A Mortal with the proficiency panel

Chapter 2: The Road to Mastery

The sun had barely risen, but the air around Qinghe Village was already alive with the hum of activity. The village’s training grounds were bustling as usual, with villagers practicing their skills—some honing their swordplay, while others meditated to refine their breathing techniques. Lin Tian stood off to the side, his heart still racing from his spar with Wang Tao earlier in the morning. A sense of excitement lingered within him. His improvement had been nothing short of miraculous.

Still, there was a sense of unease gnawing at him. He couldn’t ignore the fact that the Proficiency Panel was a powerful tool, one that could alter the course of his life. The temptation to improve faster was overwhelming, but revealing its existence to others could attract unwanted attention—perhaps even danger. In a world where secrets could determine one's fate, he wasn’t sure if revealing such a thing was wise. No, he’d keep it to himself for now.

"Lin Tian!" a voice called from the far side of the training ground. Lin Tian turned to see Mei Ling walking toward him, her eyes filled with curiosity. She had been busy helping her parents with the harvest, so it had been a few days since they last spoke.

"Mei Ling," Lin Tian greeted her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Despite his anxiety, seeing her always felt like a welcome distraction.

"You’re up early," Mei Ling remarked, her keen eyes narrowing slightly as they scanned him. "Did you train all morning?"

Lin Tian hesitated before replying, trying to keep his excitement in check. "Just a little," he said casually, though he couldn’t entirely hide the excitement in his voice. His body felt lighter, and his movements flowed with an ease he had never experienced before.

Mei Ling raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "You seem different," she said, stepping closer. "You’re... more confident today. Did something happen?"

Lin Tian bit his lip, considering how best to respond. His mind raced. He couldn’t tell her about the Proficiency Panel, not yet. He wasn’t sure why it felt so wrong to tell her, but something about it made him uneasy. No, it was better to keep his secret for now.

"Just been practicing a lot," Lin Tian finally said, offering a simple shrug. "Trying to improve."

Mei Ling didn’t seem entirely convinced, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she grinned. "Well, if you’re so confident, how about a spar? I’ve been itching to see how much you’ve improved."

Lin Tian’s heart skipped a beat. He had just tested his skills against Wang Tao, but sparring with Mei Ling was something else entirely. Mei Ling was a skilled fighter—she had always been quick, her movements sharp and unpredictable. He wasn’t sure how his new abilities would fare against her, but the idea of testing himself further excited him.

"You sure you want to spar with me?" Lin Tian asked, trying to hide the slight tremor in his voice. "I’m not sure you’ll be able to keep up."

Mei Ling raised an eyebrow, clearly not one to back down from a challenge. "Oh, I’ll keep up. Don’t worry about that."

The two of them moved to the center of the training grounds, and Lin Tian assumed a basic stance, his wooden sword in hand. Mei Ling, as always, didn’t need a weapon. She was a master of unarmed combat, and her speed had always been her greatest advantage.

The moment the match began, Lin Tian’s instincts kicked in. His body felt lighter, more responsive than ever before, but he was careful not to reveal too much. He couldn’t let her know that something had changed—he had to act as if nothing was different.

Mei Ling moved first, darting toward him with incredible speed. Her fist shot out, aimed directly at his chest. Lin Tian’s body moved almost on its own, sidestepping her attack and raising his sword to block her next strike. He didn’t hesitate, his grip tightening around the wooden sword, the movements feeling smoother and more precise than ever.

[Basic Sword Arts +2 Proficiency]

The notification flashed in his mind, but he ignored it, focusing entirely on the battle. Every move, every counterattack was building his proficiency, honing his skills in real-time. The sensation was intoxicating, but he had to keep his composure. He couldn’t let Mei Ling see how easily he was improving.

She attacked again, faster this time, her footwork impeccable as she closed the distance between them. Lin Tian responded with a fluid block, then quickly twisted his body to redirect her momentum, sending her back a step. The force of her attack had surprised him, but his body was already adjusting, flowing into the next move without thinking.

[Basic Sword Arts +1 Proficiency]

[Basic Breathing Technique +1 Proficiency]

Lin Tian’s breath quickened, but he maintained control. Mei Ling’s eyes were sharp as she watched him, clearly impressed by his ability to keep up with her speed. Her movements were becoming more intense, and Lin Tian was starting to feel the pressure.

"Not bad," she said between breaths, her voice tinged with admiration. "But you’ll need more than that to beat me."

Lin Tian smirked, his confidence building with each passing second. He had to admit—sparring with her felt amazing. It was as if his body was made for this, his skills improving with every move.

Finally, after several minutes of fast-paced exchanges, Mei Ling backed off, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Lin Tian lowered his sword, equally winded, but his heart was racing with exhilaration.

"Alright," Mei Ling said, grinning. "You’ve definitely improved. I’ll give you that."

Lin Tian smiled but didn’t say much. He didn’t want to reveal how much he had actually grown. Not yet, anyway. Instead, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and gave her a casual nod. "You’re still as fast as ever. I couldn’t have kept up without you pushing me."

Mei Ling gave him a knowing look but didn’t press the issue. "Well, next time, I expect you to go all out," she teased, then turned to leave. "I’m going to go grab some water. See you later!"

Lin Tian watched her walk off, his heart still pounding with the thrill of the spar. He couldn’t stop himself from grinning. There was something about this feeling—the sensation of growing stronger every second—that made him want more.

However, just as he was about to leave the training grounds, a familiar voice called out to him from across the field. It was Elder Xu, the village elder, walking toward him with his usual slow, deliberate steps. The old man’s eyes were sharp, though his frail body seemed to carry the weight of years of wisdom.

"Lin Tian," Elder Xu called, his voice gravelly yet full of authority.

Lin Tian turned toward the elder, trying to hide the unease that suddenly gripped him. He had been avoiding the elder’s gaze for some time now, but it seemed fate had caught up with him. Elder Xu was no fool—he had undoubtedly noticed something different about him.

"Yes, Elder Xu?" Lin Tian asked, his voice steady despite the tightness in his chest.

The elder studied him for a moment, his gaze piercing. "You’ve been progressing rapidly lately," he said slowly, as though weighing his words carefully. "I’ve heard about your sparring matches. You’ve certainly... improved."

Lin Tian felt a wave of anxiety rise within him. Was the elder suspicious? Had he somehow noticed the changes in his cultivation?

"I’ve just been practicing more," Lin Tian replied, trying to sound casual, his fingers tightening around his sword. "Nothing special."

Elder Xu raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Is that so?" he murmured, almost to himself. "Well, do be careful. The road of cultivation is fraught with dangers, and speed isn’t always the key to success. There are those who would seek to control such power."

Lin Tian’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his face impassive. "I understand, Elder Xu. I’ll be cautious."

Elder Xu gave him a long, hard look before nodding slightly. "Good. Continue your training, but remember: not all power is meant to be wielded freely. The world can be a dangerous place for those who rise too quickly."

With that, Elder Xu turned and walked away, leaving Lin Tian standing in the middle of the training grounds, his mind racing.

The elder’s words lingered in his thoughts. There was no telling what dangers awaited those who grew too powerful, but Lin Tian knew one thing for sure: he couldn’t let anyone know about the Proficiency Panel. It was his secret—one he would protect at all costs.

As he made his way back to his cottage, Lin Tian’s resolve hardened. He would continue to climb, one point at a time, and nothing would stand in his way.