The forest was quiet in the early morning light as Kai sat cross-legged on a mossy rock, his eyes closed in concentration. He took slow, deep breaths, following the cultivation technique Zhang Wei had taught him. The cool air filled his lungs as he focused on the flow of qi within his body.

Breathe in, hold, breathe out. Feel the energy circulating, Kai reminded himself.

He'd been practicing diligently for weeks now, gradually strengthening his qi and advancing through the early stages of cultivation. Physical labour no longer affected his stats, he would need to cultivate if he wanted to grow stronger.

As he continued the breathing exercise, Kai felt a subtle shift within him. The energy flowing through his meridians seemed to pulse more strongly, gathering and condensing in his dantian.

This feeling... could it be?

Kai opened his eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He pulled up his status window, confirming his suspicion:

Name: Kai Thorn

Level: 3

Qi: 50/50

Strength: 20

Agility: 22

Durability: 20

Intelligence: 11

Wisdom: 10

"Qi Refining Stage 3," Kai murmured, satisfaction evident in his voice. "Not bad for a few weeks of work."

He stood up, stretching his limbs and feeling the increased vitality coursing through his body. While he knew he still had a long way to go in terms of cultivation, each advancement felt like a significant milestone.

Some would assume it was mainly the physical stats that caused the disparity between the different stages in the Qi Refining Realm, but Kai didn’t think so.

"It's the qi," Kai nodded. "The quality and quantity make the real difference."

He compared his current qi to when he was at Stage 2. It felt denser, more potent. He could sense it flowing through his meridians with greater force.

Kai approached a tall tree. He took a stance and threw a punch, channeling qi into his fist. The bark cracked, leaving a noticeable indentation.

"If I was still at Stage 2, that same punch would've barely scratched the surface," he mused. "The physical difference isn't huge, but the impact of the qi is night and day."

Holding out his hand, Kai’s thoughts turned to his unique skill in this world. Time to practice Qi Condensation.

He focused, drawing upon his qi and willing it to take shape. A faint glow emanated from his palm as the energy coalesced into a simple dagger. Kai studied the construct critically, noting its strengths and weaknesses.

The blade looked sharp enough, but he could see minor imperfections in its form. More importantly, he could feel the drain on his qi as he maintained the construct. After about thirty seconds, the dagger flickered and dissipated.

"Hmm, better than when I started," Kai mused aloud. "But still a long way from being combat-ready."

He spent the next hour practicing, forming various shapes and testing how long he could maintain them. Swords, shields, even simple tools like hammers – each presented its own challenges.

The bigger or more complex the shape, the faster it drains my qi, Kai noted. And the strength seems directly tied to how much qi I put into it. At my current level, when facing a higher stage cultivator, it is more of a parlor trick than a weapon.

Still, he couldn't help but feel excited about the potential of this skill. With enough practice and as his cultivation base grew stronger, Kai knew this ability could become a formidable asset.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Kai decided to call it quits for the morning. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten yet.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Maybe I should bring something back for the village, he thought. A little hunting practice couldn't hurt.

Kai moved deeper into the forest, his footsteps nearly silent thanks to his improved agility. He kept his senses alert, listening for any signs of prey. After about fifteen minutes, he heard a rustle in the underbrush ahead.

Crouching low, Kai peered through the foliage. A plump pheasant pecked at the ground, unaware of his presence.

Perfect, Kai thought, a plan already forming in his mind.

He focused his qi, forming a thin, razor-sharp blade in his hand. Taking careful aim, Kai threw the qi construct like a throwing knife. The ethereal blade whistled through the air, striking the pheasant before it could react.

"Got it," Kai grinned, retrieving his prize. "Let's see how the villagers like this for breakfast."

With the increase in his stats, he had made sure to set aside some time to practice the basic skills of survival since he didn't have the luxury of living in a first world country anymore.

My aims not perfect yet, but it's improving.

Feeling quite pleased with himself, Kai made his way back toward the village. As he neared the outskirts, however, his smile faded. Something was wrong. The usual peaceful atmosphere was shattered by sounds of distress – crying, shouting, and the general chaos of panic.

Kai quickened his pace, bursting into the village square. The scene that greeted him was one of devastation. Several buildings showed signs of damage, with broken windows and splintered doors. Villagers milled about in confusion and fear, some nursing injuries while others comforted crying children.

"What happened here?" Kai demanded, approaching a group of villagers.

An older man with a bandaged arm turned to him, his face pale with shock. "Bandits," he spat. "They came about an hour ago, like a pack of wolves. We tried to fight them off, but..." He gestured helplessly at the destruction around them.

A woman nearby let out a wail of despair. "They took them! My daughter, my sweet Lin... they took her and the other girls!"

"Kidnapped?” Kai's blood ran cold. “How many?"

"At least a dozen," the injured man replied grimly. "Mostly young women and girls. We couldn't stop them."

Damn it, Kai thought, his mind racing. I should have been here. Maybe I could have...

He shook his head, pushing away the useless guilt. What mattered now was what he could do about it.

"Where's Zhang Wei?" Kai asked, scanning the crowd for the old cultivator.

"Over by the well," someone called out. "He's hurt pretty bad."

Kai hurried over, finding the elder slumped against the stone well, his robes stained with blood. Zhang Wei looked up as Kai approached, his face scrunched in pain.

"Kai," the old man croaked. "You're alright. I feared..."

"I'm fine," Kai assured him, kneeling beside his mentor. "What happened? How bad are you hurt?"

Zhang Wei grimaced. "Nothing fatal, just my pride. I tried to stop them, but..." He shook his head, frustration evident in his voice. "I'm useless. Can't manipulate qi past Stage 5 Qi Refining anymore. Years ago, those bandits wouldn't have stood a chance."

"What stage were the bandits at?” Kai's eyes narrowed. “Were they all cultivators?"

"Most were just mortal thugs," Zhang Wei replied. "But there were a few cultivators among them. Their leader..." The old man's voice dropped to a whisper. "He was at least Stage 6 Qi Refining. Maybe even Stage 7."

Stage 6 or 7? That's at least three whole stages above me, Kai thought, his mind already calculating odds and possibilities. In gaming terms, that's like an experienced player versus a newbie. But...

"We can't just let them take those women," Kai said firmly. "There has to be something we can do."

"Kai, no,” Zhang Wei looked at him sharply. “I know what you're thinking, but it's suicide. You can't hope to defeat a Stage 7 cultivator. Not at your level."

Kai stood up, his jaw clenched. "Maybe not in a straight fight. But I've always specialized in taking down opponents way above my level. It just takes the right strategy."

He looked around the village, taking in the devastation. Children huddled in corners, crying for their missing mothers and sisters. Men nursed injuries, their faces full of shame and helplessness. Kai thought of Auntie Chen, who always slipped him extra treats after training, and young Mei Li, who'd watched wide-eyed as he showed off his qi skills.

They don't deserve this, Kai thought, his resolve hardening. These people took me in, helped me when I had nothing. I can't abandon them now.

"I'm going after them," Kai announced, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Zhang Wei struggled to his feet, grabbing Kai's arm. "Please, don't throw your life away! You're talented, yes, but talent means nothing against raw power at that level!"

Kai gently but firmly removed the old man's hand. "I appreciate your concern, Master Zhang. But I'm not going to charge in blindly. Trust me, I have experience with this sort of thing."

Maybe not in real life, Kai admitted to himself. But how different can it be from raid planning?

"I'll scout their location, assess their defenses, and come up with a plan," Kai continued. "If it looks impossible, I'll come back and we'll figure something else out. But I have to try."

Zhang Wei stared at him for a long moment, then sighed heavily. "I can see there's no talking you out of this. At least take some supplies with you. And for heaven's sake, be careful!"

Kai nodded, a grim smile on his face. "Always am. Don't worry, I'll bring them back."

As he gathered some basic supplies – food, water, and a sturdy knife – Kai's mind was already making plans.

First step, tracking. Then reconnaissance. Find their weaknesses, create a diversion, and extract the hostages. Simple in theory, but the execution will be tricky.

He paused at the village gate, looking back at the worried faces of the villagers.

I won't let you down, he silently promised. Time to put all those hours of gaming to real-world use.

With a deep breath, Kai set out on the bandits' trail. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them. After all, he'd come to this world with nothing – now he had a chance to prove his worth.

Let the hunt begin, Kai thought as he disappeared into the forest.