MTLNOVEL Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Cultivator’s First Trial
Night began to blanket the sky, and the air around Ethan felt colder than it had during the day. He stood in the middle of the forest, still feeling the remnants of Qi flowing through his body after his first cultivation session. This sensation stirred his excitement—he had entered the world of cultivation, and now he was ready to take the next step.
However, this world was not just about absorbing Qi.
He had to survive.
[New Mission: A Cultivator's Trial]
Survive in the wilderness for one night. Find shelter. Face the dangers that come.
Ethan swallowed hard.
"Survive for one night? Please don't tell me something's going to attack me."
He glanced around. The forest seemed calm, but his instincts told him something was hiding in the darkness.
Step one: find shelter.
He walked through the forest, searching for a cave or another place to take refuge. After a few minutes, he found a large tree with roots wide enough to serve as a resting spot.
"Not bad. At least I can lean against this tree and stay alert."
He sat down between the tree's roots, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his mind. However, sleepiness soon began to take over.
Just seconds before his eyes closed, a rustling sound from the bushes snapped him awake.
Ethan immediately gripped his sword and stood on guard.
From the darkness, three pairs of glowing red eyes emerged.
[Shadow Wolves – Level 3]
Ethan cursed inwardly.
"Why does it have to be wolves again?"
The wolves snarled lowly, circling Ethan as if evaluating their prey. Unlike the Black Wolves from before, these ones were larger and more agile.
Ethan tried to think fast. Fighting just one wolf had been hard enough, let alone three at once.
But this was the cultivation world. If he kept avoiding battles, when would he ever grow?
He gripped his sword tighter.
"Alright. Let's see if I can really survive in this world."
The first wolf lunged with incredible speed!
Ethan jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding its sharp claws. But the second wolf immediately attacked from another direction!
He raised his sword to block, but the force of the strike pushed him backward.
-15 HP
"Damn, they're fast!"
The third wolf attacked from behind. Ethan turned around and, with reflexes honed by battle, swung his sword!
-20 HP to Shadow Wolf
The wolf jumped back, growling angrily.
Ethan took a quick breath.
"I can't keep holding on like this. I need to attack more aggressively!"
He tried to remember the Breath of Soul Technique he had just learned. If this technique really helped him absorb Qi faster, maybe he could use it in battle.
He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and imagined the Qi in his body flowing into all his muscles.
[Breath of Soul Active][Qi +3][Speed and reflexes temporarily increased.]
Ethan opened his eyes. The world around him seemed a little slower, and his body felt lighter.
"This is it!"
The first wolf lunged again, but this time Ethan could see its movements more clearly. He ducked to the side, then swung his sword at the wolf's abdomen!
-30 HP to Shadow Wolf
The wolf howled in pain and retreated. The other two wolves attacked together, but Ethan was now faster. He spun, dodging one attack and thrusting his sword into the neck of the other wolf.
[Shadow Wolf Defeated!]
Two left!
The injured wolf tried to flee, but Ethan didn't give it a chance. With a quick swing, he sliced through it, causing its body to disintegrate into particles of light.
The last wolf hesitated. Without wasting any time, it jumped into the darkness and fled.
Ethan stood still, breathing heavily.
[Mission Completed: Survive in the Wilderness for One Night][Rewards: 100 EXP, Basic Spirit Stone x2, and Basic Sword Technique.]
Ethan looked at his status panel with pride.
He had just fought monsters stronger than him… and won.
This was no longer just a game. This was the path to true power.
With a slight smile, Ethan sat back down under the tree and waited for the sunrise.
The cultivation world was truly full of challenges.
And he was ready to face them all.