I Can Only Cultivate In A Game-Chapter 85: Wind Glide
Victor exhaled sharply while feeling the newfound power coursing through him.
The moment he had broken through to the Core Formation Realm, his entire being had changed.
Everything felt sharper. Faster.
Stronger.
He glanced at the sword gifted to him by Lady Li Yang and finally took the time to inspect it properly.
The weapon had a midnight-black blade that gave off a very mythical feel. Unlike ordinary swords, this one had intricate azure etchings running along its length.
It was razor-thin, yet Victor could tell it was absurdly durable. The grip fit perfectly into his palm, wrapped in fine dark leather that ensured a firm yet comfortable hold.
The name of the sword was engraved near the guard:
[ Phantom's Dusk ]
Victor smirked. "I like it."
But now… it was time use it to test his current power.
He took a deep stance while gripping the Phantom's Dusk with both hands.
Then—
WHOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, Victor dashed forward, unleashing a flurry of strikes.
His blade sliced through the vegetation in the surrounding like paper, leaving a trail of wind pressure in its wake.
He felt much lighter and faster.
Each movement was effortless as his new cultivation level pushed his body beyond its previous limits.
Victor was sure that if Shen Mo tried to catch him in his present state, it would be much more difficult.
Victor took a deep breath and activated Shadow Crescent Strike.
[Shadow Crescent Strike – Intermediate Mastery: 82%]
A dark arc of energy formed around him, pulsating with ominous force.
With a sharp swing, Victor released it at a massive tree nearby.
The crescent ripped through the air, moving faster than ever before—
—but then something unexpected happened.
Just before hitting the tree, the crescent flickered—
—it phased halfway through the bark before materializing again and slicing through it from the inside out.
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The tree stood still...
Then—
CRACK!
A loud, clean split echoed through the forest as the tree suddenly collapsed in half.
Victor stared with a stunned look.
"…What the hell?"
His attack… phased through solid matter?
That wasn't how Shadow Crescent Strike normally worked.
Victor frowned while gripping his sword tighter.
Was this a new development? Or had he unknowingly awakened another ability?
He decided to test it further later. Right now, he had a journey to complete.
Victor traversed the Devil Forest much easier than before, speeding through like a bullet train. His new strength made movement much smoother than before.
The air gradually shifted and the ominous mist thinned as he neared the forest's exit.
After what felt like hours, he finally stepped onto solid, stable ground—and in the distance—
——Was a city.
But not just any city.
One of the great cities under the rule of the Azure Ember Empire.
Victor stood on a high ridge, gazing down at the vast metropolis below.
Even from afar, he could see:
Enormous city walls that stretched for miles, built from dark blue stone, infused with protective inscriptions.
Countless spires, pagodas, temples with roofs gleaming under the sunlight.
Streets in the distance that seemed to be bustling with thousands of cultivators, merchants, and city guards.
Beyond the city, he could spot rolling green plains and even tall mountain ranges in the distance.
Victor grinned; "Finally..."
This was it.
The world beyond the dangerous regions. His destination for a long time.
---
Ding!
<[ System Notifications: Congratulations! You have successfully crossed the Devil Forest! ]>
You have been awarded:
+8,000 wisps of qi
+5% Mastery to Shadow Crescent Strike
+3% Mastery to Wind Shifting Arts
---
Ding!
<[ Congratulations! You have crossed all three major routes! ]>
●The Misguided Misty Paths
●The Dark Canyon
●The Devil Forest
You have been awarded:
+10,000 wisps of qi
+10% Mastery to Wind Shifting Arts
New Ability Unlocked: Wind Shifting Art – Wind Glide
---
Victor raised a brow.
"Wind Glide?"
He quickly opened his cultivation status and found the new ability.
---
[Wind Shifting Arts – Wind Glide]
Description: By condensing qi into the legs, the user can temporarily become weightless, allowing them to jump once or perform agile maneuvers in mid-air.
---
Victor chuckled.
"Now that's gonna be fun but it's time to go."
Victor felt a little satisfied with his progress.
He had been inside Ascendant Realms for nearly two weeks (in-game time).
In the real world, he estimated about three days had passed.
As much as he wanted to head straight into the city, he knew it was time to log out.
He took one last look at the grand city ahead.
"Next time, I'll explore you properly."
With that, Victor opened the menu and selected Log Out.
---
[Logging Out of Ascendant Realms…]
[See You Again Soon, Fang Chen.]
---
As Victor pulled off his VR helmet, the world around him shifted from the mystical landscapes of Ascendant Realms to the familiar yet somewhat stifling confines of his bedroom.
His real body felt lighter, stronger, and more agile. He flexed his fingers, feeling the subtle flow of energy coursing through his muscles.
His vision had improved dramatically; the once dull edges of his room were now sharply defined.
Then it hit him—he had been in the game for almost three days.
"Shit… Mom!" Victor muttered while throwing the helmet onto his bed as he rushed out of his room.
He hurried towards the kitchen, following the scent of freshly cooked food. There, standing at the stove, was his mother, stirring a pot of stew with one hand while holding onto her lower back with the other.
Even from a distance, Victor noticed how her belly had slightly swollen—a small but unmistakable sign of her pregnancy.
She spotted him as soon as he stepped into the kitchen. A warm smile spread across her face, but it was immediately followed by a playful scowl.
"I was starting to think you'd never come out of that game," she voiced while shaking her head. "I know you mentioned that your powers come from there, but I was beginning to worry you'd get stuck in there forever."
Victor scratched the back of his head, feeling guilty.
"Sorry, Mom. I got carried away…"
She let out a small sigh and waved it off. "It's fine. I figured as much. Just don't forget you still have to take care of yourself and eat properly."
Her words hit him hard but not because of having to eat. He didn't even feel hungry and barely felt famished even when he stayed for over a day without eating.
However, he felt like he was already neglecting his pregnant mother, despite the fact that he hadn't left for the academy yet.
He made a mental note to limit his time in Ascendant Realms, making sure to check in on his mother regularly.
"I will," Victor promised while stepping closer to help. "What are we making?"
His mother chuckled. "We? Since when do you cook?"
"Hey, I can help!" He grabbed a knife from the counter and started chopping vegetables, albeit a little clumsily.
"Just don't burn the house down," his mom teased.
They worked together in the kitchen for the next twenty minutes with Victor assisting wherever he could. Though he was still learning, the moment felt oddly peaceful. It had been a long time since they had done something so normal together.
---
As they sat at the table, enjoying the meal, Victor found himself subconsciously analyzing everything. He could smell each individual ingredient in the food. He could hear the faint creaks of the wooden floor, the slow ticking of the kitchen clock, and even the way the stew bubbled ever so slightly in the pot.
He clenched his fists.
His increase in strength, agility, and senses from the game had transferred over into reality.
Even his body felt more balanced, as if his movements were more refined and controlled.
'It's crazy,' he thought while bringing a spoonful of stew to his lips. 'My cultivation in the game really does reflect in reality.'
Too bad he didn't have a sword to test out his martial arts.
"By the way," his mom suddenly voiced, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Your phone kept buzzing all day."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "It did?"
She nodded. "Your friends, probably. I heard it vibrating from your room while I was cleaning."
Victor quickly finished his meal and excused himself before making his way back to his room.
---
Victor unlocked his phone and was immediately bombarded with notifications.
Danny: Dude, where are you?
Max: Bro, are you dead?
Jake: Victor, don't tell me you've been grinding in that VR game for days again.
Amara: Hey, we're all hanging out online, hop in when you can.
Victor smirked at their messages and quickly responded:
Victor: Relax, I was just busy. I'll hop on now.
After setting up his gaming rig, he logged into their group chat. The moment his avatar appeared on-screen, the voice chat exploded with noise.
"VICTOR!"
"Dude, where the hell have you been?"
"Don't tell me you were stuck in Ascendant Realms this whole time."
Victor laughed while rubbing his temple. "Alright, alright, calm down. I wasn't stuck—I was just... occupied."
"Occupied doing what?" Danny asked suspiciously.
Victor debated for a moment whether to tell them about his insane progress in the game. Then again, how would they even believe him? He decided to keep it vague.
"Let's just say I was leveling up…"
