While Ray lay unconscious within the depths of the cave,time continued to move for everyone.
It moved forward—as it always did—quietly, without waiting for anyone.
Days passed.
Then weeks also passed.
Twenty-five days slipped by in silence while Ray remained unconscious in the cave.
And far from that hidden cavern—
another change was taking place, concealed from everyone's knowledge.
Tonight marked the hundredth day since Blake had arrived in this world.
The hundredth day.
Within his room, the air trembled faintly as mana circulated in a controlled patterns towards Blake.
Blake sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, breathing slow and steady.
Unlike Ray's violent struggle, his cultivation was quiet.
Hidden.
Secret.
Hiding and cultivating —without missing a single day. Because he understood something clearly:
In this world, strength decided everything.
Without strength you are nothing.
Mana flowed toward him in controlled streams, gathering around his body before being drawn inward through measured cycles.
Each circulation refined his core.
Each increase required a large amount of surrounding mana—yet not a trace leaked outward, all concealed and hidden by the Abyssal Dragon Devouring Sutra.
"Finally."
Blake exhaled softly.
His aura was no longer that of an Early Third Rank cultivator.
He had grown stronger.
After nearly three months in this world—
Blake had officially stepped into the Mid-Grade of the Third Rank.
The breakthrough was neither explosive nor high-profile.
There was no shockwave.
No attention drawn.
It was silent but deadly.
Just like a blade being sharpened in the dark.
His senses felt clearer.
Much more Sharper.
Blake slowly opened his eyes and released a steady breath.
"Today's the 100th day."
From the moment he arrived, he had never missed a single sign-in. It was the most significant thing that steadily pushed him forward.
According to the system's pattern of rewards, he knew this one would not be ordinary.
A faint glimmer passed through his otherwise calm gaze.
Without hesitation, Blake focused inward.
"It's time to sign in,System sign in"
The moment the thought formed—
a familiar mechanical tone echoed within his consciousness.
[Sign-in successful.]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained: Clone.]
Blake's expression did not change.
Because he did not understand the reward yet, so he opened the interface.
The system panel unfolded before him, lines of information appearing one by one.
[Clone]
Description:
A single drop of the host's blood must be injected into the clone body.
Upon successful binding, the clone will establish a direct connection with the host.
The clone will possess the same cultivation realm as the host at the time of activation.
The clone's strength will synchronize with the host's growth.
When the host advances, the clone advances accordingly.
Limit: ####
Blake's gaze lingered on the final line.
"System. Why is the limit hidden?"
Ding—
"The limit represents the maximum Rank the clone can reach. Once the host surpasses that limit, the clone will remain at its capped Rank as for why it's hidden, is because the host is still to weak to know it's limit."
"I see."
After receiving the explanation with what seemed like a sarcasm in the end , Blake summoned the clone without arguing with the system, for he was already used to it.
What appeared in his palm was a small, doll-like figure—simple, almost like a stickman.
Without hesitation, Blake let a single drop of his blood fall onto it.
Swish.
The doll absorbed the blood.
It began to tremble.
Then slowly and steadily, it expanded.
Its structure lengthened with bones forming beneath a thin layer of pale skin. It's other features sharpened while looking more and more like Blake.
Hair darkened and suddenly opened it's Eyes.
Within moments, another copy of himself stood in front of him.
Not just Identical but the exact copy of himself.
At that instant, his vision split into two parts.
One view remained his own.
The other—
was the view of its clone's.
Blake raised his hand and waved it in front of the clone.
Through the clone's eyes, he saw himself do the same.
The synchronization was seamless and perfect.
"But can it speak?"
[Host may control it directly or allow it to act independently. It possesses a fragment of your consciousness and will respond as you would in most situations.]
Blake fell silent.
A thought surfaced.
"If that's the case…then I can send it outside."
He could observe without exposing himself.
Gather information of what's happening in the outside world.
Explore this wonderful but dangerous world without putting himself st risk.
Move in two places at once.
One which will stay here and do daily normal work while secretly cultivating while the other will roam the outside world.
The idea rooted itself firmly in his mind.
A second presence now stood within the room—calm, steady, identical.
Blake looked at his other self.
"Let's do it"