[The system provides the host with plenty of amazing features. When the host makes a breakthrough in cultivation level progression and comprehension breakthroughs, you will be rewarded with system points. The host can use these points to purchase special tools and even some abilities.]
"That's it?" Jarek was expecting something like having the ability to break through with points earned through quests. That's what most system-based cultivation did in the novels he used to read.
[Host, cultivation isn't as simple as you make it out to be. There are things that not even the system can do. Conjuring cultivation out of nowhere is one of those things. Cultivation is about understanding the nature of qi and its forms and advancing using that understanding. The only stages exempt from this rule are the first stage of cultivation—the Mortal and Apprentice Stage, where all you need to do is use qi to remove impurities.]
[And because we will be using Genesis qi for this process, your foundation will be peerless. No one would be able to match it.]
Jarek raised an eyebrow at the system's words and asked, "Not even the other transmigrator?"
[Yes, not even that person. You have the advantage when it comes to energy, so your foundation will be much stronger. But that doesn't mean that you are automatically stronger. Because while you have your advantage, they also have an unimaginable advantage if the system gets into the right hands.]
'What do you mean by the right hands?'
[Your world also had cultivators, but they were special—blessed and cursed at the same time.]
'Can you elaborate a bit more on that?'
[There are some things the current you is not supposed to know yet, but as I was saying, if a cultivator got their hands on that system, then they would become a problem even for you because of their previous abilities.]
Jarek's eyes contained a bit of worry as he heard that.
[But don't worry, as long as you are more powerful than them, there will be no problem. Even though they can use their past abilities, they will be limited in the amount of strength they can use. They will be starting at the bottom as well. They would be unable to catch up with you.]
With that, Jarek's fears now dissipated as he was relieved knowing he wouldn't be facing someone who could crush him instantly if, for some reason, enmity formed between them.
[Moving back to the system features, the system has different sections which the host can access by thinking about the name of a section within your mind. The sections are Law Diagrams, Qi Techniques...]
'Law Diagrams.' As Jarek inwardly called the name of a section, a screen popped up displaying the Law Diagrams section.
[
{Law Diagrams}
Low Tier (Locked)
Mid Tier (Locked)
High Tier (Locked)
Supreme Tier (Locked)
…
]
As soon as Jarek saw the information, he frowned, thinking, "Why is everything locked?"
[They are locked since you haven't reached the stage where your body can handle these laws. You would first need to reach the Advanced stage to unlock the Low Tier law diagrams. You can use the free advancement in the starter pack.]
For Jarek to use the system functions, he just had to have the will to use them.
The system was fused into his very being, it understood his intentions before he even voiced them, like right now.
He had the intent to use the first free advancement to the Apprentice stage, and before he could even tell the system of his intentions, the system acted by starting and finishing the process all on its own.
Jarek felt an indescribable feeling envelop his body as he felt as if his body had undergone a huge change.
He looked around the room in surprise as he said, "It seems that my vision and hearing have been greatly improved."
It felt as if his vision and hearing had improved by several factors, and the same would be true for his sense of smell as well.
He even wondered what it would feel like if he reached the Advanced stage.
The feeling of advancing from one stage to another felt too refreshing. It was almost addictive.
And he was tempted to advance once again, but he restrained this impulse.
But Jarek went into deep thought, thinking of his circumstances and the consequences if he chose to advance right now.
The answer was clear.
'If I choose to advance, I would have no way to explain how I was able to advance three levels at once. They might attribute the cause to be a rare treasure, and who knows what they'll try.'
If there is anything Jarek learned from reading so many web novels, it is that having a treasure without the ability to protect it is nothing but seeking death.
And for someone of his status, they wouldn't hold back in using any methods they can employ to get the 'truth' out of him.
'Even if they find out it wasn't due to a treasure, they might try to control me to benefit as much as they can or kill me to deal with a problem before it grows powerful enough to threaten them.' Jarek reasoned so, not realizing how accurate his thoughts were regarding his situation—something he would find out soon.
His mind worked at breakneck speed, calculating every possible route available to him.
In his past life, he never had to think so hard before making such decisions—something he was destined to experience in this life constantly.
'If I advance now, I will have to find a reasonable excuse, which doesn't exist. No treasure can achieve that. So what should I do?' As he was wondering how he could solve this problem, an idea soon came into mind.
'System is there a way I can hide my cultivation?'
[There is a way to do that, but it will not necessarily work on everyone. Those much stronger than you would be able to see right through you, but only if you use your qi or if they intend to determine your cultivation directly. Otherwise, they wouldn't notice anything strange.]
'How strong would they need to be to be able to do that?'
[They would have to be at the Grandmaster Stage at the Medium Level if you were to advance to the Advanced stage.]
"What are the cultivation stages in this world?"
[You can check the Cultivation Stage Advancement section.]
[
{Cultivation Stage Advancement}
System Points: 1,000 points
Mortal
Mortal → Apprentice
Apprentice Stage
Initial → Peak Late
Advanced Stage
Initial
Medium (5,000 points)
Late (10,000 points)
Master Stage
Initial (100,000 points)
Medium (500,000 points)
Late (1,000,000 points)
Grandmaster Stage
Initial (10,000,000 points)
Medium (50,000,000 points)
Late (100,000,000 points)
Empyrean Stage
Initial (1 Billion points)
Medium (5 Billion points)
Late (10 Billion points)
...
]
'So, only someone seven minor levels ahead of me can detect me? Doesn't that mean that I would be equal to an Initial Stage Grandmaster?' Jarek concluded as he looked at the information.
[Yes. The quality and quantity of your energy would roughly be the same as that of a Grandmaster.]
"Are these points rewards for advancing?" Jarek asked, remembering that the system said that he couldn't use points to advance his cultivation.
If it were like that, then they could only be rewards.
[Yes, they are.]
"And why can't I see the stages beyond the Empyrean Stage?"
[You are not yet qualified to know. You would need to reach the peak of the Empyrean stage for that.]
*sigh* 'In that case, I'll just advance straight to the Advanced Stage.'
[You would need to remove your clothes first. The Apprentice Stage is about removing impurities through qi.]
Jarek did just that, not wanting to ruin his uniform. A minute later, he was half-naked, seated in the lotus position.
When he was ready, the system begun his advancement.
He progressed from the Initial level of the Apprentice stage to the Medium level and then to the Late level, before finally breaking through into the Advanced stage in around two hours.
His body had undergone another massive change incomparable to the previous one.
His body felt much lighter and held an unnatural sense of power that coursed through his body.
It was only after admiring his body for a few minutes that he registered a strong, unpleasant smell.
He instantly recognized the source of this smell as the impurities expelled from within his body.
He walked towards the bathroom, wanting to take a very long shower.
And after cleaning himself up of all impurities, he subconsciously looked towards the mirror in the room.
He was stunned by what was reflected on its surface. His body looked like a fine work of art.
But what changed the most was his face. His face, which he considered to be handsome, now looked like it was sculpted by the divine.
He still retained most of his features but they were now vastly improved upon.
'I wasn't expecting this much of a change.' Jarek thought as he kept looking at his reflection in the mirror.