Exploring the System and the City

It was difficult for Jin to comprehend how he could have been reincarnated into an entirely different world. As this reality sank in he experienced an odd bodily reaction. Deepening his focus Jin analyzed the feeling - a soothing warmth slowly traveling through each vein as if it were alive.

The moment his eyes flickered open, they were instinctively drawn towards his hand which surprisingly enough, appeared altered; more refined, and more flexible than previously known.

When reality dawned upon him that some sort of modification had taken place within him. He shut both eyes firmly once again, focused on this newfound feeling, intending to marshal this force for good purposes ahead.

Suddenly, he heard a voice in his head. "Congratulations, host. You have successfully awakened your Qi channels. You are now at the Qi Gathering level."

He was surprised to hear the voice, but he quickly realized that it was the voice of the system.

He smiled to himself and said, "System, can you explain to me what this means?"

"Of course, host. The Qi Gathering level is the first stage of cultivation. It means that you have successfully opened your Qi channels and can now start absorbing Qi from the environment. Qi is the energy that flows through all living beings and the world around them. By absorbing Qi, you can strengthen your body, increase your lifespan, and gain various other abilities."

Jin was amazed to hear this. He had heard about cultivation in novels and games, but he had never thought it would be real. He opened his attribute window and saw that he had gained some stats.

[Attribute Window]

Name: Jin

Age: 18

Cultivation Level: Qi Gathering (1st level)

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Endurance: 10

Spirit: 10

Skills:

1. Spiritual Perception (Beginner)

He was excited to see his stats and skills. He had never seen such a detailed status window before. He decided to try out his only skill, Spiritual Perception.

He closed his eyes and concentrated on his surroundings. Suddenly, he could feel everything around him more clearly. He could sense the flow of Qi and the movement of the wind. He opened his eyes and looked around. He could see things more clearly than before, and he could sense the presence of living beings around him.

Jin smiled to himself and said, "This is amazing. With this skill, I can sense everything around me. I can even sense the presence of other cultivators."

The system spoke again, "That's right, host. Spiritual Perception is a skill that allows you to sense the presence of other cultivators and the flow of Qi around you. It will be very useful for you in the future."

Jin expressed agreement through a single nod. He recognized the importance of acquiring additional knowledge regarding the cultivation methods employed within this world.

Determined to progress, he pondered on how best to utilize the system: "It's clear that I need to journey beyond my present surroundings."

He opened the interactive system and saw the map feature. It showed him the surrounding area, and he noticed that there was a city nearby.

Jin said, "System, can you tell me about that city?"

"Of course, host. That city is called Tianxia City. It is a large city with a lot of cultivators and resources. It is the perfect place for you to learn more about cultivation and progress in your cultivation journey."

Jin was excited to hear about the city. He decided to head there and explore the city. He set out on his journey and after some walking, he finally reached the city.

Tianxia City was a magnificent sight. The city was surrounded by a tall wall, and there were several gates that led into the city.

As Jin wandered around town, he marveled at all the diverse market stalls and street vendors dotted throughout its vibrant streetscape.

The savory scent of street food permeated every inch as lively banter over prices reverberated within its narrow alleys.

Intrigued by a cluster of merchants offering weapons to passersby, Jin approached them with curiosity in his eyes.

"Excuse me," he addressed one vendor amiably with earnestness lacing his tone.

" Could you inform me about these swords' caliber?"

Immediately recognizing Jin's attire as that belonging to cultivators participating in their annual tournament contest, the vendor sized him up before posing the question: "Are you participating this year?"

Jin agreed with a nod and stated, "That's right - I'm a cultivator. I just arrived in town and am seeking information regarding local details. "

"Our swords are top-of-the-line quality " boasted the vendor proudly as he displayed his wares to Jin.

"These blades are created by the finest blacksmiths within our city; if you're searching for weaponry options then you won't find anything better."

After thanking him for his explanations and assistance Jin progressed further into town where he observed an increasing number of fellow cultivators walking about.

As he walked, Jin thought about his current situation. He was at the Qi Gathering stage, which was considered to be the first true stage of cultivation. At this stage, cultivators could manipulate their Qi and use it to perform basic techniques.

Jin remembered the Attribute Window he had discovered earlier and decided to check his stats. With a thought, the window appeared in front of him.

[Attribute Window]

Name: Jin

Cultivation: Qi Gathering (3rd Level)

Strength: 18

Agility: 22

Endurance: 16

Spiritual Power: 24

Jin was pleased with his stats but knew that he had a long way to go. He also noticed that the "Spiritual Perception" skill was still active. This skill allowed him to sense the spiritual energy around him and was useful for detecting other cultivators.

With an eye firmly fixed on advancing his cultivation skills, Jin consulted his ever-handy Interactive System's map feature.

An eastern mountain range caught his attention; it was said that dangerous creatures roamed its slopes, making it an ideal proving ground for Jin's abilities.

He exited through the east gate of town and started trekking towards those craggy heights.

As he continued to climb the mountain, his mind wandered as he took in the scenery around him. The mountain was steep, and he had to be careful with every step.

As he climbed, he began to wonder about the other cultivators in the world and the different paths they must have taken to reach their current levels.

"I wonder how many other cultivators are out there," he thought to himself. "Each one with their own unique path and set of challenges to overcome. It's amazing to think about."

Lost in thought, Jin reached the top of the mountain and looked out over the vast expanse before him.

He knew that his journey was just beginning, and that there were countless challenges ahead of him. But he was determined to succeed, no matter what it took.