"Neon Dragon: Cybernetic Cultivation in 2142"

They said my cyberware would block qi channels. Nobody told me nanobots could devour spiritual energy... or that I'd become the most wanted man in three galaxies."

Chapter 1: The Black Market Core

The back-alley surgeon didn't use anesthesia. "This'll hurt," was the only warning before the plasma drill bit into my sternum.

I bit through the leather strap as he jammed the stolen Jin Corporation core into my chest. The pain was—

[SYSTEM OVERRIDE]
[UNKNOWN ENERGY DETECTED: NANOSWARM ACTIVATED]

My vision exploded into fractals. The surgeon screamed as silver tendrils erupted from my body, dismantling his tools mid-air. The readout scrolling across my retinas made no sense:

QI CONVERSION RATE: 900%
WARNING: CORE ORIGIN: [CLASSIFIED]

I stumbled into the neon-lit streets, my fists crackling with unstable energy. The triads who'd been hunting me for debts froze when pavement melted under my footsteps.

Then the sky split open. A Jade Dynasty battleship descended, its cannons locking onto me. A holographic magistrate pronounced my sentence:

"Lin Kaito, you stand accused of stealing divine technology. Surrender or be erased."

My nanoswarm responded before I could. It formed words in the air:

"COME AND TAKE IT."

🗨️ Interaction in the comment area:
"Is merging technology and cultivation sacrilege or evolution? Would you risk bodily destruction for this power?"