The rays of light peeked through the cracks of the rotten wooden boards that Joon-woo considered as windows. He was already awake, laying on a made up futon constructed with hay and rags. He was looking intensely at the ceiling, still in shock after the recent events.
It had only been a day since the System appeared in his life, turning his world upside down. A strange, mythical interface that promised him power if he followed its tasks, or “Quests”, as the “System” called them. Even though he is still hesitant, Joon-woo realized this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, this was his only chance to escape the life of poverty and filth that he had always known. It was his chance to leave this rotten area and start anew. As he sat in silence, he muttered a single word:
“S-status”
He already used that command a couple times after receiving the System, but it was still something new, and to a certain extent cool. What wasn’t cool though, were the contents of that status
The System’s interface appeared before his eyes, the similar transparent blue he was familiar with, glowed faintly in the dim light.
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Status Screen
Name
Kang Joon-woo
Title Slum rat Age 16 Cultivation Level
Mortal Foundation Realm (Martial Disciple)
Qi 10 Units Level 1 [ 50/100 EXP ] Strength 1 Agility 3 Stamina 2
Skills
Iron Fist (Basic): A fundamental martial technique that enhances the strength and impact of physical strikes done with the fist.
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The System labeled him as a level 1 slum rat, even though he didn’t know by what metrics his stats were calculated, he figured out they were low. As for the Qi, compared to his body before the reward the System gave him, he could feel a very small energy flowing inside of him, maybe those were the 10 Qi units, well, even though his Qi reserve felt small, barely a flicker, for him it was enough, because he knew for certain this was only the beginning.
What he didn’t know though, was the Cultivation Level. He didn’t know what it meant for him to be a Martial Disciple. Unlike the muttering from before, he spoke in a quiet, but clear tone of voice.
“System, what is the “Cultivation Level” from my Status Screen”
His status screen closed, but another interface showed right up, with clear words on it:
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The Cultivation Level is your current level of cultivation
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Joon-woo stared doumbfounded at the screen in front of his eyes
“I-I figured that much, could you please go into detail? What does it mean to be a Martial Disciple?”
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The Cultivation Levels of this world are made up of 5 realms:
Mortal Foundation, Qi Refining, Essence Cultivation and Spirit Cultivation.
Each realm is made up of 3 stages, in your case, The Mortal Foundation realm, it’s made up of Mortal, Martial Disciple, and Martial Adept
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“ I see… But how can I-”
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To advance in the next realm of cultivation, you would need to be at the highest level of your latest cultivation stage.
In your case, to advance to the Qi Refining stage, you would need to be at the highest level of the Martial Adept.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The advancement of cultivation levels, stages or realms is called a breakthrough
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Joon-woo was left speechless
‘This System…’
He wanted to ask how one could increase their own cultivation, but in hindsight, the answer was clear, he just needed to become stronger.
Joon-woo looked around his apartment… well, you could not really call it an apartment, it was just a shoddy cramped up, rotten, single room, with nothing in it besides a made up locker and his “futon”
‘I can’t stay in this filth any longer, I finally have a new purpose and a way to achieve this purpose.’
He took out the key to his room, and took his life-time savings. They didn’t amount to much, they were only 5 silvers, but he planned to use them when he would be eighteen, to buy a small house in the outskirts of Ironwood city and escape this rotten shithole. Day and night he would rather eat rotten food than buy good food, just so he would have enough money at eighteen to buy that small house.
He closed the door to his soon-to-be ex ‘apartment’. It was the only thing he received from his parents. Ever since the day they abandoned him at the ripe age of five, he would continue to call that shit hole ‘home’, for the following eleven years. But well, that all changed today.
He took off to the countryside, with a sour taste in his mouth, but strangely enough, with a smile.
At the outskirts of Ironwood city, there is a river that goes east, if you go and follow the river, you would enter an area scattered with houses and cottages. Even though the area is outside of Ironwood, it was still considered part of Ironwood city. There he had an acquaintance, the only person who was good to him. Old lady Ko. He met her by chance when she was browsing for meat at the local market in Ironwood. She was kind enough to give him some meat too, that day… Ever since, Joon-woo sometimes helped her with farm work, and the granny would either give him some food, ragged clothes, or sometimes even bronze coins!
She was an existence precious to Joon-woo. He wanted to ask Koif he could move in with her, but he was wise enough at the time not too. He was still a slum rat, and for a slum rat to survive, sometimes it meant doing bad things.
Of course, Joon-woo never did something serious like mugging or kiling a person, but he did steal, and made some enemies along the way. His past won’t be erased just because he wanted to live a happy life. He was able to survive precisely because he was a slum rat. There wasn’t really anything people could take from him as a collateral, or threaten him with, well, besides his life that is. So even though he stole, most people would leave him alone after some time passed.
But living with Ko? Well, that would have just marked a sight on Granny Ko, and Joon-woo, with his sickly body was not strong enough to protect her. But now? Everything changed
He arrived at Granny Ko’s house. Old Lady Ko had a small farm. She had a house, a cow, some chickens and a small cottage further away from her house, near the river. That old cottage was used by her husband as a place to sleep when he went fishing, but now, without her husband around anymore, she didn’t really have a use for it.
Joon-woo knocked at her door
“Old Lady Ko!”
There was no answer
Joon-woo shouted again
“Old Lady Ko, it’s me Joon-woo”
The door of the modest house opened, it was a small woman, with clear signs of aging. Her hands showed years of hard labour, and her small hunched back showed the years of working the rice field.
She spoke in a playful way
“You ungrateful child! How many times have I told you to call me Granny Ko, yet you still dare to call me Old Lady!”
“I’m sorry Granny Ko, I was just in a hurry and completely forgot”
“\Well, next time do not forget, You are much younger than me but you are already going senile”
Joon-woo and Ko laughed
“What brings you here Joon-woo? Are you hungry? What am I even saying, of course you may be, come on in, I’m going to prepare something for you to eat”
“No, it’s not that granny, I just wanted to talk to you about that cottage. If I dare ask, if you don’t plan on doing anything with it, could you please give it to me? I can’t stand living in that rotten district anymore. Of course, I will come and help you from time to time, not only that, but I will give you the money for it, it may not amount to much, and maybe it won’t be of the same value as that cottage, but it’s still five silver.”
“What are you saying, you stupid child” Grandma Ko was quick to respond
“You should have come sooner, how could I not give you that? It was only used by my husband when he went on fishing trips. But that bastard decided to die of old age, so now it’s useless to me. You don’t need to pay me anything for it, but it would be nice if you would visit me more often”
Joon-woo couldn’t contain his happiness, his mouth crept into a smile
“Thank you Granny Ko”
Grandma Ko carrassed Joon-woo’s unruly hair.
“Come inside you little troublemaker, let me give you something to eat, you must be starving”
After eating and receiving the key of the Cottage from Grandma Ko, he thanked Grandma Ko and left the house, but soon was stopped in his track by a shout from Grandma Ko
“Hey, you senile child, you left your money here, come and get it!”
Joon-woo secretly left his savings on his chair, how could he not give Grandma Ko the money? She helped her many times over, five silvers don’t even compare to the kindness she showed him.
“Consider it as a tip for the meal, granny, take care!”
Grandma Ko was at a slight loss of words
As she look at back of Joon-woo, she couldn’t help but spoke
“Joon-woo, you look healthier, keep it up”
Joon-woo smiled, as he waved goodbye, he slowly arrived at the cottage.
The cottage was nothing fancy, it was near a river, it had a fence that marked a decently sized area. The inside of the cottage was not something high class, but it was ten times better than what he was used to in Ironwood. Besides the dust, there wasn’t anything too wrong with it. It had an actual bed, a shelf and cabinet, a small chest, some tools, a fishing rod, an axe and a small stove. Joon-woo started cleaning.
He was tired of dirtiness, after experiencing the rotten life of a slum rat, he couldn’t bear to see dirtniess like that again.
After cleaning, he jumped straight on the bed, and he was almost caught by surprise by the familiar sound and image of the interface
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A Quest has been created! "The system is not for the weak!"
Quest: Begin Physical Training Objectives:
1. Rock Dash: Sprint between carefully placed rocks. [ 0/100 ]
2. Tree Climb: Scale a big tree using only your hands and feet. [ 0/1]
3. River Balance: Cross the river while standing on a narrow log. [ 0m/1000m ]
4.Basic Qi Meditation [ 1 hour ]
Reward:
+ 10EXP
+1 [Strength]
+1 [Stamina]
+1 [Agility]
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Joon-woo stared at the Quests. The System really is guiding him. But this “training” it gave him, isn’t it too weird?
His lips curled into a small smile.