Shadow Cultivator

Li Yuan found a secluded spot behind one of the houses, where silence reigned. It was a small clearing surrounded by dense shrubs, as if nature itself had crafted it for meditation. Sitting on a stone, he felt the strange energy of this world surrounding him, as though the place held traces of cultivation. "The system is watching me," he thought, opening the panel. Here, he decided to pause and finally take a closer look at the system's interface. Extending his hand, the familiar translucent panel appeared before his eyes.

Status: Name: Li Yuan Level: 3 Strength: 8 Agility: 7 Endurance: 6 Spiritual Energy: 12 Skills: — [Spiritual Vision] (Active): Allows the user to see energy flows. — [Shadow Strike] (Active): An attack infused with spiritual energy, enhancing damage. New Skill Available: [Embrace of Shadows]

Li Yuan focused on the new skill, studying its description. The memory of the first time the system activated came rushing back. It had been unexpected, like a flash of light in complete darkness. He vividly recalled the first text that appeared before his eyes: "Welcome, Player." At first, it had seemed like a ridiculous joke, but it had become his reality. "This is part of me now," he thought. "If 'Embrace of Shadows' can help me survive, I need to learn how to control it." These thoughts lingered as he continued examining the panel.

Li Yuan frowned, studying the interface. "Why do skills unlock like this? This isn't just a game where everything is automated. It feels like the system wants me to be conscious of my actions." He ran his finger over the line for [Embrace of Shadows], pondering how to use this power.

"Embrace of Shadows?" Li Yuan read quietly. The skill description stated that it allowed the user to merge their energy with shadows, rendering them invisible to most creatures.

"Useful," he murmured. Once again, the system nudged him to think. Its functions were strangely convenient, but every time he thought he understood it, it surprised him with another mystery.

Looking around, he realized he needed to find shelter and food. At that moment, he noticed the local villagers watching him closely, their gazes filled with subtle distrust. He could feel every step of his being judged. Li Yuan returned to the main street and approached a group of women sorting bundles of herbs. They froze as he came closer, but one of them, a middle-aged woman with a kind expression, spoke first:

"You're new here?"

"Yes, I just arrived today," he replied, trying to appear friendly. "Could you tell me where I can stay?"

The woman glanced at her companions, who frowned disapprovingly, but then nodded.

"We have a communal shelter," she said. "But you'll need to speak to Hou-Zi, the village elder."

"Where can I find him?" Li Yuan asked.

"By the main square. He's usually there."

Li Yuan thanked the woman and headed to the indicated location.

At the main square, life was bustling. Patrols slowly made their rounds, pointing to dark tracks outside the village boundaries. "Something came close again last night," Li Yuan overheard as he passed. Near the training ground, a group of people practiced strikes with wooden swords. Their movements were confident but carried an undertone of caution, as though they were bracing for a sudden attack. He caught snippets of a tense conversation between two guards discussing an attack in a neighboring valley. Nearby, he saw a large wooden table where a man in his fifties sat. He had a strong build, a short gray beard, and a stern but fair gaze. This was Hou-Zi, the elder.

"You're new here?" the man asked without looking up at Li Yuan.

"Yes. I was told I could stay in the communal shelter," Li Yuan said calmly.

Hou-Zi looked him up and down before smirking.

"We don't give shelter for free. If you want to stay, you'll need to help the village. There's always work to be done."

"Fair enough," Li Yuan replied with a nod. "What do you need me to do?"

The elder pointed to a group of young men near the training ground.

"They're preparing for a hunt. Join them. Show us what you can do, and prove you're more than just a stranger."

Near the training ground, Li Yuan approached the young men, who regarded him with interest.

"You're new, huh?" one of them, a tall guy with a short fringe, asked, squinting slightly. "Let's see what you've got."

"Yes," Li Yuan confirmed.

"Then show us. Spar with one of us," the young man suggested, drawing a practice sword.

Li Yuan gripped the hilt of his own sword, realizing this was his chance to earn their respect.

The fight was brief but intense. Li Yuan started by observing his opponent's movements, waiting for an opening. When the young man made the first strike, Li Yuan dodged with minimal delay, as if he had anticipated the trajectory. Then he activated [Shadow Strike]: energy flowed through his arm, and his blade emitted a faint dark glow. The counterattack caught his opponent off guard, disarming him. The young men nodded in respect, impressed by his skill, while the elder, who had been watching, grunted approvingly.

"Fine. You can stay at the shelter," Hou-Zi said. "But remember: we'll be watching you."

That evening, Li Yuan went to the shelter. At the entrance, he was greeted by an herbalist. Her tired eyes studied him cautiously. "You've already made an impression," she said, pouring tea into wooden cups. "You know, not everyone here can cultivate. I knew a man once—Lin Feng. He devoted his life to it, but he never succeeded. Day after day, he meditated, gathered herbs, and fought monsters, hoping to awaken his power, but in the end, his body gave out. He had the same determined eyes as you," she added, her voice softening. "One day, they found him in the forest. He was still alive but completely hollowed out. Lin could no longer move or speak, as if his soul had been broken. It's always a risk, you understand?" She paused, staring into her cup. "We protect this place because it gives us strength, but it doesn't always return what we expect. Strangers aren't always welcome here, but sometimes, they change everything."

She handed him a cup of hot tea and a piece of bread.

"Everyone here works for the good of the community," she said, pouring more tea into clay cups. "Each day brings its challenges, especially with the threats that might come from outside. If you want to stay, you'll need to find your place and your role."

"I'm ready," Li Yuan replied, feeling tired but resolute.

That night, lying on a wooden bed, he listened to the village breathing: the creak of wood, the rustling of leaves, and the occasional sounds of animals. In the distance, he heard the faint, intermittent howl of a creature echoing through the area before it faded away. A light breeze seeped through the cracks in the windows, carrying the scent of damp grass and smoke. He thought of how, in his world, nights were filled with the unnatural glow of screens and the hum of cars. There was always noise, always motion, even when it seemed everything was asleep. Here, it was different. The silence was thick but eerie, as if it concealed not only sounds but also secrets. "This silence… it's deceptive," he thought, feeling a rising tension crawl across his skin. "It seems calm, but beneath it lies something greater."

"What's the meaning of this price?" he wondered, the system's words resonating within him. Everything here seemed both simple and complex. He felt his journey was just beginning, and ahead lay trials and discoveries.

"System," he whispered. The panel appeared before his eyes, but instead of the usual lines, there was only one message. For a brief moment, an image flashed before him: a dark valley where the air pulsed with a red light, ominous and dense. The ground bore scorched symbols forming patterns he couldn't comprehend but found eerily familiar. In the center, a glowing amulet was surrounded by figures resembling human silhouettes, their outlines distorted as if they were mere shadows of reality. Li Yuan frowned, his mind struggling to grasp the hidden meaning. "A price? What is this price? And where will it lead?"

The secret beyond the gates will reveal itself only to those willing to pay its price.