As we went deeper into the tunnels, we came upon a large area, a cavern stretched before us like a living nightmare. Bioluminescent moss clung to jagged walls, glowing faintly in shades of green and blue, their eerie light casting twisted shadows on the damp stone. The metallic tang of blood hung thick in the air, mingling with the acrid stench of sweat and despair. The deeper we descended, the heavier the atmosphere grew, pressing on my chest like an invisible weight.

Around me, prisoners shuffled forward in eerie silence, their hollow eyes fixed on the ground. They moved like the living dead, their spirits long since crushed. This wasn’t just a prison—it was a place of despair, where hope had no room to breathe.

Ahead, an arena came into view. It wasn’t grand or ceremonial like the arenas of legend. This was crude, brutal—a pit surrounded by jagged stones that resembled a predator’s teeth. Blood stained the ground in thick, dark layers, marking it as a killing field where countless lives had been lost.

Wang Jian leaned in close, his voice low and urgent. “Stick to the edges. Don’t draw attention unless you’re forced to.”

His advice was sound, but Ming Lian’s scoff shattered the tense silence. “He won’t last five seconds if they notice him,” he muttered, loud enough for me to hear I ignored him, focusing on the scene before me. The guards barked orders, their voices booming off the walls. “Listen up, you rats! The rules are simple: fight, win, live. Refuse, and we’ll make an example of you.”

Two captives were shoved forward. One was a skeletal man, trembling as his frail legs struggled to hold him upright. The other was a hulking brute wielding a rusted blade that looked more like a cleaver than a weapon. The crowd of prisoners murmured grimly, their whispers painting the weaker man’s death before the fight began.

“Begin!” shouted the guard.

The brute lunged with shocking speed, his massive blade swinging in a deadly arc. The skeletal man tried to dodge, but his frailty betrayed him. The weapon connected with a sickening crunch, and his body crumpled like a broken doll. Blood pooled beneath him, dark and viscous.

The guard’s heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder. “You’re next, runt,” he growled.

“What?” My heart leapt into my throat. “No, I—”

“You heard me.” The guard shoved me forward.

The pit loomed before me, its jagged edges forming a crude barrier. My opponent was a wiry man named Bao, his scarred arms and predatory grin reflecting a life of violence. He twirled a makeshift dagger with practiced ease.

“Fresh meat,” he sneered. “This is gonna be fun.”

The guard’s arm shot up. “Begin!”

The scarred man lunged, his blade flashing in the dim light. I barely managed to dodge, activating my skill.

Stone Skin.

Warmth spread through me as my skin hardened into a rock-like texture. Sparks flew as the man’s dagger scraped against my forearm. Gasps rippled through the crowd as they witnessed the transformation.

“What the hell are you?” he snarled, his confidence faltering.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I drove my fist into his ribs, sending him staggering back. A sweeping kick followed, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“Stay down,” I urged. “You don’t have to die.”

His eyes flickered with despair, but a sharp whistle from the guards froze him. One aimed a crossbow at us, their gaze cold and unyielding.

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“I can’t,” the man whispered. “They’ll kill me anyway.”

My stomach twisted. I couldn’t kill him—not like this. But the guards wouldn’t let us leave the pit without bloodshed. I feigned a punch, deliberately missing, as the man scrambled to his feet. A swift kick to the back of his knee forced him down again, groaning but no longer fighting.

The guard overseeing the fight frowned but raised his arm. “Winner!”

As the crowd dispersed, I noticed something embedded in the arena floor towards the edge. A faintly glowing crystal pulsed with light, like a heartbeat. My instincts screamed that it was significant.

Later that night, I returned to the pit, drawn to the faintly glowing crystal embedded in the arena floor. Its pulse seemed alive, radiating energy that vibrated through the air. I reached out, and the world dissolved into blinding light.

When my vision cleared, I stood in an endless expanse of white. A figure materialized before me, cloaked in flowing robes that shimmered like liquid silver. Its glowing eyes pierced through me with ancient wisdom. Was he a God, or some Ancient Being, I really didn’t know.

“I am Master Liang,” the figure intoned, its voice resonant and commanding. “You, outsider, possess a power I have not seen in millennia.”

My chest tightened. “You mean... the System?”

Master Liang nodded. “The System is a relic of the Celestial Era, designed to empower mortals and guide them toward ascension. But it is also a double-edged sword. Its power draws the attention of cultivators—those who seek to control or destroy it.”

I frowned. Cultivators, cultivation… I have heard the words many times, but I really have no idea exactly what they mean, outside of fantasy stories.

He gestured, and the space around us shifted. Visions of radiant warriors, monstrous beasts, and towering temples flickered into view.

“Cultivation,” he explained, “is the art of refining one’s Chi—the life force that flows through all living things. It is a journey toward transcendence, allowing mortals to break free from their earthly limitations and ascend to greater planes. But the path of cultivation is not singular. Every cultivator must choose their own.”

He raised a hand, and five luminous symbols appeared, each representing a distinct path.

The Five Paths of Cultivation:

The Path of the Mind.

This path focuses on mastery of illusions and mental manipulation. Those who walk this path can manifest illusions so vivid they blur the line between reality and imagination. Masters can trap enemies in endless nightmares or create constructs so tangible they inflict real harm.

The Path of the Soul.

Cultivators on this path gain dominion over living beings. They can command beasts, humans, and even intelligent creatures if their will is strong enough. At its peak, this path grants control over legions of followers, transforming lone cultivators into entire armies.

The Path of the Heart.

This path harnesses the power of emotions. Cultivators can manipulate feelings to inspire loyalty, incite betrayal, or paralyze foes with despair. At its zenith, this path turns enemies into allies or drives entire armies into chaos.

The Path of Natural Elements.

This path connects cultivators to the forces of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. Masters reshape the battlefield, wielding elemental powers with devastating precision. Tornadoes, infernos, tidal waves, and quakes become extensions of their will.

The Path of Heaven.

The rarest and most coveted path, it grants powers akin to divinity. Cultivators on this path manifest miracles, heal the gravely injured, and smite foes with divine light. At its peak, this path approaches the realm of gods.

Master Liang’s voice softened as he stepped closer. “Your System, however, is unlike anything I have encountered. Where others must choose one path, your System grants you the ability to combine them. This is both your greatest strength and your greatest challenge.”

I frowned. “Combine them?”

He nodded. “By blending the Paths, you may forge a path unique to you. Imagine illusions augmented by elemental fury, or the dominion of the Soul bolstered by divine power. Such combinations are unprecedented—but they will also make you a threat to those who cling to tradition.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over me. “And if I fail?”

He fixed me with a piercing gaze. “Failure is not an option. The System is both your blessing and your burden. Learn, adapt, and survive, for the road ahead will test every fiber of your being.”

As the vision began to fade, he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Take this skill—Hidden Paths. It will cloak your presence from those who seek you. Use it wisely.”

When I returned to the cavern, the crystal’s glow had faded, but a fire burned within me. Cultivation was more than survival—it was a means to redefine my destiny. Master Liang’s words echoed in my mind:

Your greatest weapon is not your strength or your power, but your resolve to chart your own path.

And with the System, I knew I could create a path that no one had ever walked before.