A thoughtful expression adorned his face, questions like why it was here now, was it safe, why did it choose him, and many more, but he did not voice them out.
As he knew, knowledge is burdensome, especially about a heaven-defying phenomenon like the system.
It’s better to just go with the flow, be a salted fish all the way.
As he clicked the automatic cultivation function, another panel popped up in front of him.
___
『Cultivation techniques』
『Battle arts』
『Heavenly laws』
『...』
『Time frame: to be decided』
___
He stood stunned on the spot, looking bewilderedly at the panel. Cultivation techniques and battle arts, he could understand, but cultivating heavenly laws!! That’s pure insanity.
To heck with cultivation techniques, he’s going to cultivate heavenly laws and become an immortal right from the start.
As he clicked on that, only disappointment answered his call.
『Ding! Host, please speak human language!!』
"Hehe..."
An embarrassed laugh escaped his mouth as he accepted his mistake. He was just a mortal at this moment; how could he even sense the heavenly laws?
He then clicked on the cultivation techniques, and it displayed the only one he had.
『Cultivate the Rudimentary Body Refinement Technique?』
"Yup, for... umm... the whole night."
『Ding! Initiating automatic cultivation!』
As the system sounded, Gu Changsheng felt himself losing control over his body, as if something else was controlling his body as he sat cross-legged.
Just as he was about to question this, the system, as if aware of what he was going to ask, answered his query beforehand.
『Host need not worry.』
『Ultimately, this process represents a temporary acquisition of regulatory control over the biological mechanisms governing your physical state as it constitutes an essential prerequisite for the operational integrity and functionality of the system!』
Even though most of it went over his head, he barely understood that this relinquishment of his body’s functionality was needed for the system to perform.
Lamenting his lack of wisdom, Gu Changsheng clicked his tongue in wonder.
At this moment, ’Gu Changsheng’ had already positioned himself in a meditative state, cultivating a breathing technique derived from the Rudimentary cultivation technique.
Gu Changsheng was already familiar with this, but was pleased to find out that the circulation of spiritual energy was more effective than usual.
And it’s still increasing!
Becoming 2× faster...
5× faster...
10× faster...
30× faster...
All the way to 100× faster than his own, where it finally stabilized and didn’t increase further.
The infusion of spiritual energy caused the surrounding air to revolve around Gu Changsheng, making a small vortex of wind with him as the center.
After only 5 minutes, he felt a breakthrough coming along.
4th stage of Body Refinement Realm...
After another 20 minutes, 5th stage of Body Refinement Realm...
He happily enjoyed the feeling of breakthrough, though an uneasy feeling crept up his heart, which he dismissed as trivial.
Just like this, the whole night swept away.
...
The next morning.
For the whole night, he was immersed in the ethereal feel of breakthrough, only to wake up the next morning as the first rays of light illuminated his face.
As he clumsily opened his eyes, he found himself lying on the floor.
Sitting up straight, he first felt his newfound strength.
8th stage of Body Refinement Realm.
He had broken through 6 stages, reaching the advance stage of the Body Refinement Realm.
The Body Refinement Realm is divided into 12 stages – from 1st stage to 12th stage.
After that comes the Qi Refinement Realm, further divided into 13 stages – from 1st stage to 13th stage.
Only after that comes the Foundation Establishment Realm, which he isn’t really clear about.
At the current rate of his progression, he felt the Foundation Establishment Realm was just around the corner.
The Heavenly Will is merciful after all!
Not wanting to waste another moment, he sat in a meditative state and called out to the system.
Freshening up? Eating breakfast?
Put it in the dump!
First, he is going to climb straight to the Qi Refinement Realm. Only then could he think of doing anything else.
But the system poured ice-cold water that not only calmed him down but even caused a shiver through his spine as it intoned:
『Ding! The system cannot perform automatic cultivation at the moment because of the damage caused by yesterday’s cultivation process.』
『The host’s meridians (channeling pathways for spiritual energy) are flawed, which causes the host’s cultivation speed to be extremely slow.』
『The system forcefully expanded the meridians, which resulted in an incredible increase in cultivation, but it also caused the meridians to be damaged.』
『Due to the damage to the meridians, the host cannot utilize his full strength.』
『The host’s meridians will heal themselves slowly, or the host may secure any healing medicinal spiritual plants to accelerate their recovery.』
『So the host should wait a while before thinking of cultivation again.』
Gu Changsheng: Hehhh?!?!
He had finally bought a Ferrari, but found out it ain’t got no engine.
The Heavenly Will is merciless after all!!
He felt a little depressed after hearing this, but recovered quickly.
As the system said, the injury done to the meridians would heal itself. As for not being able to utilize his full strength, it wasn’t like he was looking for a fight anyways, right?
Just as he was silently comforting himself in his heart, someone knocked at his door while a gentle voice sounded in the room.
"Gu Changsheng~ will you come out or should I come in?"
The tone carried a mix of teasing and a bit of anger in it, he thought.
Standing up, he slowly opened the door. With an awkward, cheesy smile on his face, he said apologetically.
"Sorry, I–"
But before he could even finish, a wooden spatula was aimed at his head. He dodged instinctively, taking a step back, causing the spatula to miss by an inch.
[A/N: Aim for the balls, woman! For the BALLS!!!]
Speechless, Gu Changsheng looked straight at the attacker, who was angrily stomping her feet because she missed the chicken undeserving of soup.