I Can Only Cultivate In A Game

Author's Note: Do Not Unlock Yet. Chapter Is Still Under Construction.

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Lingyun's form drifted closer with his spectral robes trailing behind him. "Come now... we still have much to learn..."

Victor rose with a still confused expression. 'Also he talks now... that's a new development... or not so new... he has been talking in those sleeps of mine.'

Lingyun's spirit paused and turned around. "Show me the Art of the Crescent Flame and the Unbroken Seal."

Victor bowed and breathed deep. Apparently, beside teaching him Lingyun Sword Martial Techniques, he had also been teaching him how to merge other types of his cultivation arts together.

It looks like this was where Victor actually learned how to combine techniques without even realising it.

He reached first for Skyfire Spiral, igniting a spiral of flame threaded with void qi. In this realm, it felt sharper and more alive.

He slashed at the air, releasing chime-like arcs that rippled in the starlit darkness.

He felt Lingyun's approving gaze.

He practiced each new skill again and again until his bones were aching and his qi singing. Lingyun guided his stance, correcting a foot angle, a twist of the hip. Each shift polished the techniques until they were seamless.

---sss

---

[ System Notification ]

Recalibration Complete

Enlightenment Gained: The Spirit of Lingyun Reborn

Unlocking New "Lingyun Martial Techniques"

– Crescent Dragon Step (Mastery: 10%)

– Iron Petal Palm (Mastery: 10%)

– Silent Crane Stance (Mastery: 10%)

---

Victor's breath caught. Three brand-new martial arts, each imprinted upon his qi matrix like fresh impressions in wet clay. He bowed to the empty air, gratitude humming through his veins, then began to train.

Crescent Dragon Step summoned a wick of void qi around his feet as he leaped through the shimmering mists, each landing a perfect half-circle that carved shallow grooves into the ethereal ground. He practice-stepped in ever-widening circles, his robes fluttering like dragon's wings.

Iron Petal Palm bloomed next: he gathered qi into his palm, shaping it into a blade of compressed air and steel resonance. A single strike against a phantom boulder carved it in two, shards of mist dancing like frozen lotus petals before vanishing.

Silent Crane Stance followed: he sank into an impossible one-legged posture, weight balanced on the heel, his qi focused into a pinprick center. He held it, wind drifting through his white hair, until his muscles trembled. Then he launched skyward, dropping into a flawless downward kick before landing in a whisper.

With each technique he felt the mastery bar tick upward—ten whole percent of understanding in a single session. Content, he sheathed those new skills within his consciousness and moved toward the silent pillars marking Lingyun's sanctuary gate. He bowed once more to the spirit's memory, then stepped through the threshold back into town square.

---

[ System Notification ]

Lingyun Realm Session Ended

Time Played: 2 Hours 37 Minutes

Victor's pulse raced; he glanced at the small counter in the corner of his vision. Only one day remained before the timer ended and he would be unceremoniously ejected back into reality. But he had decided: when he returned, he would not stay here. His path lay back in Blueflame City, where responsibilities and dangers awaited.

For now, three things remained: first, he must attend the wedding of Bai Ting Ting and Chen Wen tomorrow; second, he must find Tarkos to arrange his departure; third, he must savor these final hours in the town he had saved.

---

Outside Lingyun Rest, dawn broke pink and gold. Lanterns still hung from eaves, their painted cranes nodding in the gentle breeze. Victor made his way up the wooden stairs, past the familiar lacquered floors, and paused at the open window. The sun glowed over the mist-shrouded rooftops. Below, maids and servants fussed over the wedding pavilion being erected in the square—a lattice of red silk and carved pillars, dragons coiled around columns and phoenixes embroidered into the canopy. Brass braziers hissed incense that smelled of sandalwood and jasmine. Musicians tuned guzheng and erhu beneath a flutter of red banners.

Victor stepped into his borrowed guest tunic—crimson silk trimmed in gold brocade—and ran a hand through his white hair, pinning it back with a simple jade pin. He sheathed his sword, its silver guard catching the light, and made his way to the square as the wedding guests began to gather.

---

The Wedding of Bai Ting Ting and Chen Wen

The central pavilion had been transformed into a shrine of union: scarlet drapery hung in swags, lanterns carved like peony blooms illuminated soft dragon-carved beams, and flowers—peonies, orchids, plum blossoms—overflowed from bronze urns. A low dais sat beneath a canopy of red silk, embroidered with twin cranes locked in eternal flight.

Chen Wen waited at the far end, clad in deep navy robes embroidered with silver lotus vines. His hands were folded before him, nerves trembling beneath his composed exterior. Bai Ting Ting approached on the red carpet—her gown a flowing cascade of ruby and crimson, phoenix feathers woven through the hem, the collar standing high behind her neck. Her face, pale behind the traditional veil of gold-lace netting, seemed to glow in the morning sun. The crowd gasped at the sight: two hearts, once severed by fate, now stepping forward to bind their destinies.

An elder officiant—clad in white silk with jade pendants—raised his hands. He intoned the traditional vows in Old Tongue, each syllable echoing among the paper lanterns:

"Under Heaven and the Lofty Peak, we join these two souls in sacred bond. May their union stand as firm as mountain stone and as pure as the flowing waters of Lingyun Spring."

Ting Ting and Chen Wen kneeled on embroidered cushions, heads bowed. Each received a sip of ceremonial wine from a red lacquered cup: three sips for Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. Chen Wen raised his cup first, his voice trembling, "Heaven and Earth bear witness, my heart is pledged to Ting Ting." Ting Ting mirrored him: "By Earth's grace and Heaven's blessing, I bind my soul to Chen Wen."

Then came the exchange of bodiless rings—jade bands carved with double dragons entwined around lotus blossoms. Chen Wen slid Ting Ting's ring onto her finger; she did the same for him. As their hands touched, a burst of red and gold fireworks bloomed along the edges of the pavilion roof, the first of many celebratory bursts.

The crowd erupted in cheers: "Long live the bridegroom! Blessings upon the bride!" Children ran about scattering petals; elders waved silk handkerchiefs in rhythmic wind-dances. The musicians struck up a joyful melody of bamboo flute and zither.

Victor, standing among the honored guests, felt a warm satisfaction settle in his chest. He had guided these two back to each other. The town would flourish once more.

As the newlyweds stepped forward for the final bow, Victor cleared his throat. The music stilled with a soft trill as dozens of pairs of eyes turned to him.

He raised his voice, steady and clear, carrying over the gathered crowd: "Friends of Lingyun Town, honored guests, and most of all, Bai Ting Ting and Chen Wen—my congratulations to you both on this day of union. Tomorrow, you begin your life together. May your hearts remain steadfast in times of joy and in times of trial."

A respectful hush fell, then thunderous applause. Ting Ting's veil shifted, revealing her tear-bright eyes. She nodded gratefully. Chen Wen bowed deeply to Victor, a rare genuine smile breaking through tears.

A man in the back called, "Fang Chen! A speech! A toast!"

Laughing, Victor lifted a crimson cup of sweet rice wine. "To the bride and groom—may your days be as warm as summer's sunrise, your nights as sparkling as Lingyun's moons, and your hearts ever joined in harmony." He drained the cup in a single motion and set it down, the crowd exhaling in approval.

At that moment, the breeze shifted. A swirl of petals drifted in through the pavilion's open sides. The petals coalesced to reveal a lone figure—Bai Xue—her face hidden beneath a hood of pale silk, white hair spilling like moonlight. For a heartbeat she hovered in the falling petals, then glided forward to stand beside Victor, her presence cool and urgent.

The music screeched to a halt; the crowd's chatter snapped off like a flame in the wind. All eyes turned to Bai Xue. Ting Ting gasped, Chen Wen tensed. Victor raised an eyebrow, the color draining from his face.

Bai Xue inclined her head to him, voice soft but echoing: "Fang Chen—there is no time to explain. The moment you depart Lingyun, catastrophe will befall the town. Meet me at the old willow bridge before dawn tomorrow."

---sss

The last lanterns of the wedding ceremony burned low, their red glow slipping toward embers as the guests filtered out of the Pavilion of Crimson Silk. Chen Wen and Bai Ting Ting—newly married and still flush with joy—wandered hand in hand among the scattered peony petals, accepting bows from lingering friends. Victor stood by the carved marble fountain at the edge of the square, watching the couple with a small, satisfied smile. The air still shimmered faintly with the echo of fireworks, and over in the corner, children chased one another beneath dangling lanterns.

A swirl of sheer white fabric announced Bai Xue's arrival. Despite her habitual hood, her silver hair caught the lantern light, and she moved with the grace of drifting clouds. She glanced around, then inclined her head at Victor. He fell in beside her, nodding curtly, and together they passed through the thinning crowd toward the Bai family's private quarters—an ornate hall of dark timber and jade screens, tucked behind the main pavilion.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Bai Yong, Bai Ting Ting's father, stood by the carved altar, robes of deep indigo and silver clasped at his throat, face taut. Beside him, Elder Madame Bai—her grandmother—sat on a high-backed chair of carved rosewood, her hands folded over a jade scepter. Two younger elders, Master Hui and Master Zhen, flanked the far side of the low council table, their expressions grim. Chen Wen and Ting Ting hovered near the door, sharing worried glances. Victor was ushered immediately to a stool beside Bai Xue, while the senior Bai family gathered in a semi-circle before the altar's pale lotus carvings.

Bai Xue spoke first, voice low but clear. "Thank you all for staying after the ceremony. I know this is not the evening any of us planned—" She glanced at Ting Ting, who offered her a trembling nod. "But I believe—no, I know—we must plan for the safety of Lingyun Town."

Bai Yong's brows furrowed. "What news have you brought, daughter?" His usual calm was tempered by a fierce protectiveness.

Bai Xue took a breath. "Across the eastern valleys and the southern plains, small bands of rogue cultivators have risen." She paused, letting the words settle like stones. "They fight for scraps of territory: abandoned villages, mining outposts, river crossings. They pillage the weak, enslave the defenseless, and vanish before any official force can mobilize. They are desperate—hungry for power."

Madame Bai's pale eyes snapped up. "Surely they would not dare cross the borders into our domain? We have the four families to protect us."

Bai Xue shook her head. "That is exactly why they might dare. Until recently, the Zhao, Yan, Qin, and—in name—the Bai families formed an unspoken coalition. Our combined strength discouraged anyone from testing us. But now—the Qin family has been driven out, and the Yan elders exiled. The Zhao elder was crippled in the uprising. We remain, yes, but alone. The Bai family stands unopposed against any single group, but against a coalition of rogues? We risk being overwhelmed."

A low murmur coursed through the elders. Master Hui thumped his cane against the floor. "Are you certain this threat is directed at Lingyun? Or just opportunists moving through?"

Bai Xue's eyes flicked to Victor, then back to the council. "Word has reached me—and to the merchants on the caravan routes—that Lingyun Town is vulnerable. Our gates have been seen unmanned at odd hours, our patrols thinned. They see a town without its legendary warrior families… and soon without its champion." She looked to Victor and gave a sharp nod. "When the news reached those rogues, they laughed. 'A sleeping tiger,' they called it—'drag its claws and see where it bleeds.'"

Ting Ting's face paled. "You mean they'll strike here? At the person we... that we called savior?"

Chen Wen clenched his fists. "They won't harm him. The Chosen Protector of Lingyun is as close to invincible as any soul can be."

Victor rose, shaking his head. "You misunderstand. These are not fools who plunge into dragon's lair just to die gloriously. They'll test the walls first—soft targets, supply lines, farms outside the gates. They'll undermine the town's strength long before they face me directly."

Master Zhen leaned forward. "Then what do you propose, Xue'er? We cannot rebuild the Zhao or Yan within days. We can't summon the city guard—they will never cross the mountain passes in time."

Bai Xue met each elder's gaze in turn. "We must break the enemy's will before they gather. Strike their camps in the foothills. Show them that Lingyun still bleeds crimson in defense. But for that we need leadership and manpower beyond our own." She turned fully to Victor. "Fang Chen—only you can rally the tempered cultivators of the town and lead the offensive. Your name still carries weight—"

Victor raised a hand. "I appreciate the faith, but I have to return to Blueflame City. My time here in Ascendant Realms is up. Tomorrow morning I must depart."

Silence rippled through the chamber. Madame Bai's jade scepter thudded on her lap. "Depart? After all we've endured?"

Bai Yong's expression flickered between anger and desperation. "You are all we have, young warrior. We begged you to stay for the wedding—please, for Ting Ting's sake—promise us your blade and your heart won't leave Lingyun unguarded."

Bai Ting Ting's voice trembled as she stepped forward. "Fang Chen, you promised exiles safe haven—please don't vanish when we need you most."

Victor looked at each face—young, old, hopeful, fearful—and felt the weight settle again in his gut. "I will not desert you," he said quietly. "But I can only fight this battle on my next return. Tomorrow, when I log back in—Blueflame City awaits me in the morning, and there are pressing matters there. But know this: the moment I return here, I will lead the defense." He met Bai Xue's eyes. "Gather your elders. Secure every approach. Send scouts into the foothills. When I log in—no later than sunset tomorrow—I want camps burned and rogues routed."

Bai Xue inclined her head, relief and urgency mingling on her face. "We will not fail you."

Bai Yong clasped Victor's shoulder. "Go, and may the heavens watch over you. We will be ready."

Victor bowed. "Then let us rest tonight. Tomorrow I depart—and tomorrow I return as you command."

As the assembly disbanded, Chen Wen and tangles of family members escorted Victor back out into the lantern-lit night. Ting Ting slipped a small jade amulet into his palm—a token of the wedding, a reminder of her faith. Bai Xue followed, her pale breath fogging in the cool air.

Outside, the square was deserted save for the overturned benches and a scattering of wedding ribbons. Victor gathered his cloak and slipped back through the carved archway toward the willow-lined path leading to Lingyun Rest.

---

Dawn came sharply. In the real world, Victor awakened with the first chime of the Academy's bells. He sat on the edge of his camp bunk, massaging his temples. Morning routines lay ahead—weighted swims, warrior lectures—but his mind raced with plans for the rogues gathering in the foothills of Lingyun. He steeled himself. His punishment shift awaited: the custodial squad would expect him in the east dormitory wing, mop and scrub-brush in hand.

By midday he had finished his rounds—scrubbing corridors until the academy's advanced cleaning drones beeped him off the schedule. He'd moved through classrooms and dining halls, lifting dirt with void qi to speed the process, all the while his mind ticking off formations, estimates of enemy numbers, strategies for preemptive strikes. The sun hung high, but his thoughts were already across the mountains in Lingyun.

When the final scrub bucket was drained and the last stain vanished from the marble floor, Victor bowed to the cleaning lead and slipped away. Weekend still spared him lectures—he had only a few more hours to savor before he could re-enter Ascendant Realms.

He hurried back to his dorm, boots echoing in the empty hall. Inside, he shed his training cloak, slid underneath the sheets, and placed the VR helmet over his eyes.

With a soft breath, he logged in.

Lingyun Town awaited. And so did the rogues stalking its outskirts.

Tomorrow, he would return to lead the defense. For now, he simply … arrived.

----sss

Victor raised a hand. "I appreciate the faith, but I have to return to Blueflame City. My time here in Ascendant Realms is up. Tomorrow morning I must depart."

Silence rippled through the chamber. Madame Bai's jade scepter thudded on her lap. "Depart? After all we've endured?"

Bai Yong's expression flickered between anger and desperation. "You are all we have, young warrior. We begged you to stay for the wedding—please, for Ting Ting's sake—promise us your blade and your heart won't leave Lingyun unguarded."

Bai Ting Ting's voice trembled as she stepped forward. "Fang Chen, you promised exiles safe haven—please don't vanish when we need you most."

Victor looked at each face—young, old, hopeful, fearful—and felt the weight settle again in his gut. "I will not desert you," he said quietly. "But I can only fight this battle on my next return. Tomorrow, when I log back in—Blueflame City awaits me in the morning, and there are pressing matters there. But know this: the moment I return here, I will lead the defense." He met Bai Xue's eyes. "Gather your elders. Secure every approach. Send scouts into the foothills. When I log in—no later than sunset tomorrow—I want camps burned and rogues routed."

Bai Xue inclined her head, relief and urgency mingling on her face. "We will not fail you."

Bai Yong clasped Victor's shoulder. "Go, and may the heavens watch over you. We will be ready."

Victor bowed. "Then let us rest tonight. Tomorrow I depart—and tomorrow I return as you command."

As the assembly disbanded, Chen Wen and tangles of family members escorted Victor back out into the lantern-lit night. Ting Ting slipped a small jade amulet into his palm—a token of the wedding, a reminder of her faith. Bai Xue followed, her pale breath fogging in the cool air.

Outside, the square was deserted save for the overturned benches and a scattering of wedding ribbons. Victor gathered his cloak and slipped back through the carved archway toward the willow-lined path leading to Lingyun Rest.

---

Dawn came sharply. In the real world, Victor awakened with the first chime of the Academy's bells. He sat on the edge of his camp bunk, massaging his temples. Morning routines lay ahead—weighted swims, warrior lectures—but his mind raced with plans for the rogues gathering in the foothills of Lingyun. He steeled himself. His punishment shift awaited: the custodial squad would expect him in the east dormitory wing, mop and scrub-brush in hand.

Victor's vision snapped into focus on the misty rooftops of Lingyun Town, the first thing he saw the wavering heat haze of distant peaks. Two days had slipped by while he slept in the real world, but here, under the perpetual moonlight of Ascendant Realms, the town had held its breath—and now, it quivered with the promise of violence.

.

He found Bai Xue waiting at the end of the jade-inked bridge, her pale cloak billowing in the night wind. Behind her stood two dozen retainers, young cultivators in early Foundation Establishment robes, their hands on spear butts trembling with anticipation.

"Victor," Bai Xue called softly. "Thank the heavens you're back. We have news."

He stepped off the bridge, boots silent on the carved planks. "Speak."

She gestured, and a guard stumbled forward—blood trickling from his temple—eyes wild. "Another scout," he gasped, voice hoarse. "Late last night, a cultivator appeared atop the east ramparts. Foundation Establishment, late stage—maybe Core Establishment, but not beyond. Beat six guards into bleeding pulp, then laughed. 'Your town's ripe for the plucking,' he said. 'Soon our masters will come.' Then he vanished."

A hush fell, broken only by the guard's rasping breath. Bai Xue's fists clenched. "He defined our fate: we attack or be consumed."

Victor's gaze sharpened. "I have a plan. But first"—he turned to the guard—"detail exactly what you saw." The guard swallowed, then recounted the midnight ambush: the scout's mocking taunts, his rippling qi armors, and the ease with which he shattered shields and bones. Victor listened, nodding once. "That's two groups now. They're probing our defenses, one after the other."

Bai Xue's silver eyes glistened. "Our manpower is… limited. Most of our young are only Qi Refining or below, and aside from you, no Nascent Soul cultivators remain. Ting Ting herself is only Early Foundation Establishment. Even our elders—only Core Establishment. We had presumed safety in obscurity, but now…"

Victor laid a hand on her shoulder. "No longer. Tonight, we reverse the blade's edge." His voice was calm, absolute. "Mobilize every able hand. Set the archers along the ramparts, posted every fifty feet. Have the hidden cultivators stand ready in the southern barracks. Let our scouts—those at least Refining realm—snipe from cover. Then, just before dawn, we strike the scouts' camps beyond the east gate. Catch them off guard, scatter them, reclaim control of the perimeter."

Master Hui, one of the Core Elders, stepped forward. "And if our forces are too weak? We would be attacking on their territory."

Victor's smile was thin. "Which is why I will lead the strike team. I will take out the three scouts one by one. Once their signal qi flares vanish, their masters will hesitate. Then the Bai warriors and town guard can press the advantage and rout them."

Bai Xue hesitated, but something in Victor's gaze—the unyielding calm—gave her courage. "Then do it," she said. "Gather the sweepers, the blacksmiths, any cultivator who can hold a sword. Send them under the walls at dawn." She turned to the two dozen young cultivators. "At my signal, form ranks by the loquat trees. You know your positions."

They bowed, fear shining in their eyes, but bowed all the same.

Victor lingered only a moment more to give final instructions. Then he strode away to the eastern ramparts, scaling them with practiced ease. Below, city walls wrapped Lingyun Town like a protective snake; the eastern approach sloped into shadows and fog—ideal for ambush.

Half an hour later, Victor crouched in the hidden alcove behind the bartizan, cloak pulled tight. He could taste the tension in the air. Beyond the ramparts—just past the broken mule path—lay the first rogue camp, already scouted: three tents, three torches, two sputtering braziers. The faint glow of flames danced on weathered banners.

Suddenly, the night exploded in alarm: a distant trumpet, the ringing alarm bells of Lingyun Town. Victor rose and sprinted toward the breach. Town guard swarmed—but at the eastern wall gate, a lone figure stood, robes battered, aura blazing like a dying star. He had the stance of a hunter: crouched, spear in hand, grin of bloodlust.

"Town's ripe," the man sneered, voice carrying across the courtyard. "Where's your hero now?"

Before the guards could muster, he vaulted the gate in a flicker—like a shadow skipping stone—and dashed into the square. Two guards tried to block him; he laughed, raised a gauntleted fist, and struck them both down in a single arc. Terror rippled through the watchers.