Chapter 4: Provide Information!
"It's taking much shorter than I imagined, and from what I know so far, this speed seems ridiculous." Ken reached out to a piece of memory where the elder stated that even normal techniques took weeks to months to even reach the next realm, the minor accomplishment realm.
"But I wonder if this is the same for all techniques, or if it depends on their ranks and difficulty." Ken knew that every technique had its own grade; this body-forging technique was one of its own, unique, so to say, as it focused on a completely different aspect than all cultivators tended to.
"A 9th grade unique technique, From the introduction, it seems as effective as 8th-grade techniques. Such techniques are usually kept on the 5th floor of the pagoda, reserved for inner sect disciples, but due to its difficulty, the sect kept it on the 3rd floor, hoping that someone manages to train it, or perhaps giving up on it entirely." Ken thought to himself.
"Still... A body forging technique amongst those who only focus on energy... In a long battle... I will have a complete advantage, a seamless victory, assuming I play my cards right."
Indeed, a spirit path's worst weakness was emptying their energy reserves, as their bodies would become as weak as that of mortals.
This was the reason why the creator of this technique resolved to this unconventional method of using the energy against himself, tempering his body with it.
Being a Qi Refining realm cultivator, Ken knew more than anyone what would happen to him once all the energy he was revolving around his body would be used up.
But that's a matter for another time.
"[Provide Information]" This time, Ken experienced something totally different; his mind and space totally shifted into a world of fog.
He could see nothing and could feel nothing.
For a few seconds, he was confused, not knowing where he was, what had happened, or what was about to happen.
until the space changed.
This time the fog cleared up to form words, words that played out in his mind and even his brain started making sense of them as if, without him even having to make any effort, they were forcefully fed and understood.
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"The sect has decided to allow its new disciples to explore a newly discovered secret realm that was deemed safe, allowing for a kind of experience that was described as best for growth."
"Being directly introduced to the dangers of the world would allow the new disciples to get accustomed and change their mentality in a safe environment."
"But what the sect doesn't know is that unlike most of the secret realms, this one is set in a dark forest with an extremely dangerous abomination who is awake; thus, the newly recruited cultivators will be put in a cage where their life can be taken in a snap instead of a treasure trove with minimal danger that was expected."
"Surviving is not hard; remaining stationary for a week at most will allow one to get out scot-free, assuming the beast isn't out for hunting. But with risks comes opportunity; aside from the treasures, killing an abomination, an act that even the strongest of experts struggle with due to their unique state of being, brings one unimaginable riches."
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"..." Thinking about the information he had just digested, Ken had been forcefully made to think.
Whatever he had been planning to do was forcefully postponed as he sat down and reorganized his thoughts.
The sect would send them to the secret realm in a few months, a month to three at best.
And him being slightly better than a mortal with his first realm of Qi Refining, he would be put at immense risk, and losing control over his own fate was something Ken hated more than anything.
If he were to enter the secret realm, he'd prefer having full control over the situation and preferably also coming out with the most benefits.
He wasn't hoping to kill the abomination, but maybe getting a few treasures here and there, breaking through a few times and gaining more information about this world, as well as getting a feel of the dangers, would be great.
All in all, this was something that would happen by itself... if he didn't hole himself up for a week.
Moving on.
From what he just got, he needed to set a few points.
The sect who wanted them to grow would instead send them to a death cage, where many disciples would probably meet their doom.
It's a dark forest where no light exists or so he deduced, so he needs useful skills like night vision; he also needs some protection talismans and a way to maneuver around if he wants to benefit in some way.
He also needed more information.
The abomination was dangerous, and if even strong spirit path experts struggled to kill one, then there's no need to talk about him.
And he needed information.
Now, he was dirt poor and was starting off with no cultivation techniques, aside from spirit forging, no weapon, no skills, and no teammates.
He also was in urgent need of information.
So he should probably get some money, get more connections, learn more about secret realms, train a few more techniques, and use his providence as efficiently as possible as well as the Provide gacha, which was his best shot to get resources and power-ups free of charge.
And he definitely, definitely, needed more information.
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