Chen Ming panted, his body trembling with exhaustion. He stared at the motionless Stone Bear, then at his slightly bruised hands. He had succeeded! He had defeated a Stone Bear, or at least made it give up out of confusion, in the most... unforeseen way!
He sighed. This solo adventure is indeed full of surprises. I knew I was still weak, but I had my own 'Dao of Unorthodoxy'. I would keep moving forward, facing every challenge in my unique way.
After that thrilling battle, Chen Ming decided not to linger in the Stone Bear's area. Although one of the monsters was unconscious, the other had fled, and he didn't want to risk attracting more spiritual creatures. He cleaned his blood-stained knife on the grass, then put it back into his robe.
He glanced around, looking for a safer place to camp and recover. This Jade Bamboo Forest was indeed beautiful, but also full of unexpected dangers. He needed to find a more secluded spot where he could cultivate undisturbed.
He walked carefully, following his instincts, taking less obvious paths, avoiding overly open areas. Sunlight began to filter through the dense bamboo canopy, creating specks of light on the forest floor. The air felt cooler and was filled with the scent of damp earth and bamboo.
A few hours later, he found what he was looking for. A narrow crevice between two giant bamboo clumps, almost invisible from the outside. The crevice led to a small, hidden area, surrounded by thick natural bamboo walls, forming a kind of private courtyard. In the center, there was a large flat stone, perfect for meditating.
Perfect! This place is hidden, the Qi is abundant, and there are no signs of large monsters. This will be my temporary base. Chen Ming smiled in satisfaction. My Strangeness Points were now 584.
He immediately cleaned the area, clearing away some dry branches and leaves. He lit a small bonfire, and took out the remaining spiritual wild boar meat and Moon Spiritual Moss he had collected yesterday. The aroma of roasted meat and the fresh scent of moss filled the air, making his stomach rumble.
After dinner, Chen Ming sat cross-legged on the flat stone, closed his eyes, and began to concentrate his Qi. He felt the spiritual energy from the environment flow into his Half-Dragon Meridians, cleansing and strengthening them.
This is it. Time to get stronger. The Chen Ming way.
Whoosh... The wind rustled softly among the bamboo, accompanying his cultivation.
He spent the rest of the night in deep meditation. The spiritual energy in the Jade Bamboo Forest was indeed extraordinary. He could feel his Half-Dragon Meridians pulsing with power, absorbing Qi from the environment at a speed far exceeding normal cultivators.
The next morning, Chen Ming felt refreshed and full of energy. He got up, did some stretches, and then began practicing his fighting techniques. He activated 'Light Shadow Steps', trying to glide among the bamboo clumps. His movements slowly became smoother, though still far from graceful. He still often missed or made unusual movements, but he began to feel better control over his Qi.
[Ding! Detection: User shows steady progress but with a consistently unique style. Collecting Strangeness Points from the unconventional cultivation...]
[+10 Strangeness Points.]
"Not bad, at least I don't bump into trees anymore every time I practice!" Chen Ming grinned inwardly. My Strangeness Points were now 594.
He then practiced 'Raging Rooster Kick' and 'Raging Dragon Fist' on several sturdy bamboo trees nearby, leaving deep dents and cracks. His strength had indeed increased.
After training, he would spend the rest of the day cultivating by the pond. This routine continued for several days. Chen Ming felt himself growing stronger every day. He also occasionally explored the immediate vicinity of his base, searching for more spiritual resources. He found more Ice Dew Flowers, and also some larger spiritual mineral veins, though he still didn't have the right tools to mine them.
[Ding! Detection: User successfully collected low-level spiritual resources. Collecting Strangeness Points from a... tedious but important activity...]
[+5 Strangeness Points.]
"Even collecting moss gives points? This System truly has an odd sense of humor!" Chen Ming sighed inwardly, feeling amused. My Strangeness Points were now 599.
One afternoon, as Chen Ming was meditating, he felt a strong wave of Qi flowing through his meridians. A warm sensation spread throughout his body, followed by a faint golden flash from his chest. His meridians felt wider, and the Qi in his Dantian condensed, spinning faster and stronger.
[Ding! Congratulations! User has successfully broken through to Late Mortal Body Stage!]
[Reward: Increased physical strength, denser Qi, and increased efficiency of 'Light Shadow Steps'.]
[+50 Strangeness Points from the unexpected and very... Chen Ming! breakthrough!]
"Huh?! I... I broke through?!" Chen Ming opened his eyes, surprised. He felt stronger, lighter, and his Qi felt denser within his Dantian. He jumped to his feet, trying to move his body.
Whoosh!
He darted several meters forward with surprising speed, much faster than before, and this time, without the slightest wobble. He stopped perfectly, without bumping into anything.
"Wow! This is it! I really got stronger! And my Strangeness Points jumped drastically! This is like leveling up in a game without the boring grinding!" Chen Ming cheered internally, feeling extremely delighted. My Strangeness Points were now 649.
This breakthrough gave him great confidence. He began to explore the area around his temporary base more boldly. He found more Ice Dew Flowers, and several other low-level spiritual plants that he collected. He also found some larger spiritual mineral veins, though he still didn't have the right tools to mine them.
I need better mining tools. Maybe in the System Shop? Or maybe I can find another unconventional way to mine.
He continued practicing and cultivating in his hidden spot. Days passed quickly. Chen Ming increasingly mastered his power, and his Strangeness Points continued to accumulate from every small peculiar incident or absurd moment he experienced.
One morning, as he was practicing 'Raging Dragon Fist' on a bamboo tree, he heard sounds from a distance. Not the sounds of spiritual beasts, but... human voices. And they sounded like they were fighting.
Clang! Clang! Swoosh! The sound of clashing swords and Qi explosions, larger than before.
Chen Ming immediately hid behind a dense bamboo clump, peeking towards the sound. He saw a group of cultivators fighting against a very large spiritual beast. The creature was... a Jade Bamboo Bear, with jade-green fur and sharp claws. Its size was larger than the Stone Bear, and its Qi felt much stronger.
[Detection: Sky Sword Sect Cultivators (Inner Disciples) x4. Strength: Equivalent to Mid Qi Gathering Realm. Spiritual Beast: High-Level Jade Bamboo Bear x1. Strength: Equivalent to Early Spiritual Foundation Realm.]
Jade Bamboo Bear?! And it's at Spiritual Foundation Realm?! Damn, this is a real boss monster! And those cultivators... they're Mid Qi Gathering Realm. They're struggling! Chen Ming swallowed. This is far above my level. But... this is also a huge opportunity for Strangeness Points!
He saw one of the cultivators fall, and the Jade Bamboo Bear prepared to strike.
I can't just stand by! Chen Ming made up his mind. He would help, in his unorthodox way!