I Idle in the World of Immortal Cultivation
Chapter 5: Blackwind Ridge
Blackwind Ridge Trial · Stage 1.
On the game screen, the chibi figure stood in the valley, facing a massive wolf covered in black fur. The wolf was three times the figure's size, drool dripping from its fangs, its eyes glowing red.
[Blackwind Wolf · Foundation Establishment Stage, Early Phase]
[Skills: Wind Blade, Rend Pounce, Blackwind Roar]
[Weakness: Abdomen (Lower Defense)]
Lin Luo maneuvered his character but didn't rush to attack.
He tested the controls first. The figure moved smoothly—running, jumping, throwing punches—almost perfectly synchronized with his real body's movements. But there was one massive difference: the in-game character felt no pain, no fatigue, no fear.
That made things simple.
When the Blackwind Wolf pounced, Lin Luo didn't dodge. He charged straight in and slammed a fist into the wolf's head.
[-15]
The wolf's health bar dropped by a sliver. Enraged, it opened its jaws and unleashed a Wind Blade.
Lin Luo sidestepped. The blade grazed the figure's shoulder, tearing off a small piece of cloth.
[-8]
Minor damage. Manageable.
Now he had a sense of where he stood. He stopped testing and went all out.
His character's fists rained down on the Blackwind Wolf like hail. No flashy techniques—just the raw, straightforward impact of fist against flesh. The wolf's health bar dropped chunk by chunk. It fought back frantically—Wind Blades, Rends, Roars—but Lin Luo didn't bother dodging. He just tanked it.
[-12] [-10] [-15] [-8]…
His own health bar was dropping too, but slower than the wolf's.
Thirty seconds later—
[Blackwind Wolf · Defeated!]
[Experience gained: 500]
[Spirit Stones gained: 50]
[Drops: Blackwind Wolf Hide ×1, Demon Beast Core (Low-Grade) ×1]
Stage 1 cleared.
A new path opened ahead. Lin Luo moved his character forward, and the scene shifted to a darker, denser forest.
[Blackwind Ridge Trial · Stage 2: Blackwind Wolf King (Foundation Establishment Stage, Mid Phase).]
A wolf three times larger than the previous one stood in the center of the forest, flanked by four ordinary Blackwind Wolves.
Lin Luo frowned.
One mid-phase Foundation Establishment plus four early-phase Foundation Establishment. With his current setup, he couldn't take that.
He glanced at his health bar—62% remaining. The first stage had taken a toll.
"Retreat." Lin Luo tapped the button to exit the instance.
[Confirm exit? Current progress will be saved until tomorrow.]
[Yes / No]
He tapped [Yes].
The game returned to the main interface, and his character's health began slowly regenerating automatically.
[Today's Instance Progress: 1/2 stages cleared. Stage 2 can be challenged tomorrow.]
Lin Luo turned off his phone and opened his eyes.
He was still in the bamboo grove. The sky had gone completely dark. Wind rustled through the bamboo leaves with a soft whisper.
A mid-phase Foundation Establishment Blackwind Wolf King with four early-phase underlings—this was the target of the sect assignment in three days.
He couldn't handle it now. But in three days? Not necessarily.
Lin Luo pulled out his phone and checked the idle countdown.
[Time until breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage, Layer 5: 28 hours.]
First things first—get to Layer 5.
---
Two days later. The fifth day since transmigration.
Lin Luo lay on his cot in the Chores Hall, staring at his phone screen.
[Idle Cultivation complete! Breakthrough successful!]
[Current cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Layer 5]
A wave of warmth surged through his body—stronger than all the previous breakthroughs. He could feel his meridians widening, his spiritual energy deepening.
He tapped open his status panel—
[Character: Lin Luo (Player)]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Layer 5]
[Attack Power: 45 → 65]
[Defense Power: 32 → 48]
[HP: 320 → 450]
[Spirit Stones: 250]
[Idle cultivation automatically started. Time until breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6: 48 hours]
Lin Luo did the math.
Layer 6 would take two days—the same day the sect assignment departed. Layer 7 would take four more days—too late.
In two days, he'd be at Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6, plus the Nine Cycles Mystic Art at the First Cycle. Could he withstand a mid-phase Foundation Establishment attack?
Probably. At the very least, he wouldn't die.
He shut off his phone and closed his eyes.
Moonlight poured through the window like water, and the Chores Hall courtyard lay silent.
---
Two days later. The seventh day since transmigration. Cangxuan Sect's martial arena—all new disciples assembled.
Lin Luo stood at the very back of the crowd. His phone buzzed in his pocket.
He pulled it out and glanced at it.
[Idle Cultivation complete! Breakthrough successful!]
[Current cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6]
[Character: Lin Luo (Player)]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6 ↑]
[Attack Power: 65 → 85]
[Defense Power: 48 → 65]
[HP: 450 → 580]
Perfect timing.
He tucked his phone away and looked up.
Sect Leader Lu Yuan stood on the raised platform, his gaze sweeping over the fifty-two people below.
"You have been disciples for seven days. Today, you receive your first sect assignment." His voice wasn't loud, but every word reached each person's ears with perfect clarity. "Demon beasts have been rampant in Blackwind Ridge lately, harming many mortals. Your task is to clear them out."
"The assignment is divided into three groups," an elder beside him continued. "Group One will clear low-grade demon beasts on the outer perimeter—suitable for Qi Refining disciples. Group Two will push into the central region of Blackwind Ridge to eliminate the Blackwind Wolf pack, which includes early-phase Foundation Establishment wolves."
The elder paused, scanning the crowd.
"Group Three will go deep into the core region of Blackwind Ridge to eliminate the Blackwind Wolf King. Mid-phase Foundation Establishment, with four early-phase Blackwind Wolves under its command. This mission is extremely dangerous. Only Foundation Establishment disciples may participate."
Zhao Tian stepped forward. "I'll take Group Three."
He had broken through to Qi Refining Stage, Layer 4 in the past few days—the fastest in the class. But Layer 4 going up against a mid-phase Foundation Establishment was still several major realms apart.
"No." The elder shook his head. "Qi Refining Stage, Layer 4 would be walking to your death."
"Then who will?" Zhao Tian frowned.
The elder looked at the crowd. "Volunteers. Must be at least Qi Refining Stage, Layer 5 with combat experience."
No one stepped forward.
Among all fifty-two disciples, Zhao Tian was the highest at Layer 4. Qi Refining Stage, Layer 5? None existed.
"Then Group Two will suffice," the elder said. "Group Two will focus on eliminating the Blackwind Wolf pack. After the mission is complete, the elders will deal with the Wolf King."
Zhao Tian's expression soured, but he said nothing more.
Then came the group assignments.
Group One—outer perimeter clearing, thirty people. Group Two—central region wolf elimination, twenty people. Group Three—
"Group Three, support unit. Handles logistics and perimeter security." The elder glanced at his list. "Lin Luo, you're in Group Three."
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd.
"Support unit? That's just doing chores, right?"
"A waste is still a waste. Even fighting demon beasts, he's stuck doing grunt work."
"Hey, he doesn't even have a spiritual root. It's generous that they're letting him come at all."
Lin Luo stood at the back of the crowd, his face expressionless.
His actual cultivation was Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6—the highest in the class. But what he showed was still Qi Refining Stage, Layer 1.
"Fine," Lin Luo said. "Support unit it is."
---
Blackwind Ridge lay three hundred miles north of the Cangxuan Sect—a sprawling mountain range of dark, jagged peaks. Gray mist clung to the slopes year-round, making the range look from a distance like a massive beast crouched upon the earth.
Fifty-two people split into three groups and set out in a grand procession.
Lin Luo walked at the very rear of the column, Ma Biao beside him.
"Brother Luo, you're in Group Three?" Ma Biao asked quietly.
"Yeah."
"So you're just carrying supplies?"
"Yeah."
"You're not angry?"
"Why would I be?"
Ma Biao glanced around and lowered his voice. "You withstood a Foundation Establishment punch, and they have you hauling gear? Isn't that a little…"
"A little what?"
"Too much."
Lin Luo looked at him. "If it bothers you so much, go tell the elder to transfer me to Group Two."
Ma Biao snapped his mouth shut.
After half a day's march, they reached the outer perimeter of Blackwind Ridge. The groups split off to their assigned areas.
Group One began clearing low-grade demon beasts on the outer perimeter. Group Two pushed deeper into the central region to hunt the Blackwind Wolf pack. Group Three—Lin Luo, Ma Biao, and three other Chores Hall disciples—set up camp at the base of the mountain, hauling supplies, boiling water, and preparing food.
"Lin Luo, go chop some firewood," an Inner Court disciple ordered.
Lin Luo picked up an axe and went to chop wood.
Ma Biao followed him, fuming. "Why are they making you chop wood? You took a Foundation Establishment punch!"
"Because in their eyes, I'm still a Qi Refining Stage, Layer 1 waste."
"Then why don't you just—"
"Just what? Prove myself?" Lin Luo chopped through a branch. "And after I prove myself? Everyone knows I have secrets. Then what? I get captured by the elders for study? Interrogated by the Sect Leader? Hunted down by the entire cultivation world?"
Ma Biao froze.
"You… you've thought that far ahead?"
"It's not about thinking ahead." Lin Luo split the branch into firewood. "It's about not wanting to deal with the trouble."
"…"
Ma Biao stared at Lin Luo's back and suddenly realized that this person was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
Not because of how strong he was. But because of how clear-headed.
An eighteen-year-old transmigrates to another world, gains an overpowered golden finger—anyone else would have let it go to their head. But Lin Luo didn't. He hid himself as carefully as an old fox, letting everyone believe he was a harmless rabbit.
People like that were the most dangerous of all.
---
In the afternoon, things went wrong.
A blood-soaked Outer Court disciple came stumbling out of the mountains and crashed into camp.
"Help! Group Two… Group Two was ambushed!"
The camp erupted in chaos.
"What happened?"
"The Blackwind Wolf pack is bigger than expected! At least thirty wolves! And there's a Blackwind Wolf King—not in the central region, it's on the outer perimeter!"
"Group Two is trapped! Senior Brother Zhao Tian and the others are holding them back and sent me to get reinforcements!"
The Inner Court elder leading the mission went pale. "How could the Wolf King be on the outer perimeter?"
"I don't know! It was like an ambush!"
The elder gritted his teeth. "Everyone, with me! Up the mountain!"
The disciples in camp grabbed their weapons and charged into the mountains with the elder.
Lin Luo stood where he was and didn't move.
Ma Biao looked at him. "Brother Luo, aren't we going?"
"We're going."
"Then why—"
Lin Luo didn't answer. He pulled out his phone and glanced at it.
Time until breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage, Layer 7: 8 hours.
Too late.
But his current cultivation was Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6, plus Nine Cycles Mystic Art at the First Cycle. Fighting a mid-phase Foundation Establishment Wolf King?
It would be enough.
He tucked his phone away and picked up his axe.
"Let's move."
---
The battle in the mountains had reached its peak.
Zhao Tian was drenched in blood, standing at the forefront of Group Two, his long sword humming with energy. His cultivation was at Qi Refining Stage, Layer 4, but the boost from his Innate Sword Body let him fight at the level of Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6.
But his opponent was a mid-phase Foundation Establishment Blackwind Wolf King.
The gap was insurmountable.
The Blackwind Wolf King was enormous—a moving hill of muscle and fur. Each swipe of its claws tore through the air with a howling wind, leaving craters in the ground. Zhao Tian barely dodged three strikes; the fourth caught him square in the chest and sent him flying into a tree trunk.
"Senior Brother Zhao!"
Su Xiaoxiao rushed to help him up. She was also in Group Two. Her Heavenly Phoenix Bloodline made her stronger than an ordinary Qi Refining Stage, Layer 3 disciple, but against the Wolf King, she couldn't even get close.
"I'm fine…" Zhao Tian struggled to his feet, but his legs were shaking.
The Blackwind Wolf King stared at him, a deep growl rumbling from its throat. It was savoring the fear of its prey.
"Everyone, fall back!" the Inner Court elder leading the mission shouted. He was at Foundation Establishment Stage, late phase, but three Blackwind Wolves had him pinned down, and he couldn't break free.
"Too late!" someone screamed.
The Blackwind Wolf King lunged.
Zhao Tian closed his eyes.
Then—
BOOM.
A deafening crash.
The Blackwind Wolf King's body came to an abrupt halt. Not because it wanted to—something had slammed into it.
A massive beast, pitch-black and three times the size of the Wolf King, had crashed into it from the side.
"What is that?!" someone shrieked.
"Is that… a bear?"
"No, it's an Ironback Bear! Foundation Establishment Stage, late phase!"
Despair washed over the camp.
One Blackwind Wolf King was already deadly enough. Now a Foundation Establishment Stage, late phase Ironback Bear?
But something strange happened.
The Ironback Bear didn't attack anyone. After slamming into the Wolf King, it stood there motionless.
Wait—its eyes were cloudy. Unfocused.
Like it was in a daze?
"Look! Someone's riding the Ironback Bear!"
Everyone's eyes snapped to the bear's back.
A figure sat atop it.
Wearing the gray robes of the Chores Hall. Holding a woodcutter's axe. His expression was lazy, almost bored.
Lin Luo.
"That's… Lin Luo?!"
"The waste Lin Luo? He's riding a Foundation Establishment Stage, late phase Ironback Bear?!"
"Impossible!"
Su Xiaoxiao's pupils contracted. Zhao Tian's lips parted slightly. Ma Biao, standing somewhere in the crowd, looked like his jaw might hit the ground.
Lin Luo jumped off the Ironback Bear and brushed the dust from his clothes.
"Sorry I'm late," he said. "Ran into this bear on the way. It was blocking the path, so I figured I'd hitch a ride."
"…"
Dead silence.
Hitch a ride?
On a Foundation Establishment Stage, late phase demon beast? You hitched a ride?
The Blackwind Wolf King scrambled back to its feet, staring at the Ironback Bear with a warning growl. The bear didn't react—Lin Luo had controlled it with the [Tame] skill in the game, and it was now in "standby" mode.
Lin Luo walked up to the Blackwind Wolf King and looked up at the monster three times his size.
"You're the king?"
The Blackwind Wolf King roared and lunged.
Lin Luo didn't dodge.
He raised his axe and swung.
No spiritual energy fluctuation. No flashy technique. Just a simple, clean strike of the axe.
But that strike carried the full force of Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6 spiritual power combined with the Nine Cycles Mystic Art, First Cycle.
CRACK.
The axe split open the Wolf King's skull.
The Wolf King's roar cut off mid-sound. Its body froze in place, then crashed to the ground.
Health bar empty.
Absolute silence.
Everyone stared at Lin Luo.
At this boy in the gray Chores Hall uniform who had just cleaved a mid-phase Foundation Establishment demon beast in half with a single axe strike.
Lin Luo rested the axe on his shoulder and turned around.
"Anyone else?"
No one spoke.
Zhao Tian stared at him, his expression tangled like a knot of yarn. Su Xiaoxiao watched him with a slight curve at the corner of her lips—she had known all along that there was more to him.
The Inner Court elder opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end, he just shook his head.
Lin Luo glanced at the stunned crowd and suddenly remembered he was supposed to be playing the waste.
He scratched his head and put on an innocent look.
"Uh… actually, that was probably just luck again?"
No one believed him anymore.
---
That night, no one in the camp could sleep.
Not because they were afraid of demon beasts. Because of Lin Luo.
"He killed a mid-phase Foundation Establishment Wolf King with one swing."
"He rode in on a Foundation Establishment Stage, late phase Ironback Bear."
"I thought he was a waste. I thought he was a mortal."
"Who knows anymore…"
Zhao Tian sat by the campfire, saying nothing.
Su Xiaoxiao walked over and sat down beside him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Lin Luo," Zhao Tian said. "What is he really?"
"I don't know." Su Xiaoxiao shook her head. "But I know one thing."
"What?"
"He's been fooling us. From the very beginning."
Zhao Tian was silent for a long time.
"Yeah." He gave a bitter laugh. "A waste doesn't kill a mid-phase Foundation Establishment with one axe."
"Are you angry?"
"Angry about what?" Zhao Tian stared into the flames. "That he's stronger than me? That he lied to me?"
He paused.
"I just don't understand why he pretends to be a waste."
Su Xiaoxiao didn't answer.
She was wondering the same thing.
In a distant tent, Lin Luo lay on his sleeping mat and pulled out his phone.
[Blackwind Wolf King · Defeated!]
[Experience gained: 2000]
[Spirit Stones gained: 300]
[Drops: Blackwind Wolf King Core (Mid-Grade) ×1, Wolf King Hide ×1, Random Equipment ×1.]
[Gacha draw in progress… Congratulations! Obtained: R-grade weapon "Blackiron Axe" ×1.]
[Blackiron Axe: Attack Power +50, Durability 500/500. When equipped, increases chopping-type skill damage by 20%.]
Lin Luo glanced at the axe in his hand—the same one. A weapon drawn from the game's gacha, synchronized into reality.
He checked the instance progress.
[Blackwind Ridge Trial · Stage 2: Completed.]
[Stage 3: Locked (Requires cultivation to reach Foundation Establishment Stage).]
Lin Luo shut off his phone and closed his eyes.
He had revealed a lot today. The Ironback Bear. Killing the Wolf King with one strike. These things couldn't be hidden anymore.
But he still had one card left to play.
Everyone thought what he showed today was the full extent of his power.
They didn't know that what he had used was Qi Refining Stage, Layer 6 cultivation with the Nine Cycles Mystic Art at the First Cycle.
And he was only days away from the Foundation Establishment Stage.
The phone screen glowed briefly in the darkness.
[Idle Cultivation in progress… Time until breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage, Layer 7: 7 hours 42 minutes.]
---
(End of Chapter 5)
Current Status
Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 6
Auto-Cultivation: In Progress (Time until Breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage 7: 7h 42m)
Nine Revolutions Profound Art: First Revolution (Mastered); Second Revolution requires Foundation Establishment to unlock
Attack: 85 (+50 Black Iron Axe)
Defense: 65
HP: 580/580
Spirit Stones: 550
Disguise Talisman: Active (Displayed Stage: Qi Refining Stage 1)
Possessions: Spirit Recovery Pill ×3, Black Iron Axe ×1, Blackwind Wolf King Inner Core (Mid-Grade) ×1
Instance Progress: Blackwind Ridge Trial Stage 2 Cleared; Stage 3 requires Foundation Establishment to unlock
Resurrection Cost: 1 Spirit Stone / use