Returning to his temporary residence from the street filled with mysterious shops, Shin's state of mind had already changed.
The initial bewilderment of arriving in a new world was gradually replaced by a heavy sense of urgency—and a faint but undeniable excitement.
Closing the door and cutting off all external noise, the small Japanese-style room seemed to transform into an independent small world, belonging solely to him.
The thin yet omnipresent Spiritual Qi in the air now felt clearer, floating like fine dust, quietly waiting to be absorbed.
Without hesitation, Shin walked to the center of the room, brushed away imaginary dust, and sat down cross-legged on the wooden floor.
Following the most basic posture requirements of the Inner Elixir Breathing Technique, his back straightened naturally. His hands formed a simple Zi-Wu Mudra in front of his Dantian as his eyelids slowly closed.
His breathing gradually adjusted.
Discarding distracting thoughts, he focused his intent entirely on his Dantian.
It sounded simple—but in practice, it was extremely difficult.
Chaotic thoughts were like mischievous monkeys, ready to leap out at the slightest lapse in concentration—
Memories of the past.
Worries about the future.
Curiosity toward the System.
A mixture of wariness and eagerness toward this dangerous new world.
They intertwined endlessly, disrupting the clarity of his mind.
Shin wasn't discouraged. He knew this was an inevitable hurdle for beginners.
Patiently, again and again, he pulled his wandering focus back, anchoring his awareness to the subtle rhythm between each inhale and exhale.
Time passed quietly within the silence.
Gradually, an ethereal state descended.
External sounds faded.
Internal disturbances slowly settled.
His entire being became immersed in perceiving both himself and the surrounding energy environment.
It's here!
With a deep inhale, he clearly "saw"—
Not with his physical eyes, but through a blend of inner sight and energy perception—
The shimmering particles of Spiritual Qi in the air, drawn by his breathing rhythm and intent, began converging toward his mouth and nose, as if pulled by an invisible force, before being absorbed into his body.
However, the instant the Spiritual Qi entered him, Shin's brows sharply furrowed.
Pain.
A subtle yet piercing stinging sensation spread along the path of the incoming Qi!
These Spiritual Qi particles were indeed several times denser than those on Blue Star—but they were extremely wild.
Like untamed horses, they carried primitive chaos and corrosive qualities, rampaging through his Meridians without the slightest obedience.
This was completely different from the gentle, easily guided Innate One Qi described in his inherited knowledge.
The Spiritual Qi of this world was clearly mixed with too many different energy attributes—
Devil Qi from demons.
Divine Power from angels.
The ferocity of Dragons.
Various incompatible qualities blended together, forming a violently unstable energy flow that was incredibly difficult to control.
Absorbing it felt like swallowing coarse sand whole—filling, yet immensely damaging.
"No wonder…" Shin instantly understood.
"No wonder the System said this world is dangerous…"
Cultivating in such an environment was far more difficult—and far more dangerous—than on peaceful Blue Star.
One careless mistake, and he wouldn't just fail to refine the Qi. He could suffer a backlash, damage his Meridians, or even fall into Qi Deviation.
Immediately, he circulated the pitifully faint wisp of Qi he possessed, attempting to guide, soothe, and refine the rampaging Spiritual Qi entering his body.
The process was brutally difficult.
Like an infant trying to restrain a raging bull.
His Mental Energy had to remain completely focused, without the slightest lapse.
Sweat quickly seeped from his forehead, trailing down his cheeks.
His body trembled faintly, each breath heavy and strained, as if he wasn't cultivating—but engaging in an intense internal battle.
Yet the results were unmistakable.
Each time a strand of wild Spiritual Qi was forcibly restrained, circulated along the cultivation route for one full cycle, and finally settled into his Dantian—
The sharp pain vanished.
In its place came a gentle, pure warmth.
This newly refined wisp of True Qi, though incredibly weak, was solid and intimate, perfectly obedient—like an extension of his own body.
Pain and comfort intertwined.
Difficulty and reward coexisted.
He had no idea how much time passed.
Only when a clear sense of mental exhaustion surfaced—and the Qi mass within his Dantian had grown ever so slightly—did Shin finally slow his breathing and open his eyes.
The angle of sunlight through the window had shifted noticeably.
It was already afternoon.
He exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
That breath carried a faint trace of imperceptible impurities, expelled from his body.
Although his body felt fatigued from prolonged mental exertion, an unprecedented sense of clarity and lightness surged outward from his Dantian, flowing through his limbs and bones.
"I succeeded…"
Shin wiped the sweat from his brow, a tired but genuine smile spreading across his face.
The process had been far more dangerous than expected—but he had taken the first step.
In this perilous world, he now possessed his first real foundation of power.
After resting briefly and allowing his Mental Energy to recover somewhat, another impulse rose within him.
Cultivation theory had been verified.
But what about practical application?
Would the knowledge from Talisman True Explanation actually work?
His gaze shifted around the room, settling on the materials he had purchased earlier from the mysterious street—
A stack of yellow talisman paper provided by the System.
A small jar of cinnabar.
And an ordinary-looking brush.
These were the most basic talisman-making materials. They had cost a fair amount, but in his eyes, the expense was unavoidable.
He didn't choose offensive or defensive talismans.
Instead, he selected the very first talisman recorded in the Elementary Chapter—
The Peace Talisman.
It possessed no combat power.
Its purpose was to calm the mind, disperse weak evil Qi, improve luck, and prevent unforeseen calamities.
For his current strength level, it was the most practical choice—and the easiest to draw.
He took a deep breath.
Cleared the desk.
Laid out the talisman paper.
Ground the cinnabar and mixed it evenly with water.
Every preparatory step was done meticulously, his movements solemn and focused, as if performing a ritual.
His mind gradually emptied.
The world narrowed until only the talisman paper and cinnabar remained.
He picked up the brush, its tip heavy with crimson ink.
It hovered an inch above the paper.
Eyes closed, he reviewed the entire structure of the Peace Talisman—the stroke order, energy flow, and the most critical point—
The timing of intent infusion.
The next moment, his eyes snapped open.
Sharp.
Focused.
The brush descended.
The brush moved like a dragon, cinnabar tracing profound and intricate paths across the yellow paper.
His wrist was steady.
His breathing synchronized with every stroke.
The thin wisp of True Qi within his body was mobilized under his intent, slowly injected—thread by thread—through the brush tip into the talisman.
This process consumed even more Mental Energy than cultivation.
Absolute focus was required.
Each stroke precise.
Each infusion stable and continuous.
Gradually, what had once been nothing more than cinnabar and paper began emitting a faint spiritual glow.
A peaceful aura spread from the forming talisman.
Finally—
The last stroke fell.
Head and tail connected.
A perfect closed circuit formed.
The instant the brush lifted, the entire talisman flared with a faint crimson light, lasting about one second before slowly fading.
The talisman looked unchanged.
Yellow paper.
Red patterns.
Yet upon careful perception, it felt alive, carrying a distinct internal Qi.
It rested quietly on the table, radiating a faint, reassuring presence.
Success.
The first Peace Talisman had been successfully drawn.
A powerful sense of accomplishment surged through Shin, washing away much of his exhaustion.
He carefully held the still-warm talisman in his palm, treating it like a priceless treasure.
This wasn't just a talisman.
It was the first miracle he had personally created in this world.
A complete validation of his Daoist system.
Its significance was immeasurable.
Although its effects were limited, it genuinely contained protective power.
After admiring it for a long time, he carefully stored it close to his body.
Exhaustion finally crashed over him like a tide.
His essence, Qi, and spirit had been heavily depleted.
He slid down to the floor, leaning against the bed frame, a satisfied and relieved smile on his face.
Cultivation was difficult—but effective.
Talisman crafting was possible—successful.
This unique Dao, though still in its infancy and filled with unknown dangers, now had a clear direction.
The first step had been firmly taken.
Outside the window, the setting sun painted the sky in warm orange hues as the lights of Kuoh Town slowly flickered to life.
Shin gazed at the view, his heart filled with an unprecedented sense of peace—and anticipation.
Survival…
It no longer seemed impossible.
He even found himself looking forward to what tomorrow would bring when he reported to Kuoh Academy.
With every breath.
With every talisman.
His story was quietly being written.