He checked the timer on his scroll.

  Sage’s Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.

  Target: 13:08:25.

  Maybe I should just wait until it hits zero, he mused.

  He mentally mocked himself. Relying on a cheat… I need to learn to rely on my own abilities. Or, you know, maybe just become really good at manipulating the cheat. That works too, right?

  A wave of weariness washed over him. The initial excitement of testing the Diamond Skin Technique had waned, replaced by a sense of… futility. Am I just wasting my time here? he wondered. Maybe not. But what else am I going to do?

  He knew the golden scroll could potentially double his gains, allowing him to achieve twice the results with half the effort. But he was not sure about the price.

  The last time he used the golden words on a cultivation technique, all my Qi Condensation realm was destroyed. The thought left a sour taste in his mouth. It’s like using a answer sheet for a test you haven't even been told you're taking. Sure, you might ace it, but what have you really learned?

  He paused, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over him. Wait a minute… that’s… that’s almost exactly what my Golden Finger is. He stared blankly ahead for a moment, his mind racing. A cheat… a shortcut… a way to gain knowledge and power without truly earning it… But have I gained it? Have I…? I have, right?

  The thought hung in the air, a half-formed understanding flickering in his mind.

  Grrrrrumble.

  Before he could fully grasp the implications, a rumble in his stomach broke his train of thought.

  He almost had it, the key to understanding the nature of his… his gift. But the elusive thought slipped away, leaving him grasping at wisps of insight. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

  But another rumble of his stomach reminded him of a more pressing need as he hadn't eaten since morning..

  I’m hungry, he realized, the gnawing sensation a stark reminder of his physical needs. I wonder what kind of food cultivators eat in this world.

  Do they have, like, a Michelin-star chef specializing in qi-infused cuisine? Or is it just mix bowls of ingredients?

  Maybe I should go check it out, he thought. After weighing the pros and cons – mostly the cons of it being costly – he decided against it. Besides, I’m not in the mood to risk encountering any infamous “mystery meat” stew.

  Instead, he ambled back towards the his quarters, his stomach rumbling in protest with every step. Turning around he noticed the small, white rabbit, perched on a patch of grass, its small, beady red eyes fixed on him with an almost unnerving intensity. Its fur practically glowed in the evening sun.

  A delicious image of a steaming bowl of rabbit stew, the meat tender and falling off the bone, swimming in a rich, savory broth flashed through his mind. Maybe tonight's dinner will be a little more...exotic.

  He took a slow step towards the bunny, holding out a hand in what he hoped was a non-threatening gesture. The rabbit remained motionless, its nose twitching, seemingly unfazed by his approach. "Easy there, little fella," he whispered, crouching down. "I'm not going to hurt yo—"

  He was almost close enough to touch it when the rabbit's demeanor changed in a flash. Its cute, fluffy facade vanished, replaced by a snarling, demonic open mouth with teeth that seemed far too large for its head. Before he could even register what was happening, the rabbit launched itself at his neck, a furry white missile with murder in its eyes.

  "Holy—!" he yelped, instinctively throwing his hands up in defense. The Diamond Skin Technique activated just in time, a shimmering golden barrier forming around him. He felt the impact as the rabbit's teeth connected with the barrier, a jarring, grinding sensation that sent shivers down his spine. "What the—?!"

  With a grunt, he flung his hands forward, sending the rabbit flying backward. It landed with a thump, shook itself off, and then, with a final glare that could curdle milk, it darted away into the undergrowth.

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  Zhen remained frozen for a moment, heart pounding, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. "Okay," he said, his voice a shaky whisper. Cute, fluffy bunnies in this world are apparently vicious, flesh-eating monsters.

  With his appetite thoroughly suppressed, he checked his surrounding once more and headed back towards his quarters.

  Next time, don't trust any animal inside the sect…

  Reaching his small, sparsely furnished house, he went straight to the kitchen rifling through the containers. He found what he expected: rice that felt like it contained qi, some dried fruits, and a jar of mixed fruit pickles.

  Spirit rice, he thought, a small smile playing on his lips. Just like I remembered. He picked up a handful of the rice, examining it closely.

  It was ordinary enough in appearance, but there was a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer to the grains, a subtle sign of the energy it contained.

  This is good, he thought. Really good. Spirit rice… it’s the staple of nominal disciples for a reason. It can supplement qi consumption and aid in qi refining.

  A spark of ambition flickered within him. Plantation… maybe someday I’ll have my own spirit rice plantation. A mogul of spirit rice! He chuckled softly at the thought.

  Zhen simply made boiled rice with the dried fruits and pickles. It was a quick and easy meal, but it would suffice. After eating, he turned his attention to the books he had bought. He knew he needed to increase his strength, and for that, he needed to understand the foundations of cultivation. He picked up the book on top of the stack.

  Ascending the Mortal Realms: Breaking into Foundation Establishment.

  Whereas Qi Condensation focuses on accumulating and refining qi, Foundation Establishment is the stage where the cultivator solidifies their foundation and establishes a more stable and potent connection between the body and spiritual energies of the world.

  For breaking into Foundation Establishment, a cultivator needs to connect with their Dantian. Or, more accurately, break into their Dantian.

  Using the acupoints as their paths, a cultivator should be able to sense their Dantian. Cracking open the outer layer of the Dantian will simply promote a 9th realm Qi Condensation cultivator to the 1st realm Foundation Establishment.

  But it was easier said than done. The qi needs to be sufficient enough, and the pattern of qi to open the Dantian should be highly efficient.

  Foundation Establishment… Zhen mused, his eyes scanning the text. So it’s all about the Dantian, huh? The core of qi cultivation. He thought about the different grades of Foundation Establishment the book described.

  Depending on the number of acupoints used by the cultivator during the breakthrough, it could be categorized into low, mid, and high. While nine were the basic acupoints needed to reach the 9th realm of Qi Condensation, opening other acupoints helped in more storage and capacity for qi refining.

  Eighty-one were required for mid-grade Foundation Establishment, and opening all the acupoints in the human body – all 360 of them – was required for high-grade Foundation Establishment.

  While it may seem simple but it is harder to sense acupoints as they get further away from dantian.

  High-grade… that sounds impressive, he thought. But 360 acupoints? That’s insane! The book mentioned that while it might seem simple in theory, it was incredibly difficult to sense acupoints as they got further away from the Dantian. The connection weakened, and the path became more obscure.

  Reading the book, Zhen was flabbergasted by the sheer volume of information. So much to learn… he thought. He considered the basic technique of Hundred Stars Refinement. Maybe the Sect wants to nurture at least mid-grade Foundation Establishment Outer Disciples from the get-go, he speculated. That would make sense. A strong foundation is crucial. He sighed. A first-rate sect is still a first-rate sect.

  He closed the book and sat cross-legged on his mat, beginning the Hundred Stars Refinement technique. He circulated the qi within his body, trying to draw in more from the surrounding environment.

  Come on, qi… where are you? he thought, frustration creeping into his mind. The ambient spiritual energy was so sparse that it barely sustained his practice.

  He paused, opening his eyes and reaching for his pouch. He counted the coins within. Damn it, he thought. Reaching the 9th realm of Qi Condensation already cost me 1,195 Qi Condensation spirit stones…

  He mentally tallied the expenses. If I hadn't lost my cultivation, the cost might have been less than 100 Qi Condensation spirit stones from the 8th to 9th realm of Qi Condensation. That would have been much more acceptable. He sighed again. The path to cultivation was proving to be far more expensive than he had anticipated.

  His thoughts drifted to the need for more resources. I need to find a way to earn more, he mused. Then, an image of the invitation from Senior Sister Lian surfaced in his mind. Perhaps attending that gathering might be beneficial, he considered. It could help me expand my network, and broaden my horizons.

  A faint spark of hope ignited within him. Perhaps this invitation could offer a solution to his financial woes and provide the resources he desperately needed to continue his cultivation journey.

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