Taryn took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting the moment settle.
The idea of cultivating, of becoming stronger in this world through sheer will and effort—it stirred something ancient and fierce within him. But before he could get ahead of himself, the system's voice chimed back in with that ever-cheerful tone.
"Okay, before we jump into Cultivation Theory 101, let me ask—what do you actually know about cultivation stages?"
Taryn hesitated. "…Nothing."
"Ha! As I expected. Typical transmigrator move—wants to become the strongest without knowing what Qi even smells like. No offense, of course."
Taryn rolled his eyes. "None taken."
"Alright then, let's start from the real basics."
The tone shifted, just slightly. Still lighthearted, but now more focused, like a teacher ready to lecture a particularly clueless student.
"The cultivation path is long and brutal. The journey is divided into nine main stages. Each stage is further split into nine levels. So, in total, that's eighty-one steps to climb just to reach the ninth stage."
"It's not a game, Taryn. Every level is like a mountain. Some never climb past the first. Others spend their entire lives clawing to go from level three to four. It's a test of patience, will, and purpose."
Taryn nodded slowly. It was intimidating, yes—but not discouraging. In fact, it made the idea of progress feel meaningful.
"The first stage?" the system continued. "We call it the Foundation Vein Stage."
He raised an eyebrow. "Foundation Vein?"
"Exactly. Think of it as laying the groundwork for your house. Except your house is your soul, your body, your entire future. In this stage, you start by sensing Spiritual Energy—it's the raw, natural power of the world around you. Think of it like invisible rivers in the air, flowing through nature, stones, beasts, even people."
Taryn closed his eyes for a moment, trying to imagine it. Rivers of power all around, just waiting to be drawn into the body.
"Your job," the system said, "is to become sensitive to that energy. Then gather it—gently—and guide it into your body. Over time, you start forging something called the Vein Channels—think of them like spiritual blood vessels. The better your channels, the more energy you can absorb later on."
"Sounds… intense," Taryn muttered.
"Oh, it is. That's why so many people fail here. The first level of the Foundation Vein Stage is literally just sensing energy. You sit. You breathe. You try to feel what no ordinary person can. Most give up. Some go insane. But once you do feel it..."
The system's voice dropped a note, almost reverent.
"…it changes you. That's your first step toward becoming more than human."
Taryn's fingers curled into the bedsheet. Something about it—the way the system spoke, the scale of what he was facing—it was daunting. But it also ignited the same spark he used to feel when reading his favorite fantasy stories.
"What comes after the Foundation Vein Stage?" he asked quietly.
"Easy there, tiger. One stage at a time." The system chuckled. "But since you asked: once your Vein Channels are fully formed and stable, you reach the Core Pulse Stage. That's when you start condensing energy into something real—something powerful. But we're getting ahead of ourselves."
Taryn nodded. "Right. First, learn to feel it. Sense the energy."
"Exactly! And for that, we'll need to tailor a method to your unique body and spirit signature. But I'll handle the technical stuff. For now, just rest. Your body's still barely hanging on. Give it a day or two. When you're ready, we'll begin your first session of Spiritual Sensing."
As the system's voice faded into a comfortable hum, Taryn lay there, staring at the ceiling with a strange calmness.
Foundation Vein Stage. Spiritual energy. Cultivation.
It wasn't just a story anymore. It was his life now.
And the first step was right in front of him.