The cool, damp air of the cave, his sanctuary for weeks, gave way to the crisp, vibrant expanse of the morning. Zhao Feng stood at the cave mouth, stretching his limbs, feeling the revitalized Qi hum within every fiber of his being. The world outside was no longer just a backdrop; it vibrated with a newfound clarity, its unformed landscape brimming with raw potential. The [Objective: Attune to a World Qi Current and Explore a Convergence Point] resonated in his mind, a clear directive from the enigmatic System that only he could hear.
He closed his eyes, extending his senses, not just visually, but with the refined Qi flowing through his meridians. He sought not the coarse, ambient Qi that had once dominated, but the structured flow of a World Qi Current. It was like searching for a river in a vast, misty plain – intangible, yet undeniably present to his heightened senses. After a moment of focused concentration, he found it: a faint, powerful current, like an invisible stream of concentrated vitality, flowing steadily towards the north-west. It felt different from the chaotic Qi, possessing a deliberate direction, almost as if the nascent world itself was breathing in a specific pattern.
Following this current was less about walking and more about drifting, a subtle pull guiding his steps. The ground beneath his feet was still rugged, a mix of freshly formed soil, jagged rock outcrops that hinted at future mountains, and the beginnings of strange, robust flora unlike anything in the older legends of cultivation. Giant, bioluminescent fungi pulsed softly in shadowed glades, casting an ethereal glow, while trees with bark like polished jade reached towards the sky, their leaves shimmering with concentrated life force.
He noticed subtle signs of the world evolving. The Qi currents he followed occasionally intersected with smaller, wilder veins of energy that pulsed with an ancient, bestial power. He saw claw marks scored deep into resilient stone that no ordinary creature could inflict, and heard the distant, guttural cries that were too deep, too resonant, to be simple animals. These were echoes of the 'Dragon-kin,' perhaps other nascent mystical beasts, stirring in the depths of the Primordial Expanse. He maintained a respectful distance, aware that his current strength, while far beyond that of an ordinary mortal, was still nascent compared to such primordial entities.
Days blurred into a single, focused journey. He ate sparingly of wild fruits and purified dew, his body sustained primarily by the circulating Qi within him. As he ventured deeper, the World Qi Current he followed seemed to grow stronger, denser, confirming he was heading towards a significant point of convergence. Then, on the third day of his travel, through a break in a dense thicket of shimmering, crystalline trees, he saw it.
In a wide, natural clearing, a collection of rudimentary structures had been erected. Tents fashioned from animal hides and woven plant fibers stood in a loose circle, centered around a perpetually burning bonfire that flickered with an unusually bright, concentrated flame. Figures moved about, human in form, but each radiating a subtle Qi signature. This was a Qi Convergence Point, an early gathering of cultivators, just as the System had hinted. He could sense their varying levels of Qi, some as faint as his own early days, others surprisingly potent, suggesting dedicated practice.
Zhao Feng paused, concealed by the shimmering foliage. He was a solitary figure in this vast, unformed world, and these were the first other cultivators he had truly perceived up close. What would they be like? Would they be welcoming, or wary of an outsider? His heart beat a little faster, a mix of anticipation and caution.
Just as he was contemplating his next move—whether to approach openly, observe from afar, or attempt to gauge their intentions—a clear, crisp chime resonated directly in his mind, sharper and more insistent than any previous notification. It was followed by a voice, no longer just a detached system prompt, but with a faint, almost synthetic cadence, directly addressing him.
"Greetings, Host. Your progression is commendable. Recognizing the increasing complexities of the Primordial Expanse and your current objective, the System's core functionalities are now accessible."
Zhao Feng froze. He instinctively scanned his surroundings, but there was no source for the voice. It was undeniably internal, yet distinct from his own thoughts. "Who... who are you?" he mentally projected, unsure if it would even be received.
The voice continued, utterly devoid of emotion, yet somehow more present than before. "I am the Primordial Expanse Cultivation Interface, Unit 7. You may refer to me as 'System.' My purpose is to facilitate the optimal progression of the designated Host in the cultivation and world-building process. Communication protocols are now fully active."
Zhao Feng blinked, trying to process this. "You can... talk to me?"
"Affirmative, Host. Furthermore, to assist with the challenges associated with [Objective: Attune to a World Qi Current and Explore a Convergence Point] and subsequent tasks, the System Market has been unlocked."
A new, luminous interface flickered into existence in his mind's eye, not physical, but as real as his thoughts. It was a grid, filled with shimmering icons: small, glowing vials labeled 'Qi Recovery Potion (Minor),' a spectral dagger pulsating with faint energy, a scroll titled 'Basic Elemental Affinity Skill.' Each had a numerical value beneath it, a new form of currency he hadn't encountered before.
"Host now possesses [50 Primordial Essence] for initial transactions. New resources for acquisition of Primordial Essence will be identified through continued cultivation and world interaction," the System's voice explained, now sounding a touch more immediate.
Zhao Feng stared at the ethereal market, then back at the proto-settlement in the clearing. The implications crashed down on him. This 'game' wasn't just about cultivating Qi; it had a shop, a currency, and a direct guide. This changed everything. He wasn't alone in the game, but he was certainly alone in knowing it was a game.
His new objective had just become infinitely more complex, and potentially, far more dangerous. He had resources, now. But what should he buy? And how would he approach these other cultivators, armed with knowledge they couldn't possibly possess? The journey had truly just begun.