Soaring Phoenix Sword Art

In a dimly lit cave, Xuan Ji stood with an ordinary sword in his hand. He focused his gaze on the sword's blade, fully engrossed in the moment. The sword he held was an unremarkable one he had purchased in the city. He had obtained it by selling beast meat and parts from his secretive hunts in the forest during migration.

While the sword wasn't powerful enough to match a cultivator's strength, it could still serve its purpose in helping Xuan Ji practice the Soaring Phoenix Sword Art to some extent, and that was sufficient for him.

Following the guidance of the Soaring Phoenix Sword Art, Xuan Ji began moving his hand.

His movements were intentional, each swing calculated to refine his technique. He stepped forward, lunged, and then retreated, his body flowing in tune with the art's rhythm. The sound of the blade slicing through the air resonated in the cave, creating a harmonious melody of determination and ambition.

Time seemed to blur as Xuan Ji immersed himself in practice, his actions becoming an expression of his innermost aspirations. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and his muscles flexed with precision. Every motion brought him closer to mastery, each repetition an opportunity to enhance his skill.

Continuing, his thoughts merged seamlessly with the art. He envisioned himself as the phoenix, the spirit of the majestic bird residing within him. With each swing, he captured the essence of the phoenix's elegance, its fierce determination, and its ability to overcome challenges.

The hours slipped away unnoticed, and the outside world became insignificant. Within the cave's confines, only the sword, the art, and his unwavering dedication held significance. With each passing moment, he felt himself drawing closer to the heart of the art, blurring the boundary between himself and the technique.

Eventually, as the cave's shadows lengthened and darkness crept in, Xuan Ji paused. He lowered the sword, his chest rising and falling with each breath. Weariness tugged at his muscles, but his spirit burned even brighter. He understood that he had taken a significant stride forward in his journey toward mastering the Soaring Phoenix Sword Art.

…

[Age 12: After years of dedicated practice, your hard work bore fruit as you successfully comprehended the Soaring Phoenix Sword Art, reaching the Elementary level of the skill.]

…

Xuan Ji gazed at the deceased beggar and began to search his body, muttering to himself, "Last time, my excitement about exploring beyond the door made me forget to search this beggar. That's why I missed out on that poison needle, which could have been incredibly useful in future."

…

[Age 13: Since you've comprehended the three skills mentioned in the jade slip up to the Elementary level and progressing further requires entering the Qi Gathering realm, you don't have any other skills to delve into. As a result, you've made the decision to channel all your efforts into cultivation.]

…

[Age 15: Upon reaching the age of fifteen, you unlocked a new talent called "Pigeon Whistling."]

"So, if I acquire the talent once, it remains the same regardless of how many times I restart the simulation?" Xuan Ji mused, shaking his head. He had initially assumed that each restart would yield a different talent, but he found himself mistaken, which left him disheartened.

…

[Age 18: Taking some pills from time to time, you sped up your cultivation progress, making significant strides towards reaching Body Tempering level 3.]

[Age 19: With every passing day, the elusive breakthrough to Body Tempering level 3 seemed more tangible, encouraging you to pour more effort into your cultivation.]

[Age 20: Then came the moment of triumph; the breakthrough you'd been longing for. The feeling was exhilarating. You had finally ascended to Body Tempering level 3.]

[Age 21: The next phase of your journey began with detoxification. You started harnessing the Qi from your surroundings, using it as a tool to purge the toxins from your body.]

[Age 23: After countless days and nights of relentless effort, you finally achieved your goal—the toxins were expelled from your body. With their departure, a fresh wave of vitality and strength swept over you.]

…

[Age 28: In the midst of your intense training, a slight tremor disturbed the serenity of your wooden cottage waking you up from your cultivation.]

Xuan Ji, now youthful and bearing an uncanny resemblance to his real-life self, sat cross-legged on his bed.

He spoke with determination, saying, "In 27 years, this tremor will claim my life. Before that happens, I must leave this miniature world. Once I attain the Body Tempering level 4, I'll make my exit."

With those words spoken, Xuan Ji closed his eyes and continued his cultivation.

…

[Age 34: Diligence was your constant companion as you continued with your cultivation. Progress was steady and rewarding; you could feel your power growing incrementally.]

[Age 40: At long last, you achieved a breakthrough to Body Tempering Level 4. This breakthrough occurred 14 years earlier than in your previous simulation, a result of saving time by not focusing on skill comprehension and benefiting from your increased innate talent following the three prior breakthroughs.]

"It's time for me to depart," Xuan Ji, who retained his youthful appearance despite being 40 years old due to his cultivation, remarked.

"Even though the world is set to crumble in 14 years, I can't afford to be complacent. While the allure of cultivating amidst this exceptional Qi is strong, I must find a way to leave this forest as I'm not sure if the collapse of this world will impact the outside. I'm also uncertain if the rope which I took to come down is still functional or even in place."

With a pensive expression, he stepped out of the cottage, his thoughts deep in contemplation.

Following the path, he took to come here, Xuan Ji found himself once again at the entrance gate. However, a sight awaited him that he had already anticipated – the palm print on the side of door was replaced by a round black button.

Without hesitation, his finger pressed on the button. The sound of a creaking door echoed through the air as it swung open.