Chapter 11: The Secret of the Manual

Late at night, Kai sat alone in his chambers, staring at the flickering candlelight. The grand halls of the Obsidian Peak Sect were silent, yet Kai felt anything but safe.

Since his arrival in this world, he had been surrounded by danger and uncertainty. Assassination attempts, duels, and the expectations of leading a sect filled with scheming factions—all weighed heavily on him.

"How long can I really survive here?" he muttered to himself.

Back in his world, the most dangerous thing he faced was paper cuts and the occasional angry patron. Now, any moment could be his last—whether by the hands of his own sect members, who likely resented him, or the orthodox sects, who saw him as an enemy.

Kai's fingers tapped restlessly against the Celestial Eclipse Manual lying on the table before him. His mind wandered to the possibility of escaping. Could he find a way back to his world? Could he abandon this place before it was too late?

But how? And what even brought him here in the first place?

Sighing, he opened the Celestial Eclipse Manual and flipped through its pages. As expected, the words remained cryptic and unreadable, just as they had been the fateful night he found it in the library.

He recalled his conversation with Elder Kong about cultivation levels and how strength was determined in this world.

"I wonder what cultivation level Elder Kong is…" he mumbled absentmindedly.

Then, something impossible happened.

The ink on the pages trembled. The symbols shifted, rearranging themselves as though they were alive. A soft glow emanated from the parchment.

Kai's breath hitched. He had seen a lot of strange things since arriving in this world, but this? This was something else entirely.

Then, words appeared before his eyes.

Kong Tianba

Cultivation Level: Nascent Soul (Mid Stage)

Strength Rating: 87

Speed Rating: 72

Techniques:

Obsidian Lion Fist (Attack Type) – A devastating close-combat technique that generates shockwaves.

Mountain Crushing Palm (Attack Type) – A powerful strike that can split boulders in two.

Dark Iron Body (Defense Type) – Enhances physical resilience, making the user impervious to most blade strikes.

Kai stared at the text, his mind racing.

This is… like a game stat screen.

A magical stat screen.

At the bottom of the page, a new line formed:

Would you like to see his other techniques?

Kai hesitated, then muttered, "Yes."

The words shifted again, unveiling even more hidden details about Elder Kong's abilities. Techniques, weaknesses, areas of expertise—everything was laid bare before him.

Kai leaned forward, heart pounding. This book wasn't just some ordinary cultivation manual. It had transported him to a strange place where a strange old man forced him to cultivate and train… and now it was revealing the true cultivation status of the people around him.

Does this mean… it knows about me too?

With a dry swallow, Kai whispered, "What about me?"

The pages shifted once more.

Kai Feng

Cultivation Level: Qi Refinement (Mid Stage)

Strength Rating: 21

Speed Rating: 24

Techniques:

Celestial Eclipse Techniques (Locked) – Unable to be freely activated due to low Qi reserves.

Flowing Shadow Step (Lightness Type) – A movement technique that sometimes activates instinctively.

Eclipsing Palm (Attack Type) – A defensive counterstrike that redirects energy upon impact.

Kai groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

"So I really do suck, huh?"

Not only was his cultivation pathetically low, but most of his techniques were unreliable. His own body wasn't even strong enough to sustain them.

Now it made sense why his abilities only worked when he was desperate—his body was instinctively pulling together every last drop of Qi just to unleash a single move.

No wonder he felt exhausted every time he fought.

Kai clenched his fists. This needs to change.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he recalled the breathing and meditation techniques Elder Kong had taught him.

If I want to survive—no, if I want to take control of my fate—then I have no choice but to cultivate.

Kai closed his eyes.

Breathe in.

Slowly, he focused his breath, clearing his mind.

Breathe out.

His awareness expanded. He could feel the subtle energy in the air—the faint tendrils of Qi that drifted throughout the sect like invisible currents.

It was like reaching for something underwater. The Qi was there, but the moment he tried to grab hold of it, it slipped through his fingers.

He grit his teeth.

No. I need to focus.

Once again, he drew his mind inward, following the rhythm of his breath.

Breathe in. Draw it in. Let it flow.

A faint warmth began to gather in his core.

Kai's heart leaped. He could feel it—the energy responding to him. It was weak, barely a trickle, but it was real.

He focused harder, stretching his senses. The flow of Qi moved sluggishly through his meridians, like a dried-up riverbed desperately trying to channel water. His reserves were pitiful, but at least now, he could feel them.

So this is cultivation…

A soft hum filled the air.

Kai's eyes snapped open.

The Celestial Eclipse Manual was glowing again. This time, the shifting text displayed something new.

Qi Circulation Rate: 2% (Inefficient flow detected.)

Potential Cultivation Method Detected: Celestial Eclipse Breathing Technique

Would you like to attempt optimization?

Kai's breath caught in his throat.

"…Optimization?"

The book could analyze his cultivation?

His pulse pounded in his ears. If this thing could optimize his technique, wouldn't that mean he could progress faster?

Without hesitation, he muttered, "Yes."

The moment he spoke, the world around him seemed to shift.

A new set of instructions formed on the page—a modified version of the breathing technique Elder Kong had taught him. It corrected the inefficiencies, changing the flow of Qi through his meridians.

Kai took a deep breath and followed the new instructions.

At first, nothing happened.

Then—

WHOOOSH.

A surge of Qi rushed into him, flowing smoother than before. It was still weak, but compared to before, it was like going from sipping water through a straw to drinking from a stream.

His body trembled, his muscles tensing as the energy circulated.

It actually works!

For the first time since arriving in this world, Kai felt something unfamiliar swell within him.

Hope.

If this book could help him train faster…

If it could give him an edge in this brutal world…

Then maybe, just maybe—

He had a chance.

A real chance.

Gritting his teeth, he continued cultivating, following the book's optimized technique. The candle beside him burned lower, the night stretching long into the morning.

But Kai didn't stop.

He was taking his first real step toward power.