NOVEL NEXT Chapter 511: Major Progress
Necro's steps were silent as he passed beneath the final row of lanterns, their glow dimming with the drifting mist that had begun to gather along the pathways. The night was deep, the moon hanging heavy over the mountains, clouds shifting across its pale face like drifting veils. Each breath Necro took was cool, the scent of spirit herbs sharper in the crisp air, grounding him as he moved toward the Grand Combat Pavilion where the Virtual Battlefields were housed.
The Infinite Idle Evolution System pulsed faintly within his spirit, its quiet hum a reminder of the unfinished objectives, of the path that beckoned him toward further comprehension, further evolution.
[Quest Objective Update: Final Dao Fragment Required for Stage Advancement.]
Necro's spirit remained calm, the Green Lotus within his dantian pulsing gently as the second petal edged closer to completion. He could feel the Dao fragments of Flow and Persistence humming through him, weaving into the patterns of his qi as he moved, each step an alignment with the subtle principles he had comprehended. But the third fragment still eluded him, the piece that would complete the triad necessary for the Lotus to bloom fully once more.
The Grand Combat Pavilion loomed ahead, its layered eaves and glowing formations casting shifting patterns onto the flagstones below. The air here was charged, alive with the subtle tremors of qi that pulsed from the formation arrays within. Disciples moved in and out, some carrying injuries wrapped in healing light, others stepping lightly with the exhilaration of victory or the determination of having glimpsed a new insight during battle.
A pair of gatekeepers in Sect robes stood at attention as Necro approached, their eyes flickering with recognition before they inclined their heads respectfully, stepping aside to allow him entrance without a word. His reputation within the Sect was growing, whispers of his rapid progress and calm, relentless presence spreading quietly among the disciples.
Necro stepped into the Pavilion, the air within cooler, tinged with the faint metallic scent of spiritual energy discharged in countless clashes. Rows of cultivation arrays lined the walls, each one a gateway into the Virtual Battlefield, each tuned to different realms and combat scenarios, from single duels to war-scale skirmishes.
He moved toward one of the private cultivation chambers, swiping his jade token across the crystal interface, the formations flaring briefly as they recognized his authority and level of access. The heavy door slid open silently, revealing a circular room layered with complex suppression and reinforcement arrays to stabilize qi fluctuations and protect the user's body while their spirit entered the Virtual Battlefield.
Necro stepped inside, seating himself at the center of the array, the jade token resting before him as he allowed his breath to settle, sinking his awareness into the quiet hum of the formations. The world around him faded, the scent of the Pavilion replaced by the sterile, weightless sensation of spiritual projection.
The System's interface unfolded before him, the deep blue of the Virtual Battlefield loading screen expanding into a vast expanse as the scenario initialized.
[Virtual Battlefield: Golden-Rank Challenge Mode] [Objective: Defeat a Gold-Rank Virtual Battlefield Opponent (Pending)] [Reward: Large Cultivation EXP Bag – Evolutionary Archive + Dao Fragment Acquisition Chance]
Necro's spirit aligned with the interface, feeling the familiar shift as his spiritual body condensed within the simulated realm, complete with the Green Lotus nestled within his dantian, the second petal gleaming with faint green light.
The world materialized around him in the next instant—a vast plateau under a gray sky, the wind whipping across cracked stone plains, carrying dust and the scent of coming rain. The distant rumble of thunder echoed across the empty land, the clouds swirling with a faint, ominous light.
Necro's eyes were calm as he surveyed the battlefield, his spirit expanding outward, brushing against the faint fluctuations in the air. Here, the Dao was present in the environment, layered into the simulation, allowing cultivators to seek fragments even in the heat of combat.
A figure appeared on the far side of the plateau, coalescing out of swirling spirit mist—a tall man clad in simple gray robes, a sword strapped across his back, his hair tied back in a warrior's knot. The aura he released was sharp and oppressive, the early stages of the Nascent Soul Realm, his presence like a drawn blade ready to strike at the first sign of weakness.
The man's eyes opened, pale gray and cold, locking onto Necro with an unblinking intensity. His voice was quiet, yet carried across the plateau clearly.
"You seek progress. You will find only struggle."
Necro's stance shifted, aligning with the Dao of Flow, the Lotus Shadow Step resonating within him as he prepared. "Struggle is growth."
There was no further warning. The figure moved, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he shot forward, the sword in his hand flashing with cold spiritual light as it arced toward Necro's throat, swift and decisive.
But to Necro, the movement was clear, the air currents parting around the strike, the ripples of intent visible in the fluctuations of qi. He stepped to the side, flowing with the movement, his presence slipping around the blade like water, his robes fluttering with the displaced air as he countered with a palm strike aimed at the attacker's ribs.
The strike was blocked, the opponent twisting his body, the sword reversing in a swift, upward cut aimed to cleave Necro's arm from below. Necro's body bent backward, the blade slicing through the air above him, missing by a breath as he spun away, the Green Lotus pulsing as his spiritual perception extended outward, tracking every micro-adjustment in his opponent's stance.
Each clash was a dance of precision and intent, the sounds of blade meeting qi-infused strikes echoing across the plateau, sparks of spiritual energy bursting as they exchanged blows. Necro's movements were fluid, guided by the Dao of Flow, while his intent remained steady, aligned with the Dao of Persistence, each step drawing power from the principles he had gathered.
Minutes stretched into an eternity as they fought, the ground beneath them cracking from the force of their strikes, spiritual light flashing as formations activated, stabilizing the environment as their cultivation clashed.
Then, in a single, focused moment, Necro allowed himself to step beyond the flow, pushing into the subtle shifts in the world, seeking the rhythm within the chaos of combat. The clash of blades, the rush of wind, the thrum of thunder above—all were part of the same cycle, the same rhythm that governed all things.
And within that rhythm, he felt it.
[System Notification: Potential Dao Fragment Detected – Dao of Rhythm (Minor).]
Necro's eyes sharpened, locking onto his opponent's movements, seeing the patterns in each step, each swing, each flicker of intent. He moved with it, not resisting, but merging into the rhythm, letting his actions align with the cycle of attack and defense, the rise and fall of each clash.
The opponent's eyes widened slightly as Necro slipped past his guard, a single, precise strike landing on his chest, a burst of spiritual force shattering the defensive qi around him, sending him sprawling across the cracked stone.
Necro stood over him, his breath steady, the Green Lotus within his dantian pulsing as the second petal unfolded fully, a gentle glow emanating from within as the Dao fragments settled into place.
[System Notification: Quest Objective Complete – Comprehend Three New Dao Fragments (3/3).] [Dao of Flow (Minor): Integrated.] [Dao of Persistence (Minor): Integrated.] [Dao of Rhythm (Minor): Integrated.] [System Notification: Large Cultivation EXP Bag – Evolutionary Archive Acquired.]
The figure on the ground began to fade, the simulation dissolving as the Virtual Battlefield receded, the cracked plateau and storm-laden skies giving way to the quiet, darkened interior of the Grand Combat Pavilion's cultivation chamber.
Necro opened his eyes, the faint glow of spiritual light in his irises fading as he exhaled, the jade token before him shimmering with faint green patterns as the System updated his progress.
The Green Lotus within him was calm, the second petal fully formed now, resonating with the Dao fragments he had integrated, stabilizing his cultivation as his spirit advanced quietly toward the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm once more.
But the advancement was not merely in cultivation base. His spirit felt clearer, more aligned, the principles of Flow, Persistence, and Rhythm weaving into his perception, altering the way he viewed the world, the way he moved, the way he fought.
[System Notification: Stage Advancement Questline Progress – 66% Complete.] [Next Objective: Create a Personalized Martial Art (0/1).]
Necro's gaze turned inward as he considered the next step. A personalized martial art was not a technique to be copied from scrolls or learned through rote memorization. It was a manifestation of one's spirit, one's Dao, a technique that aligned with one's path and intent, evolving alongside its creator.
He rose from his seated position, the quiet hum of the Grand Combat Pavilion filling his ears as he stepped out of the chamber, the cool night air washing over him once more. The stars above were beginning to fade as the first hints of dawn crept across the horizon, the Sect slowly stirring as disciples prepared for another day of cultivation, study, and silent, relentless progress.
Necro's steps carried him back along the lantern-lit paths, the scent of pine and spirit herbs in the air, the quiet promise of a new day settling into his spirit as he contemplated the martial art he would create.
It would not be merely a means of combat. It would be a method of cultivation, a technique that aligned with the principles he had gathered, allowing him to advance while fighting, to comprehend while moving, to evolve while struggling against the world's resistance.
A martial art born from Flow, Persistence, and Rhythm.