Guys this chapter may clear all your doubts you have been asking in the comments please forgive me for not providing this earlier , dont worry there will be an actual chapter that will released as in continuation with the previous one after thisone today.
In the world of martial arts, a practitioner's true power is not measured by simple strength or speed, but by the depth and quality of their internal energy, known as qi. This life force, cultivated through rigorous training and profound meditation, is the foundation of all supernatural abilities. Progress along this path is marked by distinct stages, each representing a qualitative leap in power, perception, and one's very existence. While external techniques and weapons are important, it is the cultivation stage that ultimately separates the mortal from the legendary.
The journey begins at the Beginner Stage (Third-Rate Martial Artist). Here, a warrior has just unlocked the ability to sense and circulate qi. They are noticeably stronger, faster, and tougher than an ordinary person—perhaps twice as capable in each regard—but their inner energy is shallow and unrefined. They can easily defeat untrained soldiers, but against a true master, they are hopelessly outclassed. This is the foundation upon which all greater power is built.
Upon solidifying this foundation, one breakthroughs to the Developing Stage (Second-Rate Master). This is where a martial artist truly begins to stand out. Their strength multiplies several times over, allowing them to perform feats that seem superhuman to common folk. Their agility increases to the point where leaping onto rooftops becomes effortless, and their skin becomes tough enough to turn aside a glancing blow from a blade. Their endurance allows them to fight for extended periods, and their battle awareness becomes sharp, allowing them to read an opponent's movements with greater clarity. Most skilled sect disciples reside within this stage.
A significant qualitative leap occurs at the Elite Stage (First-Rate Master). The density and refinement of their qi undergo a dramatic transformation. Their physical capabilities are enhanced to an incredible degree; their strength allows them to shatter stone, their speed appears as a blur to lesser fighters, and their recovery is so accelerated that wounds that would take weeks to heal mend in a matter of days. Their perception is honed to a razor's edge, granting them a keen sense for danger and lightning-fast reflexes. A single first-rate master can dominate a large group of second-rate experts with ease.
Nearing the peak of mortal capability is the Peak Mortal Realm (First-Rate Peak). The internal energy of a master at this stage is so potent it feels like liquid fire flowing through their veins. Their physical strikes can pulverize boulders and snap forged steel weapons. Their movement is so swift and graceful it seems ghost-like, and their endurance borders on the superhuman, granting them high resistance to poisons and illnesses. Their mental state achieves near-perfect focus, and they can begin to perceive the flow of qi in others and the environment around them.
Transcending the limits of the mundane is the Grandmaster Realm. This stage is a fundamental evolution of being. A Grandmaster's internal energy pool is vast, and they can project it beyond their body to strike opponents from a distance or form a protective aura. Their physical body is as tough as tempered steel, and their senses extend far beyond normal sight and hearing, allowing them to read the intent of others. They represent a power that can influence the fate of entire sects and regions.
Beyond even this lies the Transcendent or Legendary Realm, a stage of near-mythical power. Those who reach this apex are no longer bound by conventional understanding. Their strength can level small fortifications, their speed defies belief, and they can move across water or glide through the air as if unbound by gravity. Their lifespan is significantly extended, aging slows to a crawl, and their mental acuity approaches enlightenment, granting them intuition that borders on prescience. They are the legends whose stories are told for generations, the ultimate goal of the martial path.
he Infinite Upgrade System: A Transmigrator's Advantage
Upon his transmigration into the world of Legends of the Celestial Blade Realm, Liam Ardent was granted a unique advantage that sets him apart from every native martial artist: the Infinite Upgrade System. This mysterious interface, visible only to him, functions with the clear, quantifiable logic of a game, allowing him to progress at a pace that would be unimaginable through cultivation alone.
Think of it as two parallel paths to power:
1. The System Path: Levels, EXP, and Instant Gains
This path is the "game" side of his growth. It's fast, direct, and fueled by experience points (EXP).
Gaining EXP: Liam earns EXP through various actions:
Cultivating Manuals: Reading and practicing martial arts manuals grants a large chunk of EXP. The higher the manual's grade (Bronze → Silver → Gold → Diamond → King → Legendary), the more EXP is awarded.
Using Items: Consuming special system items like Experience Pills or Cultivation Boost Cards instantly grants massive EXP.
Achievements: Completing significant story milestones or personal goals (e.g., "Save Butterfly Valley," "Earn the Divine Physician Title") rewards bonus EXP.
Battles: Victorious battles, especially against powerful foes, yield EXP.
Leveling Up: When his EXP bar fills, he levels up. This is a instantaneous process that provides immediate, tangible benefits:
Stat Boosts: His basic attributes—Strength, Agility, Vitality, Comprehension—receive a permanent increase.
System Perks: Leveling up can unlock new system functions, such as an expanded inventory, the Scan ability to see others' power levels, or access to the System Shop.
It's a Shortcut: Leveling up is a way to get stronger without the years of meditation and training. A high System Level makes his body a more capable vessel for holding power.
2. The Cultivation Path: Internal Energy and Realms
This path is the traditional "wuxia" side of his growth. It's slower, more qualitative, and defines his true martial foundation.
Improving Internal Energy: The size and quality of his Internal Energy (Qi) pool is increased by:
Practicing High-Tier Manuals: While a Bronze manual might teach a useful technique, a Gold or Diamond manual contains profound methods to genuinely expand, refine, and purify one's life force. This is the primary way to grow his actual power.
Secluded Cultivation: Spending time in meditation and energy circulation, often accelerated by Training Cards from the system.
Advancing Stages/Realms: As his Internal Energy grows denser and more powerful, he eventually breaks through to a higher Cultivation Stage (e.g., Second-Rate Expert → First-Rate Expert → Super First-Rate Expert). This is a qualitative leap that transforms him:
Massively Enhanced Physicality: His strength, speed, and durability multiply.
Sharper Senses: His reflexes, perception, and intuition become superhuman.
Technique Amplification: The same martial technique is far more powerful when executed with the refined energy of a higher stage.
Longevity: At the highest stages, aging slows significantly.
The Crucial Difference: Level vs. Stage
This is the most important concept. A high System Level does not automatically mean a high Cultivation Stage.
Liam could be Level 20 thanks to using many EXP pills, giving him great stats and unlocked perks.
But if he's only cultivated low-tier manuals, his Internal Energy might still be at the Second-Rate Expert stage.
In a fight, his high stats would let him punch above his weight, but a true First-Rate Expert (even with a lower System Level) would still have a deeper, stronger energy reserve and would eventually overpower him through superior technique and qi quality.
The System gives him the potential and the tools, but the Cultivation Path determines the depth of his power.
Synthesis: How Liam Becomes Truly Invincible
Liam's ultimate strength comes from synergizing these two paths. The System provides the fuel and the shortcuts, while his cultivation provides the foundation.
He uses the System to quickly level up, gaining stats and unlocking the Scan ability to find powerful manuals.
He then uses those stats to acquire and practice high-tier manuals (like the Nine Suns Divine Skill or the Cosmic Shift), which genuinely expands his Cultivation Stage and Internal Energy.
The System Shop might provide a "Double Cultivation Card," allowing him to gain twice the Internal Energy from his training session, further accelerating his progress on the cultivation path.
His high Comprehension stat from leveling up allows him to learn and master these legendary manuals in days instead of decades.
In essence, the Infinite Upgrade System is the ultimate catalyst. It doesn't replace the need for profound cultivation; it simply removes all the time, limits, and bottlenecks, allowing Liam to achieve in a year what would take others a lifetime. He is playing the same game as everyone else, but he alone has access to the cheat codes.
This story is inspired from various Wuxia novels ,so if you find any similarities please dont mind . and if you think this is boring wait till the Dual cultivation starts ,Thank you .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/N :
Access 25 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/GodFic