Eternal Rebirth: The System's Chosen Exile

The afternoon sun hung high in the sky as Lin Wei and Jiang Feng moved to a new training area—a wide, open field dotted with wooden training dummies and straw targets. The air was warm, and the faint hum of Qi from the waterfall still lingered in Lin Wei's senses, thanks to his newly acquired **Qi Sense** ability.

"Alright," Jiang Feng said, tossing Lin Wei a wooden practice sword. "Let's see how you handle some basic combat techniques. Your Qi control is improving, but if you can't fight, it won't matter how strong your abilities are."

Lin Wei caught the sword, feeling its weight in his hand. It was lighter than he expected, but solid. "I've never used a sword before," he admitted.

"That's why we're starting with the basics," Jiang Feng said, drawing his own practice sword. "Watch and learn."

Jiang Feng demonstrated a series of simple strikes and blocks, his movements fluid and precise. Lin Wei tried to mimic him, but his swings were clumsy and awkward. The wooden sword felt foreign in his hands, and he struggled to coordinate his movements.

"Relax," Jiang Feng said, correcting Lin Wei's stance. "You're too tense. Let the Qi flow through you. It's not just about physical strength—it's about channeling your energy."

Lin Wei took a deep breath, trying to relax. He focused on the spark of Qi in his chest, letting it flow through his arms and into the sword. As he did, his movements became slightly smoother, though still far from perfect.

"Better," Jiang Feng said, nodding. "Now, let's spar. Don't worry—I'll go easy on you."

Lin Wei barely had time to react before Jiang Feng lunged at him. He managed to block the first strike, but the force of the impact sent him stumbling backward. Jiang Feng pressed the attack, forcing Lin Wei to defend himself with a series of clumsy blocks.

"Focus!" Jiang Feng said, his voice sharp. "Use your Qi Sense. Anticipate my movements!"

Lin Wei closed his eyes for a split second, activating **Qi Sense**. He could feel Jiang Feng's Qi, a steady, powerful flow that shifted with his movements. When Jiang Feng lunged again, Lin Wei was ready. He sidestepped the strike and countered with a swing of his own.

The wooden swords clashed, and for a moment, Lin Wei held his ground. But Jiang Feng was far more skilled, and with a flick of his wrist, he disarmed Lin Wei, sending the practice sword flying.

"Not bad," Jiang Feng said, lowering his sword. "You're starting to get the hang of it. But you're still too slow. Speed is just as important as strength in combat."

Lin Wei picked up his sword, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. "Let's go again."

They sparred for what felt like hours, with Jiang Feng patiently guiding Lin Wei through the basics of swordplay. By the time they took a break, Lin Wei's arms were sore, and his robes were soaked with sweat. But he was starting to feel more comfortable with the sword, and his movements were becoming less clumsy.

As they sat in the shade of a nearby tree, drinking water and eating more Spirit Berries, Jiang Feng turned to him. "You're improving. But there's something else we need to work on—your glitchy system."

Lin Wei raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Your system is unpredictable, but it's also powerful," Jiang Feng explained. "We need to figure out how to use its glitches to your advantage. Let's try something. Activate one of your abilities—any ability—and see what happens."

Lin Wei hesitated, then focused on his system. The screen flickered to life, displaying a list of his current abilities:

- **Summon a Single Grain of Rice**

- **Qi Burst (Glitch Variant)**

- **Qi Shield (Glitch Variant)**

- **Frost Palm (Glitch Variant)**

- **Flame Resistance (Glitch Variant)**

- **Qi Sense (Glitch Variant)**

He decided to try **Qi Burst** again, hoping he could control it better this time. He focused on the ability, feeling the energy gather in his chest. But just as he was about to release it, his system screen flickered:

**[Ability Acquired: Shadow Step (Glitch Variant).]**

**[Description: Teleport a short distance in a random direction. Cooldown may vary.]**

"Uh, I just got a new ability," Lin Wei said, staring at the screen. "Shadow Step."

Jiang Feng's eyes lit up. "Interesting. Try it."

Lin Wei focused on the ability, imagining himself teleporting a short distance. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sudden *whoosh*, he vanished from his spot and reappeared a few feet away—upside down, hanging from a tree branch.

"Whoa!" Lin Wei shouted, flailing as he tried to right himself. He lost his grip and fell to the ground, landing in a heap.

Jiang Feng burst out laughing. "Well, that was unexpected."

Lin Wei groaned, sitting up. "Yeah, hilarious. What if I'd teleported into a wall or something?"

"That's why we're being careful," Jiang Feng said, still chuckling. "But this is good. Your system is giving you unique abilities—we just need to figure out how to control them."

Lin Wei stood up, brushing dirt off his robes. "Alright, let's try again."

They spent the rest of the afternoon experimenting with Lin Wei's abilities, pushing the limits of his glitchy system. By the time the sun began to set, Lin Wei had managed to teleport without ending up upside down, and he'd even figured out how to combine **Frost Palm** and **Qi Burst** for a more powerful attack.

As they walked back to the village, Jiang Feng clapped him on the shoulder. "You're making progress. Your system might be glitchy, but it's also giving you an edge. If you can learn to control it, you'll be a force to reckon with."

Lin Wei nodded, feeling a flicker of pride. He still had a long way to go, but he was starting to believe in his potential. His system might be broken, but it was also powerful. And if he could learn to harness its glitches, maybe he could defy the heavens after all.