Volume One: The Beginning Chapter Twenty-Two: Innate Nature

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Like with basic and intermediate internal skills, Meng Xingchen only skimmed through the barely understood qigong mantras, skipping them entirely to focus on the breathing techniques and the qi circulation pathways. Aside from the more complex circulation routes and the greater number of meridians and acupoints involved, the Innate Skill bore no fundamental difference from the intermediate internal skill.

After memorizing the breathing method and qi circulation map, Meng Xingchen initiated his internal vision, guiding his internal energy along the Innate Skill's qi pathway. The process was remarkably smooth, lacking the arduous struggle often described in martial arts novels when breaking through the Ren and Du meridians. Soon, he had successfully guided his internal energy through a full cycle along the Innate Skill’s route.

Through internal vision, Meng Xingchen clearly observed a significant transformation in his internal energy after completing one full circulation. Previously, the internal energy generated by both basic and intermediate internal skills had been thin and mist-like; now, the energy from the Innate Skill was denser, resembling a solid cloud.

At that moment, the system alert sounded: “Ding, host has mastered a more advanced internal energy cultivation method. Intermediate internal skill has been overridden; its proficiency is converted to Innate Skill proficiency at a 2:1 ratio. For details, please check the attribute panel.”

Too excited to check the attribute changes immediately, Meng Xingchen focused on the bodily transformations. First, his five senses sharpened noticeably. Although he had night vision before, under moonlight he could only see clearly up to about five or six hundred meters, beyond which his view would blur and details became indistinct.

Now, he could distinctly see a creature resembling a goblin, but larger in size, lurking behind a tree in the woods at least eight hundred meters across the river, peering towards Li Family Village.

His hearing was also enhanced; he could clearly hear the sound of the river flowing over a hundred meters away and the splash when a fish dove beneath the water’s surface.

Moreover, he vaguely sensed a subtle, obscure energy flowing slowly between heaven and earth.

Even without his active guidance, his internal energy continued to circulate slowly along the Innate Skill’s qi pathways, just at a reduced speed compared to when he actively directed it.

That obscure energy from the world seeped through the Baihui acupoint atop his head, slowly entering his body and merging with the circulating internal energy.

Meng Xingchen took a long breath, slowly exhaling to calm his excitement, silently thinking, “So this is the Innate… cultivating continuously while moving or resting, and able to draw world energy into oneself.”

Meanwhile, the creature spying from the woods had vanished.

Since it had only been watching without further action, Meng Xingchen decided to set it aside for now. Tomorrow, he planned to ask Li Danniu if he knew anything about the other side of the river.

It seemed none of the villagers of Li Family Village had ever crossed the river; previously, Meng Xingchen himself had no bridge or boat, so he never explored across it either.

Opening the attribute panel, the biological energy value flickered again—ready for an upgrade. But that wasn’t his priority now, so Meng Xingchen skipped it to check the Innate Skill instead.

With the intermediate internal skill replaced by the Innate Skill, related attributes had changed drastically. First, the skill proficiency had dropped from mastery back to beginner, and the skill effects had undergone major alterations.

Innate Skill
Skill Proficiency: Beginner (491/500)
Qi Value: 600/600
Skill Effects:
1. All attributes +3;
2. Innate Constitution: Innate qi automatically purges harmful substances and energies invading the body. (Skill Priority: ★★)
3. Enhancement: Channel qi to specific body parts, consuming qi to strengthen that area’s abilities. Qi can also be infused into weapons to increase their lethality;
4. Protective Qi Aura: Consumes 5 qi per second to form a protective aura on the body’s surface, resisting physical and energy damage. Damage taken consumes qi to offset harm;
5. Qi Burst: Circulates qi throughout the body, consuming 10 qi per second, increasing constitution and agility by 5.

Interestingly, his attribute values had slightly decreased, both in normal state and during Qi Burst. However, with proficiency nearing 491, even if Meng Xingchen ceased cultivation tonight, his innate qi would continue circulating on its own, and by tomorrow, proficiency would reach mastery, naturally boosting attribute gains.

Moreover, his internal energy value had jumped from 400 to 600 qi points, and two powerful, practical skill effects were added.

With Innate Constitution, common poisons and negative effects like bleeding would essentially be ineffective against him. The Protective Qi Aura, which offsets damage by consuming qi, further enhanced his survivability.

Lastly, his biological energy stood at 2,605 points, meaning after defeating the shadow leopard, he could upgrade again.

Silently reciting the upgrade, he allocated the gained free attribute point to constitution, restoring it to 15.

Suppressing a swirl of thoughts, Meng Xingchen began practicing the Innate Skill. As the qi circulated, he soon entered a state of complete transcendence between self and world.

Only when a slant of sunlight softly touched his face did he naturally exit cultivation. Despite another sleepless night, he felt refreshed and energized.

Checking the attribute panel after a night’s practice, Innate Skill proficiency had reached mastery; qi value doubled from 600 to 1,200. The first skill effect’s all-attribute bonus increased from +3 to +6. During Qi Burst, constitution and agility bonuses rose from +5 to +10.

Additionally, a new skill effect appeared: Qi Projection. This allowed innate qi to invade an enemy’s internal meridians and organs through bodily or weapon contact, causing damage. Qi could also be projected through weapons or limbs to attack from a distance up to five meters.

This was yet another substantial leap in strength. In Qi Burst state, Meng Xingchen’s constitution and agility would approach 30 points, enabling him to effortlessly crush a shadow leopard if encountered again.

By now, both villagers and travelers of Li Family Village were awake. Villagers busily went about their tasks, while the travelers looked around the village curiously.

Tongtong stood in the courtyard gazing up at Meng Xingchen, who was perched cross-legged on the roof. Seeing him open his eyes, she immediately gave a sweet smile and greeted, “Big Brother Meng, good morning!”

Since regaining health, the little girl had grown more lively and cheerful.

Meng Xingchen nodded to her but made no other move, then gently floated down from the roof like a falling leaf into the courtyard.

Nearby, Ye Feng bumped shoulders with Xiao Yun, enviously remarking, “Boss Meng’s movements have become more graceful and effortless!”

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After a quick wash, Meng Xingchen found Yuan Jinglong and took him to the Li family home. Yuan Jinglong needed to prepare breakfast ingredients for everyone, which would also serve to reassure the villagers that they had no intention of competing for resources.

At the Li family home, several respected village elders were gathered, likely discussing the settlement of Meng Xingchen’s people.

Meng Xingchen spoke directly: “Rest assured, the arrival of my people will only benefit Li Family Village and will not negatively impact the villagers’ lives. Words alone aren’t enough; come with us and see for yourselves.”

He then led Yuan Jinglong toward the riverbank. Exchanging glances, Li Shan and the others stood and followed. Seeing this, many idle villagers also trailed behind.

At a cleared area by the river, Yuan Jinglong began planting potatoes. Watching a single potato in his hands multiply into dozens within minutes left the villagers stunned.

Meng Xingchen then addressed Li Shan and the elders: “My people possess special abilities and can sustain ourselves through farming without hunting. Even when we hunt, we’ll target kobolds, gnolls, and such—not the game the villagers rely on.”

Seeing this, the villagers fully relaxed.

Taking advantage of the experienced elders’ presence, Meng Xingchen mentioned his discovery from the previous night and pointed across the river. “It seems you never cross the river. Do you know anything about the other side?”

At this, the elders’ expressions shifted slightly. After exchanging looks, Li Shan spoke: “Over ten years ago, a goblin tribe migrated into the forest across the river. Since then, the villagers have not crossed over. The goblins have never come here, either. For years, the river has served as a boundary, and both sides have coexisted peacefully.”

Meng Xingchen understood. After a decade of growth, the goblin tribe’s population must have increased considerably and might now covet resources on this side of the river. This was likely the first challenge in his secondary main quest to build a camp.

After breakfast, Meng Xingchen and Li Changfeng discussed possible sites for the camp.

The camp must be built along the river for convenient farming and water supply. From their upstream journey yesterday, the terrain was narrow with no suitable spots.

Meng Xingchen recalled the pond where he first encountered the wild bull at the market—a relatively open area ideal for the camp.

On the way there, he brought up the goblin camp across the river and asked Zhai Yao if he knew how to make crossbows.

While Meng Xingchen believed only real combat experience would shape someone into a capable fighter, he didn’t expect the travelers to engage monsters in close quarters immediately.

Gaining a weapon advantage early on to level up before developing and utilizing supernatural abilities was a more reasonable growth path.

Zhai Yao replied, “Given the materials, I can make repeating crossbows.”

Thus, their near-term plan emerged: simultaneously select and build the camp site while stockpiling weapons to defend against the goblins across the river. When necessary, they could take the initiative and use the goblins for training.

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