Chapter 2: Trait name: Ascending step by step

 Chapter 2: "Trait Name": Step-by-Step Ascension.

"Alright."

Fei Long took a deep breath and spoke seriously, "We both come from the same world. In this strange place, we’re practically family. It seems like you don’t quite understand this world yet; otherwise, you wouldn't be mentioning things like cultivation qualifications. Let me tell you about how things work here."

"This is a cultivation world."

"But it's a bit different from the cultivation worlds we used to see in novels. Here, there’s no such thing as 'qualifications.' Everyone can cultivate as long as they’re willing—or, rather, as long as their initial Trait is suitable for cultivation."

"Trait?"

"Exactly!"

Fei Long nodded emphatically. "This world is like a massive cultivation game. Secret realms even have fixed opening times, and there are all sorts of leaderboards, like the 'Heavenly Talents Ranking,' 'Beauty Ranking,' 'Cultivation Ranking,' and so on."

"Every now and then, regional announcements pop up. These announcements clearly tell you about when and where some fortuitous encounter will occur. At that time countless cultivators gather there."

"There are also things like the 'Order to Establish a Sect,' 'Order to Establish a City,' and 'Order to Establish a Nation.' If you get a bounty on your head, your name will even show up in red."

"As for me, I'm currently at the sixth level of the Qi Refinement Realm. I just broke through. I’ve been in this world for almost five months now."

"When I first got my Trait, I thought it was my golden finger. Later, I realised everyone has it."

"Everyone who breaks through to the first level of Qi Refinement gets a Trait. This Trait is completely random and usually of the lowest tier—white Traits, like the Holy body of a woodcutter,' which allows you to chop wood much faster than others."

"For example, there's the 'Herb Master,' which greatly increases the survival rate of spiritual herbs you plant. It's not particularly suited for cultivation, but it can help you smoothly enter the cultivation world by serving as an alchemist."

"Basically, the Trait you get at the first level of the Qi Refinement Realm determines the future career path for most mortals."

"The Traits obtained at the first level of Qi Refinement are mostly unrelated to combat. They're generally basic Traits. It's only when you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm that you have a chance to get some truly powerful Traits. Many cultivators who were originally mediocre suddenly rise in rank after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and getting an exceptionally powerful Trait due to sheer luck."

"After the Qi Refinement Realm, every time you break through a major Realm, you can choose one from three random Traits—such as during the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Core Formation Realm, the Nascent Soul Realm, and so on."

"To survive in this world, you must become an immortal. Otherwise, someone like me, with my current cultivation level, could easily kill you. Think about it carefully—doesn't it sound dangerous?"

Chen Qiu nodded. 

Although he didn’t quite understand why a sixth-level Qi Refinement cultivator like Fei Long would be so weak, he didn't agree that it would be easy for Fei Long to kill him.

He just thought about it in his heart and didn't refute it verbally. He roughly understood the situation in this world now. 

It's like a game, yet it's his reality—like the fusion of a game and a cultivation world.

"So, what Trait did you get after breaking through to the first level of the Qi Refinement stage?"

"This..."

Fei Long's expression suddenly showed a hint of awkwardness. 

After hesitating for a long time, he sighed deeply. "Fine, there's no harm in showing you. My luck wasn’t that good; otherwise, I wouldn't be thinking about establishing a sect to pave the way for my cultivation."

Fei Long waved his hand. 

A semi-transparent panel, shrouded in mist suddenly appeared in mid-air. This kind of method did indeed resemble the methods of an immortal.

Trait Name: Strength of nine bulls.  

Trait Grade: White.  

Trait Effect: Possess the strength of nine bulls. 

[T/N: strength of nine bulls in bed]

"..."

Chen Qiu's mouth subconsciously opened wide. After a while, he mumbled, "What does 'possess the strength of nine oxen' mean... It can't be the literal meaning, right?"

"Yeah."  

Fei Long nodded, somewhat annoyed. The first trait you obtain essentially determines a person's career path. But he ended up with such a random trait, which made him feel irritated whenever he thought about it.

"Uh, if I may ask, can I see it in action?"  

"What do you think?"  

"Never mind, then."

Though frustrated, Fei Long still took a deep breath and calmly explained, "Getting to the first level of Qi Refinement is very simple. All you need to do is learn to 'look within.' As long as you calm your mind and focus, and see the meridians within your body in the dark, you will succeed. 

"This advice is on the house."

"The city’s lord's mansion in every city provides this free service. They’ll give you a bowl of potion to drink and help you 'look within,' so that you can smoothly get your first trait. But remember, nothing is more expensive than something that’s free."

"If you happen to be unlucky enough to randomly get a trait suited for 'Demonic Cultivation' or 'Evil Cultivation'—something not very wholesome—congratulations, you’ll be executed on the spot."

"If you happen to get a trait suitable for 'Spiritual Herb Cultivation' or 'Spirit Beast Breeding,' etc., congratulations, you’ll soon be captured by a cultivation sect and will do these chores for the rest of your life."

"Of course, if you receive some other normal traits then the government will recommend suitable jobs for you."

"These are the ways taken by the poor people. Many people prefer to buy the potion themselves and test their first trait on their own—at least that way, there’s no risk to their life."

"I just happen to have a bottle of the potion here. Since we’re fellow countrymen, and you seem to have a pretty quick mind, I’ll give it to you. In return, how about you recognize me as your boss and follow me from now on?"

"…"

Chen Qiu didn’t speak. He simply glanced at the broken porcelain bottle in Fei Long's hand, thought for a moment, then took the bottle and drank it down in one gulp.

In an instant, he felt his head become woozy, his eyelids closed involuntarily, and his body turned a bit weak.

At the same time, a loud shout echoed in his ears.

"Sit cross-legged, stabilize yourself, and focus with your eyes closed!"

Chen Qiu did as instructed. 

After a few breaths, he suddenly felt as if a glimmer of light appeared in the darkness. He stared intently at it and saw that the light was getting farther away. Then, in a split second, the light exploded. And in an instant, he could clearly see the meridians within his body.

At the same moment, a panel appeared in front of him, shrouded in mist, visible only to him.

“Cultivation has advanced significantly, officially stepping into the first level of the Qi Refining stage."

"First random trait acquired.”

"Randomizing..."

"Randomization successful. Trait name: Ascending step by step.”

---

Trait name: Ascending step by step.

Trait Grade: Rainbow.

Trait Effect: Every time your cultivation advances a minor realm, you will gain a trait. Each time, three random traits will appear, and you can freely choose one of them.

---

"How is it?"

Seeing Chen Qiu slowly open his eyes, Fei Long couldn't help but lean in closer, his eyes full of expectations as he asked, "How is it? Is the trait related to combat? Generally speaking, the first trait is most likely not related to combat."

"But if you're lucky enough to get a trait related to combat, you can smoothly transition to the Foundation Establishment realm!"

"After you reach the Foundation Establishment realm, three random traits will appear each time you choose a trait and you can freely select the one that suits you best."

"Once you're in the Foundation Establishment realm, you'll be considered a true cultivator!"

"Not related," Chen Qiu shook his head after a moment of silence. 

"It's more of a late-game trait, not much use in the early stages."

He didn't go into details.

Fei Long didn't press further.

At this moment, Chen Qiu also noticed that after breaking through to the first layer of the Qi Refining stage, as long as he focused internally, he could see a panel, similarly shrouded in mist, suspended over his meridians.

---

Name: Chen Qiu.

Cultivation Level: Qi Refinement realm, First Level(0%).

Trait: 'Ascending Step-by-Step.'

Cultivation Method: None.

Spiritual Beast: None.

Faction: None.

Nation: Great Xia Kingdom.

At this moment, his physical strength was almost no different from before, and his only means of attack was still the somewhat worn-out hatchet tucked in his coat. This didn’t really match what he thought about immortals. 

Just then—

A heavenly voice suddenly boomed in the ears of both men.

Heavenly Edict: In response to the sincere calls of its inhabitants, and the blessings of the Heavenly Dao, a Heavenly Secret Realm will appear in the bamboo forest three miles to the east of Fufeng City, Great Xia Kingdom. Only cultivators at or below the sixth layer of the Qi Refining stage may enter.  

The entrance opens immediately and will close at sunset.

Previous