Dymas pushed deeper into the Forgotten Forest. Trees grew thick here, their branches blocking most of the moonlight. The ground was soft with fallen leaves and moss. Every step made a quiet crunch. The air felt heavier, loaded with qi that clung to his skin like damp cloth. It was not the clean qi of the palace gardens. This was wild, mixed with the scent of wet earth and animal musk.
He kept the spear in his right hand. The blade still had dried blood from the spirit wolf. His left hand flexed open and closed. The cut from earlier had healed completely. No scar, no pain. The vitality points he had spent were doing their job.
The blue screen stayed at the edge of his vision. He checked it again while he walked.
Current realm progress: Qi Condensation Layer 1 – 48%
Current points: 13,447
The Auto-Cultivation Module hummed in the background. It pulled qi from the forest air without him having to stop or sit. Small gains, but they added up. He could feel the energy settling into his dantian, making the core a little fuller each minute.
He stopped beside a thick oak tree and leaned the spear against it. He needed to understand the curse better. The system had called it a resource. He wanted to see what that meant.
Dymas rolled up the sleeve of his torn tunic. The faint gray lines under his pale skin were still there, running from his wrist up his arm like thin cracks. He pressed two fingers against one of the lines. It felt cool, almost cold compared to the rest of his arm.
He focused on it. Nothing happened at first. Then he remembered the self-test from earlier. Pain had given points. Maybe the curse worked the same way.
He took a deep breath and squeezed the vein hard with his thumb. A sharp sting shot up his arm. The gray line pulsed once, brighter.
Cursed qi detected. Conversion in progress.
Grind Points +180
Current points: 13,627
Dymas let go. The sting faded fast. He did it again on another line, harder this time. The pain was sharper, like needles under the skin.
Grind Points +240
Current points: 13,867
A small smile crossed his face. The curse was not just something to endure anymore. It was a tool. Every time the black qi stirred, the system took it and turned it into points. He could use his own weakness against itself.
He kept going for a few minutes. Press, release, press harder. The gray lines dimmed a little each time. His arm felt lighter, cleaner. The numbers climbed steadily.
Total from curse test: +920 points
Current points: 14,787
He lowered his sleeve. His skin looked almost normal now, only the thinnest traces left. The curse had not gone away completely, but it felt smaller. Manageable.
He picked up the spear and kept walking. The forest grew denser. Vines hung from branches. Small animals rustled in the underbrush. Twice he spotted glowing eyes in the distance, but they backed away when he looked straight at them.
After another half hour the trees opened into a small clearing. A stream ran through it, water bubbling over rocks. Moonlight reached the ground here. Dymas knelt by the water and drank from his cupped hands. The water tasted clean, cold. It carried a faint trace of qi that his body absorbed right away.
He was about to stand when voices reached him from the other side of the clearing.
Three men stepped out from the trees. They wore rough leather armor patched with metal plates. Each carried a sword or axe. Their faces were hard, scarred from fights. One had a thick beard. Another had a missing eye covered by a black patch. The third was younger, maybe twenty-five, with a scar across his nose.
The bearded one spotted Dymas first. He stopped and pointed.
"Look at that. Tall one in fancy rags. That face. I know that face."
The one-eyed man squinted. "Blackthorn trash. The cursed prince. Saw the posters before we left the city. They said he was exiled tonight. Worth a bounty if we bring his head back."
The young one grinned. "Easy money. He looks half dead already."
Dymas stood slowly. He kept the spear loose in his hand. His gray eyes moved over the three men. They were stronger than the gate guards. Body Tempering realm, maybe early Qi Condensation. Not cultivators from big sects, but bandits who knew how to fight dirty.
The bearded leader walked forward. "Prince Dymas Blackthorn. On your knees. Make it quick and we might not cut you up too bad before we take the head."
Dymas said nothing. He watched them come closer. This was another test. Pain for points. He could fight right away, but he wanted the numbers first.
The one-eyed man swung first. His axe came in a wide arc. Dymas did not dodge. The flat side caught him in the ribs. Pain exploded. He staggered back a step.
Damage received: +320 Grind Points
Current points: 15,107
The young bandit laughed and kicked him in the knee. Dymas dropped to one knee. The boot left a bruise that throbbed.
Damage received: +180 Grind Points
Current points: 15,287
The bearded leader stepped in and punched him across the jaw. Dymas's head snapped sideways. Blood filled his mouth. The scar on his cheek burned.
Damage received: +450 Grind Points
Current points: 15,737
He stayed on his knee. Let them hit him again. The one-eyed man kicked him in the side. Ribs creaked. Pain flared hot.
Damage received: +280 Grind Points
Current points: 16,017
Dymas spat blood onto the grass. His body hurt, but the hurt felt useful. Every strike fed the system. The curse lines under his skin pulsed brighter, converting the damage faster than before.
The bandits laughed louder.
"Look at him. Takes it like a dog."
The young one raised his sword for another swing.
That was enough.
Dymas activated Shadow Step. His body blurred. He appeared behind the young bandit. The spear came up fast. Basic Sword Intent flared around the blade. He drove the point into the man's back, between the shoulder blades. The tip punched through leather and bone.
The young bandit gasped once and dropped.
Kill: Bandit (Body Tempering) – +650 Grind Points
Current points: 16,667
The other two spun around.
Dymas was already moving. He pulled the spear free and swung it in a low arc. The bearded leader blocked with his axe, but the force knocked him back three steps. Dymas followed. Shadow Step again. He appeared at the man's side and rammed the spear into his thigh. The blade went deep.
The leader roared and swung wildly. Dymas ducked under the axe and drove his elbow into the man's throat. Cartilage broke. The leader gurgled and fell.
Kill: Bandit Leader (Early Qi Condensation) – +1,100 Grind Points
Current points: 17,767
Only the one-eyed man left. He backed up, axe raised.
"You monster. They said you were trash."
Dymas wiped blood from his mouth. His ribs ached, but the pain was already fading. Vitality worked fast.
"I was."
He stepped forward. The bandit swung. Dymas caught the axe haft with his free hand. Strength points held it still. He twisted. The man lost balance. Dymas brought the spear up under his chin. The point entered clean and came out the top of the skull.
The bandit dropped without another sound.
Kill: Bandit (Body Tempering) – +700 Grind Points
Current points: 18,467
Silence fell over the clearing. The stream kept bubbling. Moonlight shone on the three bodies.
Dymas stood still for a moment. His breathing was steady. Bruises formed on his ribs and jaw, but they were already turning yellow at the edges, healing. He touched the side where the axe had hit. Tender, but not broken.
The screen updated again.
Realm progress: Qi Condensation Layer 1 – 67%
Cursed Qi Absorber upgraded: Passive conversion rate increased by 15%
He felt the change right away. The remaining gray lines under his skin dimmed further. A small wave of warmth moved through his veins. The curse was feeding him now instead of killing him.
Dymas knelt by the bearded leader and searched the body. A small pouch held a few silver coins and a low-grade qi pill. He swallowed the pill whole. The system absorbed it instantly.
Qi gained: +450
Realm progress: 72%
He took the axe too. Better than nothing. The spear was good, but a second weapon gave options.
He stood and looked around the clearing. The forest felt quieter now. No more eyes watching from the trees. The bandits had probably scared off smaller beasts.
Dymas wiped the spear on the grass. His black hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. The scar on his cheek stood out more against the fresh bruise. His gray eyes were clearer than they had been in years. The torn tunic hung open at the chest, showing pale skin with almost no gray lines left.
He felt different. Not just stronger. Clearer. Like the world had more edges, more details. The qi in the air moved in visible currents if he focused.
He started walking again, deeper into the forest. The stream faded behind him. Trees closed in once more.
The system had turned his curse into power. The bandits had turned into points. Everything that tried to break him now made him harder.
Dawn was still a few hours away. He had time to grind more.
He gripped the spear tighter and moved faster.