I’m getting used to diving into Cultivation Realm because my head doesn’t hurt like it used to be. It’s good to know if I recover my mental state in real life then it reflects inside the game. My fatigue significantly improves with a sip of energy drink.

“Fortunately you’re fine.”

Nicolas found his way to spot me far away from where he was killing. He looks like he just ran a 100km marathon with dogs biting him along the way. He’s in worse condition compared to me.

Those hippos really got him good. So I said,

“We still got time before the chicken clucks- Go focus recovering even the tiniest bit of energy you have left. Leave the watching for me.”

I felt bad knowing that he could have run away and left me. I’m not stupid enough to perceive the people of this world as simple-minded NPC who revolves around me. The conversations I had were too realistic to be a program by an AI.

Goodwill is repaid by goodwill. That’s how a normal person should act.

My fuck up schedule and the energy drink can last me until Nicolas decides to stand up from his cross-legged position. He specifically chose the stronger hippos to lure away so watching over him while he recovers is the best thing I can do to repay him back.

Thankfully, the rest of the night was as peaceful as one can get. I didn’t have to worry about another creature planning to make us into their meal. That means I can focus on observing the changes within my body.

“Let’s see what an elementary or whatever level name of cultivation I am now.”

Finding a spot a bit far from the campsite, I found a thick tree trunk perfect for punching.

I’m not here to craft some materials. Punching the tree is my way to test the power of my untrained fist. I can feel I could throw ten times the weight I was able to do before.

Crack!

It was a dense trunk yet I was able to drill my fist halfway. And the most important thing, it doesn’t hurt. I’m not sure because my body got stronger or the pain threshold setting- Maybe a little bit of both.

It’s not only my fist that improves. I felt lighter and my vision got better like the effects of staring at the computer screen for years is non-existent.

Although being a beginner practitioner means I can only do these such things with my newly found strength. I don’t have the means and techniques to either train or improve my cultivation level.

I thought doing breathing techniques while in a cross-legged position would do the trick, but it didn’t do shit besides relax my mind a little bit. I don’t know the indicator which says my Qi is improving.

“Were you able to recover well?”

“Yeah. I should be fine until the test is over.”

Nicolas woke up from his tranquil state. The sky is turning bright blue and the air in the forest is starting to warm. It’s the best moment to continue our journey.

“The test would be over when the sun reaches its peak. This is the last spurt to hunt for spirit beads… By the way, how many Spirit Beads were you able to gather so far“

“...? Spir- I lost them when I was running away from the Ape.”

“That’s bad. Really bad. You should at least have the Spirit Bead from the Hippo you killed.”

“…Shit! I forgot to take it.”

“What are you doing? Are you planning to pass the test or not. Luckily no one is near to steal it from us.”

I convinced Nicolas to help me take this Spirit Bead from my first prey. He cracks the Hippo's head open with his bare fist tearing all the meat apart. It wasn’t as gory as I thought it would be because little blood came out of it. And in the spot where the brain should be, a small bead of the size of a- well a bead is in its place instead.

“Hold this properly this time. I can give you the ones I killed last night so that should put you to 3 Low-grade Elementary Spirit Beads. You’ll need seven more to get at least a passing grade.”

“Are you sure you’re giving it to me just like that? How about you?”

“I already passed a long time ago. I’m aiming for the top 3 in Outer Court disciple ranking. So two Low-grade Spirit beads can barely help me.”

I hid the minuscule beads from the only pocket my pants had. I’m afraid it will slip while I am running so I am moving while my left hand was inside my left pocket. I don’t have the luxury of a bag like Nicolas had.

And if these beads don’t fall off, I needed seven more of them like what he told me. The problem now is where I can get those.

“Let’s try and look for beasts that are 4th level Iron Rank.”

“I should probably take notes about these terms.”

“Hm? What were you saying?”

“Nothing. Go ahead.”

The prey became the hunter. I’ve come from running and hiding from fights to looking for monsters to kill. All due to the fact I’ve been lying about my identity as a taker of this test the White Tiger Sect disciples are having.

But the sightseeing didn’t last long. Loud crashing trees and dust smoke was gathering at the horizon my better eyesight saw.

The ground is shaking more intensely than before and the most intense I felt in my life.

“What’s happening!? Why is there a horde of beasts running in our direction?”

“DON’T WONDER AND RUN!!!”

Nicolas already was running in the opposite direction where the horde was. I soon followed meters away from Nicolas who got the head start.

The forest is a difficult place to run travel which shortens the distance between us and the monsters quickly. Compared to the chasers who were simply charging at a straight line without care for the obstacles, we’re maneuvering between one thick bush to another.

“The hidden Ancient Wyvern must have awoken from his slumber to cause these rapid stampedes of beasts escaping! Such incidents only happen once every forty years. This should not have happened until three years from now!”

“Are we dead?!”

“We should be fine if we wait for the Seniors to intervene. But it won’t matter if we get trampled by those beasts first!”

I relaxed a little bit after hearing it was not the end of the short life of Di San. But I can’t help but worry that my speed isn’t enough. Nicolas is already a hundred meters away from while the fastest monster is lesser than that.

The disparity of cultivation levels is clearly shown in our current situation. I have one option left, and time is ticking. I saw Nicolas was too busy running away he hasn’t turned his back for a while.

Before he can notice it or before the background music of fighting an enemy starts playing, I said-

“Thank you for watching. I’ll end the stream today in a cliffhanger!”

Tapping the exit button rapidly, I got ejected back to my gaming chair.

“Whew~ That was too close for comfort.”

My hands and feet are still shaking despite escaping the situation. This hadn’t happened since I got chased by a rabid dog in my younger days. The shaking I get from escaping is worse compared to when I was facing the Hippo.

I just hope when I come back, Nicolas is alive and well. Although I doubt we can meet as soon as I enter.

“No other viewer besides the first. But at least he stayed until the end.”

The clock’s hand is pointing at seven which means I played for fourteen hours straight. But most of that time I was resting in the game so I didn’t tax my head too much.

However, fatigue still hits me making me yawn the loudest yawn of my life. When people start waking up and going to work, I’m eating my meal before sleep. That’s the life of a night owl like me.

Now I saw the time in-game and real-world is one to one, I’m having a crisis about whether I should fix my sleeping schedule. I may be a night owl, but most people aren’t. Daily activities are mostly done in the morning and afternoon. Playing during the sleeping schedule of people, I may lose many opportunities.

I’m afraid to say this, but I need to wake up in the morning like normal people would.

“A 24-hour stream is inevitable. That’s going to fix my sleeping habits at least, but not today. I’m too damn tired.”

I should be going to the convenience store right now and look for my dinner. My body is telling me not to and just lay down on the bed. I’ve never felt so tired before- too tired I’m surprised I haven’t collapsed on the ground yet.