The subtle hum of spiritual energy, a melody only he could perceive, resonated deep within Luo Feng's core. It wasn't the chaotic ebb and flow he'd grown accustomed to during his Qi Condensation days; this was a steady, robust river, flowing through newly forged meridians and coalescing into a shimmering, solid foundation. He was at Foundation Building Stage One, a stage that had felt impossibly distant just weeks ago when he'd first awoken in this brutal forest, his stomach aching with hunger and his future a terrifying blank slate.
He remembered the desperate hunt for low-level beasts, the cautious gathering of obscure herbs, each endeavor a gamble against both the wilderness and other desperate cultivators. Each coin earned, each resource salvaged, had been poured back into the system, a terrifying but irresistible wager on his own survival. The thought still sent a faint ripple of unease through him – to literally buy one's strength. But what other choice did he have in a world where the weak were simply prey?
He sat cross-legged on a patch of moss, the forest canopy above dappling the fading light. His eyes, though closed, could almost visualize the intricate network of his new foundation, a miniature spiritual world blossoming within him. It was strong, far stronger than he'd expected from such rapid advancement. Yet, the drive for more power was a relentless current, pulling him forward. He opened his eyes, a glint of determination replacing the usual gentle curiosity.
"System, what's next?" he murmured, directing the thought inwards.
A familiar chime echoed in his mind, followed by a new, more elaborate notification.
"DING! Host has successfully broken through to Foundation Building Stage. New System Feature unlocked: Spiritual Investment Cashback!"
Luo Feng blinked. "Spiritual Investment Cashback?"
The system's interface shimmered before him, a translucent panel displaying a flood of information. "Effective immediately, for every expenditure made towards personal cultivation advancement from Foundation Building Stage onwards, the Host will receive a 10x cashback in Cultivation Points. These Cultivation Points are exclusively usable for further cultivation breakthroughs. Current Cultivation Points: 0."
Luo Feng’s breath hitched. A 10x cashback? For cultivation? He reread the notification, his mind racing. This wasn't actual gold or spirit stones returning to his pocket, but a dedicated currency for cultivation. It meant that once he made an initial investment, he could potentially chain breakthroughs, using the cashback to pay for subsequent stages, as long as the costs didn't escalate beyond the returned points. This was an unprecedented boon, a clear path to accelerating his growth even further.
He checked his current balance. After his last breakthrough, he had precisely 1,500 gold coins left, carefully hoarded from his recent exploits against a particularly aggressive pack of Shadow Wolves whose pelts had fetched a decent price in a makeshift trading post he'd stumbled upon. It wasn't a vast sum in the grand scheme of the cultivation world, but with this new feature...
"System, what is the cost to advance to Foundation Building Stage Two?" he asked, his voice low with anticipation.
"Advancing to Foundation Building Stage Two requires 500 gold coins, or equivalent in spiritual resources."
Five hundred gold. A significant chunk of his remaining funds. But if the cashback applied...
"Confirm advancement to Foundation Building Stage Two using 500 gold coins," he commanded, a strange mix of apprehension and exhilaration coursing through him.
"Deducting 500 gold coins... Processing breakthrough... DING! Host has successfully advanced to Foundation Building Stage Two!"
A surge of raw spiritual energy, far more potent than his initial breakthrough, coursed through his body. His meridians expanded, his foundation solidified further, and a warm, invigorating sensation spread from his core to his very fingertips. He felt lighter, yet more substantial, as if his connection to the ambient spiritual energy of the forest had deepened. The feeling was intoxicating, a clear affirmation of his chosen path.
"DING! Spiritual Investment Cashback activated! 5000 Cultivation Points have been credited to your account (10x of 500 gold coins)."
The system displayed his new balance: Gold Coins: 1000. Cultivation Points: 5000.
This was it. This was his ticket. Five thousand Cultivation Points. How far could that take him?
"System, what is the cost to advance to Foundation Building Stage Three?"
"Advancing to Foundation Building Stage Three requires 800 Cultivation Points."
His heart thumped. "Use Cultivation Points for advancement to Foundation Building Stage Three."
"Deducting 800 Cultivation Points... Processing breakthrough... DING! Host has successfully advanced to Foundation Building Stage Three!"
Another wave of power, stronger, faster. His physical senses sharpened, the rustling of distant leaves, the subtle earthy scent of the forest floor, all became clearer, more vivid. He could feel the spiritual energy around him almost like a physical presence, a gentle current he could now manipulate with greater ease. He pressed on, the cascade of power pulling him deeper into the process.
"DING! Spiritual Investment Cashback activated! 8000 Cultivation Points have been credited to your account (10x of 800 Cultivation Points)."
The system panel flickered. Cultivation Points: 12200. This was insane. The numbers were multiplying, his strength soaring at an alarming rate. He hardly noticed the diminishing gold coins anymore, his focus entirely on the rapidly accumulating Cultivation Points.
Stage after stage, the process repeated. Each breakthrough brought a more profound transformation. Foundation Building Stage Four, a noticeable increase in spiritual force. Stage Five, a heightened resistance to environmental pressures. Stage Six, his physical body subtly refined, bone and muscle subtly strengthened by the influx of pure Qi. The feeling of raw power building within him was exhilarating, yet also slightly unsettling. He was changing, becoming something more than just human. The gentle soul from Earth was slowly being etched away, replaced by the hardening resolve of a cultivator.
The system's notifications became a rhythmic mantra in his mind:
"DING! Host has successfully advanced to Foundation Building Stage Seven! Deducting 2000 Cultivation Points. Cashback: 20000 Cultivation Points."
"DING! Host has successfully advanced to Foundation Building Stage Eight! Deducting 3500 Cultivation Points. Cashback: 35000 Cultivation Points."
By Foundation Building Stage Nine, the spiritual energy swirling within him felt like a miniature storm, contained yet immense. His senses were so acute he could track the flight of a distant beetle, discern the faintest tremor in the earth. The power was dizzying, a constant thrumming beneath his skin. He felt as though he could cleave trees with a mere thought, or outrun the swiftest beast.
"DING! Host has successfully advanced to Foundation Building Stage Nine! Deducting 5000 Cultivation Points. Cashback: 50000 Cultivation Points."
His Cultivation Points now numbered over 70,000. He was a powerhouse, at least within the confines of the Foundation Building realm. He could hardly believe it. From barely surviving to this, all in a matter of weeks, fueled by a system that defied all logic.
He took a deep breath, the spiritual energy of the forest responding to his very presence, flowing towards him, eager to be absorbed. The air around him shimmered faintly. This was it. The final stage of Foundation Building.
"System, what is the cost to advance to Foundation Building Stage Ten?"
"Advancing to Foundation Building Stage Ten requires 10,000 Cultivation Points."
"Confirm advancement to Foundation Building Stage Ten."
"Deducting 10,000 Cultivation Points... Processing breakthrough... DING! Host has successfully advanced to Foundation Building Stage Ten! Congratulations on reaching the pinnacle of the Foundation Building Realm!"
A colossal wave of spiritual energy erupted from his core, spreading throughout his entire being. It wasn't just a surge; it was a complete inundation. Every cell in his body vibrated with power, every meridian glowed with an internal light. His skin seemed to tighten, his eyes shimmered with a newfound clarity. He felt utterly transformed, a true cultivator, no longer a struggling novice. The forest, which had once seemed so vast and threatening, now felt... within his grasp. He could feel the roots beneath the earth, the slow dance of the air currents, the distant stirrings of beasts. He was connected, a part of it.
"DING! Spiritual Investment Cashback activated! 100,000 Cultivation Points have been credited to your account (10x of 10,000 Cultivation Points)."
His Cultivation Points now stood at a staggering 160,000. He had climbed from Foundation Building Stage One to Stage Ten in a single, rapid ascent, all thanks to the system's incredible cashback feature. He clenched his fists, feeling the immense power contained within them.
"System, what is the cost for the next realm, Golden Core?" he asked, a thrill running through him.
The system interface flickered, then displayed a single, astronomical number.
"Advancing to Golden Core Realm requires 1,000,000 Cultivation Points, or equivalent in peak-grade spiritual resources."
Luo Feng stared at the number, a cold wave washing over the exhilarating warmth of his recent breakthroughs. One million. A single million. Even with 160,000 Cultivation Points now at his disposal, it was a terrifyingly distant goal. The cashback was powerful, yes, but it still required an initial investment, an increasingly large one at that. To reach Golden Core, he would need to find a source of truly immense wealth, far beyond what the Forsaken Forest could offer. His accelerated ascension, while incredible, was still bound by the fundamental currency of this realm. The quiet realization settled within him: this forest, once a vast challenge, was now merely a stepping stone. He needed to leave, to find a place where true wealth and formidable challenges awaited.
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