The First Step

The sun had barely crested the horizon when Wei Shirong arrived at the training grounds. The early morning mist clung to the earth, wrapping around his ankles like ghostly tendrils. He moved with purpose, his steps silent on the dew-dampened grass.

As he approached the stone tablet, a familiar blue glow emanated from his chest. The EX system's interface materialized before his eyes, a constant reminder of the power now at his fingertips.

**[Current Level: 1]**

**[EXP: 0/100]**

**[Available Points: 0]**

Wei Shirong's brow furrowed slightly. He had spent the entire night pondering how to gain experience, but the system offered no clear instructions. As he stood there, lost in thought, a cheerful voice broke through his concentration.

"Wei Shirong! You're here early!"

He turned to see Meng Yao approaching, her face bright despite the early hour. She carried a small basket, steam rising from its contents.

"Good morning, Meng Yao," Wei Shirong replied, his voice flat.

Meng Yao's smile faltered slightly at his tone, but she pressed on. "I brought breakfast. I thought... well, I thought we could eat together."

Wei Shirong stared at her, his expression unreadable. "Why?"

Meng Yao's cheeks flushed. "Because that's what friends do, Wei Shirong. They share meals, they talk. Don't you want that?"

For a moment, Wei Shirong was silent. Did he want that? He wasn't sure. Emotions were foreign to him, friendships even more so. But as he looked at Meng Yao's hopeful face, he felt a twinge of... something. It wasn't quite an emotion, but it was close.

"Very well," he said finally. "We can eat together."

Meng Yao's face lit up, and she quickly set out a small blanket on the ground. As they sat, she began to unpack the basket, revealing steaming buns and fragrant tea.

"So," Meng Yao began, handing Wei Shirong a bun, "you mentioned something about an EX system yesterday. What exactly is it?"

Wei Shirong took a bite of the bun, chewing slowly as he considered his response. "It's... complicated. I'm not entirely sure myself. It seems to be a power system, something that will help me grow stronger."

Meng Yao leaned forward, her eyes shining with curiosity. "That sounds amazing! How does it work?"

"I need to gain experience to level up," Wei Shirong explained. "But I'm not sure how to do that yet."

As if in response to his words, the EX system interface flickered.

**[Quest Available: Master the Stone Heart Sutra]**

**[Reward: 100 EXP]**

Wei Shirong's eyes widened slightly. This was it - his first quest, his first step towards power.

"Wei Shirong? Are you alright?" Meng Yao's concerned voice brought him back to reality.

He nodded. "Yes. I... I think I know what I need to do now."

Before Meng Yao could respond, a commotion erupted from the other side of the training grounds. Li Hao and his group had arrived, their loud laughter cutting through the peaceful morning air.

"Well, well," Li Hao sneered as he approached. "If it isn't the stone statue and his little defender. Having a romantic breakfast, are we?"

Meng Yao stood up, her face flushed with anger. "Leave us alone, Li Hao. We're not bothering anyone."

Li Hao's eyes narrowed. "You're bothering me, Meng Yao. Your constant defense of this failure is an insult to our sect."

Wei Shirong stood slowly, his face impassive. "Your words are unnecessary, Li Hao. I will prove my worth through actions, not words."

Li Hao laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Prove your worth? You've been staring at that stone tablet for three years! What could you possibly prove now?"

Wei Shirong's gaze shifted to the stone tablet. "I will master the Stone Heart Sutra. Today."

A hush fell over the group. Even Li Hao seemed taken aback by Wei Shirong's bold declaration.

"You're delusional," Li Hao spat. "The Stone Heart Sutra takes weeks to master, even for the most talented disciples. You think you can do it in a day?"

Wei Shirong nodded. "I do."

Li Hao's face contorted with rage. "Fine! Let's make a bet then. If you can't master the Stone Heart Sutra by sundown, you leave the sect forever. If you somehow succeed... I'll bow down and call you senior brother."

Meng Yao gasped. "Wei Shirong, don't-"

"I accept," Wei Shirong interrupted, his voice calm and steady.

Li Hao's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Then it's settled. I look forward to watching you fail, Wei Shirong."

As Li Hao and his group walked away, Meng Yao turned to Wei Shirong, her face pale with worry. "Why did you agree to that? It's impossible!"

Wei Shirong's gaze remained fixed on the stone tablet. "Nothing is impossible, Meng Yao. I will succeed."

With that, he walked towards the tablet, leaving a stunned Meng Yao behind. As he approached, the words of the Stone Heart Sutra seemed to glow, pulsing with an energy he had never noticed before.

Wei Shirong closed his eyes, focusing on his breath. He could feel the EX system humming within him, a wellspring of untapped potential. As he began to cultivate, following the instructions etched into the stone, something remarkable happened.

The world around him faded away, replaced by a swirling vortex of energy. He could see the Qi flowing through his body, could feel it responding to his will in ways he had never experienced before.

Hours passed in what felt like minutes. Wei Shirong remained motionless, deep in cultivation. The other disciples gathered to watch, their whispers growing louder as the sun began to set.

"He hasn't moved all day," someone muttered.

"Is he even breathing?" another wondered.

Li Hao watched with growing unease. "He's just standing there. He can't possibly-"

Suddenly, Wei Shirong's eyes snapped open. A pulse of energy radiated from his body, strong enough to ruffle the clothes of those nearby. The stone tablet before him cracked, a thin line running down its center.

Wei Shirong took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. As he did, a visible mist escaped his lips, crystallizing in the air before shattering into countless sparkling fragments.

The training grounds erupted into chaos. Disciples shouted in disbelief, elders rushed forward to examine Wei Shirong, and Li Hao stood rooted to the spot, his face a mask of shock and fury.

Amidst the commotion, Wei Shirong remained calm. He turned to face Li Hao, his expression as impassive as ever.

"I believe you owe me something, Li Hao," he said, his voice carrying clearly despite the noise.

Li Hao's face twisted with rage and humiliation. For a moment, it seemed he might refuse. But the eyes of every disciple and elder were upon him. Slowly, grudgingly, he sank to his knees.

"S-Senior Brother," he choked out, the words clearly painful to utter.

As the crowd erupted into excited chatter, Wei Shirong's gaze met Meng Yao's. She stood at the edge of the crowd, her eyes wide with awe and something else... pride, perhaps?

Wei Shirong allowed himself a small nod in her direction before turning his attention inward. The EX system interface appeared once more.

**[Quest Completed: Master the Stone Heart Sutra]**

**[Reward: 100 EXP]**

**[Level Up! Current Level: 2]**

**[New Skill Unlocked: Stone Heart Breathing]**

A faint smile touched Wei Shirong's lips. This was just the beginning. He had taken his first step on a long journey, a journey that would reshape not just his fate, but the fate of the entire Murim world.

As the sun set on this momentous day, Wei Shirong stood tall, his path clear before him. The curse of apathy that had plagued him for so long began to crack, like the stone tablet he had shattered.

And in its place, a new power was born.