"So, this is how the breakthrough feels?" Lin Yun murmured in amazement.
He had read about it countless times in webnovels—the surge of power, the expanded senses, the feeling of shedding a heavy shell. But reading about it was a pale shadow compared to experiencing it firsthand.
It was an incredible, almost drug-like rush. A potent, clean energy now thrummed within him where there had only been a trickle before. His body felt lighter, his mind sharper. The world seemed more vivid, the colors brighter, the sounds clearer. It was as if a filter he never knew existed had been lifted from his senses.
This was real power, however small a fraction it was. This was the allure that drove countless cultivators to brave countless dangers.
After a few minutes of simply enjoying the sensation, his thoughts turned practical. He pulled up his system interface again. His gaze fell on the reward for his breakthrough: the "Random Low-Grade Cultivation Technique."
With a mental command, he moved it from his inventory to the main screen. An icon of a wisp of cloud drifting across a mountain peak appeared. He focused on it, and information flooded his mind.
[Fleeting Cloud Step]
[Type: Movement Technique]
[System Grade: Low-Grade]
[Cultivation World Equivalent: Soul Transformation Level]
[Description: A profound movement art that allows the user to step with the lightness and speed of a fleeting cloud. At higher mastery, one can briefly tread on air, leaving afterimages to confuse enemies.]
Lin Yun's breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
Soul Transformation Level?
He knew what that meant. Cultivation techniques were categorized by the highest realm they could effectively support.
The Lin Clan's core technique, the "Verdant Dragon's Cyclic Art," was a Soul Transformation level technique. It was a treasure that formed the foundation of their clan's power, allowing cultivators to potentially reach the legendary Soul Transformation Realm.
And their premier movement technique, the "Fallen Leaf Step," was a Nascent Soul level technique. It was already considered top-tier, something disciples of other clans would covet.
But this... this "Fleeting Cloud Step" the system had casually labeled as "Low-Grade" was a full realm higher! It was a technique that could serve a cultivator all the way to the peak of the Soul Transformation Realm!
For a long moment, Lin Yun was utterly puzzled. How could a Soul Transformation level technique be considered "Low-Grade" by the system?
Then, the realization dawned on him, sending a jolt of excitement through his entire body.
The grading system of the game is different from the grading system of this cultivation world!
In Alchemy to Immortality, items and skills were graded on a simple scale for game balance: Low-Grade, Mid-Grade, High-Grade, etc., relative to the player's level.
A "Low-Grade" skill for a level 1 player was a starter skill. But here, in this real, functioning cultivation world, that "starter skill" was a priceless, high-tier treasure!
What the game developers considered a basic movement skill for new players was, in reality, a profound art that could be the ultimate secret of a major sect!
This changed everything.
A brilliant, almost blinding light of hope and ambition shone in Lin Yun's eyes. He had been worried. The memories of the original Lin Yun confirmed it—his talent was average at best. His spiritual roots were mediocre, his bone structure ordinary, his meridians unremarkable.
In a world where geniuses abounded, he was destined for mediocrity, forever in the shadow of his prodigious elder siblings.
But now... now he had a way to bridge that gap! He might not have heaven-defying talent, but he could have heaven-defying techniques! While others struggled with their Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment level arts, he would be practicing techniques meant for Soul Transformation experts!
As for improving his innate spiritual roots? He knew from the game that it required legendary, world-shaking treasures dropped by end-game world bosses or found in the most dangerous secret realms. That was a concern for the distant, distant future. For now, this was more than enough.
He couldn't wait. He practically sprang to his feet and hurried out into the backyard. The moon was high now, casting a silvery light over the tranquil lake. It was the perfect place to practice.
He stood on the grass, closed his eyes, and focused on the "Fleeting Cloud Step" technique. The knowledge was already imprinted in his mind—the specific meridian pathways in the legs, the unique way to channel spiritual energy to the soles of the feet, the subtle weight distribution.
He took a deep breath and channeled a stream of Qi from his dantian. He guided it down through the complex new pathways in his legs, a process that required even more precision than the cultivation technique. His programmer's mind once again excelled, treating it like learning a new, intricate API.
He took a step.
It was not a normal step. It felt as if the very ground had become soft, buoyant. There was a profound lightness to his body. He took another step, and then another, his speed increasing effortlessly.
Soon, he was darting across the backyard, his movements fluid and silent. He wasn't running; he was gliding. The grass barely bent under his feet. He felt as if he were stepping on clouds, his body almost weightless, propelled by the spiritual energy circulating through his legs.
"Hahaha! So cool!"
A laugh of pure, unadulterated joy escaped him. This was incredible! The "Fallen Leaf Step" was known for its explosive, leaf-like bursts of speed. But this "Fleeting Cloud Step" was different. It was graceful, continuous, and incredibly efficient. He could feel that with practice, he could maintain this speed for a long time without tiring.
He spent the next hour under the moonlight, weaving between trees, tracing patterns on the grass, reveling in the newfound freedom of movement. It was more than just a skill; it was a key that unlocked a new way of interacting with the world.
Finally, he came to a stop, barely out of breath, his heart pounding with exhilaration rather than exertion. He looked at his hands, then at the moonlit lake, a fierce grin on his face.
The feeling of gliding effortlessly across the ground was intoxicating, a tangible proof of his progress in this new world. He was so absorbed in his success that he didn't notice the soft footsteps approaching until a voice broke the quiet night.
"Young Master, it's getting late," Yu Tao'er said, her voice gentle but firm. She stood at the back door, holding a lantern that cast a warm, golden circle of light around her. "You should rest. You have to attend classes tomorrow at the academy."