Chapter 17: The Clash of Progress

Swoosh!

Two figures blurred into motion, colliding with a powerful impact before swiftly moving back to their original positions. Dust kicked up from the ground, swirling in the air as they eyed each other warily. One of the figures, a shorter man clad in dark orange robes, stood ready in a defensive stance, his eyes sharp and calculating. This was Patrick, his physique noticeably defined beneath his robes, his irises glowing faintly gold—a sign of his newfound strength and the advancement of his cultivation. A cocky grin stretched across his face.

Opposite him stood Lester, a head taller, wearing simple clothes that belied the intensity of his focus. His stance was calm, almost casual, but the serious gleam in his eyes betrayed the tension in his body. He wasn’t taking Patrick lightly, not anymore. Both men had come a long way in just a month, each making strides in their respective cultivation techniques, and now they were testing their progress against each other.

Without warning, Lester dashed forward, his fist aimed directly at Patrick’s chest. His movements, while fast, lacked the unpredictability that could catch a seasoned opponent off guard. Patrick saw the strike coming and shifted his weight to dodge. Yet, just as he tried to step back, his legs refused to move.

Confused, Patrick glanced down and realized two translucent, light-blue tentacles had wrapped around his legs, holding him in place. His grin faltered for a brief moment, but he quickly raised his arms in defense, blocking Lester’s punch with a solid thud.

The tentacles binding Patrick’s legs were part of Lester’s unique abilities. Over the past month, Lester had delved deeper into the [Thousand World Qi Manipulation Manual], learning how to create intricate symbols on his core. These symbols, though difficult to form, gave him access to a variety of manipulations, including the creation of these tentacle-like constructs, which the Black Fiend named, “Qi Tentacle Manipulation”. While Lester had not yet filled a third of his core, each step forward in his cultivation brought him closer to mastery over these abilities.

Patrick, meanwhile, barely felt the impact of Lester’s punch. His enhanced physical capabilities, a result of his [Black Sand Zu Lizard Cultivation], allowed him to absorb the blow with ease. The smirk returned to his face as he realized just how much stronger he had become. Though his progress in cultivation was still at the Beginning Stage, his body’s newfound resilience and strength were already leagues ahead of what it once was.

“My turn!” Patrick declared, his golden eyes gleaming with competitive fire.

With a swift, fluid motion, Patrick bent his knees and pushed off the ground, lunging toward Lester with a burst of speed. The tentacles around his legs dissipated in a soft blue shimmer, unable to withstand the force of his movement. Sand and dust swirled in the air as Patrick closed the distance between them.

“EEK!” Lester yelped, his body reacting on instinct. He sidestepped just in time to avoid Patrick’s punch, but his relief was short-lived. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something—a trailing leg coming toward him. Lester’s eyes widened in surprise. Patrick had pulled back his leading leg mid-air and, with a powerful twist of his body, sent his other leg flying toward Lester’s chest with blinding speed.

Boom!

The impact sent Lester staggering backward. A web of light-blue cracks spread across his chest, slowly extending outward like a shattered pane of glass. The faint blue aura surrounding his body flickered for a moment but held firm. This was Lester’s protective layer, known as “Qi Layer Manipulation” the first and only defensive manipulation he had successfully created so far. It had saved him from serious injury, but he could feel the strain. Patrick’s strength had grown significantly, and Lester knew he was falling behind.

As he regained his balance, Lester’s thoughts raced. He had managed to craft three different manipulations over the past month—tentacles for restraining opponents, a sensory enhancement that allowed him to detect subtle movements known as, “Qi Sense Manipulation”, and the protective Qi layer that now shielded his body. But the process of creating these symbols on his core was grueling and time-consuming. It required not only immense concentration but also a deep understanding of the complex patterns that governed World Qi. Each symbol he carved into his core would eventually enhance his cultivation speed, but for now, they were more of a burden than a boon. He was far from filling even a third of his core, unlike Patrick, whose cultivation progress seemed almost effortless in comparison.

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Both men stood panting, sweat glistening on their foreheads. Patrick, still grinning, raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Wow! I honestly didn’t expect your protective layer to hold up,” Patrick said, lowering his stance slightly. “I put a lot of power into that kick. I’m starting to get the hang of this.”

Lester scratched the back of his head, feeling both relieved and frustrated. “Yeah… You’re getting really strong. If we keep going, I don’t think I can keep up.”

It was the truth. Patrick’s cultivation book had given him a significant edge, not only in raw strength but also in martial prowess. The combination of his enhanced physique and solid combat skills was proving to be a tough challenge for Lester.

After their sparring session, they retreated to the cabin for some much-needed rest. Sitting on a rug in the living room, the two men sipped tea brewed from herbs Lester had grown in the backyard. The warm, fragrant tea helped soothe their tired bodies, and they sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the moment.

“So,” Patrick finally spoke, breaking the quiet, “what’s our next move? We’ve stepped into the world of cultivation, we’ve got powers… We’re basically ready to take on the world, right?”

His excitement was infectious, but Lester couldn’t shake the lingering unease in his heart. Fighting in practice was one thing, but the real world was far more dangerous. The monsters and cultivators out there were leagues above them. The gap between where they stood now and where they needed to be was massive.

“We could go to Cultivation Island,” Lester suggested, watching Patrick’s reaction.

Patrick’s eyes lit up immediately. He had heard of the place—everyone had. Cultivation Island had quickly become the epicenter of power on Earth, a haven for cultivators and a hub for those seeking to protect humanity from the monstrous beasts that had emerged since the alien crash. It was the place to be for anyone serious about cultivation.

“That would be amazing!” Patrick said, his enthusiasm spilling over. “I’ve been reading about it. It’s like the strongest cultivators on Earth are all gathering there, taking on missions to hunt down beasts and protect people. It’s the perfect place for us!”

Lester nodded, though his expression remained thoughtful. Cultivation Island was indeed a beacon of opportunity. Owned by one of the richest men on Earth. The man had used his vast fortune to construct a fortress-like sanctuary for cultivators, offering them resources, training, and missions in exchange for their protection. It was said that the island held unimaginable treasures—alien artifacts, cultivation techniques, and even weapons salvaged from the crashed ship.

But there was danger too. The island attracted not only the righteous but also the power-hungry. Forty of the top one hundred cultivators had already aligned themselves with Cultivation Island, and with them came political intrigue, competition, and deadly battles. Lester wasn’t sure he was ready to dive into that world just yet.

“We’ll face a lot of dangers there,” Lester warned, his tone cautious.

“Isn’t that why we became cultivators?” Patrick replied, his voice filled with passion. “To get stronger, to protect the people we care about? We can’t sit around forever.”

Lester smiled. Patrick’s determination was infectious, and despite his reservations, he knew his friend was right. If they were serious about their cultivation journey, they couldn’t afford to shy away from the challenges that awaited them. The world was changing fast, and if they didn’t keep up, they would be left behind.

Thud!

Both men froze, their heads snapping toward the window. A noise echoed from outside, followed by the faint sound of rustling.

Lester’s heart raced, his pulse quickening as he locked eyes with Patrick. Something—or someone—was outside.

Quietly, they moved toward the window, peeking through the small crack in the curtains. What they saw sent a chill down Lester’s spine.

A large creature was pacing in the yard, its dark green fur matted and its crimson eyes scanning the ground. The creature looked like a binturong—a bearcat—but far larger than any normal animal of its kind. It was half the size of a human, and the aura it exuded was menacing. Its eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger as it sniffed the dirt, searching for something.

Patrick’s expression hardened. “This is our time,” he said, his voice low but determined.

Lester’s heart pounded in his chest. He had never faced a real monster before, not one like this. His mind raced as he considered their options. This wasn’t a sparring match—it was life or death.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. They had trained for this. They were cultivators now. It was time to prove it.

With a final nod to Patrick, Lester stepped outside, his heart in his throat as he faced the beast.