Chapter Eleven: A Step Towards Power

After a faint whisper to himself, silence returned to envelop the cave. The small green crystals hanging on the gray stone walls began to flicker slowly, as if his breath was synchronizing with them. The pale light streaming between the rocks reflected shadows that felt like they were watching his every step. Kailin was fully aware that these rare moments of stillness might be the most dangerous. And there he was, standing in the heart of this silence, restless, while a strange feeling crept into his mind, as if something invisible was lurking within him.

He had learned from past experiences that panic is the biggest enemy in moments of stress. So what could this creature be? He felt a strange luster crackling in his heart, but soon he gathered his strength and held his breath to keep his body still, recalling all his lessons in self-control.

Then came the sound— the sound of the system that lit up the sky of his thoughts:

[Ding: A light magical activity was observed 50 meters north of the cave.]

Kailin took a deep breath as his heartbeat quickened. Thanks to the system, he could monitor the surrounding magical fluctuations, but the information that reached him was limited, not enough to give him a sense of security. What kind of creature could it be? He remembered from his scientist’s memories that the monsters did not differ much in their behavior, which gave him a little sense of security.

It was then that he remembered the sword he received at the beginning of his journey—the Sword of Transformation. He thought about summoning it, and at that moment, he felt the weight of the sword in his right hand as if it had materialized in front of him out of nowhere.

Kailin stared at the weapon in amazement, trying to comprehend how powerful this Heavenly Sword truly was. A weapon of the “heavenly” classification was something he had not even seen in his previous world, where weapons of the “Saint” grade were considered the pinnacle of power and were rarely found. He knew that such heavenly weapons were very rare and existed only in the possession of the greatest experts or in the vaults of the great empires across the five continents.

He began to examine the sword; it was about a meter long, with a simple yet shiny blade, smooth edges, and fine inscriptions that were barely visible but lit up when focused on. The sword looked like an ordinary blade, but Kailin felt that the power it concealed was beyond its mere appearance.

Smiling lightly, he said to himself, “If I have to fight, there will be no weapon better than this.”

He stood slowly, ready for any emergency, his eyes scanning the shadows outside the cave, checking every movement, listening for any unfamiliar sounds. The air was laden with the scent of damp earth; sounds of crickets filled the space, but they did not mask the tension inherent in the atmosphere.

Suddenly, he glimpsed something moving among the trees—red eyes glowing in the dark, followed by a faint rustling sound. A wolf-like creature appeared before him, but it was unlike any wolf he knew. Its fur was dense black, and its eyes sparkled with a red light like embers. The creature was studying Kailin carefully, as if assessing its prey.

Kailin took a deep breath and focused on his analysis skill. The system began to show him quick information about the creature:

[Ding: “Wolf of Shadows” - a magical creature of medium rank. Weak points: the base of the neck from behind, the tips of the front legs. Expected attacks: a quick pounce, strong bites, and the ability to camouflage and disappear in the dark.]

The base of the neck from the back and the tips of the front legs... Kailin repeated to himself, framing a preliminary plan in his mind.

The Shadow Wolf, as if sensing Kailin's analysis of it, bent down a little and then darted toward Kailin at an incredible speed. He did not have time to think, instead relying on supernatural insight to read the creature’s movement and predict its trajectory. The insight was working on analyzing every moment, transmitting every vibration in the Wolf's body, giving him a split-second to dodge the attack.

With a quick sideways step, Kailin dodged the Wolf's fangs, and at the same moment, he turned the transformation sword in a circular motion to strike the Wolf on its side. The Wolf bounced back but showed no signs of pain, as if unaffected by the blow.

Reinforcement! Remembering the sword's basic ability, Kailin summoned it at a critical moment. Energy from the sword flowed into his arm, giving him the surge of strength that the Heavenly Sword provided. He moved quickly, heading toward the wolf before it could launch a counterattack, delivering a concentrated blow toward its weak point: the base of the neck.

But the Wolf of Shadows, with remarkable agility, slightly deviated to the side, making the sword only scratch its skin. The Wolf tried to pivot around Kailin to pounce on his leg, but Kailin, thanks to his supernatural understanding, had anticipated this maneuver. He quickly bent down and transformed the transformation sword into a simple defensive mode, where the sword morphed into a small shield to protect him.

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He felt the impact of the Wolf's fangs on the shield, but the protection minimized the damage. Seizing the moment, Kailin transformed the sword back into its original form and delivered a swift blow to the Wolf's front leg, targeting its weakness as identified by the system.

The Wolf let out a muffled howl and withdrew its injured leg, but it did not give up. Instead, it disappeared into the shadows again, hiding among the trees as if planning a surprise attack. This was one of the Shadow Wolf's abilities—camouflaging itself in the dark and sneaking silently.

But Kailin was not without means of defense. Cautiously raising his sword, he began to sense his surroundings through super-insight, trying to track any abnormal movement in the shadows.

He saw a fleeting glimpse of red eyes approaching from his left side. Realizing the attack before it happened, he prepared for the transformation strike, gathering all his energy into the sword, increasing the power of the next blow by 20%.

When the wolf reappeared to attack him, Kailin launched a cutting blow toward its head. This time, the creature could not evade. The sword pierced the Wolf's body at the base of its neck, its weak point.

The Wolf finally let out a howl before collapsing onto the ground, lifeless. Kailin breathed a sigh of relief but remained on guard; he didn’t know if other monsters had sensed the battle and would decide to approach.

Kailin stood over the corpse of the creature that had just fallen. His last strike had been accurate and powerful, allowing him to vanquish the Shadow Wolf despite his lack of Qi or magic. He breathed another sigh of relief, but his eyes remained vigilant, aware that other monsters might be closer than he had thought. Here, in the world of "Xinghua," any victory could signal the beginning of a new confrontation.

Suddenly, a light flicker appeared before his eyes, accompanied by the sound of an announcement:

[Ding: Congratulations on killing the "Wolf of Shadows" - Level 5. You received 150 experience points and 50 shop points.]

Kailin looked at the message and smiled faintly. These points marked the start of his journey towards power, but they also reminded him of how far he was from his primary goal. The magic soul elixir was still far off, but he was now a step closer than he had been moments ago.

He felt the euphoria of victory wash over him, not only because he had managed to survive but because he had done so using his mental abilities and his Heavenly Sword, the Sword of Transformation. Even without the usual spiritual energy, he could rely on himself and this weapon.

Kailin returned the sword to its normal size, again sensing its comfortable weight in his hand. Though the sword resembled an ordinary blade in its basic form, the fact that it was of the “heavenly” classification made Kailin aware of its unique significance. This sword could evolve with him, indicating that his true strength would exceed the limits he currently knew.

He closed his eyes for a moment, sensing the calm that had settled after the battle. Then he opened his eyes and decided to continue on his way. If he could collect more points by fighting monsters and completing missions, he would eventually be able to buy elixirs.

Before he moved, he decided to check his status window because he hadn't seen it since arriving in this world, and he said, “Status.”

Name: Ling Tian (Kailin)

**Age:** 15 years (original host's age, 16 years)

**Race:** Human

**Level:** 2 (without training)

**Experience points:** 150/500

**Health:** 600

**Status points:**

- **Physical Strength:** 10

- **Speed:** 4

- **Endurance:** 5

- **Intelligence:** 20

**Technique Department:**

1. **Life Harmony Breathing Technique (Level 1):** A technique that helps purify the Qi within the user and promotes balanced energy flow in the body, increasing endurance and concentration.

**Skills Department:**

1. **Transformation Strike (Level 1):** The energy of the sword is used to increase the effectiveness of the first blow, yielding a powerful and unexpected strike that enhances attack power by 20% for one hit.

2. **Simple Defensive Mode (Level 1):** Allows the sword to switch to a shield mode to protect the user briefly from minor harm. Reduces damage by 15% from simple attacks for two seconds.

**Ability Department:**

1. **Super Insight (Level 1):** Provides the host with the ability to see hidden or unclear things, such as discovering weaknesses or predicting near-future events.

2. **Super Understanding (Level 1):** Helps the host assimilate complex information rapidly, allowing quick learning of new technologies or languages.

3. **Analysis (Level 1):** Allows immediate evaluation of people, monsters, or situations, identifying strengths and weaknesses, which enhances decision-making in battles.

4. **Elemental Control (Level 1):** Enables the host to control natural elements (fire, water, air, etc.) for combat or to create remarkable environmental effects.

Kailin looked at the status window and reflected deeply. He was not surprised by his low stats; he knew that Ling Tian’s body, which he now occupied, had not undergone any mana training before arriving in this world. He felt a mix of challenge and responsibility; by assuming someone else's body, he had also taken on the task of realizing his dream. Ling Tian was a struggling young man aspiring to surpass his weaknesses, and here was Kailin, equipped with new abilities, poised to fulfill this ambition.

Kailin then decided to move from his location; the area was no longer safe after the battle with the Shadow Wolf. He did not know if other creatures had sensed the ruckus of the battle and approached, but he was not prepared to linger and test his luck. A true warrior knows when to fight and when to retreat, Kailin recalled as he relived his father’s old lessons.

Kailin gathered his thoughts and started walking cautiously out of the cave, heading toward a safer area. After searching for some time, he found a small, secluded cave that seemed like a safe place to spend the night. The cave was relatively narrow but provided enough protection from the cold winds and nocturnal creatures that might roam nearby.

He sat inside, leaning back against the stone wall, and took a deep breath, feeling the calm around him. Fatigue began to creep into his body; the battle, although quick, had been full of tension and concentration. He closed his eyes, trying to relax and prepare for a new day. Inside, he felt satisfaction and reassurance, as this was the first experience where he proved to himself that he could fight even in a strange world with a body he had yet to adapt to.

As the morning came, sunlight crept through the cave entrance, waking Kailin from his sleep. He got up slowly, stretching his muscles to remove traces of fatigue. His mind was busy considering his next move. He looked at the horizon and decided to return to the village where Ling Tian lived before he arrived. Returning to the village could be the first step toward understanding this world better, he told himself.

He was aware that the village, despite its simplicity, might contain answers to his questions, and perhaps he would find clues that could guide him toward advanced training methods or resources to help him develop his abilities. He wanted to understand Ling Tian's true situation and learn more about the magical ring system governing this world.

Gathering his belongings, he prepared to set out. The road to the village would be long and challenging, but Kailin could feel determination coursing through him. He walked slowly, feeling the ground beneath his feet, observing the surrounding nature. Towering trees surrounded him, casting shadows on the ground. The sounds of birds echoed in the air, but beneath this calm, Kailin sensed something greater; a feeling that this world held deep secrets and that he was about to embark on a long journey to uncover them.

With every step he took toward the village, his thoughts revolved around his new goals—not only to fulfill Ling Tian's ambitions but to grow stronger himself. He knew real strength lies not just in physical power but also in spiritual growth and self-understanding. The journey ahead would not be easy, but it would be filled with challenges that would refine his soul and open new doors for him.

He finally reached the road leading to the village, and it seemed as if the whole world was preparing for a new adventure. Sunlight pierced through the trees, casting a warm golden glow on the place, as if nature itself blessed his steps. In that moment, he felt a deep connection with the earth, as if it embraced him and encouraged him to continue.

Smiling confidently, Kailin made his way toward the village, ready for whatever he might encounter, prepared to start anew, carrying both his dream and Ling Tian’s dream within him.