'Fourth level of Qi Accumulation.' Grey clenched his fists, a jolt of power coursing through him. He had never felt so strong, so in control of his body. He threw a punch, and the air around his fist tore with a sharp whiz. His eyes widened with a mix of awe and excitement. "So, this is what the fourth level can do..."
The spirit energy in his body was still swirling, a tangible presence. He sat down to cultivate, a final, necessary step to consolidate his new realm. As he entered a semi-conscious state, the familiar purple lines emerged from his body, casting a soft, ethereal light. After a few hours, his eyes flew open, and a powerful aura erupted from him, a shockwave of his new strength. He quickly suppressed it, letting out a deep breath as the purple lines faded without a trace. His gaze was tranquil as he looked at the full moon. "I have succeeded in breaking through..." he whispered into the night.
The air was calm, with a natural, soothing chill that was nothing like the foreboding cold of the corroded zone. He felt more at ease, confident in his ability to protect himself. But despite the satisfaction of his breakthrough, a strange hollowness remained. His gaze lingered on the moon for a few seconds before he looked away, his grey eyes distant as they turned toward the red clouds hovering over the corroded zone.
He had made the right choice to break through outside. The oppressive aura of that place was not a worthy setting for such a momentous occasion. Now that he had achieved his goal, he could start preparing for his journey to Glory City, the location of a teleportation rune that could take him to the Sky Mist Academy.
A Wary Reunion
The next day, as Grey walked back toward the corroded zone, he saw a group of people from the scavenger camp heading the same way. He paused, his gut instinct screaming at him to retreat. The glares and uncomfortable feelings he had received in the camp were still fresh in his mind. He wanted to avoid any more contact with them, especially since the girl, who seemed normal, still gave off a sense of danger he couldn't quite explain. He guessed her cultivation was on par with his, maybe even higher.
He moved quietly, making sure no one had noticed him, and took a different path into the corroded zone. The other scavengers emitted powerful energy fluctuations that gave him a sense of impending crisis. It was the main reason he had backed off. "So, there are people this strong in the scavenger camp?" a frown appeared on his face. He quickly pushed his thoughts away, reminding himself that getting too curious would be his downfall. He needed to focus on navigating the corroded zone safely.
He moved silently through the desolate streets. His eyes narrowed when he sensed the presence of a rabbit. Since breaking into the fourth level of Qi Accumulation, he had been able to sense faint traces of spiritual energy within creatures. He decided to test his new ability. He stopped and watched the rabbit from behind a tall, withered tree. His face was flushed, and his breathing was a little labored from his run, but his eyes were steady and calm. He had always been like this, even in his past life.
The rabbit was quietly eating grass, its head constantly flicking up to check its surroundings. When its head dipped down, Grey moved. He launched himself from his hiding spot, accelerating with a speed that shocked even him. The sudden burst was so powerful that he almost lost his balance. But he quickly regained control. Before the little rabbit could hop back into its burrow, Grey had snatched it up.
"Wow, I'm this fast?" he whispered to himself. When he entered the zone, he hadn't used his full speed, so he hadn't known his true capabilities. The rabbit trembled feebly in his hands, and he almost felt like releasing it, but his stomach rumbled, bringing him back to reality. "Sorry, friend," he said, pulling out his knife. He slit the rabbit's throat, and after making sure it was dead, he put the body in his rucksack.
He had sold the contents of his previous rucksack in the scavenger camp and now had some coins, but he was saving them for his trip to Glory City and the teleportation rune. He began to hum a song as he walked back to his dilapidated house. He scanned his surroundings for any signs of bizarre existences or mutated creatures, but finding none, he entered his house warily. He set down his rucksack, took a few large gulps of water, and began to skin the rabbit.
He cleaned the meat and placed it over the fire he had set up with the coal stove. Just as the delicious smell began to fill the air, a thought struck him. "Ahh, dammit. I forgot to buy some spices. I knew I was supposed to buy something."