A Cultivator Revealed

After my incredibly painful, yet ultimately successful, Qi Pill adventure, I felt… different.

Not just the physical lightness and subtle hum of Qi within me, but a new kind of confidence. I was a cultivator now.

A Ninth Layer, beginner-level cultivator, but still! It was a start.

I practiced in my room, making that tiny spark of Qi dance on my palm.

It was pathetic compared to the dazzling displays I'd seen, but it was mine. 

I decided to make a grand entrance. 

Sect Master Gu Ran was already discussing something with Lyra and Zephyr.

Urg was probably off somewhere, grunting at a training dummy. As I entered, Gu Ran glanced up, and his eyes, usually so calm and wise, widened.

"Alex?" he murmured, a flicker of surprise in his gaze.

"You… you seem different this morning."

I gave him my most nonchalant, "Oh, this old thing?" shrug. "Just feeling particularly refreshed, Sect Master."

Gu Ran, however, wasn't fooled. His eyes narrowed, and he extended a hand, a subtle wave of Qi flowing from him, probing my aura. His brow furrowed, then lifted in astonishment.

"This is… impossible!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine shock.

"You have Qi! And a cultivation Layer! A nascent Ninth Layer, but unmistakably present! How? How did you achieve this, Alex? You had no spiritual roots, no innate talent!"

Lyra and Zephyr immediately turned, their expressions mirroring Gu Ran's disbelief. Lyra's ice-chip eyes seemed to pierce right through me. Zephyr's smirk vanished, replaced by open-mouthed wonder.

"Well," I began, trying to sound casual, "it's a bit of a long story, Sect Master. Let's just say I had a… particularly bad night's sleep.

And then I decided to try a new kind of spiritual supplement. It was a bit risky, high risk of death, actually, but I figured, no pain, no gain, right?"

Gu Ran stared at me, then burst into a hearty laugh. Lyra looked like she was trying to process a paradox. Zephyr just shook his head, a look of utter bewilderment on his face.

"High risk of death, you say?" Gu Ran chuckled, shaking his head. "And you simply… consumed it? Without guidance? Alex, you are truly a force of nature. T

o forcefully open cultivation pathways without innate talent… that is a feat unheard of!"

"Yeah, well, I'm a Systems Trader," I said, puffing out my chest a little.

"We do things… systematically. And sometimes, dramatically."

"Indeed," Gu Ran said, his eyes gleaming with renewed interest.

"So, you are now a cultivator. A Ninth Layer, as you say. Still quite weak in terms of raw Qi compared to our disciples, but a cultivator nonetheless! This changes things. It means you can truly integrate with our cultivation methods, understand them from within."

"Exactly!" I beamed. "Now I can truly lead the Heavenly System Sect! And maybe even help out in the tournament if things get really hairy! Though, I'm still just a Ninth Layer.

I probably couldn't even beat a particularly grumpy squirrel with my current Qi."

Gu Ran laughed again. "Fear not, Alex. Your unique 'systems' more than make up for your nascent Qi. But you are right. To truly grow as a cultivator, you will need proper martial arts techniques.

Qi without technique is like a river without banks – powerful, but uncontrolled."

He paused, stroking his beard. "I have a thought. Our Azure Cloud Sect possesses many martial arts manuals. Some are quite ancient and powerful.

For a Ninth Layer cultivator, a Seventh Layer martial arts manual would be considered extremely advanced, almost impossible to comprehend. But with your 'Rapid Comprehension System'

(which I assume you gave yourself?), perhaps you could master it."

My eyes widened. A Seventh Layer martial arts manual? That was high-tier stuff! "You have a Seventh Layer manual, Sect Master?"

"Indeed," Gu Ran nodded. "The 'Flowing Cloud Palm.' It is one of our sect's foundational techniques, known for its fluidity and adaptability. It would be perfect for someone like you, who relies on unique movements. Would you be interested in studying it?"

My first instinct was to say yes, immediately. A Seventh Layer martial art! That would be amazing! But then, a thought sparked in my mind.

The System Shop. It had just opened for "Sect Master" status. And now I was a cultivator. What if it had martial arts manuals too? And what if they were even better?

"Sect Master," I said, trying to sound grateful but also a little mysterious. "That is an incredibly generous offer.

The 'Flowing Cloud Palm' sounds magnificent. I would be honored to study it. Perhaps… I could also explore some other avenues of martial arts. Just to broaden my understanding, you know? For the Heavenly System Sect's future curriculum."

Gu Ran chuckled. "Always thinking ahead, Alex. Very well. I will have the 'Flowing Cloud Palm' manual delivered to your chambers. Study it well. It will serve you greatly."

"Thank you, Sect Master!" I said, bowing. This was perfect. I'd take the manual, see what it offered, and then check the System Shop. No harm in a little comparison shopping.

Back in my chambers, the 'Flowing Cloud Palm' manual was already waiting for me. It was a thick, leather-bound tome, its pages filled with intricate diagrams and flowing script.

I opened it, and immediately, my [Rapid Comprehension System]

(which I had indeed given myself, among other minor utility systems, during my initial point spending spree) kicked in.

The words seemed to leap off the page, the diagrams almost moving, demonstrating the techniques.

It was cinematic. The descriptions spoke of "Qi flowing like a river," "palms like shifting clouds," and "strikes that adapt to any foe."

The poses were elegant, powerful, and utterly beyond my current Ninth Layer Qi. I tried to mimic one of the stances, and nearly tripped over my own feet. This was going to take a lot of practice.

"Alright, System," I muttered, my mind buzzing with possibilities. "Time to check the competition. Show me the martial arts manuals in the shop!"

I accessed my dashboard, which still showed [Points: 1,710].

The [SYSTEM SHOP] icon was now fully unlocked, glowing invitingly. I clicked on it, then navigated to [SYSTEMS], and then searched for "Martial Arts."

A new sub-category appeared: [MARTIAL ARTS SYSTEMS].

I clicked it, and a dazzling array of options filled my mental screen.

[Martial Arts System (9th Layer)] - Cost: 100 Points

(Basic techniques for Ninth Layer cultivators. Enhances fundamental combat skills.)

[Martial Arts System (8th Layer)] - Cost: 500 Points

(Advanced techniques for Eighth Layer cultivators. Grants superior combat prowess and understanding.)

[Martial Arts System (7th Layer)] - Cost: 900 Points

(Elite techniques for Seventh Layer cultivators. Provides mastery over complex combat forms and Qi manipulation.)

"Huh," I mused. "The 7th Layer one is 900 points. That's like what I have now with the 'Flowing Cloud Palm.' So, the System's version is more expensive, but probably instant mastery. Interesting."

I scrolled further, my eyes widening.

[Martial Arts System (6th Layer)] - Cost: 1,800 Points

(Master-level techniques for Sixth Layer cultivators. Grants profound understanding of combat philosophy and devastating techniques.)

"Whoa!" I exclaimed aloud. "1,800 points! That's expensive! But it's a Sixth Layer manual! Like Sect Master Gu Ran's level! Okay, after I get some more points, that's definitely on the shopping list."

My fingers (mentally) scrolled down, further and further. The prices escalated dramatically.

[Martial Arts System (5th Layer)] - Cost: 8,000 Points

[Martial Arts System (4th Layer)] - Cost: 29,000 Points

[Martial Arts System (3rd Layer)] - Cost: 44,000 Points

(Legendary techniques for Third Layer cultivators. Grants unparalleled combat prowess, capable of challenging the heavens themselves.)

"Forty-four thousand points for a Third Layer manual?!" I whistled.

"That's insane! But… some day. Some day, I'll buy it all. I'll be a First Layer cultivator with a system-enhanced martial arts library that makes King Theron look like he's still learning to tie his shoelaces."

My dashboard, still at [Points: 1,710], seemed to shrink in comparison to the 44,000-point dream. But the dream was now tangible. It was in the shop. It was buyable.

The next day, the entire Azure Cloud Sect contingent, including myself, was on the move.

The tournament was about to begin in earnest.

The air in the City of Champions was thick with anticipation.

Cultivators from every corner of the realm were converging on the arena, their eyes gleaming with ambition.

I walked alongside Sect Master Gu Ran, my white robe pristine, my wings (still retracted, for tactical reasons) itching to unfurl.

My Qi, though nascent, hummed within me. I was a Ninth Layer cultivator.

I had a Seventh Layer martial arts manual (even if I hadn't mastered it yet).

And I had a System Shop full of impossible powers, just waiting for me to earn enough points.

The tournament was about to begin.