System (4)
Chapter 15
Elijah lay sprawled on the ground, his breathing ragged.
A sharp burning sensation flared in his nostrils before fading as his body began to heal.
The bruises and cuts he had sustained vanished one by one, leaving his skin unblemished.
Letting out a deep sigh, he focused on the notifications floating before him.
[Ding! You saved one of your members.]
[100 System Points awarded.]
[Ding! You managed to escape.]
[50 System Points awarded.]
[The King's System Shop has been unlocked.]
Elijah's eyes scanned the new interface.
{Shop}
[Items][Abilities][Techniques]
Curiosity piqued, he tapped on Items and discovered a peculiar mechanism:
while the shop could create items, it required him to gather the materials himself.
Switching to Abilities, a warning appeared before he could delve deeper.
[The host may possess a maximum of 8 abilities.]
Intrigued but cautious, Elijah browsed the available options.
The abilities were undeniably impressive, but the cost was staggering—1,000 System Points each.
A deep sigh escaped his lips.
The shop felt like an unreachable treasure trove, leaving him to wonder, 'Where did this system even come from?'
Shaking off his frustration, he explored Techniques.
Here, he found categories for Cultivation, Support, Attack, and Defense techniques.
The Cultivation section was the only one unlocked, and within it was a solitary offering:
[First Stage of the Farming Breathing Technique: 100 System Points.]
Elijah hesitated for a moment before purchasing it.
As soon as he confirmed the transaction, his vision dimmed.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in an endless void of darkness.
"Why does everything keep getting weirder and weirder?" he muttered, unnerved.
A faint light caught his attention in the distance.
Drawn to it, he approached cautiously until he saw a book hovering midair.
Elijah's expression shifted to one of surprise as recognition dawned.
"This is the same book Grandma gave me!" he exclaimed. "So this is where it disappeared to."
His mind buzzed with questions. "Where am I, anyway?" he wondered aloud.
A familiar voice answered from behind him. "Welcome to our Mind Dimension."
Elijah turned and smiled at the sight of a familiar figure. "Alter Elijah! Where have you been?"
His alter ego smirked. "Miss me?"
"I thought I lost you," Elijah admitted, his tone softening.
Alter Elijah chuckled. "I'm a part of you. The only thing that can separate us is death."
Relieved, Elijah grinned. "So, what is this place? And what's going on?"
Alter Elijah shrugged nonchalantly. "To find out, you'll have to visit Grandma. She's the one who gave us the book, after all."
"You're right," Elijah agreed, before narrowing his eyes. "But do you know why I'm here?"
"Hold the book," Alter Elijah replied simply.
Elijah hesitated before reaching for the book.
The moment his fingers touched its surface, a torrent of information flooded his mind.
He learned the intricate process of breathing, the concept of Ki—life force—and the foundation of the first stage of cultivation.
When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the alley, lying on the cold ground. His breathing was heavy, but excitement bubbled within him.
"To think I just obtained a breathing technique worth $10,000 to others," he murmured, awe-stricken. Wasting no time, he sat in a lotus position and closed his eyes.
Elijah began to breathe in a pattern that would seem impossible to anyone—even seasoned cultivators.
Oblivious to how groundbreaking his actions were, he focused on sensing his life force, Ki, within his cells.
Bit by bit, he absorbed the Ki, directing it through his body until it gathered at his heart.
The process wasn't without risk.
This technique came with a flaw: absorbing Ki without a strong foundation could shorten one's lifespan.
Without a high-quality technique, a cultivator risked death before advancing to the next stage, where such dangers no longer existed.
But Elijah didn't dwell on potential consequences.
He continued storing more Ki until his body reached its limit, unable to contain any more power.
At last, he stopped, and a notification appeared before him.
[Congratulations! You have broken through to the Beginner Stage.]
[All stats increased by 5.]
[You have gained 10 free stat points.]
[Status]
Name: Elijah Havor
Cultivation: Beginner Stage
Level: 5
{Stats}
Strength: 13
Agility: 11
Endurance: 11
Defense: 13
Senses: 9
Free Stat Points: 10
Elijah marveled at his newfound strength, feeling as though he had been reborn.
Energy thrummed within him, radiating from his chest. Laughing, he clutched at his heart.
"This feeling—it's incredible!"
The rush of power was indescribable.
Fueled by boundless energy, Elijah stood and immediately began testing his limits.
He performed 200 push-ups, 200 squats, 200 sit-ups, and 200 pull-ups without breaking a sweat.
As dawn approached, he ran 20 kilometers before finally making his way to Kai's home.