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The second task I had to accomplish, simultaneously, was to create a qi whirlpool in the area I was focused on cultivating. This whirlpool should be constant and steady. Any fluctuations in the qi of the whirlpool not only caused the qi absorption to slow down, but they also made the qi that did enter much harder to control and focus into my muscles.

Finally, after a muscle group was fully saturated with qi, I had to break through. This involved finding my acupoints and piercing them with qi. When finding those points, I felt like I was feeling around in the dark with nothing to grab hold of. I was essentially waving qi around my muscles until I found an area where there was a slight bit more resistance. Then, I pierced that area as accurately as I could, though I knew it couldn’t have been completely correct.

Still, after all my efforts, I was able to break through the acupoints in both my upper left arm and chest. I had reached Martial Disciple 4.

As my cultivation grew, I began to feel a strange sense of confidence. It felt like I could push down anyone who stood in my way, and I wanted to. I knew, deep in my heart, that there was no obstacle I couldn’t overcome.

Fighting the children in the practice yard posed no challenge at all anymore. I was already more skilled than them, having a better grasp of basic martial combat. Now, I was also significantly more physically powerful than them.

Though I didn’t know exactly how strong the elite disciples we were going to face might be, I was filled with inexplicable confidence I could face whatever they could throw at me. I knew I was unstoppable.

As a group, we were all led out of our courtyard. We were guided down several roads, but there wasn’t much to see. High walls encased both sides of the road. Large double-doored gateways could occasionally be seen in the walls, but we were always led past them. Eventually, we were led out into what was basically a small stadium.

On one side, several older men sat on a balcony, overseeing everything. Opposite them, at ground level, were ten young men sitting on expensive-looking carved chairs of a dark wood, though thrones might be a more apt description.

Our martial instructor, who had been guiding us to this point, stepped to the side to allow a new man to take center stage.

“Welcome everyone. I am Su HuaTian, eighth elder of the Su clan. Today you are here to bear witness to the ten elite chosen for this year. They are the best of you and will be the proud representatives of the clan in the future. Bow and pay your respects.”

I followed along with everyone else and bowed to the ten elites.

“Of course, the Su Clan accepts only the best of the best as its elite. These ten have been chosen based on the combined knowledge and experience of the elders. However, we believe that everyone should have an opportunity to prove themselves worthy of such a position. Therefore, this is your first opportunity to challenge for your own position as one of our elites. Understand that after today you will only have two more chances. After that, you will never again have such an opportunity. I encourage all of you to grasp it!”

I looked at the ten children on their thrones. Could I take them? Yes. I was a Martial Disciple 4! It would be a simple thing.

I looked at our instructor. He gave me a surreptitious nod. He wanted me to do this. He believed in me too.

I looked back at the fools sitting on their monuments to false superiority. I couldn’t challenge the weakest. I needed to prove myself. I didn’t know how strong the strongest would be, I could take him easily, of course, but I didn’t want to appear too arrogant. Looking over the ‘elites’, I suddenly recognized the red-robed youth who had killed me in the past. I wanted payback, but the time wasn’t ripe. I wanted him to see my might first.

The man on the stage was the eighth elder, right? That sounded good. I would challenge the eighth elite.

I stepped forward. “I challenge him!” I announced, pointing at my prey.

My fellow disciples inhaled in surprise. Our instructor smiled contentedly. The idiot I challenged didn’t react at all. He was frozen in shock.

“Step onto the stage,” the elder announced.

I and the incompetent elite walked onto the stage and stood opposite each other.

“This will be a fight to submission. Your goal is not to kill one another but be warned, fists have no eyes. In challenge fights, maiming and death are possible. Do you both understand?”

“Yes, elder,” we both answered simultaneously.

“Good, bow to your opponent.”

I gave the fool a half-hearted bow. He would know what it meant to be a true elite soon.

“Fight!”

I rushed forward. I didn’t bother with technique. I would show my skill in martial arts later. First, I needed to make an impact. I needed to show this kid what a Martial Disciple 4 was capable of!

I appeared directly in front of him and threw a wild haymaker. He countered with a punch of his own. His punch was a weak thing with barely any force, and he aimed it straight at my oncoming fist. He was about to learn a lesson!

Our fists connected.

My arm shattered. I didn’t care. I could barely feel it. I was going to take this boy down.

I twisted my body and prepared to knock him out with a strong left hook. He was faster.

I was hit with an unrelenting series of blows. Bones everywhere in my body began to snap and I collapsed to the ground like a rag doll. Even then, I barely felt any pain. The only thing in my mind was to stand up and teach this child a lesson.

But… I couldn’t move.

“Hmph, this is a good lesson for everyone,” the instructor said, facing those I had come in with, “None of you have advanced out of Martial Disciple 1. Even the fastest of the elites hasn’t advanced past the second stage.”

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He pointed at me with a look of scorn on his face. “This fool rushed all the way to Martial Disciple 4. He pulled in qi without a thought for his strength, foundation, or future. Doing so is the fastest way to an early death. I hope none of you will be so stupid in the future.”

“Finish it,” the elder said lightly.

You have died. Calculating…

You died as a Martial Disciple 4. 40 credits awarded.

Total Credits: 45

“What the hell!” I screamed the moment I got back to my little house, “What was that? I knew I had a much worse foundation than anyone else. I knew I would be weaker. And I for damn sure knew that maniac was a complete bastard. Why was I so convinced of my own invincibility? Why did I actually think he was being nice?”

Was it just gullibility? A little extra strength and I thought I could do anything? A little smile and I trusted everything he said? That didn’t seem right…

I did my best to mentally replay everything that happened before my death. I thought through all my actions. It was all based on an unbridled confidence, but why was I so confident?

More importantly, what should I do now?

I needed practice cultivating. I was supposed to be creating a qi filter when cultivating to ensure the energy in my body was pure earth qi. Doing as I had, pulling in a chaotic mix of qi, significantly weakened me and is likely why I ended up dead. However, cultivating properly wasn’t going to happen. I could barely cycle the energy and create the whirlpool at the same time. I needed significantly more practice before I could do both of those and try to filter qi all at the same time.

Also, I wanted to know why I was so confident. Even lying on the ground and bleeding out, I was so sure I could win that fight. There were a few possibilities, sure, but I was pretty certain it had to do with the cultivation technique. Was that what an ‘Earth Heart’ was?

“I think… I think I just want to try again,” I said, trying to psych myself up. “I made gains in both knowledge and credits, and there were no permanent consequences. But first, spending.”

While I had earned 40 credits from that last jaunt, that didn’t feel like too much. I had spent 35 credits on that temporary affinity, so my profit was only five credits. I could only console myself with the belief that what I gained in practice and experience was worth far more.

So, should I spend 35 again on a one-time boost to earth affinity or should I go a different path? I had to boost my affinity, there was no question about that, but I had a few options available. Another one-time to earth, a permanent to earth, or a one-time to a different element.

I decided it was better to stick with earth for the time being. Deeper practice would be better than wider. More practice might mean I could quickly raise my cultivation to a higher level in a shorter time span. At some point, I needed to work harder on a high-quality filter. It was clear that high purity would be extremely important in the future, but that couldn’t happen until I had better qi control.

“System, I want to buy a temporary mid nine-star earth affinity again.”

Cost 35 credits. Purchase confirmed. 10 credits remaining.

One month later, I arrived back at the stadium for our challenges.

In the intervening time, I pushed to cultivate faster and better than before. I was more confident and forceful when aligning the qi flows with my body, I was able to create much more consistent qi whirlpools, and when I broke through, I found my acupoints faster and more accurately.

I still made no progress on a qi filter. I attempted it a few times, but trying to maintain it while doing everything else pushed me far past what I could manage. Still, I had begun to see hope. With my additional practice, I was at least able to free up some brain power to think about the filter while cultivating. I just needed more time to learn.

Even with my faster, better cultivation, I had only made it back to Martial Disciple 4 by the time the challenges rolled around. Since I had been more accurate when piercing my acupoints, I felt I was a little stronger than the last time, but I still had a foundation of rotten mud. I knew I wouldn’t be able to defeat a skilled opponent, and I didn’t want to try.

My plan was to delay, skip this challenge, and cultivate further. That would net me more practice and more credits.

As I was thinking this through, a question appeared in my mind: ‘If I did fight, could I win?’ That wasn’t the plan. I didn’t want to fight. But if I did, could I win?

The more the question echoed, the more confident I became. I was surprised last time, and I was even stronger than before. I could win if I fought. That wasn’t the plan, but if I did fight…

The moment I saw the elite disciples, pride in my chest exploded. I had to prove myself. I needed to make up for the mistake in my last life. Yes, these children may be stronger than me. Their cultivation may be purer, their muscles more powerful, but I was a skilled warrior. I could take most of them down in a fight if I really put my all into it. Like our instructor always said, last time I was too relaxed. I didn’t take the fight seriously. That was why I lost. As long as I focused, I would be able to defeat any of them.

‘Still’, a small voice in my mind reminded me, ‘this isn’t the time.’

I started to regain a bit of calm.

“Does anyone wish to challenge?” the elder asked.

No one made a move.

Our instructor looked at me. I gave a slight shake of the head. He squinted his eyes.

“Deacon Xu?” the elder asked, looking at our instructor.

“Sir, I believe there is one disciple who should be given an opportunity to fight. It would be a good lesson for everyone here.”

“Oh? Who is that?”

“Su Fang,” he said, pointing at me. “Please come forward and give us all a demonstration.”

I smiled. “Very well, Master Xu,” I said bowing. I realized that this might have been the first time I learned the man’s name… “I will challenge him,” I said while pointing to the eighth elite again.

I was willing to wait, but they wanted to see what I could do. Fine, I would show them!

Yes, the boy’s cultivation was powerful, but he was only a Martial Disciple 2. The only part of his body that had been strengthened would be his right arm. Avoid that, don’t let him hit me with a right hook, and I’m golden.

I charged forward, careful to veer towards his left side. Take him by surprise, then take him out before he even has a chance to respond!

At this point, I wasn’t too clear exactly

what happened. It seemed like I was only within arm’s reach of him for a split second.

You have died. Calculating…

You died as a Martial Disciple 4. 40 credits awarded.

Total Credits: 50

On the walk back to my house, I was angry. I was angry at this sadistic place, but also angry at myself. Yes, my mind was being affected, but I believed I should still have been able to control myself. I did control myself, but the moment that bastard opened his mouth that control completely disappeared.

I had a plan. I knew I couldn’t beat that guy. I didn’t even want to beat him. I wanted to learn to cultivate more efficiently, cultivate deeper, and earn some cash along the way. Would I really not be able to control myself?

No, that wasn’t right. Last time, I was able to regain my calm. My original thoughts began to resurface. I was fighting against those outside thoughts, and the more practice I got fighting them the more I was able to push it away. This was another form of training.

So, what now?

If I tried again, would I be able to do better against whatever is controlling me? Would I be able to push it away?

More importantly, the practice was effective. I was gaining control of all aspects of cultivation. I could push further with better results. Soon, I would be able to incorporate a filter to increase my strength even more.

With the additional mental training I was getting by fighting the cultivation technique, I might even be able to completely resist the urge to fight next time. That would allow me to reap even more rewards.

I looked at my credits. Should I buy anything? Excluding the 35 for an affinity, I had 15 spare credits. I could use that for more information, but I was unsure if anything would be immediately helpful. I could use them to improve something about myself, but I wanted to wait. If I had more, I could buy something more powerful.

I sighed. One more time, I decided. I would give it one more shot to see if I could push past this situation.

One month later, I arrived back at the stadium for our challenges.

I was likely the only person in history who had risen from Martial Disciple 1 to 4 three times in such quick succession. This did grant me some unique insights into the process.

My qi control had improved by leaps and bounds. I was now able to establish a minimally effective filter while maintaining strict control of my qi flow and whirlpool. I didn’t use the filter much this life. It slowed down my cultivation, and I wanted to see how far I could push without it.

When it was time for the challenge, I was a Martial Disciple 5.

Martial Disciple 5 allowed me to strengthen both arms, my chest, and my left upper leg. I had not yet had much of a chance to begin working on my right leg, but that was fine. My cultivation base far surpassed the other disciples. Even if they wanted to, they would never be able to compete with a Martial Disciple 5!

I looked at the elites. When the instructor asked if anyone would fight, I stepped forward without pause and roared out my challenge.

You have died. Calculating…

You died as a Martial Disciple 5. 50 credits awarded.

Total Credits: 65