Darwin's eyes snapped open as dawn light filtered through his window. He felt… different. Stronger. The passive qi absorption had been working throughout the night, and the result was immediately apparent.
[Qi Refining Stage 7 → Qi Refining Stage 8]
A natural breakthrough, achieved simply by sleeping. Darwin couldn't help but smile. His Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Storm was living up to its potential—constantly drawing in wind and lightning qi from the atmosphere, refining it automatically even when he wasn't actively cultivating.
He sat up and immediately noticed the system notification.
[Daily Upgrades Refreshed: 2 Available]
[Daily Gift Box Available: 1]
Darwin pulled up his status screen to check his progress.
[Name: Darwin Azure]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Spirit Meridian: Elite Meridian]
[Spirit Root: Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Storm]
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 8]
[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: 2]
[Upgrade Points Available: 0]
Stage 8 already. At this rate, he'd reach Peak Qi Refining (Stage 10) within two or three days. But first, he wanted to check his daily gift.
He focused on the gift box icon.
[Daily Gift Box - Reward Rates]
[Tier 1 (Common) - 50% Drop Rate]
[Tier 2 (Uncommon) - 30% Drop Rate]
[Tier 3 (Rare) - 15% Drop Rate]
[Tier 4 (Very Rare) - 4% Drop Rate]
[Tier 5 (Legendary) - 1% Drop Rate]
Darwin selected "Open."
[Ding! Daily Gift Box Opened]
[Reward: Thunder Jade Stone (Tier 3 - Rare)]
[Description: A rare cultivation resource containing pure lightning qi. Can be absorbed to enhance lightning affinity and accelerate cultivation. Particularly effective for lightning-element cultivators. Contains 5000 units of lightning qi.]
Darwin's eyes widened. A Tier 3 reward! And perfectly suited to his new lightning element. The Thunder Jade Stone appeared in his inventory—a small, deep purple stone crackling with visible arcs of electricity.
This was exactly what he needed. Five thousand units of lightning qi was equivalent to weeks of normal cultivation for most people. For someone with his Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Storm, it would be even more effective.
But he'd save it for later. Right now, he needed to make strategic decisions about his upgrades.
Darwin's mind turned to his cultivation manual. The Supreme Azure Heaven Cultivation Manual was excellent, but now that he had dual elements, wouldn't the manual need to reflect that? A wind-only manual might limit his ability to properly cultivate his lightning element.
He selected the manual and activated Path of Upgrade.
[Path of Upgrade: Supreme Azure Heaven Cultivation Manual (Grade 5)]
[Current Grade: Grade 5 - Super Rare (Wind Element)]
[Upgrade Option: Heavenly Azure Storm Manual (Grade 5 - Super Rare, Dual Element)]
[Cost: 1 Daily Upgrade]
[Benefits: Adapts cultivation method to storm element (wind + lightning), unlocks storm-based techniques, provides dual-element circulation patterns, increases storm cultivation efficiency by 50%]
[Warning: This upgrade will fundamentally change the manual to accommodate dual-element cultivation]
Perfect. This was exactly what he needed.
[Daily Upgrade Used]
[Supreme Azure Heaven Cultivation Manual (Grade 5) → Heavenly Azure Storm Manual (Grade 5)]
The transformation was immediate. Knowledge flooded Darwin's mind—not just wind techniques, but lightning techniques and, most importantly, how to combine them. New circulation patterns that allowed wind and lightning qi to flow together, enhancing each other. Methods to generate storm phenomena through cultivation.
But the most significant change came to his movement technique.
The Azure Wind Emperor Steps, which he'd learned from the previous manual, suddenly began to merge with new knowledge—a lightning-based movement technique called Emperor Lightning Steps. The two legendary techniques, both incomplete on their own, fused together into something greater.
[Technique Fusion Detected]
[Azure Wind Emperor Steps (First Layer) + Emperor Lightning Steps (First Layer) = Emperor Storm Steps (Complete Technique)]
[Emperor Storm Steps - Legendary Movement Technique]
[First Stage: Silent Gale]
- Triples movement speed
- Steps become completely silent
- No qi signature during movement
- Current Level: Basic Mastery
[Second Stage: Lightning Trail] (Locked - Requires Qi Refining Stage 10)
- Increases speed by 5x
- Creates trail of lightning behind movement
- Can create up to 3 afterimages
- Afterimages can confuse opponents
[Third Stage: Storm Blink] (Locked - Requires Foundation Establishment)
- Increases speed by 8x
- Instant short-distance teleportation within 20 meters
- Greatly enhanced reflexes to react to lightning-fast attacks
- Can chain multiple blinks in rapid succession
[Fourth Stage: Tempest Flight] (Locked - Requires Foundation Establishment Stage 5)
- Increases speed by 10x
- Grants true flight capability
- Can blink across 100 meters instantly
- Enhanced aerial maneuverability
[Fifth Stage: Storm Lord's Dominion] (Locked - Requires Core Formation)
- Increases speed by 20x
- Can blink across 1000 meters instantly
- Movement generates storm phenomena
- Can move through storm elements (lightning, wind, rain) without resistance
- Presence alone creates pressure on enemies
Darwin's breath caught. This wasn't just a movement technique—it was a complete combat system that would grow with him through multiple cultivation realms. Even the first stage, which he could use now, was extraordinary. Triple movement speed with silent, undetectable steps? That alone would give him a massive advantage.
And the later stages… the ability to teleport, fly, and eventually move across kilometers in an instant? This was the kind of technique that sect masters and clan patriarchs would kill to possess.
[Current Mastery: First Stage - Silent Gale (Basic)]
Darwin stood and took an experimental step, channeling qi into his legs according to the new technique. He vanished from his starting position and reappeared across the room—so fast it seemed instantaneous. No sound. No disturbance in the air. Even the qi signature was completely masked.
He looked back at where he'd been standing. Nothing indicated he'd moved at all. This was perfect for stealth, ambushes, or escape.
[Daily Upgrades Available: 1]
[Upgrade Points Available: 0]
Darwin decided to save his last daily upgrade for now. He wanted to see what situations today brought before committing it.
He needed to test his new abilities properly, but doing so in his room was too risky. The abandoned training ground would be perfect.
Darwin quickly changed into training robes and prepared to leave. Just as he opened his door—
"Well, well. The trash actually woke up early for once."
Garwin stood in the hallway, that familiar smug expression on his face. The ten-year-old was already dressed in expensive clan robes, his silver hair perfectly styled. Behind him stood two other young clan members—likely his lackeys.
"I don't have time for this, Garwin," Darwin said, trying to step past.
Garwin moved to block him. "You don't have time? You, who does nothing but waste space in this clan? I heard some interesting rumors, Darwin. People say you've started cultivating. I wanted to see for myself if the trash had finally become slightly less trashy."
Darwin felt his anger rising but forced himself to stay calm. Garwin was looking for a reaction, trying to provoke him. Fighting in the corridor would cause a scene and draw attention.
"If you want to verify something, why don't we go somewhere more private?" Darwin said quietly. "Unless you're afraid?"
Garwin's eyes narrowed. "Afraid? Of you? Don't make me laugh." He glanced at his two followers. "You two stay here. I want to have a private conversation with my dear brother."
Darwin led the way, using his enhanced senses to find an isolated location. He chose a storage building on the eastern edge of the compound—old, rarely used, and far from the main family areas. Perfect.
They entered the dusty building, and Darwin shut the door behind them. No one would interrupt them here, and more importantly, no one would witness what happened.
"So," Garwin said, his smugness still intact. "Let's see this cultivation you've supposedly started. Show me your qi."
Darwin released a small amount of his qi aura—just enough to confirm he could cultivate, but carefully controlled to hide his true stage. At Qi Refining Stage 8, his qi was far more refined and powerful than Garwin's Stage 7, but he masked most of it.
Garwin's expression flickered with surprise, then quickly returned to contempt. "So you can cultivate a little. Stage 2? Stage 3? Still pathetic compared to me. I'm at Stage 7, Darwin. Even if you've started cultivating, you're still nothing but—"
"Trash?" Darwin interrupted. "You've called me that for years, Garwin. You've beaten me, humiliated me, made my life miserable. And for what? To make yourself feel stronger?"
"Because you deserve it," Garwin spat. "You're an embarrassment to the Azure name. Father should have expelled you years ago."
"I see," Darwin said calmly. "Then let me ask you something. If I could cultivate, if I was stronger than you, would you still call me trash?"
Garwin laughed. "Stronger than me? Don't be delusional. I'm at Stage 7, and I have the full support of the clan. You're nothing."
"Then you won't mind proving it," Darwin said. "Fight me. Right here, right now. No witnesses, no interruptions. Just you and me."
Garwin's smile widened. "Finally grew a spine? Fine. I'll beat it out of you again, just like always. Don't blame me when you're coughing up blood."
He rushed forward, his fist glowing with qi. It was a straightforward attack, relying on superior cultivation to overwhelm. At Stage 7, Garwin's strike could seriously injure someone at Stage 3 or below.
But Darwin wasn't Stage 3.
Darwin activated Silent Gale, his first stage of Emperor Storm Steps. He moved—not just fast, but completely silent and without any qi signature. One moment he was in front of Garwin, the next he was behind him.
Garwin's fist hit empty air. "What—"
Darwin's palm struck Garwin's back, enhanced with both wind and lightning qi. Not enough to seriously injure, but enough to send him crashing into a stack of crates.
"How did you—" Garwin scrambled to his feet, shock replacing his smugness.
"Stage 7, you said?" Darwin's voice was cold. "Let me show you the difference between someone given everything and someone who earned their strength."
Garwin launched another attack, this time more carefully. He formed a wind blade—a basic technique, but effective at his level. The compressed air shot toward Darwin.
Darwin raised his hand and infused his own wind qi into it. The technique Garwin had used required channeling qi into a physical manifestation—Qi Refining cultivators could enhance their attacks with their element but couldn't generate the element itself. Only Foundation Establishment and above could create elemental phenomena from nothing.
But Darwin could still enhance his attacks far beyond what Garwin expected. His wind-infused palm strike met the wind blade and dispersed it effortlessly. The superior quality of his qi, refined by his Elite Meridian and Earth-Linked Spirit Root, overwhelmed Garwin's technique.
"Impossible," Garwin breathed. "Your qi… it's stronger than mine?"
Darwin moved again using Silent Gale, appearing at Garwin's side. His fist, enhanced with both wind and lightning qi, struck Garwin's ribs. Not hard enough to break anything, but hard enough to send a clear message.
Garwin gasped and stumbled backward. "You… you're not Stage 2 or 3…"
"No," Darwin said quietly. "I'm not."
He moved again, each strike precise and controlled. He wasn't trying to seriously harm Garwin—just teach him a lesson. Each hit landed with enough force to hurt but not injure. His Body Refining Stage 5 combined with Qi Refining Stage 8 made him far superior to Garwin in every way.
Within thirty seconds, Garwin was on his knees, bruised and breathing heavily. The smugness had completely vanished, replaced by fear and disbelief.
"How?" Garwin gasped. "How are you this strong?"
Darwin crouched down to Garwin's eye level. "You called me trash for years. You beat me because I couldn't fight back. But here's what you never understood, Garwin—trash can become treasure. Weakness can become strength. And the person you looked down on can surpass you."
He stood up. "Here's what's going to happen. You're not going to tell anyone about this fight. You're going to say you fell during training. Because if you do tell anyone…" Darwin's eyes flashed with cold intent. "I'll make sure everyone knows that a ten-year-old 'genius' at Stage 7 got beaten by the clan's former trash. How do you think Father would react to that?"
Garwin's face paled. The humiliation would be unbearable. His entire reputation was built on being a prodigy while Darwin was worthless. If people knew Darwin had defeated him…
"I… I won't say anything," Garwin muttered, unable to meet Darwin's eyes.
"Good. Now get out of here. And Garwin?" Darwin's voice dropped lower. "If you ever try to torment me again, I won't be so gentle next time."
Garwin scrambled to his feet and fled the storage building, his pride shattered along with his perception of Darwin.
Darwin watched him go, then let out a long breath. That had felt… good. Years of humiliation repaid in a single fight. But he couldn't let this go to his head. Garwin was just one person, and relatively weak at that. The real threats—Darvin, Celeste, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators he'd face in the Crimson Vale—were far more dangerous.
Still, this was a start.
Darwin left the storage building and made his way to the abandoned training ground. He needed to properly test his new abilities, especially his storm element techniques.
When he arrived at the secluded clearing, Darwin took a deep breath and began experimenting with his lightning qi. Unlike wind, which he'd been working with for days, lightning was completely new.
He held out his hand and channeled lightning qi into it. Small sparks danced across his fingers—not enough to create actual lightning bolts (that required Foundation Establishment), but enough to enhance his attacks with electrical properties. A punch infused with lightning qi would not only deliver physical force but also cause muscle spasms and nervous system disruption.
He tried combining wind and lightning qi in his palm. The two elements merged naturally, creating small arcs of electricity that swirled with miniature wind currents. This was storm qi—the fusion of his two elements.
Darwin practiced for hours, testing different combinations and applications. He discovered that wind qi made his movements faster and more fluid, while lightning qi made his attacks sharper and more penetrating. Together, they created a balanced combat style that was both fast and devastating.
As the afternoon sun climbed higher, Darwin finally sat down to rest and cultivate. He pulled out the Thunder Jade Stone from his inventory—the purple stone crackling with contained lightning qi.
He held it in his palm and began absorbing its energy according to the Heavenly Azure Storm Manual's methods. The lightning qi flowed into his body eagerly, drawn by his Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Storm like iron to a magnet.
The absorption process was incredibly smooth. Where most cultivators would need days to safely absorb such concentrated qi, Darwin's superior meridians and spirit root handled it effortlessly. The five thousand units of lightning qi spread through his system, reinforcing his foundation and pushing his cultivation forward.
Hours passed as Darwin meditated, the Thunder Jade Stone gradually dimming as its energy was completely absorbed.
Finally—
[Qi Refining Stage 8 → Qi Refining Stage 9]
Another breakthrough! Darwin's eyes opened, electricity crackling briefly in his irises before fading. Stage 9 already. Just one more stage until he reached Peak Qi Refining.
He checked his status.
[Name: Darwin Azure]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Spirit Meridian: Elite Meridian]
[Spirit Root: Earth-Linked Spirit Root of Storm]
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 9]
[Body Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 5]
[Techniques: Heavenly Azure Storm Manual (Grade 5)]
[Skills: Emperor Storm Steps - First Stage: Silent Gale (Basic)]
[System Skills: Daily Upgrade, Path of Upgrade, Appraisal]
[Inventory: Damaged Azure Sky Gauntlet (Grade 3)]
[Daily Upgrades Available: 1]
[Upgrade Points Available: 0]
Excellent progress. At Stage 9, he was now stronger than many adult clan members. And with his dual-element storm cultivation, his actual combat power exceeded his cultivation stage significantly.
He still had one daily upgrade remaining. Darwin considered his options. He could upgrade his Body Cultivation to Stage 6, advancing his physical strength. Or he could upgrade his Emperor Storm Steps to improve his mastery of the first stage.
After some thought, he decided on Body Cultivation. Balance was important, and having Stage 5 Body while at Stage 9 Qi created a gap he should address.
[Daily Upgrade Used]
[Body Refining Stage 5 → Body Refining Stage 6]
The familiar sensation of physical transformation swept through him. His muscles became denser, his bones harder, his skin tougher. Body Refining Stage 6 put him at a level where he could trade blows with low-level Foundation Establishment cultivators without being completely overwhelmed.
Darwin stood and tested his enhanced body. He punched one of the old training dummies—this one more durable than the one he'd destroyed before. His fist, without any qi enhancement, created a significant dent in the hardwood.
With qi enhancement, he could probably punch through stone walls.
Satisfied with his progress, Darwin decided to head back. He'd accomplished a lot today:
- Broke through to Stage 9 naturally through passive absorption and the Thunder Jade Stone
- Upgraded his manual to accommodate dual elements
- Gained the complete Emperor Storm Steps technique
- Taught Garwin a lesson he wouldn't forget
- Advanced his Body Cultivation to Stage 6
Eleven days remained until the Crimson Vale Trial. At this rate, he'd reach Peak Qi Refining (Stage 10) tomorrow or the day after. And if he pushed hard enough, maybe even Foundation Establishment before the trial began.
As Darwin walked back through the compound, he noticed several clan members giving him odd looks. Had word spread about something? Or were they simply reacting to his stronger qi aura?
He kept his head down and moved quickly, using his enhanced senses to avoid anyone important. The last thing he needed was another confrontation today.
When he finally reached his chambers and locked the door behind him, Darwin allowed himself to relax. He pulled up his status one more time, just to confirm everything.
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 9]
[Body Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 6]
One more stage until Peak Qi Refining. One more threshold to cross before he could challenge Foundation Establishment.
Darwin settled into a cultivation position and began circulating his qi. Even without active cultivation, his passive absorption worked constantly, but active cultivation would speed up the process.
As wind and lightning qi flowed through his Elite Meridian in perfect harmony, Darwin thought about the upcoming trial. Foundation Establishment cultivators would still have advantages—flight, larger qi reserves, more powerful techniques—but the gap was closing.
With his storm element, legendary movement technique, and heaven-defying cultivation speed, he had a real chance not just to survive the Crimson Vale Trial, but to excel in it.
The "trash" of the Azure Clan had become something else entirely.
And in eleven days, the world would find out exactly what that meant.