Kai placed his hands over his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath his palms. Kai began to visualize bolts of lightning striking his heart in time with each pulse.

At first, nothing seemed to happen. Kai furrowed his brow, concentrating harder. He imagined the lightning growing stronger, more frequent, trying to sync it perfectly with his heartbeat.

Come on, it's like timing a combo move. Just got to get the rhythm right...

A tingling sensation began to spread through his chest. Kai's hopes rose. Was it working? The tingling intensified, becoming almost uncomfortable. His heart rate increased, thumping harder against his ribs.

Steady now. Don't want to overclock the system.

He tried to maintain the visualization, keeping the lightning strikes in sync with his accelerating pulse. The energy built, and for a moment, Kai thought he had it.

Then, without warning, the energy dissipated. The tingling faded, leaving Kai feeling slightly out of breath and more than a little disappointed.

He opened his eyes, sighing as he looked down at the scroll. "Well, that was anticlimactic," he muttered.

Kai glanced out the window, noting the position of the sun. He'd been at this for hours.

I should probably take a break. No use burning myself out.

As he stood up, Kai couldn't help feeling a twinge of frustration. Part of him had hoped he'd be able to master this technique quickly, like a protagonist unlocking a new skill with ease. But reality, it seemed, had other plans.

It's fine. Real cultivation takes time and effort. But I do wish I could use the system to learn it instantaneously…

Kai walked over to his desk, picking up a cup of now-cold tea. He sipped it anyway, grimacing slightly at the bitter taste.

"Senior Brother?" Chen Wei's voice called from outside the room. "Are you finished with your cultivation for now?"

"Come in, Chen Wei," Kai replied, setting down the cup.

The young servant entered, bowing respectfully. "I brought some fresh fruit and water, in case you needed refreshment."

Kai smiled. "Thank you. That's exactly what I need right now."

As Chen Wei set down the tray, he glanced curiously at the open scroll. "How is your cultivation progressing, Senior Brother?"

Kai shrugged, picking up an apple from the tray. "Slowly. This new meridian is proving... challenging."

Chen Wei's eyes widened. "But you're a Legacy Disciple! Surely it can't be that difficult for someone of your talent?"

Kai chuckled, shaking his head. "Talent isn't everything, Chen Wei. Even the most gifted cultivators have to put in the work." And I'm not exactly working with a cultivator's background or a prodigy’s talent here.

"Of course, Senior Brother," Chen Wei said quickly, looking slightly embarrassed. "I didn't mean to imply... It's just, well, you've progressed so quickly already."

Kai took a bite of the apple, considering his words carefully. "Progress isn't always linear. Sometimes you hit roadblocks. The key is to keep pushing forward."

As Kai finished the apple, his mind was already turning back to the problem at hand. There has to be something I'm missing. Maybe I need to approach this from a different angle...

He spent the rest of the day alternating between meditation attempts and studying the scroll, searching for any clue he might have overlooked. By nightfall, Kai was no closer to opening the meridian, but he refused to let it discourage him.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and I'm not going to become an immortal overnight. Just got to keep grinding.

***

The next few days fell into a similar pattern. Kai would wake early, attempt to open the meridian, study the scroll, then try again. Each failure only strengthened his resolve.

The Sect Master's offer of help lingered in the back of his mind, but he pushed it aside. He knew how cultivation worked in this world. Masters didn't hold their disciples' hands through every little challenge. They expected you to struggle, to push your limits before you came to them.

Stolen novel; please report.

Besides, Kai mused as he prepared for yet another attempt, I've only been at this for a few days.

On the fourth day, as the sun was setting, Kai sat back on his heels, rubbing his temples. Another unsuccessful attempt. He could feel the energy, could almost grasp it, but something was still... off.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Enter," Kai called out.

Chen Wei stepped in, carrying a tray laden with steaming dishes. The aroma of spiced meat and vegetables filled the room, making Kai's stomach growl.

"I thought you might be hungry, Senior Brother," Chen Wei said, setting the tray down on a low table. "You've been working so hard, I worried you might forget to eat."

Kai's expression softened. "Thank you, Chen Wei. You're right, I did lose track of time." He moved to sit at the table and noticed Chen Wei hesitating. "Well, don't just stand there. Take a seat and dig in."

Chen Wei smiled, visibly relaxing. "Of course, Senior Brother. Thank you." He sat down across from Kai without further prompting.

As they ate, Kai found his mind wandering to practical matters. I've been so focused on cultivation, I haven't given much thought to my financial situation.

"Chen Wei," Kai said between bites, "I've been meaning to ask you something."

The young servant looked up attentively. "Yes, Senior Brother?"

"You mentioned before that your family owns an inn. What other ways does your family earn money?"

Chen Wei's eyes lit up at the question. "Oh, we have several ventures! Besides the inn, we have a small trading caravan that travels between towns. My older sister manages a textile shop, and my uncle runs a vineyard just outside the city."

Kai nodded, impressed by the family's entrepreneurial spirit. "That's quite diverse. Smart to have multiple income streams."

"Father always says not to put all your eggs in one basket," Chen Wei said proudly. Then he looked at Kai curiously. "If you don't mind me asking, Senior Brother, why are you interested in earning money?"

Kai leaned back, considering how to answer. "Well, as a Legacy Disciple, I receive a monthly allowance of spirit stones. It's generous, but not limitless. And in my experience, you can never have too many resources."

Chen Wei nodded. "Father says the same thing about money. But... what ways can a cultivator earn spirit stones? I mean, aside from sect missions and tournaments."

Kai grinned. "That's exactly what I was going to ask you. Any ideas?"

Chen Wei's brow furrowed in thought. "Well... I've heard some cultivators take on disciples or offer tutoring services. Others sell talismans or pills they've crafted. And some even act as mercenaries or guards for merchant caravans."

"Interesting options," Kai mused. Tutoring could work, but it might take time away from my own cultivation. Talisman crafting sounds promising, but I'd need to learn the skill first. And mercenary work... probably not the best idea while I'm still in the Qi Refining stage. Also, leaving the sect would just put me in unnecessary danger.

"What about trading?" Kai asked. "I remember you mentioning your family has some experience with that."

Chen Wei nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes! Trading can be very profitable. Some cultivators specialize in finding rare herbs or minerals and selling them to sects or other cultivators. Others buy goods in one town and sell them for a profit in another."

Kai's eyes lit up. Now that sounds promising. Buy low, sell high, and take advantage of market inefficiencies.

"Chen Wei," Kai said, leaning forward, "I think I've found my side business. How would you like to help me start a small trading operation?"

Chen Wei's eyes widened. "Me? But... I don't know much about trading, Senior Brother. I've only heard stories from my family."

"That's more experience than I have. And you've got good instincts. I think your perspective could be valuable in this."

Chen Wei fidgeted nervously. "I... I'd be honored to help, Senior Brother.”

Kai nodded, pleased. "Excellent. Now, let's start brainstorming. What goods do you think would be in high demand among cultivators?"

As they discussed potential products and markets, Kai found himself impressed by Chen Wei's knowledge. The young servant might not have direct experience, but he'd clearly been paying attention to his family's business discussions.

"You know," Kai said after a particularly insightful suggestion from Chen Wei, "you deserve more than just a servant's wage for this kind of work. How about I give you a percentage of the profits?"

"Oh no, Senior Brother! I couldn't possibly... This is my job as your servant. I already receive ten low-grade spirit stones a week, which is more than generous."

Kai shook his head firmly. "Chen Wei, you're a Stage 7 Qi Refining cultivator. You'll need more resources than that if you want to break through to the next level and enter the Inner Sect someday."

Chen Wei hesitated, clearly torn between his sense of duty and the opportunity being offered. "Well... if you insist, Senior Brother. But really, even five percent would be more than enough."

"Ten percent," Kai countered.

Chen Wei's jaw dropped. "Ten percent? But that's... that's too much, Senior Brother!"

Kai smiled. I would have gone up to twenty-five or even thirty-three percent, but if he's happy with ten, who am I to argue?

"It's settled then," Kai said. "Ten percent of the profits will go to you. Consider it an investment in your future, Chen Wei. The stronger you become, the more you can help me in return."

Chen Wei bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I... I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything," Kai replied. "Just keep up the good work. Now, let's start planning our first venture. I'm thinking we should start small, maybe with some common cultivation resources that are always in demand..."

As they delved into the details of their new business plan, Kai felt a sense of satisfaction. This is a good start. Extra income, a loyal helper, and a chance to learn more about this world's economy. It's like setting up a gold farming operation.

The rest of the evening flew by as they refined their plans. By the time they finished, Kai had a clear idea of their first steps.

"Alright, Chen Wei," Kai said as they wrapped up. "Tomorrow, I want you to start gathering information. Find out what cultivation resources are in highest demand right now, and who the main suppliers are. Don't make any purchases yet, just scout the market."

Chen Wei nodded eagerly. "Yes, Senior Brother! I'll visit the sect's trading area and ask around discreetly."

"Good," Kai said. "And remember, we're starting small. We don't want to draw too much attention right away."