Night had fallen over the Azure Clan compound, and Darwin sat cross-legged on his bed, the silence of his chambers broken only by his steady breathing. He'd spent the evening in light cultivation, consolidating his foundation at Qi Refining Stage 7, but now his mind turned to more immediate concerns.
He had four upgrade points saved, and tomorrow his daily upgrades would refresh. The Crimson Vale Trial was twelve days away—he needed to maximize every advantage.
Darwin pulled up his status screen, the blue interface materializing in front of him.
[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]
His eyes focused on the cultivation manual. The Grade 4 Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual had served him well, but upgrading it to Grade 5 would unlock new insights and significantly boost his cultivation speed. More importantly, higher-grade manuals often revealed hidden depths of techniques that lower grades only hinted at.
Darwin selected the manual and activated Path of Upgrade.
[Path of Upgrade: Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual (Grade 4)]
[Current Grade: Grade 4 - Rare]
[Upgrade Option: Supreme Azure Heaven Cultivation Manual (Grade 5 - Super Rare)]
[Cost: 1 Upgrade Point]
[Benefits: Unlocks advanced cultivation methods, increases cultivation speed by 40%, reveals deeper technique insights, provides profound elemental understanding]
A 40% cultivation speed increase on top of his already exceptional talent? That was incredible. Darwin didn't hesitate.
[Upgrade Point Used]
[Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual (Grade 4) → Supreme Azure Heaven Cultivation Manual (Grade 5)]
The moment the upgrade completed, knowledge flooded into Darwin's mind. It wasn't painful like the initial system integration, but it was overwhelming—new cultivation methods, advanced circulation patterns, deeper understanding of wind qi and its properties.
But most importantly, insights into his movement technique.
His basic Gentle Breeze Step was revealed to be merely the foundation of a far more sophisticated movement art. The complete technique was called **Azure Wind Emperor Steps**, a legendary movement technique divided into multiple layers:
**First Layer: Gentle Breeze Step** - Basic speed enhancement (Current Level)
**Second Layer: Gale Stride** - Creates afterimages, doubles movement speed
**Third Layer: Wind Shadow Flash** - Creates tangible wind clones, triples speed
**Fourth Layer: Tempest Traversal** - Short-distance teleportation through wind
**Fifth Layer: Azure Wind Emperor Domain** - Ultimate technique, allows flight and complete wind mastery within a designated area
Darwin's breath caught. He'd been using only the first layer of a legendary technique! The full Azure Wind Emperor Steps was a complete combat system, not just a movement skill. The higher layers included offensive applications, defensive maneuvers, and even crowd control capabilities.
The Grade 5 manual provided profound insights into wind manipulation and cultivation efficiency, but its true value lay in revealing the complete path of techniques he'd only scratched the surface of.
[Techniques Updated]
[Gentle Breeze Step (Basic) → Azure Wind Emperor Steps - First Layer (Basic)]
Darwin's mind raced with possibilities. With the complete movement technique system, his combat effectiveness would skyrocket once he mastered the higher layers. But he needed to reach the required cultivation stages and skill levels to unlock them.
He turned his attention to his spirit root. Currently at Peak Spirit Root of Wind, it was already exceptional. But Path of Upgrade showed there was another level beyond "Peak."
[Path of Upgrade: Peak Spirit Root of Wind]
[Current Level: Peak Spirit Root of Wind]
[Upgrade Option: Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Wind]
[Cost: 1 Upgrade Point]
[Benefits: Passive wind qi absorption from surroundings, 30% reduction to wind-based damage, 30% increase to wind-based attack power, 30% increase to wind technique learning speed, 30% increase to wind cultivation speed]
[Description: Earth-Linked Spirit Roots form a connection with the natural world, allowing passive cultivation and elemental resonance. This is the threshold between mortal and heaven-grade talents.]
Darwin's eyes widened. Earth-Linked? That implied a connection to the world itself, a fundamental bond with the wind element. And passive qi absorption meant he would be cultivating constantly, even while sleeping or walking. The 30% bonuses across the board would compound with his already exceptional talent.
This was the difference between a genius and a once-in-a-generation prodigy.
[Upgrade Point Used]
[Peak Spirit Root of Wind → Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Wind]
The transformation was immediate and profound.
Darwin gasped as his entire body seemed to come alive with sensation. He could feel the wind—not just around him, but everywhere. The gentle breeze outside his window, the air currents flowing through the compound, even the subtle movements of qi in the atmosphere. It was as if he'd suddenly gained a new sense, one that connected him directly to the wind element itself.
More than that, he could feel wind qi flowing into his body automatically, without any conscious effort. It was subtle but constant, like a gentle stream feeding into a reservoir. His meridians absorbed the qi naturally, refining and storing it without him needing to cultivate actively.
[Passive Qi Absorption Active]
[Cultivation Speed Increased: +30%]
[Wind Damage Resistance: +30%]
[Wind Attack Power: +30%]
[Wind Technique Learning Speed: +30%]
Darwin took a deep breath and felt the wind qi respond eagerly, flooding into his lungs and meridians with unprecedented ease. His cultivation speed, already monstrous with his Refined Meridian and the Grade 5 manual, had just increased again. At this rate, reaching Peak Qi Refining would take only days of focused cultivation.
He had two upgrade points remaining. His attention turned to his meridian—currently at Refined level, the next stage would be Elite Meridian. He activated Path of Upgrade.
[Path of Upgrade: Refined Meridian]
[Current Level: Refined Meridian]
[Upgrade Option: Elite Meridian]
[Cost: 1 Upgrade Point]
[Benefits: Doubles qi capacity, increases cultivation speed by 50%, allows dual-element cultivation]
[REQUIREMENT: Elite Meridian requires dual spirit root configuration. Current spirit root (Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Wind) is single-element only.]
[Available Dual Spirit Root Upgrade Paths:]
[Option 1: Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Infernal Wind (Wind + Fire)]
[Cost: 1 Upgrade Point]
[Benefits: Adds fire element affinity, enables combination techniques, +30% to all fire-based bonuses]
[Option 2: Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Storm (Wind + Lightning)]
[Cost: 1 Upgrade Point]
[Benefits: Adds lightning element affinity, enables combination techniques, +30% to all lightning-based bonuses]
[Option 3: Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Frozen Wind (Wind + Ice)]
[Cost: 1 Upgrade Point]
[Benefits: Adds ice element affinity, enables combination techniques, +30% to all ice-based bonuses]
[Option 4: Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Flowing Wind (Wind + Water)]
[Cost: 1 Upgrade Point]
[Benefits: Adds water element affinity, enables combination techniques, +30% to all water-based bonuses]
[Note: Must upgrade spirit root to dual-element before Elite Meridian upgrade becomes available]
Darwin's heart pounded. So that was the requirement—he couldn't upgrade his meridian to Elite until he first upgraded his spirit root to support dual elements. The system was enforcing proper compatibility.
He had two upgrade points remaining. He could upgrade his spirit root now to unlock dual elements, then use his second point to upgrade his meridian to Elite. But which element should he choose?
The choices were fascinating. Fire and wind could create devastating combination attacks—infernos, heat waves, explosive techniques. Lightning and wind would create storm-based powers—thunder, electricity, overwhelming speed. Ice and wind meant blizzards, freezing techniques, and absolute control. Water and wind offered fluid, adaptive combat styles.
Each option had merit, and he needed to choose carefully. This decision would fundamentally shape his future combat style and cultivation path.
Darwin was about to make his decision when—
*Knock knock knock*
Darwin froze. Someone was at his door at this hour? He quickly dismissed his status screen and stood, his enhanced senses immediately focusing on the presence outside.
It was a cultivator—Foundation Establishment level, based on the qi signature. The aura felt familiar, refined, and controlled. His mind raced through possibilities before settling on the most likely candidate.
Celeste.
Darwin took a breath to calm himself, then walked to the door and opened it.
His third sister stood in the hallway, her silver hair catching the moonlight from a nearby window. She wore elegant night robes in the Azure Clan's colors, and her piercing eyes studied him with undisguised curiosity. At seventeen, Celeste was already considered the clan's greatest genius—Peak Foundation Establishment at her age was almost unheard of.
"Celeste," Darwin said carefully, keeping his voice neutral. "This is… unexpected. Is something wrong?"
"May I come in?" she asked. It wasn't really a question.
Darwin hesitated for only a moment before stepping aside. Refusing would be suspicious, and he needed to handle this carefully. Celeste entered his modest chambers, her gaze sweeping across the room with analytical precision.
"I'll be direct," Celeste said, turning to face him. "At the gathering yesterday, I sensed something unusual about your qi. It was… stronger than it should be."
Darwin kept his expression carefully neutral. "I've been cultivating. Is that so strange?"
"For you? Yes." Celeste's tone wasn't cruel, just matter-of-fact. "You've been unable to cultivate for years. Your meridians were damaged, your spirit root broken. Yet yesterday, I felt genuine qi from you. Not much, but it was there. And today…" She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Today, your qi feels even stronger. But I can't determine your cultivation stage. Why is that?"
This was the danger—higher cultivation levels could normally sense lower ones precisely. But the system blocked that, leaving only a general impression of strength. For someone like Celeste, used to reading people's cultivation at a glance, this ambiguity would be deeply unsettling.
"I don't know," Darwin said, which was technically true. "Maybe it's because I just started cultivating? My foundation might be unstable."
"Unstable," Celeste repeated, clearly unconvinced. "Your qi feels anything but unstable. It feels… refined. Pure. Like someone with excellent talent." She studied him for a long moment. "What happened to you, Darwin? Your hair changed color, and now this. Did you encounter some kind of fortuitous opportunity?"
Darwin had prepared for this question. "I found an old cultivation manual in my room. I tried following it, and surprisingly, it worked. My meridians must have healed somehow over time."
It was a weak explanation, and Celeste's expression showed she knew it. But calling someone a liar about their fortuitous encounters was taboo in cultivation society—such opportunities were often life-changing secrets that cultivators guarded jealously.
"I see," Celeste said finally. "How fortunate for you." Her tone was neutral, impossible to read. "And what stage have you reached in your cultivation?"
"Qi Refining Stage 4," Darwin lied smoothly, understating his actual Stage 7. It was believable—high enough to explain the qi she sensed, low enough not to be too suspicious.
Celeste's eyes remained on him, searching. She clearly didn't believe him completely, but she couldn't prove otherwise. The inability to read his exact cultivation level frustrated her—he could see it in the slight tightening around her eyes.
"Stage 4," she repeated. "In just two days?"
"Like I said, maybe my foundation is unusual."
A long silence stretched between them. Finally, Celeste spoke again. "The Crimson Vale Trial is in twelve days. Even at Stage 4, you'll be hopelessly outmatched. Foundation Establishment cultivators will dominate that realm. If you're smart, you'll stay close to the entrance and avoid taking risks."
There was something in her tone—not quite concern, but not complete indifference either. A slight warning, perhaps genuine advice.
"I'll keep that in mind," Darwin said carefully.
Celeste studied him for another moment, then turned toward the door. "One more thing," she said without looking back. "Whatever fortuitous encounter you had, be careful who you tell. Not everyone in the clan wishes you well. Some might see you as a threat now that you can cultivate."
With that cryptic warning, she left, closing the door behind her.
Darwin stood motionless for several seconds, his mind racing. That conversation had been a minefield, and he wasn't sure he'd navigated it perfectly. Celeste was suspicious, but she hadn't pushed too hard. Whether she'd become an ally, enemy, or remain neutral was still unclear.
But one thing was certain—he'd attracted attention, and he needed to be more careful.
Darwin returned to his bed and pulled up his status screen again. He still had two upgrade points, and his daily upgrades would refresh in a few hours. He needed to make his decision about which element to add.
After several minutes of contemplation, Darwin made his choice. **Lightning**. The combination of wind and lightning would create Storm element—the fastest, most penetrating element known to cultivators. Storm techniques were notoriously difficult to defend against, and the combination of his movement skills with lightning-fast attacks would make him a nightmare to fight.
Moreover, lightning had natural synergy with wind. Both emphasized speed, both were difficult to predict, and combined they created devastating weather phenomena.
[Upgrade Point Used]
[Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Wind → Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Storm]
The transformation was even more intense than the previous upgrade. Darwin's body convulsed as lightning qi suddenly became available to his senses. He could feel it now—not just wind, but the crackling energy in the air, the static electricity that pervaded everything, the potential for storms hidden in the atmosphere.
His connection to wind deepened, but now it was accompanied by the raw, violent power of lightning. The two elements intertwined naturally, complementing each other perfectly.
[Lightning Element Acquired]
[Passive Lightning Qi Absorption Active]
[Lightning Damage Resistance: +30%]
[Lightning Attack Power: +30%]
[Lightning Technique Learning Speed: +30%]
[Storm Cultivation Speed (Wind + Lightning): +30%]
Darwin could feel both wind and lightning qi flowing into his body simultaneously now. The sensation was incredible—like being connected to the very forces of nature itself. Small sparks of static electricity danced across his fingertips momentarily before fading.
Now, with his dual-element spirit root complete, the meridian upgrade became available.
[Upgrade Point Used]
[Refined Meridian → Elite Meridian]
The transformation was immediate and intense. Darwin's meridians expanded dramatically, the channels widening and strengthening to accommodate two different types of qi. His qi capacity doubled instantly, and he could feel the difference—like going from a small pond to a vast lake. The flow of qi through his body became smoother, faster, more efficient.
But more importantly, he could now cultivate both wind and lightning simultaneously without interference. The Elite Meridian created separate yet interconnected pathways for each element, allowing them to coexist and even enhance each other.
[Elite Meridian Acquired]
[Dual-Element Cultivation Unlocked]
[Wind and Lightning elements can now be cultivated simultaneously]
[Storm-type combination techniques now available]
Darwin took a deep breath, feeling the transformation complete. Both wind and lightning qi flowed through his elite meridians, circulating in perfect harmony. His cultivation speed, already exceptional, had just multiplied again.
He could feel the power coursing through him—the gentle yet relentless force of wind combined with the explosive, destructive nature of lightning. When he moved his hand experimentally, the air seemed to crackle with barely contained energy.
He checked his final status for the night.
[Name: Darwin Azure]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Spirit Meridian: Elite Meridian]
[Spirit Root: Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Storm]
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 7]
[Body Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 5]
[Techniques: Supreme Azure Heaven Cultivation Manual (Grade 5)]
[Skills: Azure Wind Emperor Steps - First Layer (Basic)]
[System Skills: Daily Upgrade, Path of Upgrade, Appraisal]
[Inventory: Damaged Azure Sky Gauntlet (Grade 3)]
[Daily Upgrades Available: 0]
[Upgrade Points Available: 0]
[Passive Effects: Wind Qi Absorption (Constant), Lightning Qi Absorption (Constant), +30% Wind Damage Resistance, +30% Lightning Damage Resistance, +30% Wind Attack Power, +30% Lightning Attack Power, +30% Wind/Lightning Technique Learning, +30% Storm Cultivation Speed]
Perfect. He'd used all four of his upgrade points strategically—manual, spirit root twice (once for Earth-Linked Wind, once for dual-element Storm), and meridian. His foundation was now extraordinary, perhaps unprecedented.
An Elite Meridian with an Earth-Linked dual-element spirit root at only sixteen years old? Even in the greatest sects and ancient clans, such talent would be considered heaven-defying. Most cultivators never achieved Elite Meridian in their entire lives, and Earth-Linked spirit roots were the stuff of legends.
Darwin lay back on his bed, but he didn't sleep immediately. Instead, he let his passive qi absorption work naturally. Both wind and lightning qi flowed into his body constantly, his cultivation advancing slowly but steadily even while resting.
He could feel the progress—his Qi Refining Stage 7 foundation solidifying, becoming denser and more refined. At this rate, he'd break through to Stage 8 by tomorrow even without active cultivation.
The Crimson Vale Trial was coming. Celeste's warning echoed in his mind—Foundation Establishment cultivators would dominate. Even with all his advantages, he'd need to be smart, strategic, and careful.
But for the first time since arriving in this world, Darwin felt truly confident. He wasn't just surviving anymore—he was thriving. His cultivation talent now exceeded even Celeste's, though she didn't know it. His dual-element storm affinity would give him combat versatility that single-element cultivators could never match.
The gap between him and Foundation Establishment was still significant, but it was no longer an insurmountable wall. With his rate of progress, reaching Foundation Establishment before the trial wasn't impossible—though it would require intense cultivation and perhaps some fortuitous encounters.
As sleep finally claimed him, wind and lightning qi continued to flow into his body, his cultivation advancing slowly but steadily even in his dreams. Small sparks of electricity occasionally danced across his skin, and gentle breezes seemed to swirl around his sleeping form.
Tomorrow, his daily upgrades would refresh. Tomorrow, he would continue growing stronger.
The "trash" of the Azure Clan was becoming something unprecedented—a dual-element storm cultivator with a heaven-defying system.
And soon, the world would learn what that meant.
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