Chapter 22: One year later

As time passed, Grey became increasingly absorbed in his training. His days were filled with relentless practice, honing his Qi and physique to their limits. He secluded himself from his seniors and juniors, focusing solely on his cultivation with a determination that bordered on obsession.Despite his intense focus, Grey was wise enough not to rush his progress. He understood that true cultivation required patience and precision. He took his time, carefully tempering his body and refining his Qi, ensuring that each stage was mastered fully before moving on to the next. This methodical approach allowed him to build a solid foundation, one that would support his future growth and ensure his success in the long term.Grey's single-minded dedication transformed him into a training machine. Every day, he pushed himself to the brink, his only goal being to reach the peak of the Foundation stage. His hard work began to pay off, and the results were evident in the increasing strength of his aura and the growing power within him.A year passed in the blink of an eye, and Grey's relentless dedication bore fruit. He had successfully reached the peak of the third stage of the Foundation realm, a significant milestone on his path to power. His once-normal physique now radiated strength and energy, and his Qi was refined to a level that many cultivators could only dream of.Throughout this year, Grey had remained as focused as ever. His days were filled with meditation, rigorous physical training, and careful study of his techniques. The once-difficult "Mighty Sword of Thunder" had become second nature to him, and his mastery of Qi had reached a point where his every movement seemed to resonate with power.In his usual cultivation spot, Grey found himself lost in thought. "This won't do," he muttered. "Although my cultivation speed is fast, it's not enough."Grey's cultivation progress was indeed impressive, but as he advanced, he faced a growing challenge: the Qi required to break through each stage was becoming exponentially larger. The amount of energy needed to push past the barriers of each stage seemed increasing, and Grey could feel his progress becoming slow.With each breakthrough, the reservoir of Qi within him expanded, but so too did the demands of his cultivation. The days of relatively swift progress were behind him, replaced by the harsh reality that every new stage would require an more amount of energy—far more than what had been sufficient in the earlier stages.He knew that cultivation wasn't just about talent; it also required external resources like pills and rare treasures to truly accelerate his progress. Unfortunately, the pills provided by his master, while effective for ordinary disciples, were of little use to him.Buying more potent resources from the system was an option, but Grey had been carefully saving his points for the future, specifically to purchase the Golden Core Pill that would be crucial to his breakthrough. The need to balance his current progress with his future goals weighed heavily on him.Grey sat on the cold stone, his mind in a swirl of frustration and determination. He had two options to address his current challenge: the Item Recycler, a system function that would provide him with points to purchase foundation training pills, or the Stellar Refinement technique, which allowed him to devour rare metals and treasures to enhance his strength, Qi, and physique.The major hurdle with the Stellar Refinement technique and item recycler was finding such rare materials and treasures. Despite his efforts, rare treasures were elusive, and Grey felt his options were dwindling. He sighed deeply, letting himself fall back onto the stone and closing his eyes in exasperation.Then, a memory flashed in his mind, and his eyes shot open with excitement. "Wait a minute... the Soul-Devouring Stick!"This was no ordinary stick. In the plot, it was revealed to be a powerful treasure with the ability to absorb and refine souls, a treasure that would surely contain the kind of energy the Stellar Refinement technique could utilize. Or he can item recycler to earn points"How could I forget about such a thing?" Grey shouted, filled with renewed energy.