The dawn light filtered through the thin paper walls of Zhao Tian's quarters, casting a faint glow on the mess of tools and scraps scattered across the room. He sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, staring at the makeshift spiritual energy shield generator strapped to his forearm. It was a crude device—barely functional—but it was his.

"All right," he muttered to himself. "Moment of truth."

He pressed a small button on the side of the generator. The device hummed faintly, then sputtered. For a brief second, a shimmering blue barrier flickered to life around him before fading away with a crackle.

"Damn it," Zhao Tian cursed, shaking the device.

Host must refine the energy flow using higher-quality materials, the system's voice chimed in his mind.

"Yeah, thanks for the reminder," Zhao Tian muttered sarcastically. "And where exactly am I supposed to find 'higher-quality materials'? The sect isn't exactly handing out resources to someone like me."

The system displayed a glowing map in his vision, highlighting a cave in the mountains east of the sect.

Detected: Veins of low-grade spiritual ore within three kilometers. Sufficient for current upgrades.

Zhao Tian sighed, standing up and stretching his stiff limbs. "Guess I'm going mining. Hopefully, I don't run into anything nasty out there."

Scene 1:Ore Retrieval and Danger in the Wilds

The cave was colder than Zhao Tian had expected. His breath fogged in the damp air as he chipped away at the rocky walls with a pickaxe he'd borrowed from the sect's supply shed. Glowing veins of spiritual ore pulsed faintly in the dim light, and Zhao Tian's satchel was already half-full.

"This should be enough for the upgrades," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

Just as he swung the pickaxe again, a low growl echoed through the cavern. Zhao Tian froze, his grip tightening on the handle. From the shadows emerged a Spirit Wolf, its glowing red eyes locked onto him.

"Of course," Zhao Tian muttered under his breath.

The wolf lunged, its claws glinting in the faint light. Zhao Tian barely dodged, his back slamming into the cave wall.

Host must use available tools for survival, the system reminded him.

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"Yeah, I got that!" Zhao Tian snapped. He reached into his satchel, pulling out his compact crossbow.

The wolf lunged again. Zhao Tian rolled to the side and fired. The bolt struck the wolf's flank, making it yelp, but the beast quickly recovered. It turned, snarling, and pounced again.

This time, Zhao Tian activated the shield generator. A faint blue barrier flared to life, and the wolf slammed into it, rebounding with a whine.

"It works!" Zhao Tian said, grinning.

The wolf paced, watching him cautiously. Zhao Tian used the moment to fire another bolt, this one hitting its shoulder. The wolf collapsed with a final growl, its body still.

Zhao Tian leaned against the cave wall, panting. "If that's the kind of trouble I get mining ore, I don't even want to think about what Wang Lei has planned for me."

Scene 2:Upgrading the Shield Generator

Back in his quarters, Zhao Tian laid out the ore and tools on the floor. With the system's guidance, he melted the spiritual ore in a small makeshift furnace and shaped it into components for the generator.

Hours passed as he worked, the faint glow of the ore lighting up the dim room. Finally, the upgrades were complete. The generator hummed more steadily, and when he activated it, the barrier around him was brighter and more stable.

"Not bad," Zhao Tian said, nodding in satisfaction. "This should hold up against Wang Lei's attacks—at least for a little while."

Additional enhancements recommended for physical capabilities, the system suggested.

"What kind of enhancements?" Zhao Tian asked, leaning back against the wall.

The system displayed another blueprint: Weighted Training Bands.

"These will increase my speed and strength over time?" Zhao Tian asked, studying the design.

Correct. Host's current physical condition is suboptimal for combat.

Zhao Tian groaned but got to work again.

Scene 3:Intense Training

For the next several days, Zhao Tian threw himself into a grueling routine. The training bands, infused with spiritual energy, made every movement ten times harder. His body ached constantly, but he pushed through, running laps around the sect grounds at dawn and practicing evasive maneuvers in the training field.

One evening, Liu Qingyun, a talented sword cultivator, approached him during his training.

"You've been working hard," she said, her tone neutral but her eyes curious.

Zhao Tian, drenched in sweat, glanced at her. "You could say that."

"Why bother? Someone like Wang Lei is out of your league."

Zhao Tian smiled faintly. "Maybe. But I don't plan on staying in his league for long."

Liu Qingyun raised an eyebrow but said nothing, watching as Zhao Tian returned to his training.

Scene 4:The Final Day of Preparation

On the night before the duel, Zhao Tian sat in his quarters, reviewing his tools. His crossbow was fully loaded with spiritual bolts. The shield generator was functioning perfectly. He'd even managed to create a small flash bomb, designed to temporarily blind his opponent.

"Everything's ready," he said, exhaling deeply.

The system chimed in his mind. Host's chances of victory have increased to 40%.

"Forty percent?" Zhao Tian asked, laughing. "That's it?"

Wang Lei remains a Foundation Establishment cultivator with significant combat experience. Host must adapt during combat to succeed.

Zhao Tian stood, clenching his fists. "Forty percent is enough. I'll make it work."

Ending Note for Chapter 3

The chapter ends with Zhao Tian standing under the night sky, staring at the sect's main arena in the distance. The stars above seemed distant, but Zhao Tian's resolve burned brighter than ever.

"Tomorrow, I'll show them all what I'm capable of."