A week passed in a whirlwind of sweat, sore muscles, stubborn meditation, and nightly deep dives into Cultivation 102. Each day, Taryn followed the same routine—train until exhaustion, meditate to gather and stabilize energy, then read and understand the theories that now began to click like puzzle pieces in his mind.
And now, as he stood under the morning sun once more, the System reappeared—floating dramatically with arms crossed and a smug look on his translucent face.
"Well, well, well… look at you," the System drawled. "You've come a long way from being a spiritual potato."
Taryn narrowed his eyes. "Gee, thanks."
"No, really! I'm proud. I mean, you started off as a barren land—dry, cracked, spiritually desolate. But now?" The System gestured with both hands like an announcer at a game show. "Now you're… a slightly less barren land! Maybe a few weeds and a stubborn little sapling poking out of the ground!"
"…Are you trying to be encouraging?"
"Of course!" System beamed. "Your body compatibility has increased. You can now absorb spiritual energy without coughing up internal organs! And based on your spirit flow and energy stability… hmm…"
Taryn tilted his head. "What?"
"You're on the verge of stepping into Level 2 of the First Stage," System said with mock gravity. "I'd say... about 80% there. A little push is all that's needed."
Taryn felt it too—his body was no longer sluggish. When he meditated now, the energy didn't just swirl around him. It sank into his meridians, circulated more smoothly, and responded to his will like an obedient pet, not a wild animal.
"Then what do I need to do?" he asked, already slipping into a meditative pose.
The System hovered behind him, arms behind his back like a wise master from some ancient scroll.
"To reach Level 2," the System explained, "you need to deepen your control. Let the energy not just flow—but anchor. Think of Level 1 as sensing and absorbing. But Level 2… that's about refining."
Taryn nodded slowly, eyes closing as he focused inward.
"Guide the energy through your body," the System said. "Let it circulate through your meridians—again and again. Don't just force it. Feel its rhythm. Its weight. Refine it like tea leaves steeping in hot water."
Spiritual energy surged gently through him. This time, it didn't just fill him—it refined him, like wind sanding a blade smooth.
"Good. Now compress that energy. Let it settle into your core. Form the seed of stability."
His breathing grew slower. His body warmed. Inside his dantian, he felt something spark—an energy more stable, more pure than before.
The System hovered, arms crossed. "Look at that. Look at me. How much hard work do I go through to turn this barren land into a blooming forest, huh?"
Taryn didn't respond—his full focus was on the energy swirling tighter, compressing into a stable flow. His body hummed. His veins buzzed. Then—
Crack!
Not a sound from outside, but a snap within. A barrier shattered. A layer lifted.
His eyes opened—calm, clear, and shining faintly.
The System floated above his head with fake tears. "Sniff My little spiritual weed… has become a sapling!"
Taryn stood slowly, energy still circulating with subtle vibrance. "I did it."
"You did," the System said, tone dropping into seriousness for once. "Level 2. That means your foundation is no longer a joke. You've officially stepped out of the weakest ranks. From now on, your journey begins for real."
Taryn clenched his fists slightly, the power now under his skin very real. "Then I'll keep moving. One level at a time."
"Good," System grinned. "Because the next chapters only get harder… and way more fun."