The moon cast a gentle, silver light upon River City, its reflection dancing softly on the surface of the slow-moving river that wound through the heart of the city. The cool night breeze swept away the last remnants of clouds, leaving the sky a canvas of twinkling stars, each one flickering as if playing hide and seek with the full moon.

At the Lin Mansion, servants were busy hanging lanterns along the hallways and outer edges, their soft light flickering in the night. The street lamps, powered by glowing spirit stones, lit up the gravel roads, casting a warm, golden glow that blended with the lanterns, bathing the entire estate in a serene, magical atmosphere.

After walking for half an hour, Alex finally arrived at his courtyard. The evening air was cool, and the distant sound of rustling leaves added to the serene atmosphere. As he stepped inside, he was greeted by his maid, Mei Ling. Her delicate features were framed by the soft glow of the lanterns, but Alex barely noticed in his rush to begin his cultivation. Without wasting any time, he instructed her to take him to his room and not to disturb him until morning.

Mei Ling led him down the long, bright hallway. At the far end, opposite the gate, stood the master bedroom. The massive, arched double doors were made from the finest ironwood, their surface polished to a deep, rich sheen. The room itself was a masterpiece, exuding both elegance and power. The centerpiece was the massive king-size bed, framed by four sturdy wooden poles that reached up to the high ceiling. Each pole was intricately carved with coiling dragons and phoenixes and connected by beautifully crafted railings. Rich, red silk curtains, embroidered with golden thread in the shapes of blooming peonies and lotus flowers, were tied back to the poles.

The bedspread was made of the finest silk, dyed in deep shades of crimson and gold, and embroidered with patterns of clouds and cranes. A thick, plush rug lay at the foot of the bed, its surface woven with soft furs. Against the far wall, a tall, lacquered wardrobe stood with doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Above the bed hung a stunning crystal chandelier, casting a gentle, ambient light across the room. The walls were adorned with scrolls, each bearing a different verse of calligraphy. In the corner, a small altar held a bronze incense burner shaped like a crouching tiger, with sandalwood smoke rising gently, filling the room with its calming scent. On either side of the bed were small wooden tables, each with a single porcelain lamp, their bases painted with scenes of koi fish swimming in a pond.

Alex climbed onto his bed, pulling out the technique manuals he had picked. Settling in, he opened the Pure Chaos Sutra and began to read.

Meridian Opening Realm is the first step of Qi cultivation. After the awakening of the spirit root, one can absorb the spiritual Qi present in the environment. In the first layer of the Meridian Opening Realm, one cleanses the nine prime meridians. From the 2nd to the 9th layer, one creates 99 meridian pathways throughout the body for Qi to flow. Every human is born with nine prime meridians, but only those with a spirit root can feel them. These meridians extend from the spirit root and attach to the dantian. However, the dantian is initially sealed, and only by accumulating liquid Qi can one break through and access it.

Alex straightened his back, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, feeling the air fill his lungs as his spirit root warmed up. Slowly, he became aware of the nine prime meridians branching out from his spirit root. With each breath, the spirit root absorbed the Qi in his lungs, and he guided it toward the least clogged meridian. In the first layer of the Meridian Opening Realm, the order in which the meridians were cleansed didn’t matter, but it was preferred to start with the least obstructed one for faster results.

He adjusted his breathing rhythm according to the manual, increasing his Qi absorption rate. It felt like moving through thick mud—slow and arduous—but bit by bit, he began to cleanse the impurities in the meridian.

Morning arrived, and sunlight peeked through the window, filling the room with a warm glow. Alex opened his eyes, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He had just completed the cleansing of his first prime meridian. During his cultivation, the warmth from his spirit root had intensified, becoming almost unbearably hot after two hours, forcing him to stop. He had fallen asleep shortly afterward and woke up just before dawn, resuming his cultivation until he finally broke through to the first layer of the Meridian Opening Realm.

From this point on, I’m no longer just a mortal—I’m a cultivator, Alex thought, a mix of excitement and disbelief flooding him. "That was easy," he muttered. "At this rate, I’ll reach mid-level in a week. Is it normal for a low-grade mundane spirit root to breakthrough in a day? If so, what about those with a peak-grade root? Lin Yue could probably reach mid-level in three days."

As he basked in the warmth of the Qi now flowing through his meridian, he noticed his senses sharpening. His vision became clearer, as if he were seeing in high definition; he could make out every detail in the room. His hearing improved, and even his sense of smell became more acute—he could catch the fragrance of flowers from the garden outside his room. His body felt a bit stronger too, though not drastically so—still within the realm of ordinary humans.

As Alex was busy examining his new abilities, a light blue window suddenly appeared in his field of vision. At first, he thought he was hallucinating, but as he read the words, excitement surged through him.

Status Window Host: Lin Hao (Alex Mercer) Cultivation: Realm: Meridian Opening Realm Layer: 1st layer Level: Low level Cultivation Techniques: Pure Chaos Sutra (0/500) Martial Techniques: [None] Utility Techniques: [None] Ability: Enlightenment[+]

*Finally, I got my cheat code. Nothing can stop me now!* Alex thought, grinning.* Well, that was cringe. But hey, I’m in a cultivation world—why not chase the so-called peak?*

The appearance of the system window didn’t seem strange to him anymore—after all, he was already living in this world. Even if someone was behind this, he didn’t care, as long as it made him stronger.

The system window was basic, showing his status, including his cultivation realm. The cultivation techniques section listed the *Pure Chaos Sutra,* with a progress bar showing (0/500) experience points needed to level up. *Why’s it zero?* Alex wondered. *Maybe I need to engrave those runes in the meridians to start gaining experience.* After all, what he’d been doing so far was just the basic step of cleansing the prime meridians, something common to all cultivation techniques. The martial and utility techniques sections were empty, as expected. Lastly, there was an ability section with a single ability. Curious, Alex tapped the plus sign beside "Enlightenment," and a new window popped up.

Ability Name Enlightenment Description A divine spark ignites within your soul, granting you a momentary glimpse into the grand dao. Your mind, now sharpened to a razor's edge, can pierce through the veils of ignorance and comprehend the most profound truths. As time seems to stand still, your thoughts flow like a river, carrying with them the wisdom of the ages. Duration 30 minutes Cooldown Time 23 hours 30 minutes Comprehension Boost 10x

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"Damn, a 10x comprehension boost! With this, I can breeze through those runes. But how do I level up—is it pure grinding, or do I have to kill enemies?" he mused.

After playing around with the status page for a bit, Alex decided to get cleaned up. He headed to the bathroom attached to his chamber, where he brushed his teeth and then moved to the wooden tub. The tap had no visible pipe connection, yet when he turned it, water poured out. *Magic, I guess,* he thought, shaking his head with a smile.

After a quick soak, Alex stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around his waist. He caught his reflection in the large mirror and took a moment to study it. He didn’t have the sharp, sword-like brows or eyes that sparkled like stars often described in the novels. His eyes were just dull gray, plain and unremarkable. His skin wasn’t pale and flawless like jade either—instead, it was sun-kissed, the result of countless hours spent toiling in the fields. His hands were calloused from manual labor, a clear sign of the hard work he had endured over the years. He wasn’t overly muscular, but his body was toned, athletic from years of farm work. His long, dark hair was tied into a simple ponytail.

Satisfied, Alex returned to his room and began searching for clothes in the wardrobe. Just as he was about to get dressed, a knock came at his door, followed by a sweet voice.

"Young Master, have you awakened? This servant has brought warm breakfast for you."