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https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/75079/surprisingly-enoughnot-common-
sense-is-overpowered

Surprisingly Enough(NOT),
Common Sense Is Overpowered in
a Cliché Cultivation World

by PlumBlossom0_0

Original HIATUS LitRPG Reincarnation

Progression Anti-Hero Lead Xianxia Action Adventure Fantasy High
Fantasy Male Lead

Ning finds himself reborn in the captivating world of cultivation. However,

as he embarks on this new life, he gradually becomes aware of something
amiss. It dawns on him that this realm revolves around a select few
individuals, the so-called "protagonists," who endure underestimation and
humiliation, only to rise and retaliate following the predictable patterns of
clichéd cultivation novels.

Suddenly, Ning has a breakthrough revelation: he is an "extra." Freed from

the constraints of these clichéd rules that govern the world, he resolves to
chart his own path towards immortality, steering clear of predictable tropes
and stereotypes.

Join Ning on an extraordinary journey as he harnesses his sharp intellect

and vast knowledge to ascend to the pinnacle of the cultivation world.
Discover how he defies conventions, outsmarts adversaries, and unravels
the mysteries of this realm, all while shattering the boundaries of what it
means to be a protagonist in a world bursting with limitless possibilities.
 1.1 So it Begins~

The small black pot held simmering stew enough to eat for two meals. The
aroma mixed with the smoke from the burnt firewood before reaching all
corners of the room.

Ning grinned widely, smelling the sweet aroma of the potato stew, as he
stirred the pot with a large wooden spoon. Bits of colorful root vegetables
bobbed up and down on the surface.

"It's a good day for stew, hehe."

Salivating ungracefully, he put down the pot from the stove and placed it on
the table.

Dinner~ Was~ Served~

"Ah right, my phone."

Ning rose from his seat and turned toward the counter where he had
casually placed his phone while cooking. As he approached, he reached out
and touched the phone, causing it to suddenly light up with a notification.

Ning glanced at his phone, and then, in an instant, everything seemed to

explode.

After that, all he could see was red as an overwhelming wave of dizziness
washed over him.

As his consciousness faded, he swore inwardly.

F*Ck, I WANT TO EAT MY POTATO STEW!!

...

His eyelids were tightly shut, and his body felt heavy. He was lying on a
hard surface, and a suffocating smell of smoke filled the air.

*Cough*Cough*

Fire?

Wait, no, no, no, no—I couldn't die yet. I still had to eat that stew.

Then suddenly, a cool chill washed away his dizziness as Ning stood up.

Opening his eyes, he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. He found himself

in a small cave with only a mat, stove, and cupboard.

What had happened?

Where was he?

Seeing the unknown place, Ning couldn't help but question himself.

He slowly suppressed the slight panic he felt inside and attempted to calm
down.

He took deep breaths. Calm down.

He observed and didn't make hasty decisions. He had seen enough

horror/crime movies to know what would happen otherwise, especially in
such a startling situation where there might be unsavory outcomes, mostly a
phenomenon where one would never be able to see the light of day again.

Ning tried to remember anything that could help.

But at that moment, he felt a sharp pain in his mind.

It was as if all the built-up pressure was released at once. Accompanying

the pain was a series of memories that were utterly unfamiliar to him.
Ning's legs gave way, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted again.

...

Ning's eyes slowly fluttered open, his mind swirling with a mix of
disturbance and astonishment upon processing the information he had just
absorbed.

Transmigration. He had transmigrated into a different world.

It was a clichéd plotline, straight out of the "I transmigrated to a different

world" genre. He couldn't help but roll his eyes at the sheer predictability of
it all. The memories he had glimpsed belonged to this new body he now
inhabited.

"F*ck, I was just going to eat some food. How the hell did I transmigrate so
suddenly? Really, can't have shit in Detroit."

Massaging his throbbing temples, he took a deep breath, determined to

remain calm amidst the chaos. Gradually, he began to piece together the
fragmented memories, gaining a clearer understanding of the world in
which he now found himself.

This world was similar to those in ancient times, often seen in Eastern
dramas and novels. There were cultivators who harnessed the energy of the
world and transcended their own limitations.

"The original owner was also called Ning. How creepy..."

Ning muttered a bit eerily before shaking off the discomfort. He delved
even deeper into the memory.

Ji Ning, son of the local martial arts master. Not to confuse with cultivators,
martial arts masters didn't have spiritual roots and rather relied on various
techniques to survive in this world.

A month ago, during a test, 'Ji Ning' was found to have cultivation aptitude,
also known as the spiritual root. Among hundreds of people, it was rare to
find a single person with cultivation aptitude.
Since cultivation aptitude was quite rare, it was not surprising that the
cultivation sects wanted to recruit more disciples to strengthen themselves,
especially since the original owner also had mid-grade spiritual roots.

But it seemed that the original body's good luck had ended since, as soon as
he started his journey to start cultivating, he suffered an extremely rare qi
deviation, which killed him instantly.

"Really, this guy was quite unlucky."

Recalling all those memories, Ning couldn't help but feel that the original
owner was quite unlucky. Especially seeing that the original owner was a
loner with no friends at all, even when he was suffering from Qi deviation,
no one came to help.

Ning accepted the situation after a period of adaptation, he had no choice

but to do so.

"For now, let's just be me and see where it leads. It was the mandate I lived
by in my previous life and continues to be the one in my current life as
well."

Thinking like this, Ning strengthened his resolve.

From his brief memory, Ning realized that this world was very similar to
the novels he used to read. There were many dangers in this world, whether
it be abnormal creatures or humans themselves.

This world revolved around 'strength' or the law of the jungle.

Narrowing his eyes, Ning didn't feel as panicked as he thought he would be,
nor was he so scared that he would lose his mind. Of course, he did feel a
little panic, but it was overshadowed by his interest in cultivation and this
new world.

It may also be his adrenaline pushing him through, but he didn't mind.

He had already set his mind to become a cultivator. Well, it's not like he had
much choice regarding this.
Be it to return to his original world, become the so-called immortal, or
simply out of curiosity, he felt that he needed to learn and cultivate, and
eventually, the answers would unfold themselves.

Since he was in this situation anyway, panicking would do no good. It was

best to adapt and play it by ear.

And the first step to do that is to accept his new identity.

Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "From this moment forth, I

am Ji Ning."
 1.2 Not a System~

It had been a day since he had accepted the fact that he was, in fact, in a
fantasy world.

During this time, Ning dedicated himself to adjusting his mindset and
familiarizing himself with his new environment. One of his primary focuses
was delving into the depths of his acquired memories, gaining a more
comprehensive understanding of the body he now inhabited.

This process proved to be immensely beneficial for Ning. As he delved

deeper into the recesses of his mind, he unearthed a wealth of knowledge
that shed light on his newfound capabilities.

When comparing this new body to his previous one, Ning found that he
possessed superior strength, agility, and overall prowess. The memories he
accessed revealed that the original 'Ji Ning' had diligently practiced martial
arts from a young age, and for that, Ning would like to thank 'his' father for
that.

Of course, the most important thing he found was a panel.

Ning closed his eyes and whispered inwardly, "Status."

A flood of information cascaded through his consciousness as the panel

materialized before him, displaying his essential attributes and capabilities:

[Name: Ji Ning.

Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Spiritual Root.

Attributes: Five Elemental Attributes.

Talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity.

Cultivation: 1st realm of Qi Condensation (Consolidating).

Cultivation Technique: Pure Qi Sutra.

Martial Arts: Bone Forging Fist (mortal), Shadow Steps (mortal).]

A deep sigh escaped Ning's lips as he observed the contents of the panel. It
was both intriguing and overwhelming to have access to such detailed
information about himself and his abilities.

Initially, he had treated the idea of possessing a system as a mere joke,

casually uttering words like "System," "Panel," "Properties," and "Status" in
a playful manner. Little did he expect that he would really manifest a panel.

Initially, Ning's mind was blown by the appearance of the panel. After all,
with a system, even a pig can fly but soon his elation gave way to a tinge of
disappointment.

After spending an entire day exploring its functions, the panel turned out to
be nothing more than a display of his current status—no shop function, no
add button, just a simple reflection of his attributes.

His dream of becoming a heaven-defying handsome immortal cultivator

vanished just like that.

Oh! How he wished that he could simply upgrade with just a click of a
button and only come out of his cave after he became invincible.

But alas, it was not meant to be.

Of course, that was just a bit of theatrics. In truth, Ning was indeed
disappointed that he did not have a full-fledged system, but he also did not
mind it too much.

After all, the systems he read about were basically reality-warping devices,
ones that would easily make even immortals jealous. So why would he be
fortunate enough to get such a thing free of cost?
One thing Ning had learned in his life is that free things cost the most.

At least, looking on the bright side, Ning reminded himself that he was still
alive, and in the grand scheme of things, that was already a tremendous
blessing. So, he did not dwell on it too much.

Especially since the status reflected uplifted his mood.

The first piece of information that caught his attention was his spiritual
roots. He possessed mid-grade spiritual roots, which could be considered a
reasonably good aptitude. In the context of the entire sect, he could be
regarded as a middle-to-upper-tier talent, offering him a solid foundation
upon which to build his cultivation journey.

Five Elemental attributes, as the name suggested, meant that he possessed

all five elements: Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth.

This revelation sparked a sense of excitement within him, as he recalled

from his inherited memories that the original owner of this body had
already possessed two attributes—Fire and Wood—which were considered
highly commendable within the sect. Even the elder who had tested the
attributes had expressed admiration, noting that if coupled with a higher-
grade aptitude, such a combination could elevate one to the ranks of the top
talents.

But now, after possessing this body, he had all five elemental attributes.

What did that mean?

He could learn cultivation techniques from all five elements and succeed in
learning them. 'Succeed' is the key point here.

Anyone could attempt to learn techniques from elemental attributes other

than their innate ones, but doing so would only serve to hinder their
progress. It was a path fraught with obstacles and limitations, hindering
their cultivation journey rather than propelling it forward. If, for example, a
cultivator with a fire attribute were to pursue the study of a water attribute
technique, their advancement would be minimal at best, and it could even
potentially disrupt the delicate balance of their cultivation.

Conversely, when a cultivator dedicated themselves to a technique aligned

with their own innate attribute, the results were vastly different. They would
not only find it easier to comprehend and assimilate the teachings, but the
power and potential unleashed by such a technique would be exponentially
greater. The synergy between the cultivator's innate attribute and the
technique would harmonize seamlessly, enabling them to tap into its full
might.

It was a widely acknowledged principle that the elemental affinity of a

cultivator would shape their chosen path, while their aptitude determined
the extent of their progress along that path.

So, his elemental affinity granted Ning a lot of freedom.

And finally, his talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity.

Ning held his own theory regarding the origin of this extraordinary talent.
He believed that its existence was intricately tied to his process of
transmigration. It was not merely the outcome, but rather the very act of
traversing from one plane to another that he suspected had imbued his soul
with this exceptional aptitude.

Of course, this was just a theory, a Film-no, talent theory. The realm of the
soul was an enigma yet to be unraveled, lying beyond his current reach.
Exploring the depths of this unique talent would have to be deferred to a
later time when he possessed the necessary knowledge and capabilities.

Since he had already reached the first realm of Qi condensation, it was time
to go to the Martial Arts Pavilion.
A note from PlumBlossom0_0

Ning only has a panel that reflects his status.

...
A/N: Thanks for reading~
 1.3 A Baffling Scene~

Wearing his outer sect robe, Ning stood before the mirror, gazing at his
reflection. It wasn't a matter of vanity or self-admiration, though he couldn't
deny that he appeared quite pleasing to the eye but he wanted to do a small
experiment.

Looking in front of the mirror, Ning muttered internally, "Status."

A blue panel appeared in front of him, but he paid no heed to it. Instead, his
focus was on the mirror itself.

In the mirror was an unassuming, good-looking dude with warm blue eyes
and pale skin. Looking at this, Ning heaved a sigh of relief.

The panel was not reflected in the mirror.

While one might assume it was a given that others couldn't perceive the
panel, as it was 'his' cheat, Ning was not one to leave things to chance.
There were too many uncertainties about this whole thing, so it was a given
that he would be extra careful.

"Merely contemplating the disastrous consequences that could unfold if

others were able to witness the panel I so nonchalantly opened sends a chill
down my spine. It would be a calamity brought upon by my own
arrogance," Ning mused to himself.

With this doubt put to rest, he straightened his posture and made his way
toward the exit of the cave. It was a momentous occasion, a defining step in
his journey.

"From this day forward, I am a cultivator."

...

Ning briefly covered his eyes, feeling the warm sunlight irritating his eyes.
From his memory, he knew that it had been a week since he had holed up
inside. Of course, that was not by his own choice.

After being brought to this sect, the elder briefly explained about the sect
and then forced the new disciples into their respective caves to cultivate. He
warned that one must not leave the cave until they reach the first stage of Qi
cultivation.

For this, the elder had given them both the cultivation technique "Pure Qi
Sutra" and a pill called the Fasting pill.

This pill was a magical pill that could provide enough nutrients and energy
for the body to last a month. Something like this would have been dubbed a
godly medicine in his previous world, but in this world, it was only an
extremely ordinary pill.

After walking for a while, Ning suddenly stumbled upon his first real issue
in this world.

He was lost.

It could not be blamed on him since no one gave him a tour after entering
the sect. Ning looked around, finally spotting a person with grey clothing.

"According to what the elder had said, black robe means inner sect disciple,
white means outer sect disciple, and grey means servants," Ning mumbled
as he walked towards the servant.

"Hey, excuse me, you with the grey robe," Ning called out to the servant,
who suddenly jumped at the call.

Trembling, the servant looked at the caller, then asked with a shaky voice,
"H-how can this servant help Lord Cultivator?"

Ning couldn't help but raise a brow, seeing how scared the servant was. The
servants were mortals who were taken in by the sect. Their job was to clean,
wash clothes, etc. for those overly prideful outer sect disciples who did not
want to do it themselves. Servants had no future and were only there to
serve the disciples of the sect.

It may seem harsh, but it was the norm in this world. The weak served the
strong, but it was also not entirely without respite. If those servants could
learn some techniques, then they could pass them down to their families.

But it seemed bullying was still a problem. With a single glance, Ning could
infer that a young guy like him probably got beaten by the outer sect
disciples with bad tempers.

Ning calmed down the young lad before asking the way to the Martial Arts
Pavilion. Seeing this, the servant finally seemed relieved and pointed
towards the center of the outer sect.

"Thanks." Patting the young lad gently, Ning thanked him with a smile. It
seemed to surprise the poor servant.

"I-it's my honor." Though surprised, the poor servant quickly replied and
ran off, thanking his lucky stars for not running into those bullies.

Seeing this, Ning smiled.

It may seem unnecessary to be polite to the servant, but he did not mind.
Ning always made a habit of being polite. It was because, in the future, if he
had an altercation with someone with poor conduct, then people would be
more likely to support him rather than the others.

Of course, this was based on them having the same status, so Ning didn't
mind laying some safety layers in place.

Everyone liked a polite guy, especially one that had been consistent with
their behavior. So, Ning didn't mind playing the part, especially since it cost
him nothing for his lip service.

Thinking like this, Ning walked toward the pavilion leisurely but stopped in
front of the pavilion because he saw something interesting.
There was a small crowd in front of him, which Ning slowly approached.

"Xiao Fan, why didn't you pay us your protection fee? Are you
disrespecting brother, Xiao Hong, huh?" A tall figure shouted at the top of
his lungs, accusing a young man.

"Being the lackey of Xiao Hong must be fun for you? I don't want to pay
your protection fee," the young man said defiantly.

Feeling angry, the tall man shouted, "It seems that you have forgotten the
previous beating." Saying that the tall man jumped forward and kicked the
young man.

Clutching his stomach, the young man seemed in pain, yet he still seemed
determined.

Then finally, he shouted, "You may be stronger than me now, but remember
this: Don't bully the young and poor. I will come for you eventually."

Seeing the scene in front of him, Ning's eyes brightened as an arc formed on
his lips.

Things seemed to have gotten even more interesting.

A note from PlumBlossom0_0

Thanks for reading~

 1.4 Turtle Breathing~

Looking at the youth who seemed to exude an aura of determination to go

against the world, Ning paused for a moment. He had a rather strong
impression of the youth.

Of course, that impression originated from the original 'Ji Ning'.

From his memories, Ning recalled Xiao Fan, who belonged to the same
group as him and had caused quite a stir during the spiritual root assessment
ceremony.

Yet, it wasn't Xiao Fan's exceptional talent that captivated everyone's

attention; rather, it was his lack thereof.

Hailing from a family of cultivators, Xiao Fan possessed only a low-grade

spiritual root. In contrast, his cousin, who underwent the same test,
displayed high-grade spiritual roots. Throughout the ceremony, Xiao Fan
became the subject of mockery, both from onlookers and even his own
cousin.

Even the original 'Ji Ning' couldn't escape the irrational contempt he held
towards Xiao Fan at the time.

And now, as Ning observed the fallen youth, he witnessed the absence of
pity or concern from the crowd. Instead, degrading murmurs filled the air:
"So arrogant," "He needs a reality check," "How can a dragon father give
birth to such a pig of a son?" All those classic xianxia insults...

Immersed in the unfolding scene, Ning couldn't help but experience a sense
of déjà vu. It was as if the cultivation novels he had devoured in his
previous life were coming to life before his very eyes.
"Is this guy a protagonist?" Ning mumbled inwardly.

A young man with seemingly no talent, despised and loathed by others, yet
destined to encounter fortuitous events and embark on a journey of slaying
gods and demons while surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women—this
was the standard template for a protagonist.

"Moreover, this guy's surname is Xiao... does he have a grandpa with him
too?" Ning's eyes narrowed, intrigued by the possibility.

Of course, this single incident alone wasn't sufficient evidence to confirm

Xiao Fan's status as a protagonist. However, amidst the commotion,
something crucial seemed to have slipped the minds of everyone present.

Xiao Fan had emerged from seclusion.

This fact carried profound implications. After all, Ning himself, possessing
a mid-grade spiritual root, had only reached the first stage of Qi
Condensation the day before. Yet here stood Xiao Fan, with his low-grade
spiritual root, achieving a similar level of cultivation speed.

This indicated that Xiao Fan possessed a secret, something beyond mere
talent, allowing him to cultivate at such an extraordinary pace.

Moreover, the crowd's irrational anger towards Xiao Fan was exacerbated
by his unwavering attitude, as if they expected him to admit he was trash or
something.

Ning had mixed feelings as he watched the scene unfold, where everyone
seemed to be deliberately provoking the protagonist. Such a situation made
him experience a subtle emotion.

However, Ning had no inclination to intervene. He didn't possess a 'hero'

complex, and he was fully aware of his own circumstances. Unlike the
protagonist before him, he was weak and lacked support. Any attempt to
assist Xiao Fan would likely only exacerbate the situation. Thus, Ning
chose to distance himself from the scene, walking away slowly.
No one paid him any attention, as if he were transparent, a fact that suited
him just fine.

"If I hadn't transmigrated, would 'I' have acted similarly? If that's the case,
then it's truly terrifying," Ning mused, casting a glance back at the ongoing
events.

Soon, Ning arrived at the Martial Arts Pavilion. The pagoda stood tall with
its two-tiered roofs, their vibrant hues of crimson and gold catching the
sunlight and casting a warm glow all around.

Upon entering the pavilion, Ning's eyes fell upon an elderly man seated
behind the wooden counter. He was likely the elder responsible for
overseeing the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Approaching the counter, Ning respectfully bowed, his hands cupped in a

gesture of deference as he introduced himself.

"Excuse me, Elder. I am a newly initiated disciple, and I have been

instructed to come to the martial arts pavilion to borrow a martial arts
manual, as it is provided free of charge to new disciples," Ning explained
earnestly.

The elder, stroking his chin in contemplation, nodded as if affirming

something within himself. He then gestured towards one of the colossal
bookshelves positioned prominently at the front of the pavilion.

"Go forth and select a Mortal Rank technique from the first floor," the elder
responded, his voice carrying a hint of authority. "However, be warned. The
second floor is strictly off-limits. A formation has been put in place to detect
and alert any trespassers. Remember to return the manual after a week's
time. And above all, maintain utmost secrecy. Do not share the knowledge
contained within these manuals with anyone, be it within or outside the
sect. The consequences, especially if shared beyond our walls, would be
grave, as the sect will spare no effort in apprehending the transgressor," the
elder concluded, his words delivered with a monotone that suggested
countless repetitions of the same cautionary instructions.
Ning nodded in understanding. This was exactly what he had expected.
After expressing his gratitude to the elder, he made his way through the
various sections of martial arts.

"What should I choose?" Ning was admittedly a tad overwhelmed by the

numerous options present in front of him. So, he quickly went to the select
few bookshelf and looked at the various introductions of martial arts.

Contrary to his expectations, however, in addition to mortal-grade

techniques, there were some yellow-grade and black-grade martial arts, that
ranked higher than the mortal-grade techniques. Yet, after inspecting them
for a while, Ning realized that most of them were incomplete.

He had a nagging suspicion that they were meant for the protagonist, but he
didn't dwell on it and continued his search for suitable martial arts.

He already knew two Mortal Rank techniques, the Bone Forging technique,
and Shadow Steps. One focused on attacking, while the other emphasized
movement. They were family heirlooms, obtained through his father's
fortuitous encounter when he had once helped an injured cultivator.

Ning continued his search, ignoring names like "Heavenly Body Art" and
"7 Celestial Thundergod Burning Punch." Anything with such an
impressive name couldn't possibly be just Mortal Rank, and he had a feeling
he had encountered the trope of martial arts with cool-sounding names but
having weak effects.

Finally, after searching for a while, he came across something interesting.

"The Turtle Breathing Art."

A note from PlumBlossom0_0

Ning'er should really be like a turtle in this world. Sturdy and Long
Lived lol.

...
Thanks for reading~
 1.5 Practice~

[Turtle Breathing Art: Mortal Rank-Medium Level

Hides the presence and breath of the user, at the highest level can fake
death.

Price:36 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.]

Ning's eyes shone as he looked at the description written on the wooden

board.

This technique didn't have any offensive or defensive abilities but was
solely for stealth. He did not mind it at all, even preferred it.

Ning had no intention of courting death anytime soon; he just wanted to be

a little white transparent while focusing on improving his cultivation. This
technique allowed him to do just that.

With firm resolve, Ning wasted no time in selecting the technique, firmly
believing that it aligned perfectly with his goals.

As he made his choice, he couldn't help but notice that no one else seemed
to have picked this particular technique. Even though it was in a somewhat
obscure place and buried under techniques with extravagant names, it was
after all an amazing martial art.

"It seems luck is on my side," Ning thought to himself, feeling fortunate to

have stumbled upon this hidden gem. Dismissing any further doubts, he
expressed his gratitude for the fortuitous turn of events and continued
towards the counter with a contented smile.
On his way, Ning crossed paths with Xiao Fan, who was also making his
way towards the counter. However, Ning had no intention of engaging in
conversation and simply continued on his chosen path, leaving Xiao Fan to
his own devices.

Coincidentally, Xiao Fan experienced a peculiar sensation as Ning walked

by as if something precious had slipped through his fingers.

A momentary feeling of loss engulfed him, but he quickly brushed it off as

mere imagination. His attention soon shifted back to the vast array of
martial arts techniques that awaited his exploration, effectively erasing any
lingering thoughts of the fleeting sensation.

...

"Excuse me, Elder. I would like to choose this technique," Ning spoke
respectfully as he presented the martial art manual to the elder seated
behind the counter.

The elder peered at Ning with a slight hint of curiosity in his eyes. It had
been quite some time since he had seen a disciple opt for a technique like
this amidst the sea of disciples choosing flashy offensive, defensive, or
movement-based martial arts with alluring names.

Though the elder knew those names were often mere marketing ploys,
designed to lure unsuspecting disciples, he found Ning's choice rather
intriguing. Just to be sure, the elder decided to offer a gentle reminder.

"Are you certain about this choice?" the elder asked, his tone a bit strange.

Ning nodded earnestly, a bright smile adorning his face. "Yes, Elder. This
disciple has chosen the 'Turtle Breathing Technique'."

The elder, considering it a passing whim wanted to shrug but felt it would
affect his demeanor, so he simply scanned the manual.

"You may borrow this manual for a week. Should you exceed the given
duration, a fine will be imposed."
Grateful for the opportunity, Ning carefully placed the manual inside his
robe, expressing his sincere gratitude to the elder. As he turned to leave, he
heard a familiar voice calling out to him.

"AHEM!"

Ning halted in his tracks and turned to face the elder once more. It seemed
the elder had one last piece of advice to offer.

"As a new disciple, do not forget that you are required to complete two
missions each month," the elder reminded.

Listening to the advice, Ning bowed his head slightly to the elder and
walked out of the pavilion.

The journey back was uneventful as Ning went directly to his cave without
any detours, lest any harm befall him.

Back inside the cave, Ning looked at the manual in his hand: "Turtle
Breathing Art."

He opened the book and busied himself with reading the manual. Time
slowly passed as Ning tried to remember each and every word in the
manual and comprehend it.

Finally, around noon, Ning exhaled slowly.

"It seems my comprehension ability is not bad," Ning couldn't help but
mutter.

Although there were some places where he got a bit stuck, the overall
process of comprehending the manual was smooth.

"Let's give it a go."

Ning closed his eyes and tried to feel the Qi in his body, especially focusing
on locating the so-called dantian. After a while, he sensed his minuscule
amount of Qi and circulated it as the manual suggested.
Ning continued to do so for several minutes and slowly exhaled turbid air as
his Qi was quickly depleted.

"Not enough to get started, huh?" Ning said as he opened his eyes.

While Ning felt his comprehension ability was quite good, he was not a
heaven-defying genius. He couldn't reach the starting point in just a single
session, especially when his Qi was extremely limited.

From his memory, he knew that martial arts were divided into four
proficiency levels: Starting, Small Accomplishments, Great
Accomplishments, and Mastery.

Both his Bone-Forging Fist and Shadow Steps were at the starting level. It
wasn't due to a lack of ability or practice but rather a lack of Qi. Without Qi,
'Ji Ning' couldn't fully grasp the true meaning of both martial arts and
remained stuck in the first level.

"No wonder we were only allowed to take martial arts manuals after
reaching the first stage of Qi Condensation." Ning reviewed his memory
once again. Recently he has become increasingly familiar with those
unknown memories.

After the review, Ning sat in the lotus posture and meditated to replenish his
Qi, only stopping when he was fully replenished. Even then, he didn't
immediately begin to practice. Instead, he summarized the problems that
occurred during his first attempt.

In this manner, Ning continued practicing martial arts until late at night.
With his body receiving a slight boost due to cultivation, he felt more
energetic than usual.

Finally, when he reached the starting proficiency of the Turtle Breathing

technique, he decided to stop.

Tired yet happy, Ning collapsed on the floor and opened his panel,
receiving an unexpected surprise.
A note from PlumBlossom0_0
Ning'er, be grinding hard today.

...

Thanks for reading.

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 1.6 Changes in Panel~

Name: Ji Ning

Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Spiritual Root.

Attributes: Five Elemental Attributes

Talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity

Realm: 1st Stage of Qi Condensation (Consolidated)

Cultivation Method: Pure Qi Sutra (1st floor: 6/100)

Martial Arts: Bone Forging Fist (Starting: 99/100), Shadow Steps

(Starting:99/100), Turtle Breathing (Starting:1/100)

The data displayed in the panel seemed to have become more

comprehensive and detailed. Seeing all his progress quantified into numbers
brought him unexpected joy.

"It appears that the panel can still undergo further changes, but this
alteration..." Ning muttered, his lips twitching.

Being an avid fan of Xianxia novels, Ning had downloaded several

immortal cultivation games. The current panel resembled those games,
except that the data displayed was his own, not that of an in-game character.
This change caused Ning to narrow his eyes, his thoughts unknown. After a
while, he sighed, "Still not enough."

Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, he focused on the changes
instead.

Undoubtedly, these changes were highly beneficial for his current state. Not
only could he observe his progress in great detail, but it also served as a
source of motivation.

In this world, how many people simply gave up after not seeing any gains
or progress?

With this panel, Ning could at least measure his progress in numbers, which
would provide motivation for his future endeavors.

In particular, when he saw the numbers for the Bone Forging Fist and
Shadow Steps, Ning realized he was on the brink of a breakthrough.

'Ji Ning' had practiced both of these techniques for several years but was
hindered by the lack of cultivation. Now, he could once again make
progress in these techniques.

Ning wanted to start practicing immediately but restrained his impulse. He

had already been training for several hours, and it was already extremely
late at night.

While cultivators could meditate, it could not fully replace the need for
sleep. Perhaps, at advanced realms, meditation could substitute sleep
entirely, but Ning had not reached that level yet. Therefore, he chose to
sleep.

There was no bed in the cave, rather all the things in the cave were brought
by Ning from his own home.

"This sect is quite stingy," Ning thought as he laid down his mat and
crashed onto it. As if all the accumulated stress had been released at once,
he immediately fell into a deep sleep.
...

In the morning light, Ning stood bare-chested, his body glistening with a
thin sheen of sweat. He assumed a horse-stance position, grounding himself
firmly to the earth as he prepared to use the "Bone Forging Fist."

With every punch he unleashed, a resounding crack echoed through the air,
reverberating within the confines of the cave.

After a rigorous session of training, Ning finally came to a halt, his muscles
pulsating with exertion. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he opened his
Panel, eager to assess his progress and witness the fruits of his labor.

As his gaze scanned the information displayed before him, he focused on

the entry that read:

[Bone Forging Fist (Small Accomplishments: 20/400)]

Using Qi, he had already reached the small accomplishment level in the
Bone Forging Fist and even progressed a lot in it.

"I really benefitted due to 'Ji Ning'." Looking at the panel, Ning couldn't
help but say.

Despite the absence of Qi in his previous state, 'Ji Ning' had never allowed
himself to falter in his practice. Instead, he dedicated himself
wholeheartedly, tirelessly honing his skills. Now, with the acquisition of Qi,
all his accumulated experience was transformed into rapid progress.

Ning turned his gaze towards the mirror, his eyes meeting the reflection of a
young boy with a body chiseled by countless hours of training. The Bone
Forging Fist not only served as a formidable offensive martial art but also
had the added benefit of strengthening the practitioner's physique.

With each advancement in level, not only would the power behind Ning's
punches increase, but his physical strength would also experience a
substantial boost. The essence of the technique lay in its ability to
simultaneously empower the body and enhance its resilience, allowing Ning
to cultivate both his martial prowess and overall physical fortitude.

"No one will think that this small body would hide such explosive power,"
Ning muttered as he flexed a bit before starting to replenish his Qi.

The cultivation method he had learned was the Pure Qi Sutra, which
happened to be the most common cultivation method within the sect.

Each sect in the cultivation world had its own unique cultivation method
with special features. As the name suggested, the Pure Qi Sutra, when
practiced to its highest level, was believed to not only increase the quality
of Qi but also cleanse the marrow of impurities.

Of course, very few individuals reached the highest level, so the most
appealing aspect of the Pure Qi Sutra was its ability to enhance the quality
of Qi. Improved quality meant increased endurance, allowing cultivators
who practiced this sutra to outlast those who did not due to the purity of
their Qi.

Ning liked the Pure Qi Sutra. For him, the purer the Qi, the longer he can
train his martial arts before he needs to replenish his Qi. But it was quite
hard to reach the next floor of this technique.

Shifting his focus, Ning turned his attention to the Shadow Steps, a
movement art that increased the user's speed and reduced sound when
executed.

"The increase in speed may not be significant, but due to the lack of noise,
this martial art is primarily useful for assassination and sneak attacks," Ning
recalled the information about the art, his smile twitching slightly.

The Turtle Breathing Technique and the Shadow Steps complemented each
other well. While one technique lowered his presence, the other reduced the
sound he made.

"Unknowingly, it seems I am walking the path of an assassin," Ning

reflected. He didn't detest it. Disliking direct confrontation and preferring to
remain in the shadows, he naturally didn't mind this path.

And so, Ning began practicing his techniques.

A note from PlumBlossom0_0

Grind, Grind, and more Grind~

...

Thanks for reading~

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