Here's the fully revised Chapter 4:
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**Chapter 4: Daily Rewards**
Darwin woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through his window. His body felt refreshed despite only a few hours of sleep—a benefit of his increased cultivation. He sat up and immediately noticed the system notification blinking in his vision.
[Daily Upgrades Refreshed: 2 Available]
[Daily Gift Box Available: 1]
A smile crossed his face. This was the advantage of the system—consistent, reliable growth. He pulled up his status screen to check his current situation.
[Name: Darwin Azure]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Spirit Meridian: Refined Meridian]
[Spirit Root: Peak Spirit Root of Wind]
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 6]
[Body Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 3]
[Techniques: Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual (Grade 4)]
[Skills: Gentle Breeze Step (Basic)]
[System Skills: Daily Upgrade, Path of Upgrade, Appraisal]
[Daily Upgrades Available: 2]
[Upgrade Points Available: 0]
[Daily Gift Box: 1 Unopened]
His eyes lingered on the daily gift box. Yesterday, he'd received upgrade points from opening two boxes at once. But what were the actual chances of getting good rewards? He focused on the gift box icon, and to his surprise, a new window appeared.
[Daily Gift Box - Reward Rates]
[Tier 1 (Common) - 50% Drop Rate]
- 1-3 Upgrade Points
- Low-grade Spirit Stones
- Common Medicinal Pills (Qi Recovery, Minor Healing)
- Basic Materials (Herbs, Ores)
[Tier 2 (Uncommon) - 30% Drop Rate]
- 3-5 Upgrade Points
- Mid-grade Spirit Stones
- Uncommon Pills (Breakthrough Assistance, Body Tempering)
- Rare Materials
- Skill Scrolls (Common Techniques)
[Tier 3 (Rare) - 15% Drop Rate]
- 5-10 Upgrade Points
- High-grade Spirit Stones
- Rare Pills (Instant Minor Breakthrough, Talent Enhancement)
- Treasure fragments
- Technique Manuals (Low Grade)
[Tier 4 (Very Rare) - 4% Drop Rate]
- 10-20 Upgrade Points
- Top-grade Spirit Stones
- Legendary Pills
- Complete Treasures/Artifacts
- High-grade Technique Manuals
[Tier 5 (Legendary) - 1% Drop Rate]
- 20+ Upgrade Points
- Divine Resources
- Peerless Pills/Elixirs
- Legendary Artifacts
- Supreme Techniques
Darwin studied the percentages carefully. A 50% chance for common rewards wasn't bad—even 1-3 upgrade points daily would accumulate quickly. The 30% for uncommon rewards was decent, and anything above that would be a significant windfall. The legendary tier at only 1% was expected for such powerful rewards.
Yesterday, he'd gotten 2 and 3 upgrade points respectively from two boxes—both common tier rewards. Not spectacular, but certainly useful. He focused on the gift box and selected "Open."
[Ding! Daily Gift Box Opened]
[Reward: Upgrade Points x4 (Tier 2 - Uncommon)]
Darwin's eyes widened. Four upgrade points! That was an uncommon reward—definitely better than yesterday's haul.
[Daily Upgrades Available: 2]
[Upgrade Points Available: 4]
He now had six potential upgrades to work with today. The question was: how should he use them?
Darwin stood and walked to his window, looking out at the Azure Clan compound as it came to life with the morning. He could see disciples and clan members beginning their daily routines—some heading to training grounds, others to their duties.
His mind turned to the issue of cultivation paths. In this world, cultivators typically chose to focus on either Qi Cultivation or Body Cultivation, not both. The reasoning was sound: splitting your focus meant slower progress in both areas, consuming twice the resources and time for subpar results in each path. A Core Formation Qi cultivator could easily defeat someone who was Foundation Establishment in both Qi and Body cultivation—the gap in a single path's major realm was simply too vast.
Most cultivators viewed dual cultivation as foolish, a waste of potential. Better to excel in one path than be mediocre in two.
But Darwin's situation was different.
With the system, he didn't face the normal limitations. However, he'd already made a crucial decision about how to use it. He would never use upgrades on his Qi Cultivation. That path he would walk through his own effort, building the strongest possible foundation through traditional cultivation. Every stage, every breakthrough in Qi cultivation would be genuinely earned—making his foundation unshakeable and his power truly his own.
The system's upgrades would be reserved for Body Cultivation, techniques, skills, and equipment. This way, he'd have the solid foundation of a true genius in Qi cultivation, earned through talent and hard work, plus the hidden advantages the system provided in other areas.
It was the perfect strategy. His Qi cultivation would be genuinely earned, beyond reproach or suspicion. Meanwhile, his Body Cultivation would advance through upgrades, becoming a secret trump card that no one would expect. After all, who would waste resources on dual cultivation? It was considered foolish—which made it the perfect deception.
For today's upgrades, his decision was clear. He would use his daily upgrades and upgrade points strategically on Body Cultivation. His Qi Cultivation would advance purely through his own effort and talent.
[Daily Upgrade Used]
[Body Refining Stage 3 → Body Refining Stage 4]
Immediately, searing heat flooded through Darwin's muscles and bones. He gritted his teeth as his body underwent rapid transformation. His muscles became denser and more compact, his bones as hard as steel, and his skin tougher while maintaining its normal appearance. The pain lasted only a few seconds, but when it faded, he felt significantly stronger.
[Daily Upgrade Used]
[Body Refining Stage 4 → Body Refining Stage 5]
The second upgrade hit even harder. Another wave of transformation swept through him, his physical body ascending to a new level. Body Refining Stage 5 was respectable—most cultivators around his age who focused on body cultivation were between Stage 6 and 9. Combined with his Qi Refining Stage 6, he now had a balanced foundation that would surprise anyone who underestimated him.
[Daily Upgrades Available: 0]
[Upgrade Points Available: 4]
Darwin flexed his hands, feeling the raw physical power coursing through them. He could probably punch through a stone wall now without using any qi. This was the advantage of dual cultivation through the system—he gained physical prowess without sacrificing his qi cultivation progress.
He decided to save his four upgrade points for now. They might be needed for upgrading techniques, or perhaps he'd use them on body cultivation later. Flexibility was important.
He checked his updated status.
[Name: Darwin Azure]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Spirit Meridian: Refined Meridian]
[Spirit Root: Peak Spirit Root of Wind]
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 6]
[Body Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 5]
[Techniques: Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual (Grade 4)]
[Skills: Gentle Breeze Step (Basic)]
[System Skills: Daily Upgrade, Path of Upgrade, Appraisal]
[Daily Upgrades Available: 0]
[Upgrade Points Available: 4]
Perfect. He was now balanced at Stage 6 Qi and Stage 5 Body—though he planned to push his Qi cultivation higher through manual training today.
Darwin quickly changed into training robes—simple, dark clothing that wouldn't draw attention. He needed to test his abilities properly, somewhere private where no one could observe him or sense his breakthroughs.
Then he remembered—there was an old, abandoned section of the clan grounds on the eastern edge. Years ago, it had been used for training, but after a section of the wall collapsed, it was left to decay. No one went there anymore, considering it unsafe and beneath their attention.
Perfect.
As he left his room, he moved carefully, using his enhanced senses to avoid running into anyone important. The last thing he needed was another confrontation with Garwin or an awkward encounter with Darvin.
The morning air was crisp and cool as he made his way through the compound. A few servants nodded to him respectfully—most lower-ranking workers were neutral toward him, neither hostile nor particularly friendly. The real disdain came from clan cultivators who viewed him as a waste of the Azure bloodline.
Darwin reached the eastern section after about fifteen minutes of walking. The area was noticeably more run-down, with overgrown vegetation and cracked pathways. The collapsed wall section was visible in the distance, partially covered by vines and moss.
He ventured deeper into the abandoned area until he found a clearing surrounded by old training dummies and weathered equipment. The space was perfect—secluded, quiet, and unlikely to have visitors.
Darwin stood in the center of the clearing and took a deep breath. Now, it was time to truly test what he could do.
But first, he wanted to try something he hadn't yet explored—the Appraisal skill.
He focused on the skill in his system interface.
[System Skill: Appraisal]
[Description: Allows the user to view detailed information about items, techniques, people, and environments. Higher-level targets may resist or provide limited information.]
Interesting. He looked at one of the old training dummies and activated the skill.
[Appraisal Activated]
[Target: Wooden Training Dummy]
[Grade: Mundane]
[Durability: 23/100]
[Description: A basic training dummy made from common wood. Heavily weathered and weakened by time. Suitable for Qi Refining Stage 1-3 practitioners.]
Darwin grinned. The skill worked perfectly. He could see the exact condition and even the recommended usage level. This could be incredibly useful for identifying treasures, assessing opponents, or finding hidden opportunities.
He walked over to the dummy and, channeling qi into his fist, threw a powerful punch. The dummy exploded into splinters, the weakened wood unable to withstand even a fraction of his strength.
Darwin blinked in surprise. He'd only used a small amount of qi, yet the result was devastating. His Body Refining Stage 5 combined with Qi Refining Stage 6 made him far more powerful than he'd realized.
He needed to be more careful. If he accidentally revealed this much power in front of others, questions would be asked.
Darwin moved to the center of the clearing and began practicing the Gentle Breeze Step technique. He channeled qi into his legs and blurred forward, crossing fifteen feet in an instant. The movement felt smoother now, more natural with his enhanced body.
He practiced the technique repeatedly, getting a feel for the speed and control. After his body upgrades, the physical strain was minimal—he could use the technique dozens of times without tiring.
After an hour of practice, Darwin sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate. This was the important part—advancing his Qi cultivation through genuine effort.
He circulated his qi according to the Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual's pattern, drawing in the ambient wind qi from his surroundings. With his Peak Spirit Root of Wind and Refined Meridian, the cultivation speed was phenomenal. Qi flowed into his body like a rushing river, far faster than any normal cultivator could achieve.
This was genuine talent—not a shortcut, but the natural advantage of superior cultivation aptitude.
Hours passed as he lost himself in cultivation. The qi in his meridians grew denser, more refined, circulating faster and faster through the complex patterns of the Celestial Azure technique. He could feel the energy building, compressing, purifying itself with each cycle.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, but Darwin remained motionless, completely absorbed in his cultivation. The wind seemed to respond to him, gentle breezes swirling around his seated form as if drawn by his practice.
Then, finally—
[Qi Refining Stage 6 → Qi Refining Stage 7]
A breakthrough! Darwin's eyes snapped open as the advancement completed naturally. His qi had compressed and purified itself, his meridians expanding slightly to accommodate the denser energy. His entire body felt lighter, more responsive, and the world around him seemed clearer, more vivid.
This was a real breakthrough, earned through his own effort and talent. The satisfaction was completely different from using an upgrade—this felt earned, genuine, like he'd truly grown stronger through his own power.
He smiled. This was how it should be—genuine growth, not artificial advancement. Each stage he cultivated manually would make his foundation stronger, his power more stable. When he eventually reached Peak Qi Refining or even Foundation Establishment, his base would be unshakeable.
Darwin stood and stretched, feeling the increased qi flowing through his body. Stage 7 of Qi Refining was considered the upper echelon among Qi Refining cultivators. Most sixteen-year-olds in the clan were between Stage 7and 8 with only the talented reaching Stage 9.
Garwin was at Stage 7 despite being only ten years old, which was why he was considered talented. But Garwin had the full support of the clan—resources, pills, treasures, personal instruction. Darwin had achieved the same level in two days with nothing but his natural talent and a cultivation manual.
And unlike Garwin, Darwin also had Body Refining Stage 5, making him far more dangerous in close combat.
Darwin continued cultivating, not wanting to waste the momentum. The wind qi continued to flow into his body steadily. He could feel himself progressing toward Stage 8, though it would likely take another day or two of concentrated cultivation to break through naturally. That was fine—he wasn't in a rush. Solid foundations were more important than speed.
As the afternoon sun began to descend, Darwin finally stood and decided to explore the abandoned area more thoroughly. The Appraisal skill might reveal hidden opportunities that others had overlooked.
He walked along the collapsed wall section, using Appraisal on various objects and debris. Most were mundane—broken stones, rusted weapons, worthless scraps. But then something caught his eye near a pile of rubble.
A glint of metal, half-buried in the dirt.
Darwin approached and activated Appraisal.
[Target: Damaged Azure Sky Gauntlet]
[Grade: Grade 3 (Uncommon) - Damaged]
[Durability: 15/200]
[Description: A combat gauntlet once used by Azure Clan elders. Contains a formation that enhances wind-type techniques. Heavily damaged and requires repair. Current effect: +5% wind technique power.]
[Upgrade Path Available]
[Option 1: Repair → Azure Sky Gauntlet (Grade 3, Restored)]
[Option 2: Upgrade → Azure Storm Gauntlet (Grade 4, Rare)]
Darwin's heart raced. A Grade 3 artifact, even damaged, was valuable. And the system was showing him upgrade paths! If he used upgrade points on it, he could either restore it to working condition or directly upgrade it to Grade 4.
He carefully dug the gauntlet out of the dirt. It was made of a dark blue metal with intricate engravings of wind patterns. Despite the damage, he could feel faint traces of qi within the formation work.
This was exactly the kind of opportunity Appraisal could reveal—treasures that others had overlooked or forgotten.
Darwin considered his options. He had four upgrade points available. Should he use one to restore the gauntlet now, or save his points for later? The +5% boost to wind techniques was minimal in its current state, but a fully restored Grade 3 or upgraded Grade 4 gauntlet could significantly enhance his combat ability.
He decided to wait. The gauntlet wasn't immediately necessary, and he might find better uses for his upgrade points. He could always upgrade it later when he needed the combat boost.
Darwin tucked the gauntlet into his robes and continued exploring the area. He used Appraisal on everything that seemed even slightly interesting, but found nothing else of value. The gauntlet was the only real treasure hidden in this abandoned section.
As the sun began to set, Darwin made his way back to his quarters. Today had been incredibly productive:
- Advanced Body Cultivation to Stage 5 through upgrades
- Broke through to Qi Refining Stage 7 through genuine cultivation
- Discovered and tested the Appraisal skill
- Found a Grade 3 artifact
- Secured a perfect training location
He was making excellent progress. Thirteen days remained until the Crimson Vale Trial, and at this rate, he'd reach Peak Qi Refining (Stage 10) within a week through natural cultivation. Combined with his Body Refining advancement and the techniques he was mastering, he'd have a real chance at survival.
As Darwin entered his room and locked the door behind him, he pulled up his status one more time.
[Name: Darwin Azure]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Spirit Meridian: Refined Meridian]
[Spirit Root: Peak Spirit Root of Wind]
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 7]
[Body Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 5]
[Techniques: Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual (Grade 4)]
[Skills: Gentle Breeze Step (Basic)]
[System Skills: Daily Upgrade, Path of Upgrade, Appraisal]
[Inventory: Damaged Azure Sky Gauntlet (Grade 3)]
[Daily Upgrades Available: 0]
[Upgrade Points Available: 4]
Excellent progress. Tomorrow, his daily upgrades would refresh, and he'd continue building his strength. Perhaps he'd upgrade his Gentle Breeze Step technique to make it more combat-effective, or push his Body Cultivation even higher.
The possibilities were endless, and for the first time since arriving in this world, Darwin felt truly confident about his future.
He settled onto his bed and closed his eyes, ready to cultivate through the night. The Crimson Vale Trial was coming, and he would be ready.
The "trash" of the Azure Clan was becoming something far more dangerous.
And soon, everyone would know it.