Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System-Chapter 104 - 98: Qi Absorption and Eating Mist

’Based on my understanding of [Breathing and Guiding], "Qi Absorption" must refer to assimilating a higher level of Heaven and Earth Qi, while "Eating Mist" suggests the ability to draw in the essence of the sun and moon, and the splendor of the clouds.’

’This is clearly a much more profound realm than my current "Qi Eating" stage. It most likely corresponds to a cultivation technique for the Foundation Establishment Realm, the stage after the Qi Refining Realm.’

’But on second thought, that might not be the case.’

’If [Qi Absorption and Eating Mist] were truly the cultivation technique for the Foundation Establishment Realm, then why would the system offer [Breathing and Guiding: "Entering the Hall"] as the reward for Option One?’

’Besides, by common logic, if [Breathing and Guiding] progresses in stages, then "Entering the Hall" is superior to "Slightly Accomplished" and should logically correspond to the Foundation Establishment Realm.’

Murphy pondered for a moment, and another possibility suddenly occurred to him. ’Perhaps [Qi Absorption and Eating Mist] isn’t a technique exclusive to the Foundation Establishment Realm, but a special type of cultivation method?’

’It’s like in fitness training—leg and arm workouts are both forms of strength training, yet they involve completely different methods and focuses.’

’Or perhaps, [Qi Absorption and Eating Mist] is the start of an entirely different cultivation system?’

’After all, judging by the name, its naming convention is clearly different from [Breathing and Guiding].’

’One sounds like a foundational practice, while the other seems far more profound and esoteric.’

’I’ll stop thinking about it for now.’

Murphy reined in his thoughts, banishing all distractions.

’Whatever [Qi Absorption and Eating Mist] turns out to be, I’ll find out once I complete the mission and get the reward.’

’Right now, the most important thing is figuring out the best way to complete the task for Option Two.’

He carefully recalled the details of this incident.

’Just like the last time, Option Two passed without a hitch.’

’So, what was the crucial factor?’

’Was it my strength?’

’Come to think of it, if I had progressed at a normal pace, I shouldn’t have broken through to the Qi Refining Realm yet.’

’In that case, I would have had no chance of defeating a Wizard Apprentice like Saren.’

’A Third-Class Wizard Apprentice, to be precise.’

’Leaving aside the gap in combat strength, my inability to clearly perceive the Heaven and Earth Qi alone would have prevented me from detecting Saren’s infiltration. Death would have been inevitable.’

’The only reason I managed to break through to the Qi Refining Realm ahead of schedule was entirely because of the unexpected incident with Ailendra.’

’If the pink mist she had given to Cecilia hadn’t been consumed by the Black Light Energy, providing the special energy I needed to break through, it would have taken me at least five more years to reach the Qi Refining Realm at a normal cultivation pace.’

This discovery led Murphy to a bold hypothesis. ’Could it be that the difficulty of Option Two is determined from the start, based on my "normal" rate of power progression?’

’It seems the system predicts my cultivation progress and sets the mission’s difficulty accordingly for its deadline.’

’If my power growth falls short of its expectations, I could face a life-threatening situation.’

’But if my power growth exceeds expectations, or if I achieve an unexpected breakthrough, the mission becomes relatively easy.’

’If that’s the case, should I try challenging Option One to get a more bountiful reward?’

But then Murphy had another thought. ’During the last mission, my strength didn’t significantly exceed expectations, so how did I get through it safely?’

’Do short-term and long-term missions have different criteria?’

’Also, am I allowed to use external help for long-term missions?’

’Like asking for assistance.’

Murphy had completed the option alone in the hall, partly to conceal his strength and partly out of confidence in his own abilities.

He had completed Option Two many times before, so he figured there wouldn’t be any surprises this time.

’But if using outside help is allowed, could I perhaps attempt Option One?’

’Or is the very act of acquiring external help factored into the mission’s difficulty?’

The more Murphy thought about it, the more obscure the system’s mechanics seemed.

Although he still couldn’t quite figure it out, one thing was clear: he had to conceal his identity for this mission, which meant he would need to put some work into his [Thousand-Faced Illusion].

With this in mind, Murphy drew his Knight’s Sword. A flicker of light from the blade, and the long table bearing his handprint was obliterated, leaving no trace behind but a spray of splinters.

Once he had finished, he went to retrieve Aurora.

...

In the private bedroom where Murphy and Aurora held their clandestine meetings, a charcoal fire burned brightly, making the room feel like summer in the dead of winter.

Aurora, wearing only a thin nightdress, leaned against Murphy’s shoulder and asked softly, "Brother, is everything alright now?"

"It’s fine now." Murphy stroked her golden hair, his reply brief. His gaze, however, drifted unconsciously toward the snowflakes falling outside the window.

Aurora didn’t press for details. It was a long-standing, unspoken understanding between them.

She stretched languidly and said, "Butler Bernard brought a message. A member of the Royal Family and someone from the Truth Church Court will soon be arriving in our domain."

"I know," Murphy replied calmly, his gaze turning profound.

’As expected. If there was truly a large-scale military mobilization, keeping it completely secret would be nearly impossible.’

’Especially in a world with various supernatural powers, important intelligence is bound to travel much faster than normal.’

’In that case, the Vilt Kingdom must already be aware of any unusual movements from the Rosenia Kingdom.’

’The "Princess" must be from the Vilt Kingdom, and the "True Master" must refer to a Bishop from the Truth Church Court.’

’The question is whether it’s an ordinary Bishop, an Archbishop, or perhaps even a Cardinal.’

’However, by past precedent, a meeting of this level should involve an Archbishop at the very least.’

’That would certainly be someone far stronger than Bishop Alberto.’

’According to the information I got from Saren, a Bishop generally possesses the strength of a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice, and a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice is stronger than a Great Knight.’

’An Archbishop, on the other hand, would be a powerhouse close to the level of an Official Wizard.’

Murphy recalled the time he interrogated Saren.

He had asked Saren how his own strength compared to an Archbishop’s, and Saren had replied, "It’s impossible to say. An Archbishop’s power is unfathomable, and the Truth Church Court’s methods are completely different from those of us Wizards."

When he asked about Official Wizards, Saren, despite being in enough pain to want to kill himself, had stated unequivocally, "You are absolutely no match for an Official Wizard. The gap between an Official Wizard and an apprentice is like the difference between an adult and an infant."

When Murphy pressed him about who the Official Wizards in this world were, Saren had spoken a name that was incredibly familiar to him.

Othilia, the Mechanical Witch.

"I’m going to give you a check-up," Murphy suddenly said to Aurora, interrupting his train of thought.

Like an obedient child, Aurora raised her hands to the sky, a pure and innocent smile on her face. "Okay, brother, you can check."

Murphy circulated the Qi in his body, carefully probing Aurora’s meridians.

After a moment, a hint of barely perceptible gloom flashed in his eyes.

Aurora pouted, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the room. "Brother, are you really *only* going to give me a check-up?"

"If not a check-up, then what did you have in mind?" Murphy asked with a helpless sigh.

Aurora huffed, then smiled slyly. "Since you won’t examine me, I’ll examine you. Hands up, brother."

Murphy obediently raised his hands, allowing Aurora’s fingers to trace a light path across his chest.

The glow of the charcoal fire danced across his face, revealing an indulgent smile.

Yet deep within those smiling eyes lay a hidden, imperceptible worry.

’Aurora truly did not have the aptitude for Cultivation, nor the talent to become a Wizard Apprentice.’

...

Outside New Wood Town, a convoy of five gilded carriages advanced slowly along a snow-covered road. The endlessly swirling snowflakes draped a hazy white veil over the procession.

The accompanying Knights and attendants numbered around fifty. Snow had settled heavily on their cloaks, and the white plumes of breath from their horses froze instantly in the biting cold.

A purple-and-gold Royal Family banner hanging from the carriage snapped in the wind and snow, the emblem of a silver crescent moon embracing a star appearing and disappearing between the swirling flakes.

"What I have seen on this journey is truly surprising. For a border fief to remain so orderly in such harsh weather... it seems this Baron Duval is not as inept as the rumors claim."

"Your Highness’s observation is astute. However, according to the tax records the Church Court has received over the years, this fief’s revenue has indeed been declining. That hardly matches its apparent prosperity. I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye."

"I, on the other hand, have heard that this Baron spends his days engrossed in some unorthodox research and has even set up a workshop within his castle. For a Lord, this is quite perplexing."

"That is precisely one of the key matters we are here to investigate. A Lord who neglects his duties, with tax revenues decreasing annually, yet whose domain remains prosperous in a blizzard... The situation is certainly intriguing."

"If that’s the case, then before our official visit, let us stop for a while in this town, the one closest to the Baron’s Castle. I wish to see with my own eyes the true conditions under the rule of this reputedly reclusive Baron."

"An excellent idea. Let us take a stroll through this snow-swept town together. We might discover details that would be invisible during a formal visit."

As the conversation ended, the door of the lead carriage, which was adorned with ivory carvings, slowly swung open.

A small, delicate leather pump stepped lightly onto a footboard carpeted in brocade, its surface immediately dotted with a few crystalline snowflakes.

The shoe’s burgundy velvet was fastened with a delicate Pearl strap. The toe was embellished with a rose embroidered in Golden Thread, and the heel was inlaid with a deep Amethyst that swirled with a mysterious luster against the backdrop of the falling snow.