Chapter 2

Surprisingly enough, the people chasing her didn't arrive. Maybe she won the fight against them? Somehow? I don't really know. But I've been using this chance to get acquainted with the world. While I'm pretty sure we are speaking two different languages, we've had no trouble understanding each other. Likely the existence of Spiritual Qi. No, not Ki, they are pretty similar though. Ki is purely internal life strength, something that normally wouldn't be very powerful unless you specialized in martial arts. Kim Sun, on the other hand, is a cultivator. A Qi Gathering Sixth Stage cultivator. The first realm of cultivation starts with Qi Collection First Stage, Qi Collecting Second Stage, Qi Collecting Third Stage and onwards till Qi Collection 9th Stage. There are more levels, but she wasn't willing to talk about them. Eh, maybe I'll get it out of her in the future.

Regardless this lets me know of an important thing. The reason I wasn't getting any new upgrades for my idle system. I don't have QI. At all. Thus I've taken up a new habit. Meditation.

"What are you doing." I opened my eyes to stare at Kim Sun.

"Meditation. Trying to feel spiritual Qi."

"That won't work."

I raised my eyebrows, "Why wouldn't it?"

"You wouldn't know what you are looking for. You have to find the feeling first. Normally the seniors of a sect would assist in crossing the first stage. Plus you don't have a spiritual root."

"Spiritual Root?"

"It's what allows cultivators to cultivate quickly. Without one, becoming a Cultivator would be impossible."

"Oh… Alright." I went back to meditating.

"Waste your time then, see if I care."

She then proceeded to go back into the house.

Hmm… It's starting to drop in temperature, I mean, it's normally cold here. But a heavy cold front is coming. I'll have to get the hearth ready this month, the winter season here is terrifying to the unprepared. First year it happened I was like a living corpse and was living only on Ki. That's the reason I lost all my weight actually. Starvation is a heck of a weight loss program. Anyways. Meditation, I need to feel the energies of this world. I need to focus. Use KI to isolate all my senses, sound, hearing, taste, touch.

I hate this feeling. As if I was nothing. But it's the only way I can think of. Now I just need to focus my mind.

Huh? I can do that?

[IDLE System Upgrade Unlocked: Ki Refining Accumulator]

Oh that was Ki? Well, not my intention... but I can accept that. Since my senses are still cut off I might as well think in peace. Regardless, Refined Ki seems to similar to a greater realm. So it is massively different than Qi in nature and cultivation. But does that mean I can achieve the same things as a Qi Cultivator using Ki? There is no rule against it, and on Earth I am pretty sure I've heard of legends using Ki to become overpowering Gods. So why I can't I try to do so as well? I mean, I even have a cheat called the IDLE System. There is nothing saying that I can't. Regardless how much does it take to upgrade the Ki Refining Accumulator. One thousand units of Ki? Hmm, my reserves are going to be gone almost instantly if I upgrade this as much as possible. But... I want to. So I'm going to. I allocate all my Ki to the Ki Refining Accumulator upgrade. I feel a momentary weakness as energy leaves my body.

I feel my senses return as the Ki being used to seal them disappears. I then proceed to stand up and access my status.

[Ki: 0] [+50 per day] [Refined Ki: 1] [+608 per day]

So that is why I feel so weak. It legitimately took everything. However the Refined Ki Bonus is insane as well. There is definitely some sort of variation in the cost that caused to me to get a ton more for a lot less than I expected. Regardless it's time to test out the Refined Ki. I began to circulate it in my body. It had a different nature to normal Ki. But it was definitely more powerful.

That was at least a meter in height for a jump. For such a small amount of Refined Ki as well, and that Refined Ki is still in my body… I wonder, instead of just temporarily reinforcing my body, I wonder if I can permanently temper it. Let's see. Let's focus on infusing this Refined Ki into my skin to start with. Hmm, according to my status I actually lost that one Refined Ki. I don't feel any different though. Well, I'll figure something out later. For now I have to get my Ki back, my arms are going to be exhausted doing that motion, at least it looks like I'm just practicing punching.

The tests bore results immediately. While I wasn't as strong as I was when I had a ton of Ki, I was still at the level I was three years ago. I could barely pickup a boulder twice my size, my jump height was likely somewhere around a meter high, and my punches were nothing to scoff at. Huh, I wonder, can I do more with this Refined Ki? Like say... temper my body? Let's try it. I began to try infusing the Refined Ki into my skin. What happened? Hmm... Status has shown I lost that one Refined Ki. I don't feel anything different though. I'll have to test it out later. Regardless I need to reaccumulate Ki. Back to performing the tapping motion. At least I've gotten good at tapping over the years.

-POV Switch, Kim Sun.-

These last few days have been the most relaxing few days I've ever had. It's been calming my dao heart after having been betrayed immensely. My father should take care of the Sky Clans' betrayal though. Those demonic cultivators will pay. Regardless, I should focus on my current situation. If I had kept running my Pillars would have been destroyed from exhaustion. My foundation isn't the best. Too many pills. The Expelling Poison Pill should have solved that, but thanks to the Sky Clan that route is gone. As such I'm basically stuck here till I finish rebuilding my foundation.

I suppose I'm glad I didn't kill Mountain like I first intended to. I thought he was just a barbarian in the hills. Which, isn't technically wrong per say. He's just a more civilized barbarian. But if he was gone, things would have been a lot more difficult. Plus I'm not sure if I could kill him with my damaged foundation. He may look ordinary but he seems to be a Martial Arts Master, meaning killing him would have been more difficult. A Qi Foundation Cultivator First Stage would have to try their hardest to kill someone at that level, and a Qi Gathering Cultivator would just die. Too bad he doesn't have a spiritual root, he would be an excellent Cultivator. That does mean I can't technically beat him if he decides to kill me. But my skills will definitely be able to do something.

Hmm? I can't sense him anymore. I stand up start to look for him, until I find him in the yard where I left him. He was doing some punching exercise and all his life-force seemed to have disappeared. However he was quickly regaining energy. Would this be a good chance to kill him? Hmm. No, he's been nothing but patient and kind thus far. There isn't a reason to go over the top. Regardless this technique he's practicing is quite interesting. Maybe I can get him to give it to me before I leave? For now I should get back to my own cultivation.