Destiny

Getting so many good things at once, he got very wary about his surroundings. 'Is the sect going to be destroyed and I need to save it? No! It's too troublesome and risky! Can't I just cultivate in peace?'

[Ding! Dong! Host, be calm. It's not like that.]

'Then why don't you just explain it to me instead of ignoring my doubts? You always keep me in the dark.'

[Ding! Dong! You didn't have enough authority to know before, but you can know about some things now.

[The reason you can sometimes get luckier after helping someone is called 'Karma Retribution.' It happens when the Heavenly Dao recognizes your doing as something beneficial to the development of the world.]

"Is that so? But I don't remember helping anyone today," he muttered, still doubtful.

[Ding! Dong! Host, although you didn't help anyone today, you entered an area with a much denser destiny than before, and it naturally increases the luck of anyone within it.]

'Oh!? To think there's such a thing as 'lucky areas' too...

'So, am I going to receive Myth-graded items every day from now on?'

[Ding! Dong! Host, please be more reasonable, how can there be such a good thing in this world? The reason for your good luck today is simply because you just entered this area. From now on, your luck will stabilize and won't peak like this without reason, unless you go to a place with a stronger destiny.]

'Yeah, it was just my wishful thinking.

'Anyway, scan the new technique for me.'

Dao Mind Refining Technique is, as the name implies, a technique that improves one's mental capabilities. It basically boosts one's IQ permanently and is particularly helpful when sensing any Dao.

However, there's no gain without pain. It requires tons of specific resources for him to cultivate it. Fortunately, he accumulated some compatible resources in the past year which may able him to cultivate it to at least the entry-level stage.

Bitterly looking at his small piles of resources in the storage, he thought all cultivators without powerful backgrounds are very miserable.

"This won't do, I need to make myself a money-making alchemist asap!"

He then proceeded to use all of his remaining cultivation resources on another IQ boost. He would use it to comprehend the book he got from Elder Yang.

He wouldn't hesitate to show his "talent" in alchemy to others, even if it might attract a lot of attention. He desperately needed resources to make fast progress. After all, he doesn't know when he will be able to go back to his original world.

When his pile of remaining resources was used up, he entered the smart mode again.

He used the few hours he got to completely comprehend both the alchemy book and the Mind Refining technique.

The alchemy book was surprisingly more difficult than he thought. But he managed to completely comprehend all of it with his "Mega Mind."

When he returned to his stupid self, he was already thinking about the money he had to do to compensate for his investment with bloodshot eyes.

His new dream was to be able to boost his IQ 24/7. He would always be smart.

'I wonder if the Sect also has techniques which boost IQ... Well, I bet they have.' Ji-Yoon thought and sighed, 'This is basically the most important thing for cultivators, rather than special physiques or roots like in the novels I read. Those made it seems like there are different species in the group called 'humans.''

'How can people with different organs be said to be from the same species?'

He got up and started to wander around his new cave abode to familiarize himself with it.

After a while, he thought about it and decided to just stay in his cave most of his time, except only when he had to do his weekly missions or listen to Elder Yang's lectures and report to him. Of course, he would also patrol the Trial Sect a time each month to avoid being seen negatively by others.

Since he had enough time and wasn't as restricted as before, he simply let loose his potential and cultivated every moment. Increasing his cultivation base quickly.

The mystical energy there was much denser than outside the Sect's Guardian Formation, so his cultivation soared.

His core-like dantian expanded little by little, and each day his internal energy seemed to react to it because of the unique cultivation technique.

After five days, he broke through smoothly to the peak layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm! He felt stronger than ever but knew it was just the beginning, for from then on he could merge his internal energy with his True Qi and change his body.

He swallowed a mind-calming pill he got from the daily check-in and focused all his mind on his body.

Merging the Internal Energy and True Qi is no easy task. First of all, they have different roots. Internal Energy is produced by the body's natural mechanisms but True Qi is produced by the Mystical Root after one starts to cultivate.

To completely merge both, Ji-Yoon had to synchronize and merge both mechanisms. It wasn't easy to understand, much less to do. If not because of the IQ booster, he would have taken years to figure things out perfectly.

He breathed out turbid air, it was full of hesitation and fear. From then on, his will was also solid enough to carry out the task.

Since his Mystical Root had merged with his Dantian and True Qi Sea, his core-like Dantian was the center of all of his cultivation, with the meridians being the paths linking his whole body to it.

Circulating the All-in-One Foundation Technique, he started to merge his meridians, which were a more ethereal existence, with his physical body.

His blood, blood vessels, nerves, marrow, bones, flesh, organs, hairs, skin, and even his nails... Are all simultaneously changed by merging with his meridians. His body's very essence changed, changing everything accordingly.

His blood was fiery bright, like a raging plasma from a crimson star. His irises turned even blacker than before, seemingly swallowed by his pupils. His hair turned into a deeper blacker color. His skin turned smoother, making him seem even younger, like a ten-year-old child.

After ending this step, it was now the turn of his core-like Dantian to merge with the rest of his body. To completely merge what was ethereal with the material.

His Dantian shone brightly, his beforehand colorless True Qi slowly got the same color as his internal energy, bright crimson as his blood.

Thundering sounds started to come from his body, and for the first time, he felt an immense amount of pain. Ji-Yoon coughed blood but kept focused regardless of the damage made to his body. His skin was cracking and his hair falling.

His True Qi started to rampage within his whole body, because of his now merged meridians.

'It's now or never!' Ji-Yoon immediately used his internal energy to stabilize his condition and heal the damage. He also started to circulate it along with his rampaging True Qi, trying to control it.

Both the energies started to circulate back and forth from his Dantian to his body. And each time it happened, both seemed to be closer and closer to completely merging.

After an entire day, his True Qi finally turned the same color as his internal energy. Both finally completely merged.

With a "Bang!" his Dantian suddenly started to crack. The previously merged mystical root started to disintegrate because of the changes within the True Qi Sea and meridians.

However, Ji-Yoon breathed out a sigh of relief. Seemingly unfazed by it. Smiling, he calmly circulated his new energy.

His new "Internal True Qi" was more powerful and abundant than before and started to be produced by his whole body instead of just his Dantian.

It mended the cracks of his mystical root, circulating mildly to make it adapt and transform.

When his condition finally stabilized, he opened his eyes and looked at himself. He was full of blood and dead skin all over, and even the wall five meters behind him had blood on it somehow. 'Wtf!'

He was still badly wounded, so he took a precious medicinal pill and started to heal. It is one of the few resources he didn't sacrifice for 'smart time,' more because it wasn't compatible.

After almost a whole day, he was finally completely healed. His core-like Dantian fully adapted and was now stronger than ever.

His True Qi flowed along with his blood and circulated his whole body in a state of unbelievable synchrony.

After washing himself and cleaning his robe, he looked into a mirror.

'Am I doomed to look like a child forever? Why do I look even younger? The previous year's growth has been completely wasted! Look at this cute face, am I supposed to flirt and kill with this face?

[Ding! Dong! Congratulations host for reaching the peak of the peak layer. You achieved Perfection in the cultivation of the All-in-One Foundation Cultivation Technique.

[Now no one can stand in your way without being killed! The men shall be killed, the children spared, and the woman added to your harem!]

And then, as if nothing had happened:

[Ding! Dong! Host, you can double-check in since you didn't yesterday.]

"..."

Ji-Yoon sighed and his sour mood quickly stabilized. He had to say, the system's way of messing with his emotions is very effective.

'Check-in! x2'

[Ding! Dong! Congratulations host on receiving the Mortal-grade item: How to Fight Manual.]

"..."

[...]

'Where is the other?'

[Ding! Dong! Host, this is all. You used both days' luck in one go and received this item.]

'Why just a Mortal-grade item then? Are you this useless?'

[Ding! Dong! Host, don't underestimate Mortal-grade items! The grade of an item is related to its rarity, not its usefulness.]

'Thanks for sharing information!'

[Ding! Dong!]

"Hahahahahaha"

Having tricked useful information from the system, Ji-Yoon was in good mood for a walk. Moreover, he had to go report his progress to Elder Yang.

He walked out of his cave abode and looked at the bright blue sky. It was really beautiful in his eyes, probably because he spent a lot of time in a hole.

It was forbidden for outer disciples to fly within the sect, so he had to walk towards the Elders Mountain. He asked a few "beautiful sisters" for pointers, carefully avoiding trouble magnets.

He actually received a few praises like "what a talented kid" or "he has such a cute face" from some unaware people who thought he was really a kid. They probably don't even know that there's something like rejuvenation in Mortal Martial Arts. And even if they did know, they wouldn't think he was a Life and Death realm martial artist, since they are even rarer than peak cultivators.

After some time walking, he arrived at the Elders Mountain. It was the tallest mountain one could see in the entire Outer Sect. Many phoenixes were flying there, probably pets from some powerful elders.

He took the token he got from the Alchemy Pavilion and explained to the disciples guarding the entrance of the mountain why he was there.

"The Elder Yang's cave abode is close to the peak, there is a stone statue at its entrance. Be careful to not offend anyone here, or you might even beg for death!" explained a disciple, he was a young man with gray hair. Looking sluggish, he clicked his tongue from time to time.

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Ji-Yoon thanked and cupped his fists at him.

When he finally arrived at the elder's cave, he saw some people meditating at its entrance. A young man and a woman, both wore disciples' robes.

"Good day, Senior Brother and Sister! Are you waiting for Elder Yang?" he cupped his fists and asked with a respectful, yet childish, tone.

The woman opened her eyes and looked at him curiously. "Yes, he told us to wait here," she said, "Anyway, what's your name?"

"I'm called Ji-Yoon, Senior Sister," Ji-Yoon replied, a bit surprised by her question.

The woman's eyes curved slightly and she smiled. "You look so young but are already at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, are you a martial artist?"

"Senior Sister has eyes as good as her appearance. I'm indeed a martial artist, but it's already in the past. My eyes are now set at the Great Dao," Ji-Yoon replied with an even childish expression and voice.

"Is that so?" the woman's eyes curved even more in a half-moon shape and she said, "But why do I suddenly feel you look younger than your age?"

Ji-Yoon kept his act and said with a hand scratching his head, "If you say so, Senior Sister."

'Damn, one can indeed find knowledgable people in the most unexpected situations.'