Chapter 8: The First Lesson

The next morning, Lin Wei woke early, the faint light of dawn filtering through the window of his small room. He dressed quickly, eager to begin his training with Elder Ming. As he stepped outside, he found her waiting for him in the garden, her expression calm and composed.

"Good morning, Lin Wei," Elder Ming said. "Are you ready to begin?"

Lin Wei nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Yes, Elder Ming."

"Good. Today, we will focus on understanding your system and how it interacts with your Qi. Follow me."

Elder Ming led him to a secluded part of the garden, where a small stone platform stood in the center. The platform was covered in intricate carvings, and the air around it hummed with energy.

"This is a meditation platform," Elder Ming explained. "It will help you focus your Qi and connect with your system. Sit here and close your eyes."

Lin Wei did as he was told, sitting cross-legged on the platform. He closed his eyes and focused on the spark of Qi in his chest, letting it flow through his body.

"Now," Elder Ming said, her voice calm and steady, "I want you to activate your system. But this time, don't just let it give you random abilities. Try to guide it. Focus on what you want, and see if you can influence its response."

Lin Wei took a deep breath, focusing on his system. He imagined it as a living entity, chaotic and unpredictable, but also full of potential. He tried to guide it, to communicate with it, but at first, nothing happened.

Then, his system screen flickered to life:

**[New Quest: Guide Your System. Reward: Random Ability.]**

Lin Wei focused harder, trying to guide the system's response. He thought about what he needed—something that would help him in his training. Slowly, the screen flickered again:

**[Ability Acquired: Qi Flow (Glitch Variant).]**

**[Description: Enhance the flow of Qi through your body. Effectiveness may vary.]**

Lin Wei opened his eyes, feeling a surge of energy. "I think I did it. I got a new ability—Qi Flow."

Elder Ming nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, let's see how it works. Activate the ability and try to enhance your Qi."

Lin Wei focused on the ability, feeling the energy flow through him. The spark of Qi in his chest grew stronger, and he could feel it moving more smoothly through his body. His movements became more fluid, and his senses sharpened.

"Excellent," Elder Ming said. "Now, let's test your control. Try to channel your Qi into this."

She handed him a small crystal, similar to the one from the trial. Lin Wei focused, guiding his Qi into the crystal. At first, the glow was faint, but as he concentrated, it grew brighter and brighter.

"Very good," Elder Ming said, clearly impressed. "You're learning quickly. But remember, this is just the beginning. Your system is powerful, but it's also unpredictable. You must learn to control it, or it will control you."

Lin Wei nodded, feeling a sense of determination. He had come so far, but he knew there was still so much more to learn. With Elder Ming's guidance and his glitchy system's potential, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.