My name is Xie Wen, I was an outer sect disciple of the Immortal Peaks Garden Sect.
I said I was because that sect had been burnt to the ground along with its many members, including me. So the question is, why am I still alive?
My answer for that is I have no idea!
Xie Wen's last memory was being stabbed in the chest by demonic cultivators before losing consciousness. When I came to, everything was already ruined. Moss and vines are forming on the pile of debris and rotten remains of the planks that surround me.
I said Xie Wen's memory because I am not originally Xie Wen. My name is... I forgot actually, but in my past life I am a shut-in living in modern Japan. My hobbies are playing games, reading manga and light novels, and collecting anime figurines with my parents' money.
I know that makes me sound like a loser. I admit that I am really a loser. Why would I stay in my room for a decade if I'm not so pathetic?
I thought when I became an adult, I could distance myself from my pathetic self. Since middle school I always got bullied due to my nerdy appearance. I didn't think that even outside high school, the stigma of being a loser would cling to me like a curse.
I can't handle the humiliation from my former bullies. My new friends at my work quickly turned their backs at me after learning about my pathetic self, and the woman who became close to me condemning me due to that fact, further destroying my image on the company.
It's so pathetic. My reason for becoming a shut-in is because I give up.
I always dreamt of being transported to another world. At least if I get transported, my problems will be left alone.
My delusional dreams come true as right now, I am gazing at the destroyed sect with my own eyes. My blood-soaked robes cling to my skin as the stale scent of the burnt remnants of the outer disciple dorms hits my nose. The memories of the former owner of this body settle in my mind.
Right now I am Xie Wen, and I am the last remaining disciple of this sect.
Xie Wen is a twenty year old outer sect disciple with inferior roots. With such an inferior root, Xie Wen's cultivation speed is incredibly slow. He has no talent, and his affinity is Earth which is very common amongst cultivators.
Normally, cultivators at age 20 should already be at the 9th Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Xie Wen is still at the 5th Stage.
This world is extremely dangerous. Just by his memories alone, dangerous thoughts and a huge amount of ego is oozing out from his history. He has aspirations to become the best, and vicious mindsets like stepping on the weak if an opportunity to become strong presents itself. He has no qualms about killing people and doesn't think conning mortal villages out of their wealth is wrong.
And supposedly, this is normal in this world. In this world, strength is the law. They follow the law of the jungle in every facet of their life. Being weak is a sin in this world.
If I want to survive in this world, I have to become strong soon. It will be very difficult because of my inferior cultivation root.
I sigh. I thought Isekai was supposed to be easy with level ups and cheat abilities. Am I going to suffer hardship after waking up in this world?
... Well, I think that is just right. I'm a pathetic person in my past life, so why should I get any advantages? I should be happy I got my wish to be transmigrated in another world!
Even if it's not the same type of fantasy world I am hoping for...
*Ding*
[Congratulations, you have been chosen to wield the Immortal Prestige System. With this System, you can reset your progress and acquire benefits in your potential along with Prestige Points which you can use to improve anything you have!]
"Woah!"
What is this? It's a panel that looks like the stuff I see on RPG games!
Is this my cheat ability!?
[STATUS]
Cultivation Stage: 5th Stage Foundation Establishment Realm
Spiritual Root: 5
Root Quality: Inferior
Cultivation Speed: 1x
Prestige Points: 0
(Affinity)
Earth (F)
(Talent)
Sword (F-)
(Technique)
Iron Edge (Small - Success)
I can't believe it, I actually have a cheat ability along with my transmigration!
Wait, resetting my cultivation?
Isn't that counterproductive?
I look around and check if there are any dangerous beasts around. I don't see anyone at all. It's just nature slowly claiming the ruins of the sect. I move away from my spot, and roam around the place. Occasionally I encounter some bones, likely originating from the other disciples of this sect. Though otherwise there is no one here.
There are the eventual insects, and the birds above flying in flocks along with some chirps in the distance. So I think there is no danger around as far as I know.
Hmm... should I expel my current cultivation base?
Expelling cultivation is actually easy. We simply have to regulate our breathing and exhale. We can control our own Qi within our dantian so letting it flow out of our pores is not that hard. It's a lot easier than absorbing Qi, flowing it through our spiritual roots, and then consolidating it within our dantian.
Though if I do that, I will return back to becoming a mortal. I'll have to start cultivating all over again. Do I really have to do this?
The answer is yes.
If my cheat ability will work by expelling my cultivation base back to zero, then I will do it. It's called a cheat ability so of course it would benefit me!
But not right now. I am still unsure about this place.
This place is the ruins of the Immortal Peaks Garden Sect, and if I am in the location of the outer disciple dorms, then if I just follow Xie Wen's memories, I might find a place suitable for cultivation.
I look up at the peak of this mountain and with a nod, take a step forward. My destination is set.
----------------------------------------
"... Fortunately, it is still intact."
Walking thousands of broken stairs and jumping through narrow footholds to the top would be impossible if I expelled all of my cultivation awhile ago. Even as a weak Foundation Establishment cultivator, I can display superhuman feats without any problem. What should have been precarious jumps became easy as if I was skipping stones in a river. I have an unnatural sense of balance that made it easier for me to step on footholds that mountain climbers would have a hard time even with hiking equipment.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
At the peak of the mountain is the ruined pagoda of the sect master. It's already ruined so there was nothing in it. Since my trek towards the peak, I haven't seen anything from the ruined pavilions and abodes of this destroyed sect. I assumed those demonic cultivators had ransacked everything before they burned the whole sect to the ground.
Even with that, I still check and am very grateful when I find what I am looking for.
Within the ruined pagoda is a room that is surprisingly intact. There is no hint of dirt or dust within the room, and while there are no treasures around, the subtle glow of the array shows that it is still working.
This room is a cultivation room that cultivators use for closed-door cultivation. I can feel Qi gathering abundantly within this spot.
This is a suitable spot to cultivate!
I checked my surroundings for awhile, and then sighed after I'm sure there was no one that would be a threat to me. I also check if there is any source of food and water for my sustenance, and the pond on the edge of this peak solves my dilemma.
With everything accounted for, I finally got the courage to reset my cultivation.
I take a seat within the wide enclosed room with a functional cultivation array, and then expel the consolidated Qi within my dantian, releasing them from my pores. As I am doing that, a feeling of heaviness settles on my muscles and there is this sense of lethargy bearing on my body.
[Reset detected, calculating... successful!]
[Spiritual Roots increased by 5!]
[Cultivation Speed multiplier increased by 0.15!]
[You gain a total of 15 Prestige Points!]
[Congratularions on your first reset, you have unlocked the Prestige Shop!]
The Prestige Shop?
[You can use the Prestige Shop to gain talents, techniques, bloodlines, relics, treasures or even improve upon anything you possess with Prestige Points!]
"Woooo!"
I just notice that I am hollering in excitement as I read that announcement from the status screen. Without waiting anymore, I think of opening the Prestige Shop.
[Prestige Shop]
(Shop)
(Improve)
I pick the Shop option, and find many categories ranging from techniques and talents that will benefit me up to something ridiculous like weapons and pets. As for the Improve option, it lists everything written in my status.
With the Shop, I can buy new stuff while on Improve, I can upgrade what I already have. It's a powerful function of my cheat ability which will give me many benefits so long as I have Prestige Points.
As for my status...
[STATUS]
Cultivation Stage: Mortal
Spiritual Root: 10
Root Quality: Inferior
Cultivation Speed: 1.15x
Prestige Points: 15
(Affinity)
Earth (F)
(Talent)
Sword (F-)
(Technique)
Iron Edge (Small - Success)
"A 1.15x speed in cultivation and an additional 5 inferior spiritual roots!"
That is a greater boon than everything else. It's impossible to increase spiritual roots or even improve upon it. As for cultivation speed, it depends on the spiritual roots too.
Even if these are inferior roots, it still doubles the amount of roots I have. That means ten more points within my meridians where the Qi can enter.
"... Then, whenever I reset my cultivation, maybe I can increase my roots and the speed of my cultivation!"
Just that function alone is strong. It's unheard of!
There is a small voice within my mind telling me that I can become the best with this, but I quickly curb that intent down. I shouldn't be complacent!
In Xie Wen's memories, most cultivators die because of their arrogance. I don't want to follow their steps and die a foolish death because of something useless as pride.
They said showing weakness was wrong, and to defy the heavens is to take everything head on. I think I will do the opposite.
I will hide, and build up my strength slowly. Cultivation can prolong my lifespan. Even if I reset my cultivation, it won't affect my general appearance. My vitality will still be the same as when I start cultivating.
Foundation Establishment doesn't really have the longevity effect. It simply strengthens the body. Lifespan extension will start at the Qi Condensation Realm. If my memory as Xie Wen is true, then reaching Qi Condensation Realm will increase my lifespan for 100 years, doubling my lifespan and it will return my vitality back to my youth.
So that means I just have to continue cultivating until I reach Qi Condensation then reset. With the Immortal Prestige System, I won't have to compete against resources and opportunities. So long as I stay and cultivate, eventually I can reach the peak of this world.
Then, surely, I will be able to have a peaceful life without any worries. If I want to do what I want, I need enough strength for it.
I recall Golden Core Cultivators being the strongest in this region. I have to reach that kind of power before I feel confident to leave this place.
So, I have to start cultivating right now. Before that though, I have to do something with my Prestige Points.
I already have something in mind when I choose the Improve option. There is an interesting choice in there that I can pick. That choice is the Root Quality.
[Improving Root Quality from Inferior to Lesser costs 10 Prestige Points. Would you like to proceed?]
"Yes."
Ten points have been deducted from my prestige and then, I felt something clicked within my body. I open my status by thinking about it.
[STATUS]
Cultivation Stage: Mortal
Spiritual Root: 10
Root Quality: Lesser
Cultivation Speed: 1.15x
Prestige Points: 5
(Affinity)
Earth (F)
(Talent)
Sword (F-)
(Technique)
Iron Edge (Small - Success)
Great. With the increase in quality on my spiritual roots, absorbing Qi will be a lot easier.
I immediately tried it out. Using the cultivation method Xie Wen practices and gathering the abundant Qi around me. That familiar feeling that left my body a while ago returned within my nerves. They enter easily through ten points of my meridians, and they flow easier than the time Xie Wen cultivates in the past. Each root gathers ten times more Qi than my former inferior roots.
I cycle them through my dantian, purifying the Qi and consolidating it into my own. Cycling Qi is simply expelling the impurities of the Qi and turning it into something compatible with my soul. The effect will spread around my soul, enhancing my physical capabilities.
I have an Earth affinity and the Qi around here has no elemental affinity, so I have to cycle them repeatedly until they turn into Earth Qi that my body can handle. A single cycle will normally take half an hour or more depending on the talent of the cultivator, and the amount of cycle I will need before I fully consolidate the Qi into my element depends on the potency of my affinity.
With my low grade Earth affinity, it takes me twenty cycles before it finally settles within my dantian. A sense of explosion spreads within my mind, indicating my breakthrough.
[STATUS]
Cultivation Stage: 1st Stage Foundation Establishment Realm
Spiritual Root: 10
Root Quality: Lesser
Cultivation Speed: 1.15x
Prestige Points: 5
(Affinity)
Earth (F)
(Talent)
Sword (F-)
(Technique)
Iron Edge (Small - Success)
I open my eyes and see that everywhere is dark. Night has already fallen. Even with the darkness, I can see clearly as if it is daylight.
Doing a single successful consolidation will turn any mortal into a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It's the next stage that will take longer, and where people have to rely on their talents to breakthrough faster.
I want to try something first and see if it will work.
My newly consolidated cultivation left my pores as I expelled it once more. Then, that message appears once again.
[Reset detected, calculating... successful!]
[Spiritual Roots increased by 1!]
[Cultivation Speed multiplier increased by 0.01!]
[You gain a total of 1 Prestige Points!]
[STATUS]
Cultivation Stage: 1st Stage Foundation Establishment Realm
Spiritual Root: 11
Root Quality: Lesser
Cultivation Speed: 1.16x
Prestige Points: 6
(Affinity)
Earth (F)
(Talent)
Sword (F-)
(Technique)
Iron Edge (Small - Success)
"I see..."
I don't know how the System calculates it, but my hypothesis is correct. The amount of multipliers, roots, and points I can get depends on the level of my cultivation. Higher cultivation will give me more.
Cultivating to the 1st Stage of the Foundation Establishment is easy. It won't take me a whole day to reach that. With more cultivation roots, it will reduce the time I need to cultivate at that time. Compare that to cultivating from 1st stage to the 2nd stage which will take days, weeks, or if I am incompetent enough, months.
This feels like those idle games I sometimes play in my past life when I feel bored. It even has the same prestige system in it.
Then I might as well try doing it that way. The very first thing I have to do is to increase the speed in which I can cultivate. Even increasing cultivation by one is a big boon for me. If I keep it up, I think within a month I can bulldoze my way to the 2nd Stage of Foundation Establishment Realm within a single day.
That is my goal for now!