The Strongest Cultivator Is a System Maker!

Hengsheng lay on a wooden weightlifting bench, gripping the barbell he had custom-ordered from the Lan Clan crafters for his personal training. Each side of the barbell was stacked with weight plates, totaling a hefty 600 lbs. He exhaled deeply, clearing his lungs, and then inhaled sharply before lifting the barbell. His face turned red from the exertion as he slowly lowered the barbell until it reached the optimal position. With a strained grunt, he pushed the barbell upward with all his might.

"Ahhhhh," he screamed internally, veins bulging as he finally secured the barbell back onto its stand. This time, he had truly exhausted himself.

A while later, he stood up and examined his reflection in the polished bronze mirror. His physique was lean yet muscular, resembling a Roman statue with defined lines and sculpted bulk. Satisfied with his progress, he gestured for Lan Ju to remove the equipment.

Lan Ju, his personal servant, stepped forward and effortlessly picked up the heavy barbell as if it were a feather. Hengsheng watched her, his teeth gritting slightly in envy. Lan Ju was a Spiritual Foundation Realm cultivator—hundreds of times stronger than him. Though she appeared youthful, she was already 200 years old. By the outside world's standards, that was considered young. However, in the Lan Clan, such a level of cultivation was unimpressive, which was why she ended up as his servant.

It had been ten months since Hengsheng had survived the lightning tribulation. After leaving the library, he dedicated most of his time to removing impurities from his body and training relentlessly. With his [Recycle System], he managed to repurpose his impurities, transforming them into energy for further training.

During this period, Hengsheng discovered something remarkable—humans in this world were far stronger than those on Earth. After ten months of intense training, he could easily surpass the strongest man on Earth in terms of raw physical strength. The environment, combined with the nourishing effects of consuming low-level demon beast meat and natural treasures, had fueled his progress.

As a core disciple of the Lan Clan, Hengsheng now had access to an allocation of low-level natural treasures. While the supply wasn't unlimited, it was enough for his needs. With these resources, his mortal body had reached its peak and was now ready for the next crucial step: forming a spirit body.

The Body Awakening Realm was divided into two stages:

Mortal Body Stage: This initial stage requires one to forge their mortal body to its physical limits, mortal can practice this stage but can not form a spirit body due to lack of spirit core.

Spirit Body Stage: In this stage, a cultivator practices specific techniques and movements to sense and interact with spiritual qi, forming a spirit body. Achieving harmony between the mortal body and the spirit body would lead directly to the Qi Gathering Realm, marking the beginning of true cultivation.

The strength of the spirit body formed during this stage would influence the power of divine sense in later realms. Most cultivators didn't put much thought into their spirit bodies, as they could use advanced techniques later to enhance their divine sense.

Hengsheng, however, wasn't one to follow the norm. He was determined to make the most of this foundational stage, knowing it could set him apart in the long run.

Hengsheng was now ready to form his spirit body. Although he wasn't yet fully 15, it didn't matter—he was already physically mature, and his body was at its peak. He considered the process carefully. Forming the spirit body didn't require resources, but a dense qi environment would greatly accelerate it. The key lies in having an excellent technique and a stable mind state.

Normally, it took about a month for someone to form their spirit body and another year to achieve harmony between the mortal and spirit body, marking the breakthrough to the Qi Gathering Realm. The strength of the spirit body depended heavily on an individual's mental state, which made the cultivation method for this realm crucial.

But Hengsheng had no intention of taking the traditional route. He had already created the perfect "technique" for himself: The Super Spirit Body System! Confident in his creation, he launched the system.

Ding!

[Super Spirit Body Forming Process: 30:23:59]

The moment the system activated, Hengsheng felt a new sense forming within him. It began where his spirit core resided. Previously, he couldn't sense his spirit core despite knowing its location. He'd only felt a faint warmth when it first formed, but that sensation had faded—until now.

Closing his eyes, Hengsheng focused on the emerging sense. His consciousness drifted inward, and for the first time, he saw his spirit core. It was golden, with sparks of lightning zapping around its surface.

It was a Capacitor Metal Spirit Core, a rare type of metal spirit core with the ability to store and release lightning qi instantly. This gave him a significant advantage against lightning qi cultivators. However, despite its uniqueness, its grade was still Mortal Grade Spirit core. The edges of the core appeared cloudy. A divine-grade spirit core, in comparison, would be entirely translucent, like a perfectly clear gemstone.

Hengsheng frowned. He wasn't satisfied with his spirit core's current state. However, he knew that once he reached the Qi Gathering Realm, he could fully exploit his cheat to upgrade it to a higher grade.

With the system running and no other pressing tasks, Hengsheng decided to step outside for a while. He had regained his confidence as a Young Master and felt like the world was his for the taking.

"Lan Ju, escort me to Lan City!" he declared, brimming with enthusiasm.

"Yes, young master!" Lan Ju replied instantly, her tone professional and obedient as she followed him out.

Lan City sprawled across the eastern expanse of Lan Clan territory, a colossal metropolis whose size defied logic. Hengsheng marveled at the scale—it was comparable to the Australian continent on Earth. Yet, despite its vastness, Lan City wasn't even close to the grandeur of Golden City, ruled by the Golden Sword Sect. Golden City, located at the base of Golden Peak, was an unfathomable two Earths combined in size.

The sheer enormity of the cultivation world was difficult for Hengsheng to comprehend. Everything here was exaggerated to an absurd degree.

Of course, traversing Lan City on foot was out of the question. Walking would take over a week. Instead, Hengsheng traveled atop Lan Ju's flying treasure, a sleek silver disk inscribed with glowing runes that allowed it to soar effortlessly through the sky. The trip to the city's center took only fifteen minutes.

As they descended, Hengsheng could see the city's organized structure. The central district housed the wealthiest families, powerful merchants, and key businesses, with well-paved stone roads and towering, ornately designed buildings. The outskirts, while still bustling with activity, were less refined, home to traders, craftspeople, and the general population.

They landed in a large open plaza reserved for Lan Clan members. Guards stationed there noticed Hengsheng's attire—a black robe trimmed with golden embroidery, signifying a high-ranking clan member—and immediately paled. They bowed deeply.

"Welcome, Young Master!" one guard said nervously.

Hengsheng paid them no attention, walking forward with an air of indifference. The guards' reactions were expected; it was one of the few perks of his newly acquired core disciple status.

As he strolled through the central district, Hengsheng took in the sights. The city buzzed with activity. Market stalls lined the streets, offering everything from rare herbs and beast materials to exquisite silks and spiritual artifacts. The wealth and prosperity of the Lan Clan were evident in every corner, especially here in the central district.

Hengsheng turned to the guard escorting him, a tall, muscular man clad in Lan Clan armor. "Is there anything interesting happening in the city today?"

The guard replied respectfully, "Yes, my lord. An auction is being held by the Golden Hall. Today is the final day, and it promises to feature some of the most extraordinary items."

Hengsheng's interest piqued. Auctions in cultivation worlds were often treasure troves of rare and valuable items. "Golden Hall, you say? Very well. Lead the way."

The guard bowed and gestured for Hengsheng to follow him, his steps brisk as they headed toward the auction venue. The Golden Hall was located in a prominent part of the central district, its grand structure adorned with golden carvings and shimmering talismans that exuded an aura of wealth and prestige.

As they approached, Hengsheng's lips curled into a smirk. If luck favored him, he might find something like an auction fight show event.