Chapter 11: Unbelievable! With The Power Of This I Can...
[Ding! The Host has successfully completed the selected option. Host has received a Foundation Stabilizing Pill (Uncommon-Grade) and a Technique Insight Ticket (Rare-Grade).]
[Ding! The item's has been added to your inventory. Check system inventory for further details.]
As Reon stepped into the Inner Section of Frost Mountain Cave, a bone-chilling gust of air crashed into him like an unforgiving tide.
The sheer intensity of the cold was beyond anything he had imagined.
His breath came out in ragged wisps of frost, and an eerie silence enveloped the cave, broken only by the distant, creaking groans of shifting ice.
A strange pressure settled over him, not just from the biting cold, but from an invisible force lurking within the cave's depths.
The frost-covered walls pulsed with a faint, ethereal glow, casting ghostly shadows that flickered like restless specters in the dim light.
Reon clenched his fists, steeling himself—this was not just a punishment; it was a crucible.
Three days here would push him to his limits, but in return, he would emerge stronger.
He had no choice but to endure.
Moving cautiously through the cavern's treacherous paths, Reon searched for a secure place to settle.
After some time, he spotted a small alcove wedged between jagged ice formations.
The air there was still, shielded from the howling winds, and the ground beneath him was solid—free from the signs of lurking frost beasts.
With a quiet sigh of relief, he settled into the frozen solitude.
This would be his refuge, a place to regain his focus. He had yet to check his rewards, and now was the time.
Summoning his System Panel, Reon tapped on the Inventory, his eyes scanning the details of the newly acquired items.
.
.
[Inventory]
[Foundation Stabilizing Pill]
Rank: Mid-Tier Uncommon-Grade.Description: A pill designed to aid Qi Solidification Realm cultivators in stabilizing their Initial Foundation.
Its potent essence refines spiritual energy, strengthening one's foundation and ensuring steady growth.
Even lower-realm cultivators can benefit immensely, gaining increased resilience and a firm foothold on the Path of Cultivation.
.
.
Reon's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Unbelievable! Not only will this pill stabilize my foundation, but it could also push my cultivation to new heights!"
His heart pounded with excitement as he grasped the pill in his hand.
A faint golden aura shimmered around it, its energy potent and alive.
Without hesitation, Reon placed the pill in his mouth.
The instant it touched his tongue, a wave of warmth surged through him, like molten fire coursing through every vein in his body.
BOOM!
A wave of immense energy flooded his body, igniting every nerve and fiber.
His spiritual energy roared to life, resonating with the pill's essence.
His once-unstable foundation solidified, turning firm and unshakable—like a mountain rooted deep into the earth.
SWOOSH!
His cultivation surged, breaking past its former limits as the barriers within his Lesser Meridians shattered one after another.
"Ugh! My Lesser Meridians are unblocking at an unstoppable pace. I need to control it properly!" Reon thought, his mind racing.
Yes—like guiding the flow of water.
Slowly, steadily, he directed the energy throughout his body, allowing it to spread with precision rather than chaos.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Stage-2 Qi Refining…
Stage-3 Qi Refining…
The energy kept rising, unrelenting.
His Lesser Meridians expanded throughout his body, veins pulsing with purified energy.
Stage-4 Qi Refining…
Stage-5 Qi Refining…!
Finally, the surge of power settled.
His breath was slow, steady.
The cave's bone-chilling cold felt trivial compared to the raw energy coursing through his veins.
Yet, amidst this overwhelming transformation, Reon had lost himself entirely to the intoxicating rush of power.
The suffocating darkness, the biting frost, the unseen dangers lurking in the shadows—everything beyond his cultivation had faded into insignificance.
With a slow, measured exhale, Reon opened his eyes.
"Hah! I've expanded several Lesser Meridians and even reached Stage-5 Qi Refining. That's a huge win,"
"So this… this is what true strength feels like."
Reon mused, a flicker of satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
His body, once weak, now brimmed with vitality. His mind, once clouded, now felt sharp and unwavering.
His cultivation had skyrocketed—something that should have taken months, he had achieved in mere days.
But just as he basked in the satisfaction of his first breakthrough in this world—
His gaze flickered toward a familiar object lying nearby.
The talisman that Long Ming had given him—the one meant to signal the end of his punishment—was now glowing brightly.
Reon clenched his fists, his breath steady as he rose to his feet. The test was over.
A smirk played at the corner of his lips as he muttered to himself,
"Time to return to the sect."