In Zhuge Lian's world, there was an abundance of cultivation novels. One of his favorites maintained that to become a martial artist, one must have talent, background, resources, and time.

Zhuge Lian had ample time and talent due to the System but no resources or background. Every step he took would be one taken in the absolute darkness. Each breakthrough would be dangerous, and each experience would be new.

◢Am I ready to embark on this journey?◢

Zhuge Lian realized that this journey would be fraught with dangers, and likely deadly, given the incredible power that cultivators had in novels. Sometimes, he wondered whether he would be content having an everyday life. When he failed in his ambitions, he would often grow sad and uncaring, depressively giving up on his goals. But now, the choice was his. Normal or abnormal? He made his decision.

◢I can't grow old here. I can't be sixty years old and realize that I've been nothing but a cog in a machine, nothing but a worker bee outputting work to pay rent another day. I can't be normal. I won't be normal.◢

Zhuge Lian was a steadfast person. Once he had set a goal, he immediately tried to figure out how to achieve it and never gave up.

How could he become successful?

In this age, strength did not directly correlate to economic gain or societal gain.

Join the army? Chance of death, too dangerous for now.

Become a professional sports player? Too much training.

Zhuge Lian was a genius and truly wanted to advance down the route of a scholar or scientist. But instead, he was forced to consider this route of brute f*cking strength by the System...

However, he had to gain strength first before he could use it. He went into the Cultivation tab.

*Ding*

Host, Cultivation is a method of utilizing your body's muscles to their peak and then cultivating inner force in the dantian. The stages of Redirecting Body, Tempering Body, and Mastering Body train your muscles to use their full force and more when you are fighting. The stages of Refining Qi, Directing Qi, and Controlling Qi train your inner force to be useable when fighting. Once you reach Refining Qi, a whole new world will be opened up to you. Work hard, Host!

Host Cultivation: None

100 EXP to Redirecting Stage 1

Cultivation Method: Godly Bodhisvatta Art (5EXP/Cycle)

Directions:

1. Turn one's body 180 degrees, then train your arms.

....

86. Rest your body by laying down for 15 seconds.

---------

Zhuge Lian had finally found the method to raising strength. When he was studying, he had read in a book somewhere that all the muscles in the human body working together at full capacity could output a force of 17 tons. He sat down to follow the instructions from the cycle, then realized that he had classes that day. He dialed the administrative number to announce that he was dropping out of his senior year of high school.

"Principal Tian, I regret to inform you that I am dropping out of senior year."

"Zhuge.. why? Just because you didn't get into your three favorite schools doesn't mean your life is over. But if you drop out of high school, your job opportunities really will be over."

"Principal Tian... I know you care about me and wish the best for me. I have found an opportunity to make more than I ever would at Harvard. I thank you for taking care of me these last four years."

"Zhu-zhu... I trust you. Whatever you do, stay safe and stay well, as that is truly the most important. Remember, one can always make more money, but one can never have an extra life."

Zhuge Lian sat down on a yoga mat to go over the instructions for the Godly Bodhisvatta Art. Once he was done memorizing, the System sent a notification.

*Ding*

Skill gained:

Godly Buddha Understanding I

------------

◢Ah, so learning cultivation methods can also be counted as skills. Perhaps with more growth, I will be able to gain more cultivation benefits from one cycle.◢

Zhuge Lian cultivated one cycle of the Godly Bodhisvatta Art and saw a system notification.

*Ding*

+5 EXP

--------

Zhuge Lian's face lit up in excitement. Ever since he was a child, he had loved seeing numbers and stats go up to mark his progress, and he would be motivated whenever he saw a statistic go up, which was one of the reasons that he loved gaming with a passion. He then quickly cultivated 19 more cycles of the art, and by the end of the day, he had attained yet another system notification.

*Ding*

+5 EXP

Cultivation Level: Redirecting Body Stage 1

Hitting Force: 1.5KN -> 3.5KN

Internal Force/Qi: 0 -> 0

Congratulations Host! You have officially entered the world of Cultivators.

Shop function unlocked: Cultivation and battle skills can be purchased through the shop.

----------

Zhuge Lian had attained strength relative to the punching strength of a middling amateur boxer. He could try to improve his base physique, but for now, he would go to the local MMA gym to train his strength and measure his fighting ability. He bought a free welcome gift from the shop and received the Grand Footman Grappling Technique, a hand-to-hand boxing technique.

He was ready to fight. He, at last, had the ambition to defeat, kill and destroy all in his path.

He finally realized he had potential.

Of talent, resources, background, and time, he now had all four!