Chapter 18: Stellar refinement

The next day, in a hilly area of Bamboo Peak, Grey was determinedly testing his newfound strength. He stood amidst a field of massive boulders, each one more intimidating than the last. His face was set in a determined grimace as he lifted a particularly enormous boulder, his muscles straining under the weight."Ugh, so heavy!" he grunted, his voice echoing through the hills as he struggled to hold the boulder above his head. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and he was breathing heavily, but his resolve remained unshaken. With a final heave, he threw the boulder away, sending it crashing into the ground with a resounding thud.Grey wasn't wearing a shirt, exposing his well-defined six-pack abs and muscular body. While he wasn't excessively buff, every fiber of his muscles spoke of strength far beyond what one would expect from someone his age. At just 11 years old he is 150 cm tall, his physique made him appear closer to 15."Now my physical strength is close to 20,000 kilograms," Grey thought, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Back when he was at the Qi Gathering stage, his strength had only reached about 5,000 kilograms. This leap was a massive improvement, reflecting the tremendous progress he had made since advancing to the Foundation stage.Grey realized that his physical training was not even his primary focus. Had he dedicated more time solely to improving his body, his strength might have been even greater. Despite this, he was pleased with the results. The sheer power he now wielded, combined with his refined control over both Qi and Demonic Qi, made him a formidable force.And the major difference between the Qi Gathering stage and the Foundation Establishment stage. It wasn't just a matter of technique or physical prowess; the Foundation Establishment stage offered a massive increase in the amount of Qi that could be stored within the body.This substantial reserve of energy allowed for prolonged battles and more powerful techniques, making the leap from Qi Gathering to Foundation Establishment a critical turning point in any cultivator's journey.As Grey marveled at his progress, his attention was drawn to the system's latest notification.Curious, he opened the system interface and first checked the inventory, a subspace used for storage. It was a convenient tool that allowed him to store various items without worrying about space or weight.Alongside the inventory, he noticed another feature: the item recycler. The recycler had the ability to break down treasures and other valuable items in exchange for points, but there was a catch—it only accepted items of sufficient quality. He couldn't just recycle anything; it had to be something truly valuable.He stared incredulously at the description of a technique called Stellar Refinement, trying to make sense of the absurd instructions.[Technique: Stellar RefinementRank: SDescription: Devour rare metals and treasures to increase your strength ,Qi and physique]"Devour rare metals and treasures to increase your strength and physique?" Grey muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. "What do you mean by devour? You expect me to eat metal? This isn't candy you can just snack on."The system's response was equally baffling: [Note: You can gulp them in one bite and refine them in your stomach.]Grey's eyes widened in shock. "Gulp them in one bite? Are you serious? Do you think my stomach is some kind of metal factory? This is madness!"Frustrated, he threw his hands up. "Do you want me to die? This is ridiculous!"He paced around, cursing the system and its impractical instructions. The idea of swallowing metal whole seemed more like a cruel joke than a cultivation technique.Exhausted and frustrated by the morning's intense training, Grey trudged back to his room. The absurdity of the system's demands still weighed heavily on his mind. Every step felt like a burden, his muscles aching from the grueling workout. It seemed he had overworked himself. When he finally reached his room, he collapsed onto his bed, feeling utterly drained. As he stared up at the ceiling, his mind refused to let go of the bizarre instructions he had received."Gulp it in one bite... What a ridiculous idea," he muttered to himself, disbelief and irritation lingering in his voice. The very thought of devouring metal as if it were a snack seemed absurd, and despite his weariness, confusion and frustration gnawed at him.The door creaked open, and Xiao Fan stepped in. Seeing Grey sprawled on the bed, clearly exhausted, he hesitated for a moment before speaking softly."Senior Grey, Master asked me to pass on a message," Xiao Fan said gently. "He wants you to meet him in the Bamboo Forest at the usual training place tonight.""Okay," Grey mumbled, barely lifting his head from the pillow.Understanding that it wasn't the best time to provoke a clearly irritated Grey, Xiao Fan nodded and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.Grey lay back on his bed, his thoughts a swirl of confusion and reluctance. "Master, why did he call me?" he pondered, his mind still weary.With a resigned sigh, he decided, "Whatever. I'll just go tonight and see what he wants."As the night deepened, Grey, with a heavy heart and a sense of obligation, stood up from his bed. His earlier excitement about training had faded, replaced by a dull acceptance of the task at hand. He trudged towards the Bamboo Forest, the cool night air doing little to lift his spirits.