Chapter 6: Homeless, Hungry and Handsome
The **sect gates slammed shut** behind Yang Kai with a finality that felt **personal.**
He turned back to the **empty road ahead**, took a deep breath, and nodded to himself.
"**Welp. This sucks.**"
Homeless? **Check.**
Broke? **Double check.**
Starving? **His stomach growled like an angry spirit beast.** Triple check.
And worst of all? He **wasn't even strong enough** to walk into a new sect and demand a spot.
Sure, he was at **Qi Condensation 3rd Level**, which was **better than a street beggar**, but let's be honest—**if cultivation was a video game, he was still in the tutorial phase.**
To put it into perspective:
- **Qi Condensation (1st-9th level):** The "**Welcome to Cultivation**" package. Stronger than mortals, but still **weak enough to get robbed by old ladies in some towns.**
- **Foundation Establishment:** Where **real cultivation begins.** Can throw punches that actually hurt and jump on rooftops like a proper protagonist.
- **Core Formation and Beyond:** The **big leagues.** These guys walk into a city, and people **immediately** assume they're the main characters.
And where was Yang Kai?
**Qi Condensation 3rd Level.**
Translation: **Still a punching bag, but now slightly more durable.**
**Ding!**
*"Mission Updated: Survive as a Rogue Cultivator. Condition: Don't die like an idiot."*
"Wow. **Really motivating.**"
But **before he could dwell on his tragic existence…**
### **Step One: Find Food**
His stomach **roared** louder than a spirit beast in heat.
After **an hour** of stumbling through the wilderness like a **drunk scavenger**, he finally found a **berry bush.**
"**Jackpot!**" he grinned, reaching out to grab a handful—
**ROOOOAAARRR!**
A **massive spirit beast** stepped out from the shadows. **Seven feet tall, fur like steel, fangs the size of his arm.**
Yang Kai's grin **froze.**
"…Okay, first of all, I didn't see your name on these berries—"
The beast **charged.**
"—SO I'LL JUST LEAVE NOW!"
Yang Kai **turned and ran** like his life depended on it. Because, well, it **did.**
### **Step Two: Don't Die**
The beast **barreled after him**, smashing trees aside like they owed it money.
"WHY IS EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD SO HOSTILE?!" Yang Kai screamed as he dodged a tree trunk **thrown at his face.**
**Ding!**
*"New Mission: Survive your first spirit beast encounter."*
"Great timing, system! **Super** helpful!"
His brain worked **overtime** as he **dodged, rolled, and cursed** at the heavens.
Then—he had an idea. A **terrible** idea.
He **stopped running.**
The beast, caught off guard, **hesitated.**
Yang Kai **stood his ground**, brushed the dirt off his robes, and looked the beast **dead in the eye.**
### **Step Three: Outsmart the Beast**
"Alright, big guy, let's think this through," he said, holding up a hand.
The beast growled.
"I get it. You're hungry. You want to eat me. **Totally understandable.** But—have you considered that I might be **a terrible meal choice?**"
The beast **blinked.**
"I mean, **look at me!** Skin and bones! **Barely any meat!** You eat me, you'll be **hungry again in an hour!**"
The beast **tilted its head.**
"But! If you let me go—" Yang Kai grinned, "—I'll go out, get stronger, get richer, and then **BOOM!** Five-star gourmet meals, **every day.**"
The beast **hesitated.**
Yang Kai **doubled down.**
"This is called **investment,** my furry friend. Short-term pain, **long-term gain.** Think about it!"
The beast **huffed**… and then—
It **turned around and walked away.**
"…**Did I just talk my way out of getting eaten?**"
**Ding!**
*"Mission Complete: Survive your first spirit beast encounter. Reward: 50 Cultivation Points."*
Yang Kai **grinned.**
He was a **genius.**
### **Step Four: Training Time**
"**System, allocate points!**"
**Ding!**
*"Points Allocated: Qi Circulation Enhanced. Qi Control Improved."*
Yang Kai **felt the difference instantly.** His Qi **flowed smoother**, his breathing steadied, and his body **felt lighter.**
"**Oh, this is NICE.**" He flexed his fingers, feeling the **energy coursing through him.**
But instead of breaking through to **Qi Condensation 4th Level**, he **focused on refining** his current power.
If he wanted to survive, he needed more than just **raw cultivation.**
He needed **skills.**
### **Step Five: Learning a Technique**
Yang Kai **sat down cross-legged**, focusing his Qi. He had read about this in his sect's library before they **kicked him out**—
A basic technique: **Burst Step.**
- Normal walking speed? **Boring.**
- Running? **Too much effort.**
- Burst Step? **A quick burst of Qi to move faster than the eye can track.**
It took him **three tries** before he got the hang of it.
On the **fourth try**, he **vanished** from one spot and reappeared **ten meters away.**
His eyes **widened.**
"**Holy sh—this is amazing!**"
If he had this earlier, he wouldn't have needed to **beg a spirit beast for mercy.**
**Ding!**
*"New Skill Learned: Burst Step. Speed increased temporarily by 200% when activated."*
Yang Kai **grinned.**
This? **This was progress.**
### **Step Six: Revenge Can Wait**
Yang Kai stretched. He was **officially a rogue cultivator now.**
No sect. No master. No safety net.
Just him, his **sarcastic mouth**, and a **system that clearly encouraged chaos.**
But that was fine.
Because his next step?
He was **heading to the biggest tournament in the region.**
And when he got there…
He was going to **make sure the entire cultivation world knew his name.**
Yang Kai **smirked.**
"Alright, world. **Let's see what you've got.**"