Growing Feelings

Lin Shen returned back to his room after seeing them off, his heart a little giddy. If getting stronger was so easy, then he would gladly become addicted. The feeling was just...nice.

Taking out the medallion and the guidebook, he inspected them closely before kissing the medallion and putting it away. 'I'll deal with you later.'

Lin Shen's hands reached for the guidebook instead, and flipped to the first page. 'Qi Refining Stage.' Nope. Not what I was looking for.

He turned a few pages more before arriving at the 'Foundation Establishment' section. Lin Shen's mind absorbed the knowledge like a sponge without a limit as he kept reading, something that became easier with the increase in the Mental Capacity stat.

It was pretty easy to understand the contents. The basic summary was that a cultivator infused element Qi throughout their entire body, preparing it for element core forming that one would only do in Core Formation realm, the next level after Foundation Establishment.

One could actually have more than one element core if they refined their body for a longer period of time. The more element cores one had, the more damage they could unleash unto the world. However, it was recommended to only refine until the peak state that the body could handle, otherwise the body would be damaged in the long term.

Everybody had a different limit though, so naturally no one would have the same maximum amount of element cores. Most cultivators, however, stuck to one or two element cores. Only geniuses dared to have more than 2 element cores.

The reason was because of the next realm, the Core Formation stage. In this realm, one had to merge all their element cores together into one core, which was a very painful process. If their body couldn't handle it, then it was the end for them. There weren't many people who had more than 2 element cores, mainly because people wouldn't risk it all in such an early stage.

They'd rather progress quickly towards immortality than becoming a strong rookie.

'Honestly, I would too if I didn't have the app.' Lin Shen understood this concept very well. He wouldn't become arrogant just because others viewed him as a genius. But he was still a genius, with or without the app. Just because he wouldn't become arrogant didn't mean he would be blind. He understood his capabilities very well. The only problem was execution.

He was still lacking in confidence. Although some situations could embolden his courage, those were just some moments. His low-self confidence still reigns supreme after all. Lin Shen really needed to raise his confidence so that he could communicate well with others. 'I am in society after all.'

Although he'd prefer the easy way out, raising his confidence through the app, experience was still the best answer. Who knew if his personality would change if he used the app.

'I'm getting off topic…'

Lin Shen closed the book. He didn't feel like reading the rest of the sections. It was a guidebook, what better way to use it then when you were actually on that problem? Though he really wished he could hide this book somewhere. It was too precious to be hidden in his room, but he didn't want to carry it around with him everywhere he went either.

'What's a good place to hide something? – – ohh!' He thought of something.

Lin Shen opened up his phone to the Rebirth App. 'Question: can the inventory system hold items not from the app?'

(Yes, it can. Just hold the item in your hand and touch it to the portal.)

He did exactly that. Opening the inventory, his hand held the book to the portal.

Vanish!

The book disappeared from his hand as he checked the inventory.

[Inventory]

– The Key to the Immortal World

– Cultivation Realm Guidebook

Seeking that it was there, Lin Shen took it out again to confirm nothing changed. Only after that did he put it back. He also put the medallion in there since it was too eye catching.

[Inventory]

– The Key to the Immortal World

– Cultivation Realm Guidebook

– Prime Disciple Medallion

'Oh right. Since I've advanced to Foundation Establishment, there should be some changes.' He almost forgot about this.

Lin Shen went to the Cultivation category to check it out.

[Cultivation]

Qi Element: Life Flame

Realm: Foundation Establishment

Refinement Level: 1 [0 / 100]

Potential Core: 1

'Tell me the changes.'

(The Refinement Level, previously called cycle, is the amount of element Qi you've stuffed into your body. The progress bar next to it is the amount of Qi to level up.)

(The Potential Core is the maximum number of cores you can get upon Core Formation. It corresponds with your Refinement Level.)

Lin Shen pondered before asking. 'Is there any new training for this?'

(No. There isn't, but the 'Dantian Refinement' can provide you with Qi in case you run out. There will be no need for you to wait for your Qi to replenish.)

'...well, I feel too lazy to cultivate now.' Lin Shen wasn't dumb. The fact that he could replenish his Qi anytime he ran out was a factor that could make him unstoppable in a fight. It's just...the fact that he had to manually refine now was...unappealing.

Lin Shen put the phone away and stretched his body. He wasn't in the mood for cultivating right now.

Since it was nighttime, he decided to get some cooling fresh air. It was better this way. There weren't many people outside at night so it was the perfect time for him to enjoy the outside.

Click.

He locked the door with his keys before walking down the stairs.

As he exited the building, he breathed in the cool air. It was like mint to his nose. He started walking in a random direction.

On his walk, he didn't see many people at all. If he did, he would just keep walking. Taking night walks was something Lin Shen did every once in a while, to loosen his thoughts and muscles.

Tomorrow would be Sunday, the last day of the weekend before the exam started. It was good to relax his brain since it needed it. The upcoming exams would determine which university he would go to. Although he could definitely make it, it was better to be safe than sorry. 'I'll use tomorrow to review some materials.'

He had unknowingly walked towards the convenience store nearby, which was located in front of a park. It was because of this that the daytime businesses were good, so it was a fairly popular shop. However, since it was nighttime, there were barely any people around. It was almost deserted.

Lin Shen sat down on the park's bench. He could see the store in full view where he was sitting. They had large windows at the front of the store so everyone could see what was going on.

He saw the store clerk checking out the customer's products before saying something. The customer took out his wallet swiped on the credit card swiper to pay. Then he took his stuff and left.

'Is that Xie Ying?'

He couldn't see her face very well since it was previously blocked by the customer, but now that he could, it was definitely Xie Ying.

'Why is she working here?' Lin Shen was puzzled why Xie Ying would be working in a convenience store at night. The exams were coming up as well.

'Maybe she's working part time?' It was the only logical explanation since her schedule wouldn't allow her to work full time.

Lin Shen just stared at her and didn't opt to go greet her. It wasn't his thing anyway. He just observed as she worked hard, checking out customer's items and collecting their money.

For some reason, the hardworking Xie Ying looked like a goddess in the night. Her short hair was cute with a hair clip on the left side, pushing for an appealing sight. He wouldn't lie. Although Xie Ying wasn't as popular or as talented as Yu Lin, she was still pretty in her own way, and perhaps was one of the more beautiful girls in school.

Her short hair made him keep staring. He didn't know why, maybe it was just her short hair, or maybe he was into tomboys.

That time when Jie Xiulan was in his room wearing his clothes that looked big on her, he did his best not to stare. She was very tempting indeed, which was why he was sitting down in the first place. Fortunately he had an excuse that he was reading the Qi cultivation manual.

Maybe that time he almost cried due to Goddess Lin had a reason as well. Maybe he wasn't as into her as he was into staring at the working Xie Ying. Goddess Lin had long blonde hair while Xie Ying had short black hair, just reaching her ears.

He had geeked out since the prettiest girl walked up to him, a loner. But he didn't feel any affection, just admiration. Thus, when he was reprimanded, it felt like he had let his idol down.

Honestly, he felt admiration when thinking about Goddess Lin. The fact that he almost cried didn't bother him. It was his own fault anyway for dwelling into his thoughts too far.

However, looking at Xie Ying with her cute, short hair, he felt a little...possessive..?

He knew she wasn't an object to be owned, but seeing those customers staring at her made him feel some type of anger arise in his heart.

'This...feeling..'