently at the Sixth Level of the Qi Refining Realm. I just broke through, and I've been in this world for nearly five months."

"When I first got my Trait, I thought it was my golden finger. Later, I discovered everyone had one of these things."

"After breaking through to the First Level of the Qi Refining Realm, everyone can obtain a Trait. It's completely random, and they're basically all the lowest-grade White Traits. For example, 'Woodcutter's Sacred Physique' makes you chop wood much faster than others."

"Or 'Herbalist's Master Hand,' which greatly raises the survival rate of planted spirit herbs. It isn't very suitable for cultivation, but you can still smoothly enter the cultivation world and serve alchemists."

"Basically, the Trait obtained at the First Level of the Qi Refining Realm determines the future career direction of most ordinary people."

"Most Traits obtained at the First Level of the Qi Refining Realm have nothing to do with combat power. They're all basic Traits. Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm do you have a chance to obtain some badass Traits. Many fellow cultivators who were originally utterly unremarkable struck it rich after breaking through to Foundation Establishment and obtaining an incredibly powerful Trait, then suddenly soared into the sky."

"After the Qi Refining Realm, every time you break through a major realm, you can choose one from three random Traits—for example, the Foundation Establishment Realm, Golden Core Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, and so on."

"If you want to survive in this world, you must become an immortal. Otherwise, someone with cultivation like mine can easily kill you. Think carefully—isn't that dangerous?"

Chen Qiu nodded. Although he couldn't understand why an immortal at the Sixth Level of the Qi Refining Realm was so physically frail, he didn't agree that Fat Dragon could kill him easily.

That was what he thought in his heart, but he didn't refute him aloud. He roughly understood what kind of world this was now. It was like a game, yet also reality—a fusion of a game and an immortal fantasy world.

"Then what Trait did you get when you broke through to the First Level of the Qi Refining Realm?"

"This..."

A trace of difficulty suddenly flashed across Fat Dragon's face. After hesitating for a long while, he finally let out a long sigh. "Fine. There's no harm in letting you see it. My luck wasn't very good. Otherwise, I wouldn't have planned to establish a sect to pave the way for my cultivation."

Fat Dragon waved a large hand.

A translucent panel wrapped in mist abruptly appeared in midair. That method really did look like something an immortal would use.

"Trait Name": Strength of Nine Oxen.

"Trait Grade": White Trait.

"Trait Effect": Possess nine oxen.

"..."

Chen Qiu's mouth slowly fell open on instinct. Only after a long while did he murmur, "What does 'possess nine oxen' mean? It can't mean exactly what it says, can it?"

"Mm."

Fat Dragon nodded with some irritation. The first Trait one obtained basically determined a person's career path, yet he had been randomly given such a Trait. Just thinking about it irritated him.

"Uh... may I presumptuously ask if I can have a look?"

"What do you think?"

"Never mind, then."

Though Fat Dragon was irritated, he still took a calm deep breath and said seriously, "Getting your cultivation to the First Level of the Qi Refining Realm is simple. You only need to know how to look inward. As long as you calm yourself and, in the darkness, strive to see the pathways within your body, you've succeeded."

"This is free."

"The city lord's residences in every city offer this free service. They'll have you drink a bowl of medicine, then help you look inward so you can smoothly obtain your first Trait. But since ancient times, free things have always been the most expensive."

"If you happen to be unlucky enough to randomly obtain a Trait suited to 'demonic cultivators' or 'evil cultivators'—the kind that aren't exactly brimming with positive energy—congratulations, you'll be beheaded on the spot."

"If you happen to randomly obtain a Trait suited to things like 'planting spirit herbs' or 'raising spirit beasts,' congratulations, you'll soon be seized by some cultivation sect as a Palu and dragged back. You'll spend the rest of your life doing that work in the sect."

"Of course, if your Trait is some other normal kind, the authorities will recommend a suitable line of work for you."

"Those are the paths taken by the poor. Quite a few people still buy the medicine themselves and test their first Trait on their own. At least that way, there's no danger to their lives."

"I happen to have a bottle of medicine here. As fellow countrymen, and seeing that you've got a pretty quick mind, I'll give it to you. You'll recognize me as your boss and follow me from now on—no problem, right?"

"..."

Chen Qiu said nothing. He merely looked at the cracked porcelain bottle in Fat Dragon's hand, pondered for a moment, then took it and drained it in one gulp.

In an instant.

He felt his head suddenly grow dizzy, his eyelids closing of their own accord, while his body turned weak as well.

At the same time.

A loud shout rang out beside his ear.

"Sit cross-legged and steady yourself. Close your eyes and calm your mind!"

Chen Qiu did as he was told. Several breaths later, he suddenly felt as though a wisp of light had appeared in the darkness. He stared at it intently and saw the light grow farther and farther away. Then it suddenly exploded, and in that instant, he clearly saw the pathways inside his body.

At the same time.

A panel wrapped in mist suddenly appeared before his eyes, visible only to him.

"Cultivation greatly increased. Officially entered the First Level of the Qi Refining Realm."

"First random Trait obtained."

"Randomizing..."

"Randomization successful. Trait Name: 'Rise at Every Step.'"

-

"Trait Name": Rise at Every Step.

"Trait Grade": Rainbow Trait.

"Trait Effect": For every minor cultivation level advanced, obtain one Trait. Each time, three random Traits will appear, and one may be freely chosen.

-

"How was it?"

Seeing Chen Qiu slowly open his eyes, Fat Dragon couldn't help stepping forward, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Well? Is your Trait related to combat power? Generally speaking, there's a high chance that the first Trait has nothing to do with combat power."

"But if you're lucky enough to get a combat-related Trait, you can smoothly transition into the Foundation Establishment Realm!"

"Once you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, three random Traits will appear every time you choose a Trait, and you can freely select the one that suits you best."

"As long as you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, you'll be a true immortal!"

"It isn't related."

After remaining silent for a long while, Chen Qiu shook his head. "It's more of a late-game Trait. It's not much use in the early stages."

He didn't elaborate.

Nor did Fat Dragon press him for details.

At that moment, Chen Qiu also discovered that after breaking through to the First Level of the Qi Refining Realm, whenever he looked inward at his body, he could see a panel floating above his meridians, likewise wrapped in mist.

-

"Name": Chen Qiu.

"Cultivation": First Level of the Qi Refining Realm (0%).

"Trait": 'Rise at Every Step.'

"Cultivation Method": None.

"Spirit Beast": None.

"Faction": None.

"Nation": Great Xia Kingdom.

-

His physical strength was almost no different from before. His only means of attack was still the somewhat worn woodcutter's blade tucked in his robes. This didn't quite fit his stereotypical impression of cultivation.

Just then—

A voice from beyond the heavens suddenly exploded beside their ears.

"Heavenly Dao Edict": Answering the sincere summons of its residents, the Heavenly Dao bestows a blessing. A Heavenly Dao Secret Realm will manifest in the bamboo forest three li east of Windward City, Great Xia Kingdom. Only cultivators at the Sixth Level of the Qi Refining Realm and below may enter.

The entrance opens immediately and closes at sunset.