A month quietly passed since Li Yao stepped into the first stage of Qi Refining. The days blurred together in routine- cultivating diligently each night, tending to the herb fields during the day, and occasionally asking Senior Brother Wei about various cultivation concepts.
As a newly initiated cultivator, it was now time for him to register his progress and collect his monthly allotment of resources at the Outer Pavilion. Finishing his morning duties in the herbal gardens, Li Yao made his way down the winding trail that led to the pavilion grounds. A long line of outer disciples had already formed.
With a resigned sigh, Li Yao joined the end of the queue. While waiting, his thoughts wandered back to the mysterious system that had bound itself to him thirty days ago- the Heavenly Observation System.
He had tried everything he could think of to earn Observation Points: intense meditation, experimenting with herbal combinations, even attempting to observe the stars at night. But no matter what he did, the system's cold prompt remained the same:
[Insufficient Observation Points. This information requires 5 points.]
Even asking the system how to earn points requires payment. The basic Status screen was the only function Li Yao could currently use freely.
Despite the lack of immediate benefit, Li Yao felt no frustration. He was certain- absolutely certain- that the system would become his greatest asset in the future. It was just a matter of time.
At long last, his turn arrived. The pavilion disciple, a thin man with a scroll in hand, checked his name and handed him a cloth pouch. "Li Yao, Outer Disciple, Qi Refining First Stage. Here is your monthly share—ten low-grade spirit stones."
Li Yao accepted the pouch with both hands and bowed politely. "Thank you, Senior Brother."
He returned to his cottage, heart beating slightly faster with anticipation. Sitting cross-legged on his bedding, he opened the pouch and poured out the spirit stones into his hands.
They glimmered faintly in the sunlight- small, smooth stones with a soft luster, warm to the touch. They looked almost like ordinary pebbles, but every cultivator knew better. These were spirit stones, the very currency of cultivation.
From what Senior Brother Wei had taught him, Li Yao understood the basic classification:
Low-grade spirit stones: Uniform in type, used by Qi Refining cultivators. Though simple, they were precious resources for beginners.
Mid-grade spirit stones: Starting at this level, spirit stones were aligned with elements- fire, water, earth, and so on- tailored for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
High-grade spirit stones: Infused with a trace of the Dao, their value was immense. Even sect elders coveted them.
Top-grade spirit stones: Li Yao knew little about them, only that they existed… and that he likely wouldn't see one for a long, long time.
Clutching one of the low-grade stones, he marveled at the faint warmth pulsing from within.
Suddenly, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes:
[Does the host wish to sacrifice a low-grade spirit stone?][The equivalent value of one low-grade spirit stone is 0.7 Observation Points.]
Li Yao's eyes widened. His heart skipped a beat. The system… it recognized the spirit stone!
Without hesitation, he whispered, "Yes."
A strange stillness fell over the room.
The stone in his hand began to glow faintly, and then, before his eyes, thin threads of spiritual qi unraveled from the core of the stone, converging toward the center of his forehead, right between his eyes.
It was an eerie, beautiful sight.
As the qi drained away completely, the stone cracked with a brittle sound. And then—shattered—vanishing into dust that dispersed into the air.
Li Yao stared, stunned.
This... this was not supposed to happen.
Ordinarily, when a spirit stone was drained of its qi, it became inert but remained intact. Such stones could be resold or slowly recharged by absorbing ambient qi over time. They never shattered.
But the one Li had just sacrificed was gone—utterly destroyed.
The significance wasn't lost on him. "So the system consumes the entire essence of the stone," he murmured. "Not just the qi, but even the form…"
This made him realize something critical- the system's power was real. Tangible. And it didn't play by the world's rules.
He glanced at the remaining nine stones in his pouch and clenched his fist.
"Just what kind of system are you?" he whispered under his breath, half in awe, half in reverence.
He opened the screen again.
[Observation Points: 0.7][You may now access low-tier information valued at or below your current Observation Points.]
Li Yao smiled faintly. It was just a beginning… but even a trickle of water could carve a canyon in time.
This was his first step- his first real step- toward unlocking the true power of the Heavenly Observation System.
And deep down, he felt it. This was only the beginning.