I Can Only Cultivate In A Game

"No, no, I'm running for my life," Victor yelled while turning around to flee.

Victor's legs pumped furiously as he bolted while the snarling beast closed the distance behind him.

The wolf-like creature with crystalline fur and glowing red eyes wasn't giving him an inch of breathing room. Its growls reverberated through the valley causing the air to vibrate.

"This game is insane!" Victor yelled, glancing over his shoulder. "Low-rank beast, my ass! Why does it look like it eats people for breakfast?"

The beast's powerful muscles propelled it forward with alarming speed. Victor weaved between trees, desperate to put anything between himself and the glowing-eyed predator.

For a moment, he thought he'd gained some distance, but the sound of snapping branches and heavy footfalls told him otherwise.

In a flash, the wolf leapt into the air, sailing clean over Victor's head. Time seemed to slow as it landed gracefully in front of him, barring his path with its snarling maw.

Victor skidded to a halt as his heartbeat thundered in his chest. He barely registered what he was doing when his arm shot out reflexively, smacking the beast square on the side of its face.

The slap echoed through the forest, and both Victor and the beast froze.

Victor stared at his hand in disbelief. "Did I… did I just bitch slap a wolf?"

The beast blinked, then let out a low and menacing growl, clearly more irritated than hurt.

"Okay, bad idea. Very bad idea. Note to self: slapping things doesn't work unless you're actually strong!" Victor grimaced as he slowly stepped back.

Victor recalled that he couldn't split mountains with a casual flick of his wrist like so called Cultivation legends.

The wolf lunged at him, baring its fangs. Victor dropped to the ground in a clumsy roll, narrowly avoiding the attack. Scrambling to his feet, he took off again.

He quickly noticed something strange. His legs moved faster than they should have. His strides were longer and more powerful. He felt light, almost as if the wind itself was pushing him forward.

"Whoa," Victor muttered in surprise, momentarily distracted from the fact that he was still being chased. "Am I this fast in real life? No way!"

The wolf roared behind him, snapping Victor out of his thoughts.

He ducked low, zigzagging between trees, desperate to lose the creature. After what felt like an eternity, he spotted a thick bush near the base of a rocky hill. Without thinking, he dove into it, curling into himself as tightly as possible.

The beast skidded to a halt a few feet away, sniffing the air. Victor held his breath as his chest lightened while he fought the urge to panic.

The wolf growled softly as its glowing eyes scanned the area. After a few moments, it huffed and stalked off, disappearing into the distance.

Victor exhaled slowly, relaxing his muscles as relief washed over him. "Okay," he whispered, crawling out of the bush. "Lesson learned: wolves don't like being slapped, and I'm not as stealthy as I think I am."

Although he couldn't completely understand his speed, he felt it might have something to do with his bloodline.

He looked around, trying to figure out his next move. The valley seemed deceptively peaceful as the sound of the river flowing softly in the distance could be faintly heard.

Spotting a tall tree with sturdy branches, he decided to climb it for a better vantage point—and maybe some safety.

Victor reached the highest branch he could, overlooking the forest that stretched out below him like a sea of green.

The view was stunning, but he didn't have time to admire it. He needed to cultivate and reach Qi Gathering Level 1 as soon as possible.

Settling himself against the trunk, he closed his eyes and began focusing on the flow of qi around him. The air vibrated faintly, and he felt the threads of energy drifting toward him, sinking into his body.

For a moment, it was serene.

Then the world turned dark.

Victor opened his eyes in confusion, only to find himself staring into the massive, gaping maw of a serpentine beast. Its scales glistened like polished emeralds, and its slit-pupil eyes burned with malice.

"Wait—" Victor voiced but the beast struck, swallowing him whole.

<[ You Have Died ]>

---

Victor respawned at the edge of the valley, letting out heavy breaths.

"What the hell?" he yelled, clutching his chest. "I didn't even have time to scream properly!"

Determined not to let his first death shake him, Victor marched back into the valley, vowing to find a safer spot. He found another tree near a rocky outcrop and resumed his cultivation.

This time, a pack of small, rodent-like beasts with razor-sharp teeth swarmed him within minutes, gnawing at his ankles and dragging him down.

Another respawn.

Then came the massive eagle that plucked him off the ground during meditation, dropping him from the sky like a broken toy.

Respawn.

Next, a swarm of venomous insects descended on him, piercing him with their stingers before he could even react.

Respawn.

Each time he tried to cultivate, the beasts in the surroundings seemed to sense the disturbance in the qi which led them to come after him.

Victor's frustration grew with every death, but he couldn't deny he was learning something important.

"These damn beasts can feel when the qi flow changes," he muttered after his latest respawn. "Every time I try to absorb qi, it's like ringing a dinner bell for them."

He needed a proper hiding spot—somewhere small enough that beasts couldn't reach him but rich in qi so he could continue cultivating.

Victor wandered the valley cautiously, avoiding open spaces and staying low to the ground. Hours passed before he finally stumbled across a narrow cave entrance tucked between two boulders.

"Perfect," he stated while squeezing through the opening. The cave was small and damp, but it was enclosed enough to make him feel safe.

Victor settled onto the cold stone floor and resumed his cultivation. The familiar warmth of qi spread through him as he focused, ignoring the faint scurrying sounds of tiny cave creatures around him.

This time, there were no interruptions. The system interface chimed softly after what felt like hours.

---

<[ Cultivation Progress: 100% ]>

<[ Qi Gathering Level 1 Achieved ]>

---

Victor grinned as the interface updated, showing his level increase.

His body felt different—stronger, more alive. The air seemed lighter, and his movements felt more natural.

The system rewarded him with a notification:

<[ Rewards for Reaching Qi Gathering Level 1: Attribute Points +3, Void Emperor Bloodline Enhanced, New Cultivation Technique Unlocked - Shifting Winds Art ]>

————————

" Fang Chen's Cultivation System "

- Name: Fang Chen

- Constitution: Primordial Chaos

- Bloodline: Void Emperor

- Current Cultivation Realm: Mortal Realm

- Current Cultivation Level: Qi Gathering Stage (Level 1 - 0%)

- Qi Reserves: Low

- Cultivation Technique: Shifting Winds Art (Beginner)

- Status: Improving

- Physique Grade: Lower Bronze

- Potential: B-Rank

- Affinity: Balanced, slightly leaning toward Wind Qi

- Luck: Below Average

Attribute Points: +3 (Unassigned)

———————

Victor's excitement grew as he accessed the details of his new technique.

<[ "Shifting Winds Art: A beginner-level technique designed to enhance speed and agility by manipulating the surrounding qi. Perfect for both evasion and offence at higher mastery." ]>

"Finally," Victor muttered, rubbing his hands together. "Something useful. Let's see how fast I can learn this."

He leaned back against the cave wall, as his confidence slowly returned. Sure, he'd died more times than he cared to count, but progress was progress.

"Alright, game," his grin widened. "Let's see what else you've got."