Xuantian Continent.

Great Yan Dynasty.

Yunluo City, Jiutian Sword Sect's Outpost.

Ethan Linwood was laid back on a carved wooden armchair, lazily rocking it under the sun, wearing an expression that couldn't be more pleased.

He'd transmigrated.

Now, he was Ethan Linwood, an outer disciple of Jiutian Sword Sect.

All because he'd snuck a peek at Liza Pearson—one of the top ten core disciples—bathing at Yunxi Stream. That stunt got him booted from the main sect and dumped into Yunluo City’s outpost to handle menial chores.

Basically, exiled.

Yet here he was, grinning.

“This life? Not bad at all.”

Not only was he not bitter about it, he looked downright satisfied.

The original Ethan, the one who took that risky peek? Already dead, ambushed by bandits on his way to town.

That’s when Ethan from Earth took over.

Back on Earth, Ethan was an orphan. One late night, after a gaming marathon, he nodded off—and woke up here, in a world straight out of fantasy.

Yep, a real fantasy realm.

On Xuantian Continent, might meant everything. The truly powerful could tear mountains apart with a swing, shatter the skies with a roar.

It was insane. People died all the time, just by being in the wrong place. The last guy in his body was proof.

So Ethan’s first move after arriving?

Find this outpost hidden in Yunluo City and stay put.

Jiutian Sword Sect was a legendary sword sect. Giants in the martial world.

As long as he kept his head low and didn’t wander out, he’d be safe.

A month had passed. He hadn’t left the compound once.

He wasn’t just hiding to avoid death—he had a cheat.

A system.

A simple one.

As long as he laid low and stayed out of trouble, he gained experience points—automatically.

[EXP +10. Current EXP: 100. Qualifies for level-up. Proceed?]

Right as Ethan was daydreaming, the mechanical voice rang out in his head.

He jolted upright, eyes lighting up.

The system had one function: spend EXP to upgrade techniques. He didn’t even have to do anything. Every day, he gained 10 EXP just by existing—like an idle game.

If he actively practiced? EXP doubled to 20.

But he was lazy, so he let it tick up slowly.

“Show me the personal panel.”

Clearing his thoughts, Ethan focused, and a shimmering screen lit up in his mind.

[Name]: Ethan Linwood

[Realm]: Qi Sea Stage, Tenth Layer

[Techniques]: Titanium Gold Body

Level 10

, Sword Qi Scripture

Level 10

[EXP]: 100

Titanium Gold Body and Sword Qi Scripture were basic entry-level sect techniques. Every outer disciple could learn them.

As a sword-based sect, the training focus was obvious.

Sword Qi Scripture cultivated sword energy inside, while Titanium Gold Body was for tempering the body—because sword qi was razor-sharp, and if you weren’t sturdy, you’d injure yourself before hurting anyone else.

The two techniques complemented each other.

Most disciples reached Level 3 in Titanium Gold Body before trying to form their first sword qi—making the leap from Body Refining Realm to Qi Sea Realm.

Ethan, though? He took it all the way to Level 10.

Why? Simple. Every level made him noticeably tougher, harder to hurt.

That sense of growing more indestructible was addicting.

As far as he was concerned, staying alive came first.

Only when you avoided getting chopped up could you think about cutting others down.

Titanium Gold Body—Maxed.

Sword Qi Scripture—Maxed.These two techniques were already pushed to the limit. Ten layers—that's the ceiling. Even the founders couldn’t go further. The technique itself just caps there. No one’s ever broken that limit.

Sword Qi Art tops out at the Sea of Qi Realm. To go beyond, you’d need a Core Condensation Realm method.

At least, that’s true for most people.

But Ethan Linwood wasn’t most people. He had the system.

“Upgrade Sword Qi Art.”

He stood up, that usual lazy look on his face falling away. He got a bit serious.

If Sword Qi Art reached the unheard-of eleventh layer, would the Qi in his dantian condense into a Core? Maybe it'd break the limit.

[100 EXP consumed. Sword Qi Art upgraded to Level Eleven.]

Boom!

His body shook like thunder. Qi surged wild inside him, fierce as a tidal wave. He’d refined ten Sword Qi threads at the peak of the tenth realm, but now—every last one exploded, splitting into countless thin Sword Qi strands that tore out of him through every pore.

“Arghhh—!”

He coughed blood, slumping over as blood shot from his body like a fountain.

It was brutal. His whole body looked like it had just walked out of a massacre.

“Damn—it’s my fault!”

He immediately got it—this wasn’t about the art. His body just wasn’t strong enough to take the eleventh layer’s Sword Qi.

He should’ve upgraded Titanium Gold Body first.

But it was too late now.

At least he wasn’t dead. His body was wrecked, but not destroyed. Barely hanging on, he crawled back to his room and collapsed onto the bed, entering full corpse mode.

Ten days of lying low—just need 100 EXP—and he’d upgrade Titanium Gold Body. That’d fix this mess.

Lying there, he focused inward. The Qi in his dantian was now fully transformed into countless threads of Sword Qi, layered and entangled, hissing with sharp energy.

No sign of a Qi Core.

That was disappointing.

He’d hoped to use the breakthrough to reach the Core Condensation Realm, maybe even earn a spot back in the sect’s inner circle.

Guess that was wishful thinking.

He glanced at the system panel—and froze.

[Name]: Ethan Linwood

[Realm]: Sea of Qi – Level 11

[Techniques]: Titanium Gold Body

Level 10

, Sword Qi Art

Level 11

[EXP]: 0

“Level 11 in Sea of Qi?”

His eyes widened.

What the hell? Sea of Qi only goes to Level 10. Past that is Core Condensation. What was this?

Did he mess up the cultivation?

Heart pounding, Ethan scanned his body.

Inside, Sword Qi raged like a hundred blades loose in his flesh, slashing everything—too sharp to bear. His current Titanium Gold Body was running nonstop, trying to heal him, but the Sword Qi tore flesh faster than it could recover.

At this rate, he wouldn’t survive ten days.

Still, no panic. He was used to dragging it out.

If idling won’t work, then train seriously—EXP would double. Five days, that’s all he needed.

Gritting his teeth, Ethan sat up.

Instantly, the Sword Qi around his dantian roared, flooding every corner of his body. The strength—it was overwhelming. At least ten times stronger than before.

No doubt about it. He’d gotten stronger.

Sea of Qi—Level 11.

Could it be he’d stumbled onto a whole new path?

Excitement slowly rose in him.

No Core? Who cares.

As long as he stayed low long enough—he’d be invincible.