By the next morning, Lin Yuanfeng slowly opened his eyes. His cultivation had finally stabilized. Five Qi Nourishing Pills and half a day of focused meditation were enough to fill the remaining portion of his vast dantian—thanks to the Dust-Free Immortal Body purifying every trace of medicinal essence perfectly.
He exhaled lightly and stood up. But the moment he slid open the door of his
He froze.
His father, Lin Changsheng, stood at the door.
waiting.
Not with his usual gentle eyes.
Something was different.
The usual gentle, relaxed expression was gone. His aura felt heavier, colder, sharper—like a dormant beast that had briefly awakened.
A temperament that made Yuanfeng subconsciously straighten his back.
"...Father?"
Lin Changsheng didn't answer.
His father's eyes locked on him.
His gaze swept over Yuanfeng—calm, unreadable, yet sharp enough to pierce through spirit walls.
Without a word, he turned and walked toward another room.
"Follow me."
Yuanfeng swallowed.
There was no warmth in his tone.
Only weight.
Yuanfeng's heart tightened. He obeyed.
They walked into another room, the moment they entered,
With a wave of his hand, Lin Changsheng activated a soundproof formation that hummed softly walls lit up with faint blue lines.
Silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Only then did his father turn.
The gentle farmer was gone.
What stood before him was a man with a suppressed aura someone who once carried authority.
A man who had seen storms.
His father stared at him with a gaze sharp enough to pierce through flesh and bone. Goosebumps crawled across Yuanfeng's back.
"Feng'er," Lin Changsheng said slowly,
"Do you know… what you did last night?"
Yuanfeng felt his pulse spike.
He instinctively guessed the issue but still forced a calm expression and lowered his head obediently.
"I… don't understand, Father. Please enlighten me."
Lin Changsheng's brows twitched.
"You stupid kid! You think you can pretend in front of me?"
He clicked his tongue and continued, voice cold:
"Yesterday, when you started cultivating, a catastrophic phenomenon erupted in the sky.
It wasn't a normal fluctuation. It was almost like a tribulation something even a Nascent Soul cultivator would fear."
Yuanfeng stiffened.
Cold sweat dripped down his spine.
"If I hadn't noticed the abnormality coming from your room and activated the mist-concealing formation instantly… someone would have discovered the anomaly you have caused and reported it"
His voice dropped, grave.
"You could have brought disaster upon our entire family."
Yuanfeng's face turned pale.
He bowed deeply, guilt choking his voice.
"Sorry, Father… I - I'm sorry. I truly didn't realize...I caused trouble. Thank you for protecting everyone."
"Hmph. What use is your thanks? Don't do anything reckless again. Do not act on impulse without preparation again."
Yuanfeng stood there ashamed.
Yuanfeng opened his mouth, wanting to tell him about his constitution.
"Father… actually… I have something I should tell you. I..."
Lin Changsheng raised his hand, cutting him off.
"No need to explain. Everyone has an opportunity in life. But the difference lies in whether they could turn them into blessings… or curses.."
Yuanfeng lowered his head.
"Thank you… for the guidance, Father."
Lin Changsheng reached into his robe and pulled out a thin, freshly bound book.
He handed it to Yuanfeng.
"Take this. Practice it immediately. And don't bring disaster upon yourself."
Yuanfeng took the book and read the title.
His eyes widened.
Qi Concealing Art.
"Father, this…"
Lin Changsheng looked away, expression unreadable.
"Practice it diligently. It may save your life someday."
Yuanfeng felt a strange warmth rise in his chest.
He always knew his parents were kind.
But today… his father felt different.
Profound. Mysterious. Almost unfathomable.
Like a man shrouded in hidden depth.
"Do not leave the house," Lin Changsheng added sternly, "until you reach proficiency in this technique."
Yuanfeng bowed.
"Yes."
He turned to leave, carefully clutching the qi concealing manual.
He didn't dare argue.
Didn't dare ask.
His father clearly knew far more than he let on.
And for the first time, Yuanfeng felt… guided, protected.
Father… just who were you in the past?
He didn't ask.
He simply bowed deeply and walked out.
Lin Changsheng watched his son's retreating figure.
For a moment, his eyes softened
"…He looks just like me when I was young, causing trouble" he whispered.
A sigh escaped him.
He turned and left the room, heading toward the kitchen where Yue Lingxin was preparing breakfast.
"Oh, looks like the food is ready," he said casually as he stepped out.
"Wife, what have you cooked today?"
His temperament instantly returned to the gentle, easygoing father he always appeared to be as if the stern figure from moments ago had been nothing but a hallucination.
Meanwhile, in his room…
Yuanfeng closed the door and sat on his bed, staring at the Qi Concealing Art booklet.
"…Father, just what are you hiding?"
His eyes dimmed in thought.
Alright… first, let's cultivate this. That tribulation-like thing yesterday… if someone comes to investigate, at least I won't drag the family into trouble again.
He flipped through the first pages.
Immediately, he noticed the difference.
Unlike the lower-grade concealment spells sold in Wanbao Pavilion, this one was refined—its mana circulation method smooth, compact, and flawless. Even its structure was far more delicate.
After studying it for a bit
This technique wasn't something an ordinary cultivator should have.
His brows tightened.
If an investigation happened regarding last night's phenomenon, he needed perfect concealment.
"System. Open Inventory."
A translucent panel appeared.
Comprehension Card (Low-grade) ×1
He stared at the card for a moment.
Then:
"Use it."
A warm force surged into his mind.
Clarity blossomed like a bright flame—his thoughts became sharp, profound, organized.
He immediately sat down and began studying.
Entry…
Proficient…
Minor Completion…
Major Completion…
Perfection.
He opened his eyes in amazement.
He had only consumed less than 30% of the comprehension force.
"…That fast?"
Feeling the remaining force, he quietly took out his Grade-1 Spiritual Farmer Legacy.
He absorbed it completely achieving full mastery.
He still had around 40% of the force remaining.
"Let's finish the Sword Qi Control Art too."
This spell was originally used by spiritual farmers to precisely cut weeds or handle pests.
With the enhanced comprehension it soon reached,
Entry --> Perfection
Smoothly. Effortlessly.
When the last bit of force faded, Yuanfeng's mind felt crystal clear.
He slowly stood and tested the Qi Concealing Art.
Nothing changed on the surface…
But the booklet's description echoed in his mind:
At perfection, one can freely adjust their apparent cultivation level, and even cultivators two major realms higher cannot see through the disguise.
"…So even a Golden Core expert can't see my real cultivation."
A shiver ran down his spine.
"That's terrifying. Father… did you also practice this? Has he been hiding his strength all this time?"
He then flicked his finger.
A thin thread of sword qi flew out silent, sharp, deadly moving like an extension of his own arm.
He controlled its shape, intensity, and trajectory at will.
A single strike from this…
"…can kill a Qi Refining 9th Layer expert."
His lips curved slightly.
He was becoming stronger.
Faster than anyone should.
And yet
He now understood that power without caution leads only to danger.
----
Although the comprehension card made everything feel instantaneous, the process itself wasn't truly so. Hours had passed without him noticing. By the time he finished cultivating, comprehending, and testing his newly perfected skills, the sun was already hanging high in the sky.
Around noon, Lin Yuanfeng finally stepped out of his room. After washing up and changing into clean clothes, he headed toward the main hall.
His mother was the first to see him. Her eyes widened with joy, her smile bright and warm.
She patted his head gently.
"Feng'er, congratulations on your breakthrough! You've grown so fast…"
Her happiness was pure and infectious. Yuanfeng felt a gentle warmth spread in his chest.
His father, Lin Changsheng, also looked at him—though his gaze lingered for a heartbeat longer than usual. A silent assessment. A subtle check.
Then, he simply nodded, his expression returning to its familiar calm.
"Come. Eat," he said.
During lunch, Lin Changsheng spoke casually.
"The workers from the Jin Shang Hall came by this morning," he said. "They inspected our farmland and said they would bring the materials this afternoon. Construction on the spirit land should begin today."
Yuanfeng nodded.
His father continued, "We can take care of it. No need for you to worry."
He looked at his mother and smiled.
"Mom, make it however you want. Don't worry about the money."
His mother's eyes softened with a mix of gratitude and pride.
After lunch, Yuanfeng stood up and cupped his hands.
"I'll go cultivate the spirit land," he said.
His father only grunted an acknowledgment, his mother waving him off with a smile.
Yuanfeng left the house, the afternoon breeze brushing past him.
He felt lighter, clearer, stronger than before.
-----
After leaving the house, Lin Yuanfeng walked through the quiet courtyard toward the back of the property. Behind the house lay the newly assigned spirit field three full mu of cultivated spiritual land, glowing faintly beneath the sunlight.
He crouched down and scooped a handful of soil.
The soil slowly slipped through his fingers like tiny, refined crystals. Each granule carried a subtle pulse of spiritual energy, dense and vibrant perfect for cultivating plants.
He nodded in satisfaction and let the soil fall back to the ground.
After surveying the entire area, he traced the borders in his mind and made a decision.
"Two mu for Vermillion Spirit Rice," he murmured. "The last one for spirit medicinal plants. The seeds from Tiandan Dian should do well here."
With the plan set, he inhaled deeply and spread his feet shoulder-width apart.
His hands began to glow a deep, earthy yellow light radiating from his palms.
Earthpulse Tilling Art.
He kneeled on one leg and pressed both hands onto the soil.
A soft rumble trembled beneath him as the spiritual energy in the ground responded to his technique. Under the influence of the Earthpulse Tilling Art, the land automatically loosened and tilled itself, rising and falling like waves beneath his touch.
He guided the flow patiently.
Rows formed--straight, evenly spaced columns stretching neatly across the two mu designated for Vermillion Spirit Rice. Every line was perfect, aligned as if measured with fine tools.
Then he moved to the last mu of land. With careful precision, he pressed his fingers into the soil, creating small, evenly spaced holes each one prepared for a medicinal seed. The spirit energy within the soil seemed to hum softly, awaiting the life that would soon take root.
When he finished, he exhaled slowly, wiping the faint layer of soil from his hands.
The land was ready.
And so was he.