Chapter Twenty: Dead, and That’s All There Is to It

“Ah! Huff... huff... huff...”
Lantian lay sprawled on the ground. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, his face deathly pale, and he sucked in the fresh air in desperate, greedy gulps, as though he’d nearly drowned.

He sat up with a start, glancing around. Three moons still hung in the sky, and in the distance stretched that same familiar mountain range.

“I... wasn’t I dead? Am I still inside the virtual game?” he murmured, dazed. The sensation of dying just moments ago had been so real. If not for the unchanged scenery, he would have truly believed his life had ended.

Then his gaze landed in horror upon the heap of bloody flesh lying not far away. “That... is that my corpse?”

“Yes. You died just now,” came a voice from behind. Bai spoke, “Fortunately, you were able to simulate it first in the virtual game. Otherwise, you would be truly dead by now.”

Bai’s voice was cold as ice. “You possess a complete and even supremely advanced cultivation method. As long as you proceed step by step, you’re guaranteed to succeed. I’ve warned you countless times not to act rashly! Why, then, did you still die?!”

“Do you realize the foundational techniques you’re practicing are a rare and priceless manual, something the countless billions in the Yuanlan Empire could only dream of? Yet you treat it so carelessly. I’m deeply disappointed in you.”

“I... I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was so dangerous,” Lantian stammered, ashamed. Even when he trembled just now, he could have held still. He truly hadn’t taken it seriously enough.

“We’ll try again. If you fail once more, I’ll consider finding another successor,” Bai said with a stony face.

A shudder ran through Lantian. He hadn’t expected Bai to be this strict about cultivation.

“Alright, one more time. I won’t fail again,” Lantian agreed resolutely. Bai’s expression left no doubt of his disappointment.

Lantian knew if he failed this time, he might truly lose Bai’s help for good.

“Begin,” Bai nodded, guiding him through the movements once more.

To Bai’s surprise, though sweat poured from Lantian’s brow in pain, he did not cry out this time—only muffled a few groans and gritted his teeth through it.

Bai gave a slight nod. This was finally a glimmer of what a Battle God’s successor should be.

Lantian poured every ounce of his strength into holding the position of the first movement, once again feeling the familiar icy current seep into his body. Now he understood: this chill was the cosmic energy Bai had spoken of.

This time, he experienced something new. Having endured the initial pain and itching, he could keenly sense his body growing stronger at a terrifying rate.

The cosmic energy, after penetrating his skin, continued to merge ever deeper—into blood, marrow, even every cell—each hungrily absorbing the rich, boundless energy.

His body felt like parched, cracked earth drinking in endless rain, soaking up the cosmic energy and nourishing itself.

What deeper changes were occurring he could not yet say, but the effects on the surface were astonishing. He found himself sharper of ear and eye; where once his vision had been a bit nearsighted, his eyes were now bright and clear, able to see distant landscapes with striking detail. He could even spot an earthworm wriggling on the black soil thousands of meters away, struggling to burrow underground.

Sounds grew louder in his ears—his own breathing, the wind, insects in the grass, birds calling from the distant mountains—all mingling into a cacophonous, not-quite-harmonious symphony that played within his mind.

And yet, to Lantian, this music was heavenly.

He had practiced only the first movement of the foundational technique, for just a few minutes, only just stepping into the first level of the Human Race’s Energy Gathering Eighty-One Levels, and already the effect was so dramatic!

This Energy Gathering technique was nothing short of a miracle bestowed by the heavens.

Lantian also noticed that he no longer felt any pain at all. Every injury had vanished, leaving only the exhilarating pleasure of absorbing cosmic energy—a sensation more wonderful than anything else in the world.

“All right, that’s enough,” Bai nodded in approval. “Congratulations, Lantian. As long as you repeat this once in reality, you’ll have truly begun cultivation at the first level of Energy Gathering.”

“Heh, see? Not so bad after all, is it? It wasn’t that hard,” Lantian said, preening.

“Hmph, you should count yourself lucky to have a supreme cultivation method. With ordinary methods, cosmic energy wouldn’t feel cool like that—it’d be like burning charcoal! It’s little wonder that so many beginners in the Yuanlan Empire die attempting this,” Bai said with a sneer.

“Er... right, right. Battle God, you’re incredible! Anyway, let me feel these changes in my body first,” Lantian replied, his spirits high now that he had succeeded, his usual cheeky grin returning.

The changes to his eyes and ears were obvious. He clenched his fists and felt explosive power surging through every muscle. He punched the ground with all his strength.

Bang!

With a crisp impact, his fist left a print about an inch deep in the black earth.

“What the—! Is this for real? This black soil must be fake, right?” Lantian exclaimed, astonished not only by the effect of his punch, but also by the fact that his hand felt no pain at all—it was as if he’d struck cotton, not solid ground.

He’d practiced for mere minutes, and already the results were this impressive?

If this soil was the same as on Earth, a punch like that to a vital spot might kill someone instantly.

He then tested his speed and reflexes—both had improved dramatically.

“Why are you so excited? This is just the beginning. Once you fully master the first level of Energy Gathering, you’ll be able to punch through an inch of steel,” Bai said, looking at him with disdain. “And when you reach the eighteenth level, with your body’s potential fully unleashed, on Earth there’ll be little that can harm you, save for a few weapons of mass destruction.”

Lantian was overjoyed, ready to leap for joy, but Bai’s next words poured cold water over him: “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Even at the eighteenth level of Energy Gathering, within the Yuanlan Empire’s cultivation circles, you’re not even worth calling an ant.”

Lantian: “...”

“Fine, have it your way. Whatever makes you happy...” He wilted.

In the next instant, his vision blurred and his consciousness returned to reality.

“Hey, Bai, next time could you give me some warning first? One moment I’m here, the next I’m somewhere else—this kind of thing could drive a person mad, you know?” Lantian grumbled.

“Enough nonsense. Begin your real cultivation. Remember, reality isn’t a virtual game—you only get one chance. If you die, that’s it,” Bai said sternly, ignoring Lantian’s complaints.

“Don’t worry, I understand.” Lantian’s expression grew serious.

In truth, after the experience in the virtual game, his confidence had grown. As long as he could endure the initial pain and itching, the road ahead would be wide open.