Ke Chen City.
Hanchen District.
Apartment 404, Dao Mei District's Singles Residence.
Lin Hao, returning home from work, took several deep breaths and pulled out this month's salary from his pocket.
He opened the envelope and inverted it.
A somewhat psychedelic rhombus crystal stone and eight irregular crystal stone fragments appeared on the table.
[Lin Hao clenched the spirit stone in his hand, feeling 'My fate is mine to decide, not heaven! Becoming immortal starts today!']
[Today is a small step for Lin Hao into the threshold of cultivation, but in the future, when the cultivation realm looks back at today, it will undoubtedly be a giant leap for the cultivation realm!]
[Thus, the exceptionally perceptive Lin Hao mastered the cultivation technique "Basic Breathing Technique"]
[Basic Breathing Technique (Cultivation Limit: Qi Refining Stage Three):
A cultivation technique that absorbs spiritual qi from spirit stones and spirit crystals through contact, without contact with spirit stones and spirit crystals, practicing breathing is impossible, nor can one absorb spiritual qi from the world. It is the most basic existence among breathing techniques; the magical power obtained after cultivation is not very pure.]
As the log quickly updated, the mysterious Basic Breathing Technique appeared in Lin Hao's mind, causing him to put down his phone and sit cross-legged on the sofa, beginning his first practice according to the Basic Breathing Technique that appeared in his mind.
[Lin Hao uses Basic Breathing Technique to start absorbing spiritual qi from spirit stones and spirit crystals.]
Lin Hao felt energy entering his body from the palm of his hand, beginning to flow rhythmically throughout his body, making him feel light, during this cultivation process...
Grumble grumble~
It's really too good to sleep.
When the first ray of sunlight shone on his body at dawn, Lin Hao opened his eyes.
Previously, he woke up early because of the alarm clock, because of work at hand, but today, Lin Hao felt it was due to the rhythm of life...
Is this the feeling of cultivation? This feeling...
[After the first cultivation session, Lin Hao feels he has become a little stronger]
[He feels cultivation is truly wonderful! He needs more spirit stones!]
[Spirit stones, I want you to assist me in cultivation! Great Heavenly Dragon!]
The log flashed, and Lin Hao, who originally wanted to savor the emotions of the first cultivation, crumbled in an instant.
This Golden Finger display is too embarrassing.
Spreading out his hand again, the luster of what was once a whole lower-grade spirit stone had dimmed somewhat, and of the spirit crystals, only 4 remained intact, while the remaining four had been drained by himself last night...
Lin Hao thought, now that he is already a cultivator, he has a path of advancement that ordinary people can only dream of achieving!
So naturally, he must...
Continue going to work!
He still needs to explore this Golden Finger thoroughly, and the only known way to acquire spirit stones for now is through receiving a salary!
The basic balance must not be lost.
...
"Xiao Lin, you seem a bit different today!"
"Your complexion looks different!"
"Did you get your salary yesterday, found a way, hehe hehe..."
"..."
After exchanging pleasantries with colleagues, Lin Hao returned to his cubicle.
Previously, when sitting in this not-so-ergonomic ergonomic chair, Lin Hao felt discomfort in his neck, shoulders, back, and waist, but today, he feels his body is fantastic.
This is the effect brought about by cultivation.
Lin Hao is already looking forward to his salary next month!
Previously, he worked for his boss, but not anymore; now he is striving for his own path to become immortal!
Lin Hao starts working diligently, aiming to earn more in performance next month, and...
He's also searching online for jobs that offer higher salaries.
Working for anyone is still working, right?
As long as he switches jobs quickly, he's an ironclad worker, with bosses coming and going.
As long as his mindset doesn't decline, his future will not derail!
Within the next two days, Lin Hao drained the spirit stones and spirit crystals.
The following days, Lin Hao begins constantly experimenting, trying to uncover the function of the Golden Finger—
After countless attempts, Lin Hao gradually comprehends everything—
If Lin Hao treats the current world as a cultivation world, and his behaviors align with cultivation world standards, then what he acquires in the urban world will turn into something exclusive to the cultivation world!
Like a few days ago, he treated the HR manager to tea, resulting in a slip being approved—
"Special permission granted to Lin Hao to borrow books from Ke Chen City Library to enhance professional skills."
[Outer Sect Elder, seeing Lin Hao's dedication to managing sect industries, grants Lin Hao special permission to borrow a book on basic cultivation techniques from Ke Chen's Little World Sect's Shared Scripture Pavilion]
After rushing off to the library, Lin Hao borrowed a book on human meridians, and upon completing the borrowing—
[Lin Hao, while borrowing a book "Detailed Human Meridian" from Ke Chen's Little World Sect's Shared Scripture Pavilion, deepens his understanding of the breathing technique.]
[Basic Breathing Technique transforms into Initial Breathing Technique!]
[Initial Breathing Technique (Cultivation Limit: Qi Refining Stage Six):
A cultivation technique that absorbs spiritual qi from spirit stones and spirit crystals non-contactly, as long as one is close to spirit stones and spirit crystals, one can practice breathing cultivation, improving the efficiency of absorption compared to Basic Breathing Technique. It also allows absorption of some spiritual qi from the world; it is the elementary existence among breathing techniques, providing somewhat purer magical power after cultivation.]
Requested another slip, but it was futile; looks like glitches can't be exploited.
But there are always more ways than difficulties.
For example, a few days ago, Lin Hao treated the department manager to some milk tea, which resulted in him getting another slip—
"Special permission for Lin Hao to go to Ke Chen City Central Hospital to buy traditional medicine to replenish Qi and nurture the body."
[The Outer Disciplinary Officer, seeing Lin Hao's dedication to handling the sect's business, granted him special permission to go to Ke Chen's Little World Sect's Shared Alchemy Room to purchase a pot of Vitality Nourishing Pills]
After rushing to the central hospital, Lin Hao bought a bottle of very peculiar-smelling Dihuang Pills.
Upon leaving the hospital, he opened it to find a thumb-sized elixir that smelled quite agreeable.
[Lin Hao obtained a pot of Vitality Nourishing Pills]
It contained twelve Vitality Nourishing Pills.
Went home and took the elixir.
[Lin Hao swallowed a Vitality Nourishing Pill, activated the Basic Breathing Technique, and his cultivation slightly improved]
Requesting another slip was no longer of use.
...
However, not all attempts yield returns.
For instance, he strolled around the night market and bought some miscellaneous trinkets—
[Lin Hao went to Ke Chen's Little World Hanchen District No. 6 Market, picked numerous mortal items, and felt he wasted mortal currency]
He also went to the gym and got a one-day trial card—
[Lin Hao went to an unnamed Body Cultivation Sect's martial hall in the Mortal World, found only basic martial arts and didn't gain any Body Cultivation techniques, feeling it was a waste of mortal currency]
And then he went to a foot massage parlor and called for technician No. 8—
[Lin Hao went to a Health Care Center set up by the Hehuan Sect in the Mortal World, felt it had no benefit for cultivation, felt slightly depleted, but noticed a minor health effect beneficial to mortals.]
[Lin Hao made a firm resolve not to indulge in worldly pleasures, as he is a cultivator, and vowed not to return next time]
The next day, he called for technician No. 18, wanting to see if it was the technician who wasn't up to par—
[Lin Hao experienced worldly health enjoyment]
[Lin Hao made a firm resolve not to return to foot massages, as minor health benefits derived from it cannot compare to the transformative life changes brought by cultivation]
On the day after that, Lin Hao indeed didn't go, showing great determination and awakening, which is why he deserves a chance to cultivate.
[Lin Hao realized his mortal currency was running low, as he hadn't started fasting yet, and had to refocus on sect business]
Lin Hao: ...
Of course, every day, besides working diligently and job hunting, Lin Hao practiced his Basic Breathing Technique at night.
Even though every time the system evaluated it as [the effect of the Basic Breathing Technique without Spirit Stone support was minimal], over time, combined with the Vitality Nourishing Pills, he still felt some improvement.
Moreover, today was payday again—
2400 bucks!
[Lin Hao, as a Servant Disciple, after a month of hard work, received his monthly stipend from the sect—two pieces of lower-grade Spirit Stones and four Spirit Stone Fragments]
This month, after much hard work, Lin Hao finally got a raise, and beyond that, his leader told him good news—
He was formalized!
Next month's salary increases by 1000 bucks, which is equivalent to a piece of Spirit Stone.
[Lin Hao, heavily utilized in managing the sect's business, was granted early qualification to become an Outer Disciple, although he had not yet embarked on the path of cultivation, he couldn't immediately enjoy the benefits of an Outer Disciple, but the increase in the monthly stipend still delighted him]
What does this mean?
Never mind, head home first.
Spirit Stones, I need you to aid my cultivation!
After a month's diligent practice and consuming all twelve Essence Nourishing Pills, Lin Hao felt the Qi Refining Stage was within reach!
...
Back at home.
Lin Hao looked at the Spirit Stones on the table and his bank account balance, feeling conflicted...
His salary had turned into Spirit Stones. What about his daily expenses?
He needed to find a way to make money...
Of course, tonight he decided not to dwell on it and to focus on cultivation first.
Even though he was already on the path of cultivation, he was still short on money....
That's not scientific.
Oh, no.
That's not cultivation!
Three days later—
After completing a Cultivation Grand Cycle—
[Lin Hao broke through to the first level of Qi Refining, officially stepping into the Cultivation Realm, now the sky's the limit, allowing him to soar and achieve immortality today!]
[As Lin Hao successfully broke through to the first level of Qi Refining, becoming a cultivator, he officially became an Outer Disciple of the sect]
[Outer Disciples can enjoy the following three benefits]
[Firstly, go to Ke Chen's Little World Sect's Shared Scripture Pavilion to borrow a Basic Technique]
[Secondly, go to Ke Chen's Little World Sect's Shared Alchemy Room to purchase a Vitality Nourishing Pill]
[Thirdly, go to Ke Chen's Little World Sect's Shared Artifact Refining Pavilion to purchase a Storage Bag]
Lin Hao: Oh~ Is this the correct way a Golden Finger opens?