After that, Du Shentian stepped outside the protective boundaries of Dragon Sanctuary 007 and entered the wilderness once again, his figure gradually disappearing into the untamed lands where danger lurked behind every shadow and survival depended entirely on one's strength and awareness.
The air outside was heavier, carrying a faint metallic scent mixed with the wild fragrance of untamed vegetation, while distant roars and rustling sounds reminded him that he was no longer within the safety of human civilization.
Without wasting any time, Du Shentian immediately began hunting demonic beasts, his movements becoming sharper and more decisive compared to the previous day, as if his body had already started adapting to the rhythm of battle and survival.
He moved swiftly through the terrain, striking down awakened-tier beasts with calculated precision while carefully targeting first-tier demonic beasts whenever he found an opportunity, ensuring that he was not overwhelmed by numbers despite the constant threat surrounding him.
Each battle sharpened his instincts further, and each kill brought him closer to completing the mission assigned by the system, while also strengthening his confidence in his own growing abilities.
By the time the sun began to descend toward the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and crimson, Du Shentian had successfully completed his mission of killing ten first-tier demonic beasts, his body covered in sweat and faint traces of blood, though none of it belonged to him.
Just as he was catching his breath, a sudden notification appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly in the dimming light.
"Congratulations, Host, on killing 100 awakened beasts. Reward: Title – Awakened Beast Slayer, and +5 Achievement Points."
Du Shentian's tired expression instantly brightened upon seeing the notification, a satisfied smile forming on his lips as he realized that his efforts had not gone unnoticed by the system.
"Finally, I have completed another achievement," he said, his voice carrying a mix of relief and excitement. "I now have 10 achievement points. Master, help me purchase the Beginner's Set."
[Okay, Host.]
The moment the system responded, something unexpected happened.
A beginner's awakened skill box suddenly materialized high above him and fell straight down without warning, landing directly on Du Shentian with a dull thud that knocked him slightly off balance.
He staggered for a moment before regaining his footing, his expression turning into one of disbelief as he looked at the box lying at his feet.
"Master… why did it fall on me?" he asked, clearly confused by what had just happened.
[Host, I do not know. I simply opened the storage, and it fell out.]
Du Shentian narrowed his eyes slightly, suspecting that his master might be playing some kind of joke on him, but he chose not to question it further, deciding that the result mattered more than the method.
Without wasting time, he crouched down and opened the box carefully, his anticipation rising as he prepared to see what he had just obtained through his hard-earned achievement points.
Inside the box, several items were neatly arranged, each one radiating a faint aura that hinted at its value and importance.
He found:
1 × Ability Upgrade Card
System Skill – Analytical Eye
Primordial Source Energy Absorption Art
+25 Stat Points
A satisfied expression spread across his face as he looked at the contents, his earlier fatigue momentarily forgotten.
"Finally… I have obtained everything I needed," he said, his voice filled with genuine satisfaction and determination for what lay ahead.
Without hesitation, he sat down on the ground right there in the wilderness, crossing his legs as he prepared to begin learning the Primordial Source Energy Absorption Art, knowing that this technique would play a crucial role in his future growth.
However, the moment he began reading and trying to comprehend the technique, he realized that it was far more complex than anything he had encountered before, its structure intricate and its principles deeply layered, requiring intense focus and understanding.
Even after spending three hours trying to grasp its fundamentals, he found himself unable to fully comprehend it, his brows furrowed in concentration as he struggled to process the information contained within the technique.
Seeing this, the system intervened.
[Host, you should return to Dragon Sanctuary 007. It is already getting late, and during the night, demonic beasts become significantly stronger and far more aggressive in their behavior.]
[Your current strength is not sufficient to handle the increased danger level of nighttime combat in the wilderness.]
Du Shentian paused and checked the time, realizing that the sun had already dipped below the horizon, leaving behind only fading light as darkness slowly began to take over the surroundings.
Understanding the risk, he nodded and stood up, quickly packing his belongings before making his way back toward Dragon Sanctuary 007 with steady and cautious steps.
After returning safely, he immediately headed toward the exchange area and sold the demonic cores he had collected throughout the day, his efforts once again yielding excellent results.
Today's harvest was even better than before, earning him over 10,000 union coins, which was significantly higher than the previous day's income.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he counted his earnings.
"If I continue hunting like this, I can earn even more money and give my siblings a better life," he said to himself, his voice carrying a sense of responsibility and quiet determination.
The system responded without hesitation.
[Host, your primary purpose for entering the wilderness should not be earning money.]
[From tomorrow onward, your focus will shift entirely toward training Basic Lightning Control.]
Du Shentian frowned slightly, clearly confused by the sudden change in priority.
"Why?" he asked.
[Because Basic Lightning Control will allow you to utilize your lightning ability more effectively, increasing both your combat efficiency and survivability in future battles.]
Hearing this, Du Shentian quickly realized the truth behind those words.
Until now, he had relied heavily on swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, barely making proper use of his lightning ability, which was supposed to be one of his greatest strengths.
His Basic Lightning Control was still only at the entry level, meaning that he had barely scratched the surface of what he was capable of achieving with it.
[From tomorrow, I will personally guide you in mastering lightning control within your body.]
[I will teach you how to circulate lightning through your meridians, enhance your movement speed by channeling energy into your legs, and increase your attack power by concentrating lightning into your palms.]
Du Shentian's eyes lit up with excitement as he imagined the possibilities that such training would unlock for him.
"Wow… now the real training begins," he said eagerly.
After returning to his room, he immediately resumed studying the Primordial Source Energy Absorption Art, determined to master it despite its complexity and difficulty.
Hours passed in silence as he focused entirely on understanding the technique, his mind fully immersed in its intricate structure and principles.
By the time the clock reached two in the morning, he finally managed to reach the entry level, though the process had drained him both mentally and physically.
"Phew… this Primordial art is far more difficult," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he leaned back slightly.
However, his efforts were immediately rewarded when he began cultivating using the technique, noticing a significant improvement in efficiency compared to the basic version he had used before.
Within just one hour of cultivation, he gained four source points—double the amount he would have gained using the normal Source Energy Absorption Art.
Additionally, he could clearly feel that his source energy reservoir was filling at a much faster rate, reducing the time required for recovery significantly.
"Now I understand why powerful organizations guard their techniques so carefully," he said thoughtfully. "The difference in efficiency is enormous."
Realizing that the next day would be even more demanding, he decided to rest, remembering the system's warning about the intensity of upcoming training.
The next morning, he woke up at nine o'clock.
Immediately, the system's voice rang out with clear displeasure.
[Host, I forgave you previously because you trained throughout the night, but today you woke up at nine.]
[You are expected to wake up at eight, complete your bath, and be fully prepared before I arrive.]
Du Shentian quickly apologized and prepared himself without delay, understanding that discipline would be crucial for his growth moving forward.
Days passed in a blur of intense training, relentless cultivation, and continuous improvement, each day pushing him closer to his limits while also expanding them further.
Finally, it was the last day.
Du Shentian stood in his room, looking at his system panel with a satisfied expression as he saw that he had accumulated over 3,000 source points through his relentless efforts.
The system spoke again.
[Host, why have you not used the Ability Upgrade Card yet?]
Du Shentian smiled slightly.
"I was waiting for the right moment," he replied. "And that moment is now."
[You should have used it earlier. It would have strengthened you significantly.]
"Master, I can use a rank-up card at any level, right?" he asked, already having a plan in mind as he prepared to execute it step by step.
[Yes, Host.]
Without wasting any time, Du Shentian first decided to evolve his ability using his own accumulated source points instead of relying immediately on the upgrade card, knowing that maximizing efficiency now would benefit him greatly in the long run.
He focused on his current ability—Weak Lightning (F-Rank)—and selected the evolution option on the system panel, his expression turning serious as he prepared to spend a significant portion of his hard-earned resources.
A confirmation prompt appeared before him, displaying the required cost.
Evolution Cost: 1200 Source Points
Du Shentian took a deep breath but did not hesitate.
"Do it," he said firmly.
In the next moment, a surge of energy erupted within his body as the source points were consumed, transforming into pure lightning energy that coursed violently through his meridians, muscles, and veins.
It felt as if thousands of tiny lightning bolts were tearing through his body, reshaping and strengthening his affinity toward lightning, forcing his body to adapt to a higher level of power.
His muscles trembled slightly, and faint arcs of electricity flickered across his skin, illuminating the room with brief flashes of blue light as the evolution process continued.
After several intense moments, the energy finally stabilized.
His ability evolved.
E-Rank Ability – Lightning Bolt
Du Shentian exhaled slowly, his body still tingling from the transformation as he clenched his fist and felt the refined lightning energy responding more clearly to his will than before.
"Just evolving once already feels this powerful…" he muttered, clearly impressed by the difference.
Without stopping, he immediately used the Ability Upgrade Card he had been saving, knowing that this was the perfect moment to maximize its effect.
The card activated instantly, dissolving into pure energy that merged with his newly evolved ability.
A second transformation began.
The lightning within his body intensified once again, becoming sharper, denser, and far more destructive than before, as if the very nature of his power was being elevated to a higher tier.
Moments later, the process completed.
D-Rank Ability – Sky Lightning
The system reacted with clear surprise.
[Host, your decision-making is impressive. You used 1200 Source Points to evolve your ability first and then applied the upgrade card at the optimal moment, maximizing its value beyond standard usage.]
[I had not even considered this sequence. Your efficiency in resource management is beyond expectations. Have you known that you will require 1200 Source Points to level up your Ability?]
Du Shentian smiled faintly, his expression calm yet confident.
"I didn't know for sure," he replied honestly. "I just guessed that evolution would require a large amount of source points, so I saved enough in advance."
After that, he began allocating his source points carefully.
His Hand-to-Hand Combat skill rose to Beginner Level 8, while his Swordsmanship advanced to Beginner Level 6, reflecting his balanced approach to both close combat and weapon mastery.
His Primordial Source Energy Absorption Art reached the Elementary Level, significantly improving his cultivation efficiency, while his Basic Lightning Control advanced to the Intermediate Level, allowing him to utilize his lightning ability with far greater precision and power.
"Now my main techniques have reached higher stages," Du Shentian said confidently. "I am ready to face Luo Xinyan."
The system responded thoughtfully.
[Host, you have managed your resources effectively. You still possess over 200 stat points and around 300 source points.]
[What is your next step?]
Du Shentian's expression became serious.
"Now… I will increase my cultivation."
Without hesitation, he selected his current rank and initiated the breakthrough.
A massive surge of energy erupted within his body, spreading through his meridians, bones, and blood like a powerful storm, cleansing and strengthening every part of him as he advanced to the next stage.
His rank changed:
Awakened → First-Tier Warrior (Early Stage)
Strength: 30 → 45
Speed: 25 → 40
Endurance: 15 → 30
Combat Power: 70 → 115
A deep breath escaped his lips as the transformation completed.
"Finally… I have reached First-Tier Warrior," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction and quiet pride.
The system spoke again.
[So that is why you asked about the required source points for advancement.]
"Yes, Master," he replied. "Now I am fully prepared to face Luo Xinyan tomorrow."
The system paused briefly before continuing.
[You should rest now.]
[Additionally, you have completed another achievement today.]
A notification appeared before him.
First-Tier Demonic Beast Slayer (1 Star)
Reward: Title +5 Achievement Points
After delivering the notification, the system fell silent.
Du Shentian prepared his bed and lay down slowly, his body finally relaxing after days of relentless effort, though his mind remained active as he reviewed his progress.
He opened his system panel one last time, staring at it in amazement as he saw how far he had come in such a short period.
It displayed:
Name: Du Shentian
Race: Human
Cultivation: First-Tier Warrior (Early Stage)
Title: First-Tier Demonic Beast Slayer (1 Star)
Ability: Sky Lightning (D-Rank)
Skills:
Swordsmanship (Beginner Level 6)
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Beginner Level 8)
Primordial Source Energy Absorption Art (Beginner Level)
Basic Lightning Control (Intermediate Level)
System Skills: Analytical Eye (Level 1)
Source Points: 0
Stat Points: 200
Attributes:
Strength: 45
Speed: 40
Endurance: 30
Combat Power: 115
As he stared at the panel, a faint smile formed on his lips.
Tomorrow… everything would change.
End of Chapter
Author's Note
This is my first novel, so there may be mistakes along the way. Please feel free to point them out so I can improve.
Also, English is not my first language, so there might be some inconsistencies.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the story!