Missing Something
[Detected cultivation technique 'Bone Shield'. Create a Qi-controlled, bone-based protective shield that is manifestable on any body part and is an optimal defence against physical attacks.]
[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.]
Li Wei's frustration boils to a breaking point. With a sudden, jerky movement, he flings the Bone Shield manual onto the cave wall. The manual lands with a flutter, pages splayed out, vulnerable on the hard stone surface.
Li Wei points his index finger at the manual swiftly and deliberately. A projectile launches from the finger with a sharp hiss, cutting through the air. It strikes the manual precisely, ripping through the pages and embedding itself into the rock beneath with a thud and a spray of fragments.
Li Wei continues. The sound of ripping paper and the dull thuds of the projectiles embedding into the rock fill the cave. Each shot tears through the manual, shredding pages and obliterating text and diagrams.
The manual is reduced to a tattered mess. Pages torn and scattered, some flutter in the faint breeze of the cave, and others lie still, marred with holes and tears. The force of the shots has left a series of tiny punctures in the rock floor, a testament to Li Wei's power and anger.
Exhausted, Li Wei lowers his hand, his Qi entirely spent. He stands over the tattered remnants of the manual, feeling his energy drain.
"Fuckkkk," he exhales sharply, a mix of frustration and fatigue in his voice. His gaze falls on the shredded manual, a feeling of hollowness accompanying his depleted Qi. "Whatever, the manual was useless anyway," he reassures himself.
"I remember the principles."
He closes his eyes, trying to calm the annoyance. His mind races with thoughts. "Why does the system keep suggesting this? Is there really no other way to enhance these techniques?"
He picks up the Basic Bone Armor manual again, flipping through the pages again, searching for any detail he might have missed. But the text remains the same, offering no new insights or alternatives.
"Is the system limited in its suggestions, or am I missing something?" he wonders. The question hangs in the air, unanswered. Li Wei's gaze shifts from the manual to the system prompt.
"Whatever, time to test these techniques," he muses, contemplating his acquired Basic Bone Armor and Bone Shield abilities. "Let's see if they're worth anything," he adds, a hint of scepticism.
Li Wei begins with the Basic Bone Armor. He closes his eyes, concentrating on his Qi, feeling it pulse through the meridians in his body. He visualises the technique described in the manual: the Qi directing bone growth beneath his skin to form a protective layer.
He starts the process by focusing his Qi on his forearm. He imagines the Qi as a sculptor, meticulously carving tiny bone fragments within his subcutaneous tissue. The sensation is initially subtle, like a tingling beneath the skin, but gradually becomes more pronounced.
As he channels more Qi, the sensation becomes tangible. Li Wei feels the minute bone fragments start to form and interconnect, creating a mesh-like structure under his skin. The process is not painful but requires intense concentration to maintain the precision of the bone growth.
He opens his eyes to inspect his forearm. Visibly, there's no change, but to the touch, he can feel a slight hardness under the skin, the layer of the Basic Bone Armor taking shape. "It's working,"
He starts pressing gently against his skin, feeling the unusual firmness beneath. Encouraged, he increases the pressure, testing the resilience of the newly formed bone mesh.
However, as he applies more force, a disheartening realisation sets in. While providing some resistance, the growths begin to give way under intense pressure. He presses harder, and to his dismay, he feels the bone mesh cracking, the fractures spreading under his skin.
"Damn," Li Wei mutters under his breath, a wave of frustration washing over him. "This thing is definitely not going to stop bone shot," he thinks, feeling the inadequacy of the armour.
After a brief contemplation, Li Wei prepares to test the Bone Shield technique, specifically on the back of his left hand over his knuckles. He gathers his Qi, focusing intently. He imagines the Qi coalescing, hardening into a protective bone structure over his knuckles.
As he channels his Qi, he begins to feel a dense, weighty sensation in his hand. The bone materialises, forming a solid, circular shield of a few hands widths in diameter right over the back of his hand. This emerging shield is thick and robust, visibly encasing his knuckles in a layer of solid bone.
The formation of the bone shield is intense and consuming. Li Wei feels much of his Qi drawn into creating this defensive structure. The shield feels powerful but also unwieldy; its size and solidity significantly restrict the movement of his hand.
With a deep breath, he lunges forward, his arm leading the way. The shield makes contact with the cave wall with a solid thud. The impact is significant, and for a moment, Li Wei feels a surge of hope. The shield appears to hold up against the force.
However, upon closer inspection, he notices dents and minor fractures on the surface of the bone shield. It's stronger than the Basic Bone Armor, but the damage from the cave wall is disheartening.
"These techniques are trash," Li Wei thinks with a scowl. He shakes his head in disappointment. While offering some protection, the shield is not the formidable defence Li Wei needs. It's clear that these techniques, in their current form, are inadequate for the challenges he anticipates facing.
Li Wei stands quietly in his cave, the dissipating Qi leaving a contemplative atmosphere. "Well, at least Bone Shot's solid," "But the rest? Absolute trash."
"Pressing a little and cracking already? What a joke," he scoffs, "And that shield, dented by the cave wall? Useless."
His gaze drifts to the cave wall, marked by the trials of his techniques. "Bone Shot's the only thing that's not a complete waste," he reflects a sense of pride in his reliable skill. "But I can't just rely on one trick. I need more."
"Back to what works," he thinks, eyeing the pouches of bone essence powder. "Time to refocus on consuming essence."
Li Wei He reaches for his bowl and places it on the stone floor. The bowl awaits the essence.
He opens another pouch of bone essence, handling it with familiarity and urgency. Li Wei carefully measures several pinches. The essence falls into the bowl, forming a small, pale mound at the bottom.
He picks up his bucket. Li Wei pours the water carefully, blending it with the bone essence. The powder swirls.
Li Wei stirs the mixture. The water takes on a cloudy appearance as the essence disperses. He raises the bowl to his lips, drinking in slow, deliberate sips. The liquid is sharp on his tongue, a familiar bitterness that heralds the onset of power.
Eyes closed, Li Wei lets the essence suffuse his body. He breathes deeply, each breath syncing with the pulsing energy of his Qi. The sensation is invigorating, a clear signal of the essence doing its work.
The hours slip by, marked only by the diminishing pouches of bone essence and the rhythmic sound of his breath. Li Wei's focus is absolute, and his commitment to his cultivation is unwavering.
Inside Li Wei, a subtle but distinct sensation begins to build. It starts deep within his core, a gradual intensification of energy. This feeling, familiar from past experiences, signals the onset of a breakthrough.
Li Wei tunes into the incremental changes occurring within his body. His Qi, the life force he's been diligently nurturing and expanding, starts to stir. This movement isn't abrupt but a steady accumulation of power, akin to water gradually rising in a reservoir.
He feels his meridians, the energy pathways within his body, becoming more pronounced. It's as though they are being gently stretched, making room for the increased flow of Qi. This sensation isn't painful but requires his complete focus to manage.
His calm exterior masks the significant internal activity. The growing energy within him creates a sense of internal pressure, a reminder of the breakthrough's impending arrival.
Li Wei's breaths are deep and controlled, each inhalation and exhalation helping him manage the rising energy levels. He's aware of every minute shift in his Qi.
A faint tingling sensation begins to spread across his skin, a physical response to the increase in internal energy. It's a gentle reminder of the transformation process at work.
As the Qi reaches its peak, Li Wei remains composed. He's been through this process before and understands the importance of maintaining mental clarity and physical control during such a crucial moment.
The breakthrough is close now, almost within reach. Li Wei mentally readies himself for the final push, when his cultivation will ascend to a new level. He embraces the sensation.
"Time to sweat shit."