Coreless Cultivator: a Litrpg Cultivation story

05 Examination

Alric braced himself, expecting an ordeal. But the next few minutes unfolded in a way he never could have predicted. The god's examination, despite the earlier warnings, wasn't painful. Instead, it was ticklish and undeniably bizarre.

It felt like a thousand tiny ants had staged an impromptu field trip, crawling inside the soles of his feet, and then embarking on a meticulous exploration of his interior. He felt them scurry up his muscles, investigate his bones, and delve into his organs. The sensation intensified as they traced the course of his blood, sending a tingling rush through his heart. He even felt them walk across the back of his eyes.

By the time the bizarre sensations subsided, Alric was very relieved. He'd managed to stay still, and hadn't screamed, laughed, or broken out in shivers. But pleasant wouldn't exactly be the first word he'd use to describe the experience.

"Remarkable," the Broken Method muttered, a surprised frown furrowing his brow. "You appear to be in immaculate health. Absolutely pristine."

Alric puffed out his chest a little, a touch of pride warming him. He'd made a conscious effort to stay healthy, a difficult feat considering his physical limitations.

"That's good to hear," Alric replied. "I have tried my best."

The god's expression sharpened. "No, I mean immaculate health," he emphasized. "It is as if you've never been sick, never sustained an injury. Surely your childhood wasn't that sheltered. Have you ever broken a bone?"

"Absolutely," Alric said with conviction. "Multiple times, actually. Being around cultivators was a constant worry. They're so much stronger than me, even a casual bump or brush could cause serious damage. I've broken more bones than I care to remember."

A shadow flickered across Alric's face. "That's why my parents started keeping me home more, isolating me. It wasn't by choice, you see. It just became too dangerous to be around other kids."

The god nodded slowly. "That's understandable. However, my examination reveals no such history. Your bones are perfectly aligned, with no signs of past fractures or healing. The same goes for your muscles and soft tissue. There is no scar tissue anywhere."

"Your heart is strong and efficient, your vision flawless, and all your other organs function at the top range of mortal potential. Even your skin is perfectly smooth and flawless."

He paused and looked thoughtful. "This is entirely unexpected. Do you have an explanation for this?"

Alric hesitated, then took a deep breath. The information he was about to share wasn't exactly a secret––he'd confided in his parents and a few others. But with them gone, perhaps it was a secret after all. Still, this was his god, and he needed to know.

"Actually, there's something I should tell you," Alric admitted, his voice tinged with apprehension.

"Indeed?" The tall god raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity sparking in his eyes.

Alric swallowed hard. "I can still heal," he blurted out.

Surprise washed over the god's face. "You can cultivate?" he asked.

Alric offered a nod. "In a way. I developed my own technique. I draw in chi from the environment, absorbing as much as my body can hold. It leaks out constantly, though, like a sieve. So it's a race against time to gather as much chi as possible and use it to heal myself before it all escapes."

The Broken Method leaned back in his chair, a wide grin gracing his face. "Fascinating! This day keeps getting more and more intriguing. Sit down and tell me more about this healing technique of yours."