Chapther 3

Trogg stared at the system's response with a mix of frustration and curiosity. His brows furrowed as his yellow eyes stared blankly, processing the information.

"Impure Qi…" He muttered, tapping his fingers on his knee impatiently. "That explains why the energy is so erratic. Even when I try to follow the technique perfectly, it's like trying to fill a jug with muddy water. No matter how much effort I put in, there's always dirt mixed in."

Intrigued, he accessed the panel the system had mentioned. The information projected into his mind was simple but straightforward:

Cultivation: (None)

Progress: 40% to the first level of Qi Condensation.

Trogg clenched his fists in irritation. Two weeks of relentless effort, and he hadn't even reached the halfway point.

"System," he asked, his voice low but filled with determination, "is there a way to purify the Qi of this forest or speed up my progress?"

The answer was straightforward, without a trace of emotion:

"The Qi of Nulkar Forest is naturally impure due to the corruption of the spiritual energies of this place. Methods of purification require specific tools or advanced skills that you do not yet possess. However, you can speed up your progress by absorbing denser Qi in less contaminated areas or by consuming spiritual resources such as herbs or Qi crystals."

Trogg rubbed his chin in thought. He vaguely remembered seeing some plants glowing faintly in the depths of the forest, but the idea of seeking something more valuable appealed to him even more.

"So that's it…" he muttered, his eyes shining with determination. "If this forest is against me, I will find something that works in my favor."

He stood up, his small, hunched figure a contrast to the weight of his ambition. "System, what spiritual resources can I find here that will be useful for my cultivation?"

The system responded promptly:

"Lesser Qi herbs, imperfect Qi crystals, and on rare occasions, spirit cores from corrupted beasts. All of these items can be used to speed up your progress, but they will require effort and risk to acquire."

Trogg nodded, his thoughts racing. He knew he needed to act quickly, but he also knew he was on the cusp of something greater.

"If the path is dangerous, so be it," he muttered, renewed determination in his voice. "If I have to risk my life to leave this forest as a cultivator, then I will."

Without wasting any more time, he grabbed his makeshift weapon and set off to explore the depths of Nulkar Forest, determined to find something that could purify his Qi or increase his cultivation speed. The struggle to overcome adversity had just taken a new turn.

The system responded with its usual mechanical coldness, as if the answer were obvious:

"PLANTS WITH SPIRITUAL ENERGY EMIT A SUBTLE PRESENCE OF QI, DIFFERENT FROM THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. TO LOCATE THEM, YOU NEED TO SHARPEN YOUR SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION. HOWEVER, AS YOU HAVE NOT YET REACHED THE FIRST STAGE OF QI CONDENSATION, YOUR PERCEPTION IS EXTREMELY LIMITED."

Trogg frowned, impatience bubbling up inside him again. "So I have no chance of finding any plants without this perception? How am I supposed to improve if everything seems to be against me?"

The system continued, unmoved by the goblin's frustrated tone:

"IN CASES OF LIMITED PERCEPTION, YOU CAN USE THE VISUAL INVESTIGATION METHOD. PLANTS WITH QI OFTEN DISPLAY VISIBLE ANOMALIES SUCH AS FAINT LIGHT, VIBRANT COLOR, OR UNUSUAL FORMATION. CERTAIN BEASTS CAN ALSO BE SEEN PROTECTING THESE RESOURCES."

Trogg's eyes flashed with a flash of understanding. "Then I should look for anything that seems out of the ordinary... or follow any creature that seems to be defending something."

"CORRECT."

Trogg nodded, absorbing the instructions. He looked around the forest, where the darkness seemed to deepen with each passing moment. The tree trunks were thick and twisted, and the distant sounds of creatures echoed as a constant reminder of the danger.

If this is how it must be," he muttered, with renewed determination. "I will find that plant, whatever the cost."

Adjusting the makeshift weapon in his hands, Trogg began to explore cautiously. He walked slowly, taking in every detail around him. The leaves on the trees fluttered in the wind, but he knew something unusual would catch his eye if he paid close enough attention.

After hours of searching, he noticed a faint light emanating from a denser area of the forest. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but enough to pique his curiosity. He advanced carefully, his footsteps light so as not to alert any nearby beasts.

As he approached, he saw a small plant with bright purple leaves, radiating a mysterious energy. A faint aura rippled around it, almost as if it were protected by an invisible barrier.

This must be what I'm looking for,Trogg muttered, but his attention was quickly diverted by a guttural sound.

A few meters away, a boar-like creature with crooked tusks and red eyes growled at him. It was clear that the creature was protecting the plant.

Trogg gripped his weapon, his heart pounding. He knew that yet another fight lay ahead—one that would decide whether he could finally accelerate his progress or whether his journey would end before it had even begun. Trogg fixed his gaze on the beast, the crooked-tusked boar. Its red eyes glowed with ferocity, and its heavy breathing sounded like a muffled roar. The creature scraped its hooves on the ground, ready to charge. Trogg knew he was faced with a deadly challenge. "If I retreat now, I will never achieve what I desire," he whispered to himself, gripping his makeshift weapon tightly. The boar lunged forward with a deafening snarl, its tusks aimed at the small goblin. Trogg rolled to the side at the last second, narrowly escaping, but the force of the creature's impact with a nearby tree shook the ground. "Adrenaline rush," he muttered, activating his ability. A wave of heat coursed through his body, and he felt his strength instantly double. His muscles, though weak, now pulsed with energy. He ran toward the boar, dodging another brutal attack, and slashed his weapon at the creature's side.

The boar's scream echoed through the forest, a sound of pure pain and rage. Blood dripped from the wound, but the creature seemed unwilling to give up. With a swift movement, it turned and struck Trogg with one of its paws, sending him crashing into the trunk of a tree.

Trogg felt the air rush out of his lungs as he fell to the ground. Blood dripped from a cut on his forehead, and the pain was almost unbearable. Still, he did not give up. With a superhuman effort, he stood up, his gaze filled with determination.

I cannot fail now," he muttered, wiping the blood from his eyes.

The boar charged again, but this time Trogg was prepared. He waited until the last moment and, with his adrenaline-boosted speed, leapt upon the beast, plunging his makeshift weapon into the base of its neck. The creature bucked violently, trying to throw him off. Trogg held on tight, but every movement seemed to tear at its body. He could feel the resistance of the creature's skin and muscles as he drove the blade deeper. Finally, with a scream of sheer strength, he tore the boar's neck open, causing a torrent of blood to gush forth. The boar fell to its knees, grunting in pain, until its body finally gave way and collapsed to the ground. Trogg rolled to his side, panting and covered in blood. His breathing was heavy, and his body shook with exhaustion. He stared at the dead creature before him, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. That was close… he muttered, feeling the adrenaline fade and weakness take over his body. Trogg struggled to his feet, each step a challenge, but he knew he couldn't waste this opportunity. Staggering, he approached the plant with purple leaves. The energy it emitted seemed even more intense now that he was so close.

"That fight... was worth it," he said as he carefully plucked the plant, his mind already thinking about how to use it to speed up his cultivation. But deep down, he knew: if even a wounded beast had nearly killed him, he was still far from ready for the greater challenges that awaited him.

Trogg sighed as he pressed a cloth against the deep cut on his arm. The pain was constant, but he was getting used to it. Sitting on the floor of his makeshift hideout, he looked at the purple-leaved plants laid out before him.

"Eating them raw, huh?" he muttered, casting a suspicious eye at the herbs. "If that's what I have to do, then so be it."

The mechanical voice of the system echoed again in his mind, cold and direct:

"CONSUMING THE RAW PLANTS WILL ONLY OFFER 50% OF THEIR ORIGINAL EFFICACY. SPIRIT PILLS WOULD BE 100% EFFICACY, BUT THEY REQUIRE KNOWLEDGE OF ALCHEMY AND PROPER EQUIPMENT."

Trogg frowned. He knew he was in a cycle of limitations: too weak to craft pills and too lacking the time or resources to learn alchemy. But even 50% was better than nothing. He picked up the nearest plant, studying it carefully. The leaves gave off a faint fragrance, somewhere between wet earth and lightning.

"I hope this is worth the effort," he said before chewing on the first leaf.

The taste was bitter and pungent, like pure metal, and the scent of spiritual energy seemed to permeate his tongue. An intense heat coursed through his body almost immediately. Trogg gritted his teeth as his body began to tremble.

"System, what's going on?" he asked, panting.

"BODY IS ABSORBING SPIRITUAL ENERGY FROM PLANTS. EFFECTS INCLUDE A TEMPORARY INCREASE IN YOUR CULTIVATION PROGRESS. CONTINUE CONSUMPTION TO MAXIMIZE BENEFITS."

Trogg closed his eyes and endured the sensation. He swallowed the second leaf, then the third, growing accustomed to the rising heat that seemed to course through his veins. When he was finished, he felt a strange stillness, as if the world around him had slowed down.

He opened the cultivation panel with a mixture of anticipation and hope.

"Cultivation (None): 75% to reach the first level of Qi Condensation."

Trogg let out a sigh of relief and frustration. "It's still not enough…" He looked at the few remaining leaves and knew he would need to find more spirit plants, or perhaps even learn alchemy in the future.

He struggled to his feet, his body still aching. "This is just the beginning," he muttered to himself. **"I will overcome these obstacles, no matter what."

Trogg nodded, a cold glint in his eyes. He was more determined than ever to overcome every challenge this cruel world threw at him.

Trogg sat on the floor of his makeshift cave, breathing slowly and deeply, as he had done countless times over the past few weeks. This time, however, something different happened. When the system announced "100%", he felt a surge of energy invade his body.

First came the heat. It wasn't the searing heat of the spirit plants, but something deeper, more intense, as if a fire had been lit in his core. He gripped the ground with his fingers, trying to stabilize himself, as he felt this energy flow to every corner of his body.

"This is... spiritual energy?" He panted, but his voice was full of surprise.

The energy began to swirl inside him, like a small whirlpool that gradually grew in intensity. His muscles, previously weak and atrophied, began to pulsate with force. He felt his skin harden slightly, becoming more resilient, and his bones seemed to vibrate as if they were strengthening.

Then came the pain.

It was as if invisible needles were piercing every part of his body. Trogg screamed, but refused to stop the process. He knew that despite the suffering, it was the price he had to pay to transcend the fragile mortality of a common goblin.

"System, what's going on?" He managed to ask between groans.

The answer was cold and methodical:

"YOUR BODY IS UNDERGOING QI CONDENSATION. THE PROCESS GATHERS SPIRITUAL ENERGY AND PURIFIES IT, STRENGTHENING YOUR BODY STRUCTURE AND PREPARING IT FOR THE NEXT STEP ON THE PATH OF CULTIVATION. THE FIRST LEVEL IS JUST THE BEGINNING."

Trogg gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as the process continued. He felt his senses grow sharper: the damp smell of the cave became more pronounced, and he could hear the rustling of leaves outside with unusual clarity. His vision seemed sharper, as if every detail in the environment around him had been magnified. The pain began to subside, replaced by a sense of renewal. He felt as if his body were an old tool that had just been polished and sharpened. "Qi Condensation," the system continued, "is the process of gathering scattered Qi from around you and consolidating it within your body. In the first stage, your body begins to absorb and store spiritual energy efficiently. Your senses and physical abilities will be amplified, and you will be able to begin manipulating small amounts of Qi to strengthen your attacks or defense." Trogg slowly stood up, feeling the difference immediately. His body felt lighter, as if the weight he had been carrying had been lifted. He clenched his fists, marveling at the newfound strength in his arms.

"So this is cultivation," he muttered, a cold smile forming on his lips. "This is just the beginning, isn't it?"

The system responded in its usual impersonal tone:

"EXACTLY. YOU HAVE REACHED THE FIRST LEVEL OF QI CONDENSATION. YOUR LIMITATIONS ARE STILL SIGNIFICANT, BUT YOUR FOUNDATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. PROCEED WITH CAUTION."

Trogg took a deep breath, feeling the energy flow within him like a calm, steady stream. He knew he was still weak compared to many, but for the first time, he felt like he had the power to begin shaping his destiny.