Chapter 3: Aura Training Fourth Level
After closing the chat channel, Yuichi Senku pondered for a while.
Based on his observations, most players possessed low-grade spiritual roots. A smaller number had middle-grade roots, and he'd only spotted one person claiming a high-grade root after extensively scanning the chat. Of course, there were likely other low-key players, just like him, silently observing without joining the conversation.
Another thing Yuichi noticed was that everyone's spawn point in Eternity seemed to be quite similar. Players were always born in dilapidated temples, broken shrines, or uninhabited wilderness villages. It was strange—how vast was Eternity to contain so many forgotten places? This made his plan to gather more information through player chats largely ineffective.
"Forget it. I'll figure this place out first, then focus on cultivation," Yuichi decided.
He carefully examined the crumbling shrine around him. A few beams of sunlight pierced through holes in the roof, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The walls were mottled and flaking, and the main gate's wooden panels were long gone.
Looking out through the empty doorway, he saw dense forests and towering mountains. The occasional roar of an unknown beast and the chirping of birds sent a shiver down his spine.
"It's a bit eerie staying in this desolate place alone," he muttered. The complete absence of human activity nearby made Yuichi feel a pang of unease.
"Time to cultivate."
Strength was the foundation of courage. Without it, no environment offered a true sense of security. With enough power, he could go anywhere in this world.
Yuichi sat cross-legged, closing his eyes, and meticulously recalled the Aura-Inducing Secret Art he'd acquired upon entering Eternity Online.
This wasn't like other games. From Yuichi's understanding, Eternity Online was a real world disguised with a game's interface. Players weren't just avatars; they were traveling back and forth in their actual bodies. To grow stronger here, they could only do so through diligent practice. There was no experience bar for killing monsters; instead, some items might occasionally drop. As for the drop rate, no one knew yet—everyone had just arrived, and no one had reported slaying a monster.
Rapid Progress
As Yuichi circulated the technique, the spiritual aura surrounding him began to slowly gather and flow. It gently entered his Core , tracing a specific path through his meridians. The sensation was profoundly magical.
After a short while, a subtle yet distinct aura rose from his body, expanding outwards and stirring the dust around him.
"Is this an upgrade?" Yuichi's eyes widened in surprise. The speed was astonishing. How long had it been? Ten minutes? Twenty?
He felt a nascent aura swirling within his core. He threw a casual punch, and the aura in his core instantly surged through his fist, erupting forward.
Boom...
A rotten wooden board nearby splintered into two.
"Whoa, that strong?" Yuichi exclaimed. To break a wooden board with a mid-air punch—a scene he'd only witnessed on anime—was incredibly exhilarating to experience firsthand.
He quickly summoned his attribute panel.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Yuichi Senku |
| Sect | None |
| Realm | Aura Training First Level (formerly Qi Training First Level) |
| Spiritual Roots | Gold (Divine-grade), Wood (Divine-grade), Water (Divine-grade), Fire (Divine-grade), Earth (Divine-grade), Wind (Divine-grade), Thunder (Divine-grade), Ice (Divine-grade) |
| Special Physique | Cosmic Origin Body |
| Luck | Good Luck |
| Comprehension | ??? |
| Skill | Aura-Inducing Secret Art |
| Magical Power | None |
"Haha, I really did upgrade!" Yuichi beamed, thrilled to see his realm had advanced to the Aura Training First Level. He had finally escaped the realm of mortals. From this moment on, he was a true immortal cultivator. If this kind of strength could be brought to the real world, what kind of experience would that be?
"Continue practicing." Since cultivation was genuinely effective, there was nothing else to do but work hard.
About half an hour later, a stronger aura emanated from Yuichi's body. He had likely reached the Aura Training Second Level. This time, he didn't bother checking the attribute panel; it felt like a waste of precious time. He decided to push himself, curious to see how far he could go in one sitting.
Time in Eternity
Time slowly drifted by. Yuichi lost track of how long he'd been cultivating before he finally stood up.
"Huh, is it getting dark?"
Looking out the doorway, he saw the sun dipping below the horizon, painting half the sky in fiery hues. He remembered that when he first arrived, the sun had been directly overhead, signifying noon. Now, half a day had passed.
"Time flies so fast," Yuichi sighed, astonished by how his sense of time vanished while cultivating. No wonder ancient texts spoke of time being "unknown in the mountains."
The flow of time in Eternity Online was fundamentally different from that in Tokyo. According to the website, one day in reality was equivalent to one hundred days in Eternity. More precisely, the twelve hours from 8 PM to 8 AM in reality translated to one hundred days in Eternity. After 8 AM, players were forcibly logged off, and time in Eternity paused, like hitting a colossal pause button. No one knew why or how this worked; everyone simply accepted it as a game setting, reasoning that immortal cultivation couldn't be explained by science anyway.
Yuichi had practiced for half an "Eternity" day, which in Tokyo, might have been the duration of a single cigarette break. He glanced at his attribute panel and shook his head.
"Hmm, cultivation is getting slower."
After half a day's effort, he was now at the Aura Training Fourth Level. The initial speed had been incredible—about ten minutes from mortal to First Level, then just over half an hour to Second Level. However, the progression from Third to Fourth Level had taken over two hours.
While this speed was still phenomenal, like upgrading via rocket, Yuichi remained unsatisfied. This was only the Aura Training stage! There were countless realms beyond. If it took this long, reaching Mahayana and ascending would take thousands of years. Yes, Yuichi's ultimate goal was ascension. With his incredible talent, even a sluggish pig, given the right environment, could become something great. He aimed high, then put in the hard work. He'd take his time, but he was determined to reach the Great Perfection of Aura Training first.
"I'm hungry. I need to find something to eat." Yuichi rubbed his rumbling stomach. Although he was a true cultivator at the Aura Training Fourth Level, he was not a god; he still felt hunger. He hadn't thought about food before logging in. Even if he had, he couldn't have carried a hundred days' worth of supplies.
"Before it gets completely dark, I'd better hunt some game to fill my stomach."
Yuichi drew his long sword and, for the first time, stepped out of the shrine's gate.