System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)-Chapter 342: The Martial Threshold

The Matriarch had already vanished, leaving the room feeling strangely empty. Ethan focused his gaze, activating his amethyst eyes to scan the area. He saw nothing; there were no spatial disturbances or lingering traces in the air around him.

"Crul, what do you think about everything we’ve just heard?" Ethan said.

[I have analyzed all the data. While she was speaking, certain reserved information blocks were unlocked within my database. Everything seems to align, except for a few specific details] said Crul.

"What exactly isn’t correct?" Ethan said.

[According to my analysis, there is much more to this array than meets the eye. However, the information was not fully released. To access the complete data, you must come into direct contact with the world’s matrix. Alternatively, you can use Lux points to acquire this knowledge] said Crul.

A holographic notification flickered in Ethan’s mind:

[Array Apprentice – 100,000k Lux Points]

Ethan stared at the number, his heart skipping a beat.

"That’s impossible! That amount is reserved for maximum Gold-tier skills..." said Ethan.

[Becoming an Array Apprentice requires a staggering amount of knowledge. Furthermore, your current understanding of arrays is zero. If you manage to learn about them on your own, the price will gradually decrease, as the system will only need to compensate for the information you lack] said Crul.

Ethan slowly agreed. It sounded logical, even if the price was currently out of reach.

"I understand. Then tell me, what is the difference in strength between the Matriarch and me?" Ethan said.

[Because you were previously too weak and had not encountered such beings, I had not updated this metric. I will now show you your cultivation level based on the standards of the Martial World] said Crul.

A new set of data appeared before Ethan’s eyes.

[You are currently at the Body Refinement level, which is the first stage of cultivation. The Matriarch is at a superior level: the Spirit Gathering level] said Crul.

"I don’t understand. What does that mean?" Ethan said.

[I can only provide details on these two levels for now, as you have not encountered higher forces. Cultivation in its first two stages is known as Body Tempering. It is divided into three parts: Skin Refining, Bone Refining, and Organ Refining. You passed through these stages without knowing it, as your ’Harder than Steel’ skill essentially completed that process for you. You are currently at the peak of Organ Refining, half a step away from Spirit Gathering] said Crul.

Ethan felt a surge of pride that was quickly extinguished by Crul’s next words.

[This is the limit of this world. You cannot ascend further unless you use Lux to force a breakthrough of the level] said Crul.

"How much is needed?" Ethan said.

[The world’s matrix is ​​too strong for your current level. You will need 2.5 million Lux points to force the barrier and reach the next stage] said Crul.

"That’s impossible!" Ethan said.

He paced the room, his mind racing.

"Then how did the Matriarch do it? How did she reach that level if the world forbids it?" Ethan said.

[She didn’t achieve it here. She already arrived at that level. That is the other inconsistency in her story. She never explicitly stated her level or that of her family and pursuers. Based on the powerful restrictions of this world, she must have arrived with that power already established. It is highly probable that the Truth Seeker is the same, although I cannot provide more information without seeing him] said Crul.

"How big is the gap, Crul? If I am at the peak of the first level and she is at the second, how much of a difference does one stage really make?" said Ethan.

[The difference is not merely quantitative; it is a fundamental shift in the state of being. You are currently a master of the vessel. She is a master of the contents] said Crul.

Ethan listened intently as Crul began to project a detailed visualization in his mind, breaking down the hierarchy of the martial path.

[The Spirit Gathering level is divided into three distinct stages. First is the Vapor Stage. At this point, the cultivator begins to pull the thin spiritual energy from the air and compresses it within their dantian. It exists as a mist—unstable and fleeting, but enough to enhance every strike with a power that transcends muscle and bone] said Crul.

"And the second stage?" said Ethan.

[The Mist Stage. The density of the energy increases. What was once a light vapor becomes a thick fog. At this level, the energy can be projected outside the body to form shields or sharpened into blades of invisible force. This is likely where the Matriarch resides. Finally, there is the Liquid Stage. The mist condenses into actual drops of spiritual liquid. A single drop of this liquid contains more destructive power than all the mist in a Vapor Stage cultivator’s body] said Crul.

Ethan visualized the bucket of water analogy the Matriarch had used earlier.

"So, while I am perfecting the bucket—making the wood stronger and the base firmer—she has already started filling hers with something far more volatile than water" said Ethan.

[Correct. In this world, you are like a perfectly forged sword that has no one to wield it. You can cut through anything made of flesh, but you cannot yet cut through the laws of nature. A Spirit Gathering cultivator uses the world’s breath to fuel their own. Against her, your physical strength is like a wave hitting a cliff. No matter how hard you hit, the cliff does not feel pain; it only waits for the water to tire] said Crul.

Ethan tightened his fist, feeling the solid weight of his "Harder than Steel" muscles. It was frustrating to be at the ceiling of a world when he knew there was an entire sky above it.

"And you say 2.5 million Lux is the only way to break this ceiling because of the matrix?" said Ethan.

[Unless you find a natural ’leak’ in the world’s formation or a place where the spiritual density is high enough to trigger a breakthrough, the system must manually rewrite your biological limits against the world’s will. You are a prisoner in a cell with no door, Ethan. To leave, you must pay the system to break the wall] said Crul.

"What should we do, Crul? If the gap is this wide and the world itself is working against my growth, what is our next move?" said Ethan.

[The situation is not yet critical. While the gap is significant, your current strength still places you at the absolute peak of the known world. My recommendation is simple: you must remain consistent. Continue your training to stabilize your foundation at the peak of Organ Refining and focus on gathering Lux points through any means available] said Crul.

Ethan let out a long, heavy sigh, leaning his forehead against the cool glass of the window.

"You’re right. I’ve been less dedicated lately. I let the victories get to my head and I truly overestimated where I stood. I thought I had reached the end of the road, but I was just standing at the trailhead" said Ethan.

[Self-awareness is the first step toward a breakthrough. Most cultivators in this world spend their entire lives without ever realizing there is a ceiling above them. You have the advantage of knowing the truth] said Crul.

"A truth that comes with a heavy price tag. Two and a half million Lux... it’s a staggering number. But hearing about this Ark, the outsiders, and the Matriarch’s power has given me a sense of urgency I haven’t felt in a long time. Being ’strong enough’ isn’t going to cut it anymore. If I want to protect everyone, I need to be the one who breaks the rules of this prison" said Ethan.

Ethan straightened his back, his eyes glowing with a faint, determined amethyst light. The complacency was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp hunger for progress.

He turned away from the window, his amethyst eyes burning with a renewed intensity that seemed to push back the shadows of the room. The complacency of the past months had vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating resolve.

"Let the Union build their Ark. Let the outsiders come with their suicide techniques. I’m going to use every second I have to bridge that gap. I won’t just wait for the end; I’ll be the one who dictates how it happens" said Ethan.

With one last look at the silver card the Matriarch had left behind, he tucked it away. He didn’t need a phone call to a savior; he needed a path to power, and he was ready to carve it out of the world itself.

A small, sharp smile tugged at the corner of Ethan’s mouth. He tightened his grip on the windowsill until the wood began to groan under the pressure of his peak Organ Refining strength. Instead of fear, a spark of pure, raw adrenaline began to surge through his veins.