Dymas Blackthorn stepped out of the eastern gate and into the wide boulevard that led away from the palace district. The city was quiet here, far from the main markets. Only a few lanterns burned along the walls. The air felt different outside the palace grounds, less heavy with incense and politics, more raw.
He kept his pace steady, not running. Running would draw eyes. The spear he had taken from the guard rested against his shoulder, casual, like he belonged on patrol. No one stopped him. A lone cart driver passed, nodding without interest. A pair of drunkards stumbled by on the opposite side of the street, too focused on their argument to notice the tall figure in torn royal clothes.
His body still buzzed from the rebirth. Every step sent small waves of qi through his legs, warming the muscles. The Auto-Cultivation Module worked in the background, pulling in thin threads of ambient qi from the air. It was slow, but constant. No need to sit cross-legged or chant. Just walk, breathe, exist, and the system did the rest.
He glanced at the blue screen floating in his peripheral vision.
Current realm progress: Qi Condensation Layer 1 – 18%
Small gains. But real. Every minute added a fraction.
He needed to test this properly. Not just walk and hope. He needed to push.
Dymas turned down a narrow side street that led toward the outer wall of the capital. The buildings here were lower, poorer. Wooden shutters hung crooked. A stray dog watched him from an alley mouth, yellow eyes reflecting torchlight.
He stopped in a shadowed corner between two warehouses. No one around. The street was empty except for the wind moving trash along the gutters.
He looked down at his left hand. The faint gray lines of the curse were still there, but thinner. He squeezed his fist. Strength flowed easier now.
He raised the hand and slapped his own cheek. Hard. The sound cracked in the quiet street. Pain bloomed sharp and hot.
The screen flashed immediately.
Self-inflicted humiliation detected. Grind Points +50
Current points: 10,697
Dymas touched his stinging cheek. A small smile tugged at his mouth.
He slapped again. Harder.
Grind Points +75
Current points: 10,772
The numbers climbed. Not huge, but steady. He did it three more times, each slap a little stronger. His cheek reddened, but the pain felt distant, almost useful.
Total from self-test: +250 points
Current points: 10,897
He exhaled through his nose. This was insane. Every bit of pain, every moment of shame, turned into fuel. The system did not care if the humiliation came from others or from himself. It counted.
He opened the Assign Points window again.
Vitality was already at 8. He added two more taps. 600 points gone. Warmth flooded his torso. The sting on his cheek faded almost at once. His breathing deepened, lungs pulling in more air, more qi.
Strength next. One tap. 300 points. His grip on the spear tightened. The wooden shaft creaked slightly under his fingers.
Agility one tap. 300 points. He shifted his weight and felt the difference. His body responded quicker, balanced.
He closed the window.
Points remaining: 9,697
Enough for now. He needed to move.
The outer wall of the capital was close. Beyond it lay open fields, then the Forgotten Forest. Dangerous for most people, but perfect for someone who could turn danger into points.
He walked faster now. The boulevard ended at a smaller gate, guarded by four soldiers. They leaned on their spears, talking in low voices. One smoked a pipe, the smoke curling up in the cold air.
Dymas slowed. He could try to talk his way through. Claim he was a messenger. But his clothes were too ragged, his face too known.
He could fight.
The thought came easily. No hesitation.
He approached the gate. The soldiers noticed him when he was twenty paces away.
One straightened. "Halt. State your business."
Dymas kept walking.
The pipe smoker frowned. "I said halt."
Dymas stopped five paces out. He looked at them. Four men. Ordinary soldiers, no cultivators among them. Low realm, maybe Body Tempering at best.
"I'm leaving the city," he said. Voice calm.
The first soldier laughed. "Not tonight . Palace orders. No one out after midnight without papers."
Dymas nodded once. "Then let me pass."
The soldiers exchanged glances. One stepped forward, spear leveled.
"You deaf? Go back where you came from, beggar."
Dymas studied the spear tip. Iron. Sharp.
He moved.
His body reacted before his mind finished the thought. Agility boosted, he closed the distance in two strides. His free hand grabbed the spear shaft, yanked it forward. The soldier stumbled.
Dymas drove his elbow into the man's throat. Cartilage crunched. The soldier dropped, choking.
The others shouted. Spears came up.
Dymas spun the stolen spear in a tight arc. It caught the second soldier's weapon, knocked it aside. He stepped in and slammed the butt end into the man's temple. The soldier crumpled.
The third lunged. Dymas sidestepped, let the spear slide past his ribs, then brought his knee up into the soldier's gut. Air exploded from the man's lungs. He doubled over. Dymas finished with the spear haft across the back of the neck. The soldier went down hard.
The fourth tried to run toward the alarm bell on the wall.
Dymas threw the spear.
It flew straight, buried itself in the man's back. The soldier staggered, hit the wall, and slid down.
Silence returned to the street.
Dymas walked over and pulled the spear free. Blood dripped from the tip.
The screen updated.
Kill x4: +2,000 Grind Points
Current points: 11,697
He wiped the blade on the dead man's tunic. No guilt. No shaking. Just the steady hum of qi moving through his body.
He opened the gate latch. The heavy wood groaned as he pushed it wide.
Beyond lay the dark fields. Moonlight silvered the grass. In the distance, the black line of the Forgotten Forest waited.
Dymas stepped through.
The city gate closed behind him with a dull thud.
He did not look back.
The fields stretched wide and empty. Wind moved through the tall grass, carrying the faint scent of pine from the forest ahead. Qi here was thinner than in the city, but cleaner. Less polluted by crowds and lanterns.
He started walking. The Auto-Cultivation Module kept working. Progress ticked up slowly.
Qi Condensation Layer 1 – 22%
He needed more. Faster.
He stopped in the middle of the field. No one around. No witnesses.
He raised the spear and drove the tip into his palm. Shallow. Just enough to draw blood.
Pain flared.
Self-inflicted damage detected. Grind Points +150
Current points: 11,847
He pulled the spear out. The cut closed almost at once, skin knitting together faster than normal. Vitality at work.
He did it again. Deeper this time.
Grind Points +220
The numbers climbed. He kept going until the pain became a dull throb, then stopped. His palm was unmarked now.
Total from self-test: +800 points
Current points: 12,647
He wiped the blood on his trousers. The spear felt lighter in his hand.
He opened the Shop again.
Auto-Cultivation was good, but he needed combat options.
He selected Shadow Step Lv.1 – 1,500 points.
Skill acquired: Shadow Step Lv.1
Description: Short burst of speed using shadow qi.
Distance: 10 meters.
Cooldown: 30 seconds.
Cost: 50 qi per use.
Useful.
He spent another 1,000 on Basic Sword Intent Lv.1.
Skill acquired: Basic Sword Intent Lv.1
Description: Infuse weapon with intent. Increases cutting power by 20%. Passive.
The spear in his hand felt different now. A faint pressure gathered around the blade.
He swung it once. The air hissed.
Better.
He kept walking toward the forest.
The grass grew taller as he approached the tree line. The moon hung low, casting long shadows.
A low growl came from the darkness ahead.
Dymas stopped.
Two yellow eyes glowed between the trees. A wolf spirit beast, low grade. Body Tempering realm equivalent. Bigger than a normal wolf, fur matted with faint qi glow.
It stepped out. Lips peeled back from sharp teeth.
Dymas gripped the spear tighter.
The wolf lunged.
He activated Shadow Step without thinking. His body blurred forward ten meters, appearing behind the beast.
The wolf skidded, confused.
Dymas drove the spear into its side. Basic Sword Intent flared. The tip punched through fur and muscle. Blood sprayed.
The wolf howled, twisted, snapped at him.
He yanked the spear free and stepped back. Shadow Step cooldown still ticking.
The wolf charged again.
Dymas met it head-on. He sidestepped, let the jaws snap air, then rammed the spear up under its jaw. The point exited through the top of the skull.
The beast dropped, twitching once, then still.
Kill: Spirit Wolf (Low Grade) – +800 Grind Points
Qi absorbed: +300
Current points: 13,447
Realm progress: Qi Condensation Layer 1 – 35%
Dymas pulled the spear out. Blood dripped from the blade.
He looked at the body. No pity. Just opportunity.
He knelt and placed a hand on the fur. The system prompted.
Absorb beast core? Y/N
He selected yes.
A small pulse of qi flowed from the corpse into his palm. Warm. Pure.
Qi gained: +200
Realm progress: 42%
He stood up.
The forest loomed darker now.
Dymas stepped under the canopy.