My second-stage breakthrough was a big deal, at least in my household. After all the fuss, my parents decided it was finally time to clue me in on the ins and outs of cultivator professions. Apparently, being able to manipute “true energy” made me old enough to understand the broader world.

  It started over breakfast. Dad was flipping through some pages (handwritten notes on magical circles, I think), while Mom prepared congee in the kitchen. I had just finished my morning exercises, still feeling that post-breakthrough buzz in my core.

  “Mom, Dad,” I said, sliding into a chair. “You both keep mentioning different professions—alchemy, weapon forging, formation mastery… I want to know more.”

  Dad looked up first. “Sure, kiddo. Which one are you most curious about?”

  “All of them?” I shrugged. “I guess I need a sense of what’s possible before I pick a path, right?”

  Mom gave a pleased nod. She liked hearing me show genuine interest in the cn’s knowledge. “Let’s see,” she said, dling congee into a bowl for me. “Cultivators often specialize. Some become Alchemists, focused on pills and potions—extremely profitable if you’re skilled. Others are Formation Masters, studying arrays and formations for defense, support, or even teleportation. Then there’s Item Refinement—weapon-smithing, artifact crafting, that sort of thing.”

  Dad chimed in. “Don’t forget the more esoteric stuff. Rune carving, talisman creation—even becoming a professional Diviner who reads fate lines. That one’s tricky, though. The future tends to bite back if you peek at it too freely.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “So basically, I could go around forging swords, mixing pills, or scribbling runes on every ft surface until I make a fortune?”

  Mom cracked a smile. “That’s the gist. But each path requires different resources, mentors, and personal aptitude. Since you’re also studying sorcery, you might have an easier time with runes and spells.”

  “What about the cultivator market you mentioned before?” I asked. “You said I could come along once I reached the Second Stage.”

  She set her dle down. “Yes, there’s a market next week. It’s a gathering of rogue cultivators, small cn members—anyone who wants to trade resources or hire specialists. Your father and I thought you should see it for yourself.”

  Dad pulled a small wooden box from under the table and slid it toward me. “These are spirit stones. Second-stage quality, perfect for basic currency at the market.”

  I popped open the box to find five spirit stones—each about the size of a rge marble, pulsing faintly with energy. I carefully picked one up, feeling the warmth in my palm.

  “Five’s plenty for a first trip,” Dad said. “Spirit stones are valuable, so be careful. We’ll be there to keep an eye on you, but it’s best to keep your wits about you. Some folks aren’t too honest.”

  I nodded, still mesmerized by the stone. Infinite system points ran through my mind. If I sell a spirit stone to the store…

  My heart jumped. Did that mean I could replicate them? Sure, the system had given me trouble before, but as long as I possessed at least one copy of something, I could “sell” it and buy unlimited duplicates. Infinite spirit stones?

  I swallowed, trying not to look suspicious. Mom was dishing out more congee, oblivious. Dad kept sorting through his notes. Carefully, I slipped the box of stones into my storage pouch, pnning to test this idea ter.

  Later that afternoon, I locked myself in my bedroom under the guise of “meditation.” Pcing one spirit stone on my palm, I willed the system to “sell” it. In my mind’s eye, a tiny holographic box appeared, showing the spirit stone’s details and a “Confirm Sale?” prompt.

  Yes.

  A faint golden light blinked, and the stone vanished from my hand. Immediately, the system’s store tab lit up for the first time in weeks.

  STORE:

  (Spirit Stone – Stage 2) – Cost: 10 Points

  You have infinite points.

  My eyes went wide. Holy crap, it worked. I clicked “Buy.” Instantly, a new spirit stone materialized, hovering just above my palm. I tried again, buying a “quantity” of ten. Sure enough, ten stones flickered into existence and nearly fell onto my bed. I snatched them quickly, stuffing them into my storage pouch before one of my parents could walk in.

  I couldn’t resist a huge grin. Not only could I replicate each stone, but the store also presented an option to buy entire cases of them—like a bulk purchase, presumably for big spenders. Or in my case, infinite spenders.

  Still, I had to be cautious. If I flooded the market with spirit stones, I’d bring unwanted attention. Also, I didn’t want to ruin Dad’s or Mom’s trust, or blow up the local economy. Even a goose that ys golden eggs knows better than to drop them all at once, right?

  At dinner that night, Mom eyed me suspiciously. “You seem happier than usual, sweetie. Something good happen while you were meditating?”

  I coughed, almost choking on my rice. “Uh, well, you know… had a bit of a breakthrough in controlling my new true energy. Feeling a lot more confident now.”

  Dad smirked. “Just don’t overdo it, kiddo. We want you in top shape for the market. Also, if you’re serious about picking a profession, we can help you find a starter manual or a teacher who suits your style.”

  “Oh, definitely serious,” I said, picturing all the possibilities swirling in my head—alchemy, forging, formation runes, all combined with infinite resources. “I might check out a few stalls and see what catches my eye.”

  Mom reached over and patted my hand. “Take your time. Even the top geniuses in major sects don’t rush into choosing a profession. Find something that resonates with you.”

  I nodded, forcing myself to stay calm. Meanwhile, I could practically hear the system’s “ding” in my mind—an entire store of brand-new, minted spirit stones just a mental click away.

  That night, I y awake in bed, the box of “original” spirit stones tucked safely away in my storage pouch. I can’t rely too heavily on them, I reminded myself. Showing up with thousands of spirit stones would raise eyebrows. But the fact remained: this was a game-changer. If I found rare herbs or materials in the market, I could sell a single piece to the system and then buy as many copies as I wanted.

  A grin tugged at my lips, imagining the faces of those stuck-up Elders when they found out I “somehow” had all the resources I needed. Sure, there were rules in this world, but I had to admit, it felt good to have an ace up my sleeve—my own personal back-door system.

  Sleep finally cimed me, thoughts drifting to sorcery spells, forging fmes, and fancy pills all within my reach. Tomorrow, I’d start pnning for the market. The path ahead was wide open, and I intended to carve my own way—especially now that the system had turned my five spirit stones into a literal gold mine.