Chi, Final Test!

As Dan was about to go over the scenarios that could give him a possible edge, he was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Hello, Dan, are you in there?"

It was Andrei, Dan immediately got up and walked to the door before opening it. Andrei limped in, and he gave a start once he saw Dan. "WOW! How much stronger did you get? I heard that you already beat Gustavo on the first floor. To think, I struggled with all my might to barely pass the 21st floor, and here you are, clearing the 1st floor like it's nothing. I knew that you'd really flourish once you went ahead of me, but this is ridiculous! Anyways, that's not why I'm here."

Andrei took a swig from the bottle of water he had with him before continuing. "You'll be fighting my Dad tomorrow, he told me that he's planning to go easy on you, he won't be using Chi either!"

Dan furrowed his brow, Chi? Is it like Ki from Dragon Ball? "Wait, hold on a moment, you just mentioned that he won't be using Chi, is that related to Ki at all?"

Andrei realised that his mistake, and decided to explain. "There are some martial artists who have the ability to use Chi to greatly strengthen their body for combat. My Dad is already at the level of a Pseudo-Super Soldier, but Chi allows him to become several times stronger for a short period of time. I was thinking that you could use your Adaptive Evolution ability to somehow gather that Chi yourself!"

Dan stared open-mouthed at Andrei, I didn't even think about that! Dan suddenly ran towards Andrei before hugging him, "you're a genius! Why didn't I think of that?"

"Woah, woah, enough of that please! You know I don't like the whole hugging thing!"

"Sorry, I'm just excited! Alright, I'll give it a try. System, can you add a process related to that?

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Adaptive Evolution: Meditative Chi Mastery with Automated Resonance

Chi Absorption:

Meditative State Initiation: Enter a tranquil meditative state to initiate the automatic absorption of chi energy from the surroundings. (Until the process becomes completely automated)

Energy Conversion: Convert absorbed chi particles into bio-compatible forms, facilitating seamless integration into the individual's energy matrix. 

Adaptive Integration: Adjust cellular receptors and metabolic pathways to accommodate fluctuating chi influx, ensuring optimal assimilation. (11h 59m 58s)

Chi Augmentation:

Dynamic Empowerment: Direct absorbed chi towards enhancing physical attributes and mental faculties, amplifying Vigour, Constitution, Deftness, and Sapience. (Continuous)

Regenerative Harmony: Employ integrated chi for rapid cellular repair and rejuvenation, promoting holistic healing and vitality. (15h 29m 58s)

Synergistic Balance: Maintain equilibrium between absorbed chi and inherent energy, preventing overload and fostering harmonious coexistence. (20h 44m 29s)

Chi Projection:

Energetic Manifestation: Harness integrated chi to project energy outwardly, forming powerful chi-based attacks and defensive barriers. (10d 6h 29m 58s)

Conductive Precision: Control and shape chi energy with precision, enabling targeted strikes and intricate constructs. (13d 10h 14m 58s)

Adaptive Expansion: Expand chi projection capabilities through continued evolution, unlocking new forms and techniques. (First form in 24d 15h 42m 33s, First Technique in 14d 9h 28m 19s)

Chi Weaponry:

Cold Weaponry: Manipulate chi energy to materialise cold weapons such as swords, daggers, scimitars, and other melee implements. (1mo 7d 10h 29m 58s)

Hot Weaponry: Infuse chi energy with intense heat to create firearms and other projectile-based armaments capable of delivering devastating attacks. (1mo 1w 2d 11h 27m 14s)

Adaptive Arsenal: Craft a versatile array of chi-based weapons tailored to specific combat situations, ranging from close-quarters engagements to long-range encounters. (1mo 2w 5d 16h 25m 9s)

Automated Absorption:

Meditative Trance Optimisation: Train the body to automatically enter a meditative state when in need of chi absorption, optimising the process for efficiency and effectiveness. (1mo 3w 5d19h 10m 58s)

Autonomic Sensory Activation: Trigger automatic sensory receptors to detect and absorb chi energy, even while in a meditative state. (2mo 3w 6d 9m 58s)

Progressive Adaptation: Gradually automate the chi absorption process through repeated meditative practices, allowing for seamless integration into daily activities. (3mo 2w 5d 10h 29m 58s)

Chi Resonance:

Unified Awareness: Expand consciousness to encompass chi frequencies, granting intuitive insight and heightened perceptual acuity. (3mo 3w 10d 6h 29m 58s)

Energetic Synchronization: Establish resonance between an individual's energy field and ambient chi, fostering mutual reinforcement and amplification. (5mo 2w 5d 11h 59m 58s)

Transcendent Mastery: Ascend to a state of unified being with chi energy, becoming a conduit of unlimited potential and enlightenment. (1y 4mo 3w 2d 19h 44m 58s)

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"Yes, I think it'll be possible! Thank you Andrei!"

Andrei seemed relieved by this, he quickly said goodbye to Dan, and left the room. After making sure that nobody else would disturb him, Dan immediately sat on the floor in a meditative stance, and started to breathe in and breathe out slowly. It wasn't long before Dan felt it, a warmth, unfamiliar but welcome at the same time. When he tried to look deeper, he was able to make out several thin strands of yellow energy which could only be Chi.

I was talking about Cultivation novels a little while ago, and look what's happened. I've basically become a Cultivator myself. Let's see, I have around 20 hours and 47 minutes left, how convenient. I'll be able to achieve the last step in the Chi Absorption section, as well as the last 2 steps in Chi Augmentation. I wonder how much my stats will increase in that time. Dan continued to meditate, it was kind of addicting so any worries of being interrupted were now null and void.

Less than a minute before the test was due to start, Dan finally opened his eyes and checked his stats.

______________________

Stats:

Vigour: 92

Sapience: 80

Deftness: 87

Constitution: 88

Luck: 41

______________________

At that moment, Dan heard quiet footsteps, and then moments later, there was a resounding knock at the door, and he answered, "coming!"

Dan was at the door in a flash, and he quickly opened it. Yauheni stood there, "It's time, follow me!"

Yauheni sprinted back the way he came, with Dan easily keeping up, he saw Yauheni's eyes narrow briefly as he looked back at Dan. They quickly arrived in front of an unmarked door, which was quickly opened. It closed behind them almost silently, Yauheni then stared at Dan, his eyes filled with suspicion. "You... how did you learn how to use Chi?"

Dan realised that he hadn't exactly been hiding his drastic physical improvements during the entire time he'd been here. "Andrei told me about it, and the basic steps involved when harnessing it, and I decided to practice until the test started."

Yauheni's eyes narrowed once more, "you decided to... practice? Are you a f*cking Chi magnet or something? That's not something you could normally achieve in less than a day. I know that you're not quite telling the truth here, but from what I've heard about from Andrei, you were out-of-shape until recently. You must have some kind of ability, one that allows you to progress and improve incredibly quickly in all areas. I'm not sure what it is, you don't have to tell me though."

I really should have expected this, Dan, you're a f*cking moron, Andrei knows about my ability, so this won't surprise him in the slightest. But his father, it's literally his job to be perceptive, and here I am sticking out like a shining beacon. I guess that goes to show that high levels of intelligence don't mean anything sometimes.

"I can tell that you're re-thinking some of your decisions, it's written all over your face, you're a smart guy, but you can't hide your emotions at all! Looks like we'll have to go over that too! Anyways, we can discuss all of that at length when the test is over. The test will start whenever one of us makes a move. The win condition is to knock me down."

Dan immediately started running at full speed to Yauheni's left and the man's eyes widened in surprise, which wasn't surprising, mainly because Yauheni knew he couldn't run as fast as that. Despite that, he was still able to react fast enough to intercept Dan's first attack, but he felt sharp pain when blocking, this meant that Dan wasn't that much weaker than him. Both men began to trade punches, Dan was able to punch significantly faster than Yauheni could.

Dan started to mix a few kicks in too, it seemed that absorbing all of that Chi had been his best decision so far. He silently thanked Andrei for suggesting it, so far, Chi seemed to be the power that had borne the most fruit so far. Dan knew that he had a very unfair advantage when it came to using Chi, the system automatically helped him to gather it in the most efficient way possible. All he had to do was sit and meditate, and he could gather a decent amount of it in just a few hours.

Dan was fighting a battle of attrition, mainly because the other man's Constitution was still significantly higher than his was. Thanks to the Chi he had gathered, he could easily harness it and use it to repair any of the light bruises that Yauheni inflicted on him. So while Dan was still basically unscratched, Yauheni bore multiple small bruises. So, despite his superior Stamina and Endurance, he was starting to tire out a lot faster than normal.

Still, the man proved that stats weren't everything, battle experience was something that he had in spades. He had fought against numerous opponents who were as strong as Dan, or even stronger, then again, none of them had been able to heal themselves. His willpower to keep fighting also allowed him to push a lot further than Dan could. He was still dishing out as much damage as he was receiving. Better yet, Dan was clearly starting to get a little bit tired.

Dan knew that he had to think of something fast, otherwise he would be exhausted before he could even think of knocking the other man on his back. Think Dan, think! Wait, what about using my Chi to amplify my attacks, it's a bit of a gamble, but it's definitely worth a shot. Dan tried to call upon his Chi, as if willing it to travel towards his fist. He'd realised that Iron Fist must make use of Chi, and was inspired by him.

It was slow at first, but he could begin to feel it travelling down his arm and towards his right fist. While he was doing this, he'd switched to only kicking, something that Yauheni took notice of, it was clear that he knew that Dan was planning something. Yauheni decided to raise the stakes and began to go all-out, but by that point it was a little too late. Dan could feel the Chi in his fist, and knew he had done it right.

Dan suddenly delivered a right-hook at Yauheni's exposed chest. The punch connected, sending the other staggering backwards, but Dan wasn't finished yet, and delivered another punch, lightning fast. It struck Yauheni's jaw this time, lifting the man off his feet, and he crashed to the floor, spitting out some saliva in the process as he grunted in pain. "So, you can already do that much, it's not enough to make it visible, but it did the job. You win!"