The Path of Growth

George took a deep breath, his tiny fingers trembling slightly as he confirmed his purchase.

[You have bought 10x Foundation-Forming Pills.]

Instantly, his mana reserves dropped, and his cultivation realm regressed to Level 3 Magic Apprentice. But he didn't panic. He had already prepared himself for this.

Holding the small, translucent pill in his palm, he felt a faint warmth radiating from it. Without hesitation, he tossed it into his mouth and swallowed.

The moment it dissolved, a rush of pure energy spread through his body. His cultivation technique activated instinctively, and deep within his tiny chest, the familiar whirlpool of energy spun with renewed vigor.

Whoosh!

The swirling mana in his dantian expanded, the whirlpool growing larger, pulling in energy with even greater intensity. The flow of mana particles surged, refining at an accelerated pace.

As time passed, his stats steadily increased, his body greedily absorbing every ounce of energy. After thirty minutes, when the pill's effects faded, he popped another into his mouth and felt the cycle repeat.

For two hours, he continued this process, consuming four pills in total. Each time, his whirlpool widened, his cultivation speed doubling for brief periods before stabilizing again.

Finally, he stopped. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he checked his mana reserves.

[Total Mana Crystals: 5.8]

I've returned to Level 7 Magic Apprentice.

A smirk formed on his small lips. Not only had he regained all the stats he had sacrificed for the pills, but his cultivation had stabilized further, making his foundation even stronger.

George turned his head towards the door. No one had entered.

Glancing at the window, he noticed the darkness outside—it was almost midnight. The house was quiet. This was his chance to test something new.

0-Star Water Magic.

He raised his tiny hand, concentrating on the sensation of mana flow. With a thought, moisture in the air condensed into a small stream of water, hovering just above his palm.

Move.

The water obeyed, slithering through the air in an elegant arc, flowing across the room like a living ribbon. He directed it around the wooden furniture, letting it dance through the air before calling it back to him.

With a satisfied nod, he cupped his hands, forming a floating bubble of water. He dipped his face into it, letting the cool liquid wash over his skin before pulling it back.

Not wanting to leave any traces, he gathered the water into a compact sphere and flicked it towards the window. The bubble shot out like a bullet, dispersing into the night without a sound.