Be Sure

Li Wei begins his day focused on his cultivation. He again meticulously prepares his essence mixture, carefully balancing the ratio of essence to water. The essence mixture is potent and challenging to consume, yet Li Wei perseveres, driven by his goal of reaching a higher level of Qi cultivation.

Each gulp of the essence mixture is followed by a moment of intense concentration as he absorbs the Qi, feeling it spread and strengthen within him. The process is repetitive and requires patience and fortitude. 

The morning progresses with Li Wei fully immersed in his routine. His determination to achieve a breakthrough is palpable. The atmosphere in the cave is one of intense concentration and quiet resolve. 

Sitting in the dimly lit cave, Li Wei hears the sound of approaching footsteps. 

"Another disciple coming to trade, no doubt." His mind stays clear and focused. He's not concerned about the approaching figure. The footsteps signal nothing more than the mundane – another transaction, another exchange of goods.

He rises, making his way to the entrance of his dwelling. Peering out, he sees a figure approaching, taller than average, another outer disciple.

As the figure comes into clearer view, Li Wei notes the sun-touched face and neatly hung robes, contrasting the usual dishevelled appearance of many in the sect. The disciple, holding a small bag, stops at the entrance.

"Senior Brother," he begins, his voice laced with respect and hope, "I heard you have bone pills to trade."

Li Wei, assessing the newcomer, nods slightly. "What do you have in return?"

Li Wei notices how he handles the items carefully. The disciple presents a set of fresh sect robes, neatly folded, and a collection of items. These include a small, well-crafted utility knife, a sturdy water flask, and a compact bundle of medicinal herbs, each meticulously labelled.

Li Wei first inspects everything.

Li Wei pauses, his eyes lingering on the items displayed before him. He quietly said to himself, "Shit, not very useful, oh well. Maybe more robes and a few essentials for the cave could be handy."

He briefly touched one of the robes, contemplating its utility, before letting it fall back into place. Speaking softly, almost to reassure himself, he added, "I'll just offer a pill and be done with it."

"There are more significant matters I need to focus on today." With this resolution, Li Wei prepared to conclude the trade, his mind already shifting to the numerous vital tasks that demanded his attention late.

Satisfied, he nods in approval.

The disciple watches eagerly.

Next, Li Wei turns his attention to the medicinal herbs. He unrolls the bundle, revealing a variety of herbs, each with distinct properties beneficial for minor ailments and enhancing Qi. He inhales their subtle, earthy scents.

Seeing Li Wei's interest, the disciple says, "I hope they can be of use to you Senior." His voice carries a hint of eagerness mixed with a respectful tone.

"Okay," Li Wei nods, "One pill for everything."

The disciple's eyes brighten instantly. "Agreed!" he replies eagerly.

Li Wei delves into his robe and retrieves a single bone pill. The disciple watches, anticipation clear in his expression. Li Wei hands over the pill.

The disciple takes the pill, his eagerness evident in the quickness of his movement.

"Senior Brother," he begins, his voice laced with respect and a hint of hope, "If you ever need a servant, I would be honoured to offer my services. Two bone pills a month would suffice for my needs."

"Too many risks," Li Wei thinks to himself. "I can't afford any loose ends or prying eyes, not when I'm this close to achieving my goals."

"I appreciate the offer," he says in a measured tone. "However, I currently don't require a servant. But I might have tasks for you in the future. What is your name, and which cave do you reside in?"

The disciple, disappointed but hopeful, replies, "Of course, Senior Brother. I understand. My name is Wen Yu; I reside in Cave 1732."

Li Wei nods, mentally noting the disciple's name and location. "Thank you, Junior Brother," he says, "I will keep your offer in mind. If I require your assistance in the future, I'll seek you out."

Wen Yu bows again, a mix of respect and slight disappointment in his posture. "Thank you, Senior Brother." With that, he turned. His heels struck the stone ground. Each step echoed in the still air. The sound bounced off the cave walls. He moved away from Li Wei's cave. The distance between them grew. The echoes faded with each step. Soon, there was only silence.

Li Wei watches Wen Yu disappear into the distance. "It's better to be cautious," he murmurs to himself, turning back to the solitude of his cave to continue his cultivation in peace.

"Finally," he reflects, a sense of relief washing over him, "I can dive into these manuals." He savours the moment, knowing the hard-earned opportunity to delve into the intricate knowledge.

Li Wei sits. The Basic Bone Armor manual rests in his hands. The cave air remains cool and motionless. His breath makes a soft sound. Pages rustle at intervals. He turns each page. His eyes move across the words. He studies the technique. Each detail registers in his mind. The cave's quiet surrounds him. His focus remains on the manual. The next page turns. His study continues.

Each page explains the process of creating a layer of bone under the skin. The technique involves stimulating small bone growths within the subcutaneous layer. These bone formations are interconnected, forming a protective shield beneath the skin's surface.

As Li Wei reads, his eyes move slowly across the text. He visualises the process, imagining the bone growths weaving together to form a barrier against external attacks. The manual describes how the technique requires precise control of Qi to initiate and sustain bone growth. It emphasises balance and control to avoid overgrowth or misshapen formations.

Li Wei turns another page, revealing a diagram. The image illustrates the bone growth pattern, showing how the bones weave together in a mesh-like structure. Each node of bone is connected, creating a network that spreads across the designated area. The manual notes that while the bone armour provides added protection, it also restricts flexibility and adds weight to the body, affecting movement.

He continues reading, noting the specific steps to initiate bone growth. The technique requires the cultivator to focus Qi on particular points beneath the skin, triggering bone growth. The process is delicate, requiring a sustained concentration to ensure the growths form correctly and uniformly.

As he reaches the end of the manual, a system prompt materialises in front of him. Li Wei reads the prompt:

[Detected the cultivation technique 'Basic Bone Armor'. Involves cultivating a protective layer of interwoven bone growths under the skin, requiring precise Qi control for balanced and uniform development. Enhanced protection but added weight and reduced flexibility.]

[Modification Suggestion: Ingest bone essence before using the technique to strengthen the new bone growth and endure extreme pain. This attracts the bone essence into the growth, enhancing durability slightly.]

"What the fuckkkkk!!!!!"

"I can't believe it's the same useless shit again. " "Every time, the same thing. Ingest bone essence, blah blah blah."

He glances at the Bone Sheild manual. "Pleases be different." The thought lingers in his mind, a glimmer of hope amidst his scepticism.

He closes his eyes momentarily, taking a deep breath to centre himself. "I'll give it a try. Just to be sure." His voice holds a hint of reluctance and a faint sense of curiosity.

Li Wei sits cross-legged on the stone floor of his cave, his expression one of irritation. The Basic Bone Armor manual, now closed, rests beside him. 

His hands move to the Bone Shield manual, next to the Basic Bone Armor. He deliberately opens the manual, his fingers turning the pages. Each page makes a soft, almost inaudible sound as it is turned. His eyes scan the text, searching for something new, something different from the previous manual.

The Bone Shield manual describes a technique for creating a protective shield made of bone. It explains the process of focusing Qi to form a bone layer that acts as a shield. This shield can be manifested on any body part and is meant to withstand physical attacks. The text details the necessary steps to concentrate Qi, guiding it to form the bone structure precisely where needed.

Li Wei reads about the importance of Qi control in shaping the bone shield. Too little Qi and the shield will be weak; too much, and it might grow uncontrollably. The manual outlines the exact concentration required for an optimal balance of strength and control.

He continues reading, emphasising the shield's placement and timing. The technique requires anticipation of attacks and quick reaction time to manifest the shield effectively. The manual describes various scenarios, illustrating the best ways to deploy the shield during combat.

As Li Wei nears the end of the manual, he senses the familiar presence of a system prompt. He pauses, a flicker of hope mixed with scepticism in his eyes. The prompt materialises in front of him: