I decided not to touch the Sky Essence Ice Flower, at least for now. Its soft blue light was still captivating, but the System's warning was too clear to ignore. I still had to complete my survival mission, and recklessly touching a high-grade spiritual flower was not a smart strategy. I backed away slightly, observing the flower from a distance, letting its dim light illuminate the dark corner of the cave.
My thoughts returned to the mission. Survive one day. Time was ticking. I had to find a way out of this cave, or at least find a safer place to wait for the mission to end. I walked around the main chamber of the cave, each step feeling lighter thanks to the purification of the Spiritual Pool. Tap... tap... tap... The sound of my footsteps echoed off the stone walls, a strange rhythm in the silence.
Grrrrummm...
The dragon's low rumble sounded again, this time feeling closer, heavier, as if it was moving outside the cave, or even inside the mountain itself, a warning I couldn't ignore. I immediately tensed, all my excitement evaporating, replaced by cold fear. The dragon! I must not forget the main threat.
I looked towards the mouth of the cave, the darkness there felt both inviting and threatening. I still had to complete this survival mission. However, as I turned away from the cave mouth, my eyes caught something glittering on the dark cave wall, near where I first fell. It was a stone. Not an ordinary stone. It emitted a very faint golden light, almost invisible, yet somehow it attracted my attention, as if calling to me, radiating an aura different from common spiritual energy.
I approached, reaching out. The stone felt cold, but there was a faint pulse of energy within it, a sensation completely different from the spiritual energy in the air. This felt more... solid, more ancient, as if it contained thousands of years of buried history.
[Bzing!]
A sharp system notification startled me again, making me flinch.
[Detection: Dragon Essence Stone. Contains the vital essence of a Golden Dragon. Extremely rare. Can be used for cultivation or artifact forging. Infinite value.]
[Warning: Do not touch for too long without protection. The energy contained can damage User's unstable meridians. Permanent damage may occur.]
I quickly pulled my hand back, my heart pounding, thump-thump-thump!Dragon Essence Stone?! And it's here, in the cave where I accidentally fell? In a dragon's lair? This must not be a coincidence! This is the strangest fate, or perhaps the biggest joke ever!
[Detection: User's Strange Luck Level reached 99%. Gathering Strangeness Points...]
[+20 Strangeness Points.]
"What?!" I gasped, almost screaming. My Strangeness Points soared to 104. "Even my ridiculous luck gives points?! System, you really know how to take advantage of the situation! You're a strangeness point loan shark!"
I stared at the Dragon Essence Stone with sparkling eyes, unable to suppress a wide smile. This is a treasure! A treasure that can make me stronger, faster, and perhaps... more absurd. I, Chen Ming, the ridiculous beautiful-faced cultivator, had just discovered a hidden secret in a dragon's lair. This adventure of mine is truly crazy, but I'm starting to like it. It's much more interesting than math homework or being rejected by Mei Lin. Fate, you do have a strange sense of humor, but I'm getting used to it.
[Suggestion: User may attempt to absorb spiritual energy from the Dragon Essence Stone carefully. However, it is advised to have a basic understanding of Qi circulation before doing so. Risk of meridian damage is 70% without a proper manual.]
Qi circulation? I don't even know what Qi is besides from the cultivation novels I read, where heroes always yell "Qi!" before launching an attack. I just "cultivated" accidentally by falling into a pool. Now I have to absorb energy from a dragon stone with a 70% risk of damage? This is too fast! It's like telling me to fly a jet plane when I've just learned to ride a tricycle!
I let out a long sigh, staring at the stone with sparkling eyes, yet also full of doubt. Too tempting to ignore. I could feel an incredible aura of power from it, a magnet pulling at my soul, promising limitless power. However, the System's warning was also clear. I didn't want to die ridiculously for the third time because I was too greedy or foolish.
"Alright, System," I mumbled, trying to think logically amidst this madness, ignoring the cold that still crept in. "How do I understand Qi circulation? Is there a cultivation manual in the System Shop I can buy? One that's not too expensive, and won't make me explode?"
[Ding!]
The system panel flickered, emitting a soft glow in the cave's darkness. A faint mechanical click sounded as text appeared on the screen, like an ancient machine that had just found an answer.
[Detection: Cultivation Manual Request. Gathering Strangeness Points from hasty yet pragmatic ambition...]
[+5 Strangeness Points.]
"What?! Even my ambition gives points?!" I snorted, feeling a little annoyed, yet also amused. My Strangeness Points were now 109. This system truly knew how to extract every emotion and intention from me.
[Suggestion: Basic Cultivation Manual: 'Hidden Dragon Breathing Technique' available in System Shop. Description: An ancient breathing technique that allows stable Qi absorption and basic Qi circulation. Suitable for beginners. Price: 50 Strangeness Points.]
My eyes widened. 50 Strangeness Points! I had 109! Enough! This was a golden opportunity! A real cultivation manual! Not just pills or elixirs, but knowledge!
"I'll buy 'Hidden Dragon Breathing Technique'!" I said quickly, without hesitation, as if I had just found a huge discount at an online store.
[Purchase Confirmation: 'Hidden Dragon Breathing Technique' for 50 Strangeness Points? Yes/No.]
"Yes, yes, Of course yes! What else am I waiting for?!"
Instantly, my 50 Strangeness Points decreased to 59. And before me, in the empty air, appeared an old parchment scroll, tied with a red silk string. The scroll emitted an ancient aura, as if it had existed for thousands of years, holding ancient secrets.
I immediately grabbed the scroll, my fingers trembling with excitement. This is my first cultivation manual! I opened it slowly. Ancient texts with unfamiliar characters filled the scroll. However, strangely, as I focused my gaze, the characters seemed to come alive, swirling, and their meaning instantly permeated my mind, like a direct data transfer to my brain, an instant knowledge download.
[Detection: User has learned 'Hidden Dragon Breathing Technique' (Initial Stage). Gathering Strangeness Points from instant and illogical learning process...]
[+15 Strangeness Points.]
"Huh?! I understood it instantly?!" I gasped, almost screaming in surprise. My Strangeness Points soared to 74. "This... this is too easy! Am I a hidden genius who just awakened? Or is this system too cheating, making me feel like a genius when I just pressed a 'buy' button?"
[Suggestion: User is advised to immediately practice 'Hidden Dragon Breathing Technique' to consolidate the spiritual energy absorbed from the Golden Dragon Spiritual Pool and Dragon Essence Stone. Delay may cause Qi stagnation.]
Alright, time to get serious. I sat cross-legged again near the Dragon Essence Stone, this time with a better understanding of what I needed to do. I closed my eyes, following the instructions I had just absorbed. I imagined the spiritual energy in the air, which felt denser near this stone, flowing in through my nose, down into my Dantian (an area in my lower abdomen that I somehow knew now, as if it had been a part of my body since birth), then circulating through my meridians, following the pathways I had just memorized.
Whoosh...
I could feel a stronger flow of spiritual energy than before. The energy was no longer just a tingling sensation, but a warm current flowing within my body, cleansing every impurity, strengthening every muscle and bone. I could feel the energy from the Dragon Essence Stone itself being drawn to me, a subtle yet powerful pull, as if the stone wanted to share its power, channeling its essence into me.
Grrrrummm...
The dragon's rumble sounded again, this time closer, more real, as if it was observing, or perhaps moving near the cave. However, strangely, I no longer felt as panicked as before. My focus on cultivation made me slightly forget that fear, as if the world outside me had vanished.
I continued to cultivate, feeling the abundant spiritual energy in this cave being absorbed into me, every breath bringing new power. Time seemed to stop, vanishing in my concentration. I don't know how long I sat there, perhaps hours, perhaps minutes, perhaps days. What was clear was that when I opened my eyes, the cave was still dark, only illuminated by the light of the pool and the flower, and I felt... different.
[Ding!]
[Detection: User successfully consolidated spiritual energy. Initial Mortal Body Stage has stabilized. Gathering Strangeness Points from efficient yet unorthodox cultivation methods...]
[+20 Strangeness Points.]
"Stabilized?!" I stood up, feeling new power flowing through every inch of my body, an intoxicating sensation. My Strangeness Points were now 94. I clenched my fists. I felt like I could smash a rock with one punch! Or perhaps... kick that giant rabbit to the bottom of the abyss with one mighty kick!
I walked towards the mouth of the cave. The night was still dark outside, but I could feel the biting cold of the air. My survival mission wasn't over yet. But now, I had a cultivation manual, and I had begun my path as a cultivator. This was a strange beginning, but it was my beginning.
Although fate had thrown me into this crazy world in the most ridiculous way, I, Chen Ming, the jade-faced youth, now held the threads of my own destiny. I would become the strongest, or at least the most unique, on this Tian Xuan Continent.