Chapter 3: The First Technique
The following weeks after 1 January 2026 were anything but ordinary.
News channels, social media, and newspapers screamed with the same word again and again—
"Qi Energy."
Scientists in every country rushed to study it. Governments declared emergencies. Laboratories stayed lit through the night, filled with desperate researchers trying to explain the impossible.
But explanations didn't matter to the public.
Because every day, more and more people discovered they could absorb Qi. Some broke steel rods with bare hands. Some healed wounds in seconds. Some even claimed their eyesight sharpened to the point of seeing stars in daylight.
The world was changing.
---
In his small hut on the edge of Seria City, Luo Shin sat cross-legged.
The translucent panel floated before him.
> Name: Luo Shin
Realm: Qi Refraining (Level 1)
Bloodline: None
Technique: None
"Realm… bloodline… technique…" Shin muttered.
"What's the use of this if I don't know how to cultivate properly?"
As if answering his complaint, the panel flickered.
Ding!
[System has detected host's desire.]
[Unlocking beginner cultivation technique—]
Golden letters appeared across the screen:
〈Breath of Origin〉
A basic cultivation method to refine Qi from the atmosphere.
Stage 1: Inhale and circulate Qi through meridians.
Stage 2: Store Qi within the dantian.
Stage 3: Strengthen body and spirit.
Shin's eyes widened. "A… cultivation manual?!"
---
He followed the instructions carefully.
He sat upright, calmed his breathing, and focused. Slowly, he inhaled deeply—this time not just air, but Qi itself.
A faint warmth trickled inside, flowing through invisible channels in his body. His chest rose and fell steadily. His heartbeat slowed. His mind sharpened.
Ding!
[Qi absorbed: +3]
[Spiritual Energy: 4/100]
Sweat dripped down his forehead, but when he opened his eyes, they gleamed faintly with clarity. His senses felt sharper. His body lighter.
He clenched his fist.
"This is… cultivation. I can really grow stronger."
---
That night, the city was restless. Loudspeakers announced warnings:
"All citizens, remain calm. Reports of criminal activity involving Qi users are increasing. Law enforcement will take strict action."
But behind those warnings, Shin knew the truth. Governments were losing control. Ordinary laws couldn't stop Qi-powered humans.
And yet, in hidden places, a new order was already being born. Scholars and scientists were gathering to design a structured Cultivation System for humanity.
The Cultivation Association was about to rise.
And Luo Shin, sitting alone in his hut, didn't know that his strange "system" had already placed him on a path beyond anyone else.
---
✨ End of Chapter 3 ✨