Evening light spilled gently across the courtyard when Yuanfeng sensed two familiar auras nearing the gate.
A moment later, his father strode inside carrying two heavy crates with one arm as if they weighed nothing, while his mother followed behind, cradling a porcelain water pot like a newborn.
"Mom, Dad, you're back?" Yuanfeng hurried forward. "Here, let me carry that."
His father raised a brow with a proud grin."Mm. Good timing, boy. These things aren't light, you know."
(You're literally carrying those crates like sacks of feathers…)
Yuanfeng coughed politely. "Yes, yes, Father is mighty."
His mother chuckled and handed him the porcelain pot. "Here, take this. Don't shake it."
He peeked inside.
Tiny shadows darted through the water.
She beamed. "We got a good deal."
Inside the pot were three fish fry other two crate type water containers contain 2 other types:
1. White-Scale Mist Carp — Tier 1 High (3 fry)
Their tiny bodies shimmered faintly, mist curling around them even as infants. two looked vibrant; the other… not it was sickly nearing its death .
2. Orange-Spine Swiftfish — Tier 1 Mid (16 fry)
Fast, sharp movements. Their orange dorsal spines flickered like burning cinders.
3. Green-Reed Grass Koi — Tier 1 Low (30 fry)
Common but hardy. Perfect for pond stability.
"These are good choices," Yuanfeng said sincerely. "The Swiftfish look vigorous… and the koi are lively."
But his gaze soon fixed on the sickly Mist Carp.
The fish drifted weakly, scales dulled, has a black tint colour on the top, its qi thread-thin.
His mother sighed. "I recognized this species, but this one seems… different. Its vitality is almost gone."
His father clicked his tongue.
"Seller insisted it was genuine stock. I told him to give me something worthwhile so he gave us some feed for a week. If it survives, it'll be good. If not...fish soup"
He made a chopping gesture.
"Dad!! You can't just chop a sick fish!"
"Why not? Dead fish can still be soup."
Yuanfeng stared at him, annoyingly.
(Why is he like this…?)
But he nodded reluctantly. "I'll try to save it."
His mother smiled proudly. "Of course you will."
-----
The family walked to the newly built lotus-petal pond.
Even after seeing it day after day, the sight still made Yuanfeng pause.
The pavilion's centre piece - the eight petal-shaped pools arranged around a perfect central circle felt almost too harmonious to belong to a simple courtyard.As the sky dimmed into dusk, the water mirrored the fading colours like polished glass.
Clear spirit water flowed gently through the bamboo pipes connected to the nearby creek, creating a soft, constant murmur. Fresh water slid in, old water slipped out through the exit channels, ensuring the pools never stagnated.
The entire system breathed like a living organism quiet, balanced, and beautifully in tune with the land.
"Mom, Dad," Yuanfeng said, pointing toward the struggling fish
"Let's put it in the little pond near my room," Yuanfeng said.
"That environment is safer for a weak fish. Once it's in, leave the rest to me I'll handle its care and keep an eye on it."
"okay"
"Let's place these fry gently," his mother instructed.
The fry were distributed across the petal sections.
"When they mature," she continued, "we'll allow them to roam freely in the central pool."
Yuanfeng agreed. "yes. Let's get them accustomed to the environment first."
She then pulled out several jade bottles and offered them to him.
"These are aquatic plant seeds. Spirit reed, river lotus, and cloud kelp. All good food sources for the fish."
"Perfect," Yuanfeng nodded. "With this we can solve their food supply and environment will be stabilized quickly for their growth."
After settling the fry, his mother headed toward the house.
His mother dusted off her hands. "I'll go prepare dinner."
"Mom, before that." He handed her a cloth pouch.
She peeked inside. "Oh! Vermillion Ember Rice grains?".
"Add just a small handful to our regular rice. or the rice might be too strong.."
"Oh, I know. Don't worry." She walked off humming.
His father followed, waving casually. "If the food tastes strange, I'm blaming you."
(He plans to eat extra… I can already tell.)
Yuanfeng sighed.
-----
He carried the porcelain pot toward the smaller side pond beside this big pond near his room and gently released the weak Mist Carp into the water.
It bobbed, struggling to stay upright.
"This is worse than I thought…"
He hesitated… then took out a single Vermillion Ember Grain.
"This might be too powerful… But you'll die anyway if I don't try."
He dropped it in.
The carp swallowed it instantly, then convulsed violently.
Its body spasmed as scorching vitality erupted inside it.
"Ah! Hold on!"
Yuanfeng plunged his fingers into the water, directing soft, controlled threads of spiritual energy to guide the overwhelming vitality coursing through the tiny body.
"Easy… don't let the fire gather… spread it… gently…"
The grain's heat surged dangerously—but under Yuanfeng's steady control, the fiery qi dispersed throughout the tiny fish's body.
The fish shook once more
Then slowly calmed.
Its aura stabilized.
Its shaky qi fluctuations softened into steady ripples.
Yuanfeng exhaled heavily. "You scared me… but good job little one."
Just then
"Yuanfeng! Dinner's ready!"
His mother's voice drifted over pleasantly from the pavilion.
He wiped his hands. "Coming!"
-------
They gathered in the newly built tea pavilion, lanterns swaying softly overhead as they sat down to eat.
Just as Yuanfeng reached for his chopsticks, his father casually picked up a grape from the fruit basket, weighed it between his fingers…
…and flicked it straight at Yuanfeng's forehead.
Pak!
"Ow! Dad!"
"Your guard was down," his father said in a perfectly calm tone. "That's dangerous."
"We're having dinner! What danger!?"
Yuanfeng turned dramatically toward his mother."Mother, I am being oppressed."
His father silently raised a melon with one hand, tossing it lightly like it was a soft ball ready to attack.He didn't even say anything just looked at his son.
Yuanfeng sat upright on instinct."I… have absolutely no complaints."
His mother's shoulders shook with laughter."You two really are impossible."
The steam rising from the rice pot carried a gentle warmth a subtle, comforting scent from the Vermillion grains mixed in.
His mother served the bowls.
She took one bite, blinked, and hummed softly."…This rice is soothing. The warmth spreads nicely."
Father tasted his portion next.His expression stayed composed, but he nodded slightly.
"It circulates qi more smoothly than normal rice. Mild, but pleasant."
Mother glanced at Yuanfeng."And these were only leftover grains? Even a small amount changes the texture."
"It was nothing, Mother," Yuanfeng replied. "Once I harvest the fields in three months, we can eat this regularly. I heard Vermillion Spirit Rice slightly refines the physique."
Father gave a steady nod."A subtle tonic for daily meals. Good for long-term nourishment."
Mother laughed softly."At this rate, we'll become spoiled."
"Then I'll just keep supporting you," Yuanfeng said lightly.
Mother's smile softened, warmth filling her eyes.
They continued eating.The Vermillion grains weren't many, but the faint warmth eased muscle tension and gently boosted qi circulation subtle yet noticeable for cultivators.
Dinner passed peacefully, filled with light chatter and clinking bowls.
After cleaning up, Yuanfeng stood."Mom, Dad, I'll stay near the small pond tonight. I want to keep an eye on the sick fish."
His father nodded. "Call us if something happens and ... Don't drown."
His mother added, "If you fall in, shout loudly! I'll save you."
"…Thanks, Mom."
Their footsteps faded as they returned home, leaving Yuanfeng alone with the night breeze and the pond's gentle ripples.
----
Night by the Pond
The moon rose as Yuanfeng sat by the small pond, legs dangling in the cool water.
The revived Mist Carp swam toward him instantly, circling his feet affectionately.
"You… are way too attached now."
He flicked another Vermillion Ember Grain toward it carefully this time.
The moment the fish swallowed it, he sent a thin stream of spiritual energy into the water to guide the fiery vitality.
The little carp shivered slightly, then swam in happy loops.
"Good. You're recovering nicely."
He leaned back slightly.
"Now… let's check the harvest."
"Sytem panel."
A gentle chime sounded.
-----
Host: Lin Yuanfeng
Age: 16
Cultivation: Qi Refining 7th Layer (24/100)
Constitution: Dust-Free Immortal Body
Spirit Root: Five Elements – Medium Grade
Legacy: Grade-1 Spiritual Farmer (Mastery)
Cultivation Techniques: Qi Meridian Chart (Common)
Spells: Spiritual Rain Technique (Proficient), Sword Qi Control (Mastery)
Lottery: None
Points: 73
🗃️ System Inventory :
Gold Card – Skill to Talent Upgradation Card
High-Grade Qi Refining Nourishing Pill Bottles ×4
High-Grade Tier-1 Artifact – Spirit-Warming Pendant
High-Grade Tier-1 Formation – Earth Spike Formation
White Card – Growth Acceleration Card*2
White Card – Blood and Vitality Card*3
-----
"Seventy-three points…?
From just one mu?"
Before he could process it, the system chimed again.
[To motivate the host to cultivate spiritual plants and avoid unnecessary distractions, points are provided as consolation.]
[A Tier 1 Lottery requires 500 points.]
[Each subsequent tier costs ten times the previous tier.]
[Point gains vary depending on the rarity, grade, and spiritual potency of the harvested plant.]
[Lotteries may grant special rewards.]
Yuanfeng stared blankly at the glowing screen, feeling his soul leave his body for a moment.
A long silence followed.
"…500 points," he muttered. "So I have to farm eight mu for one draw."
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"If I just grow Vermillion Rice… that's nine months. Nine."
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…This damned system. It's basically blackmailing me into being a farmer. First giving me that bizarre physique-spirit root combo, and now this…"
He paused, expression flattening.
"none of it means anything if I can't afford the resources to cultivate."
He clicked his tongue.
"I really have to step up my game, grow higher-level plants, diversify the fields… If I want strength, I need points. And to get points, I need to farm."
Still grumbling internally, he opened the new reward he had received during harvest.
A single, simple description appeared.
[Blood and Vitality Energy Card – Converts into pure vitality and blood essence. Suitable for early-stage body refinement.]
He clenched his fist.
"One card should be fine. It shouldn't be too much stronger than the Vermillion Rice's effect."
He activated it.
A soft pulse came from the card.
Then
BADUMP!
His vision flashed white and fell back.
A violent surge erupted in his chest like a hammer striking an ancient bell.
His heart thundered.
Blood roared like an overflowing river.
His breath broke into shallow gasps.
Dark-red veins crawled across his arms.
"Wh–why… is it this strong…!?"
His tongue bled as he bit down hard on his tongue - if he screamed, his parents would rush out.
then he have to explain everything
But the agony was unrelenting.
He curled, spasming on the grass, fingers clawing the earth.
His bones hummed.
His muscles convulsed.
His meridians felt as if molten iron flowed through them.
He couldn't hold back.
His body rolled uncontrollably toward the pond.
SPLASH!
The water wrapped around him, cold and sudden, wrapping his burning body like a thin, fragile layer of relief.For a single breath, the chill numbed the fire raging through his veins.
But only for a breath.
The pain returned with twice the fury.
The cold water, instead of soothing him, seemed to sharpen the agony like the heat inside him was rebelling, clawing outward, rejecting the sudden chill.A violent shudder tore through him.
He slid into the shallow section of the pond, half his torso submerged, his cheek pressed against the wet stones.The water lapped gently at his face, barely keeping his mouth and nose above the surface.
His vision flickered.
Blood began seeping from his pores—thin, dark crimson threads drifting through the water like dissolving ink.They curled and twisted around him, forming eerie crimson wisps that spread through the pond, diffusing into ghostly red veins under the moonlight.
A metallic tang filled his mouth.His limbs twitched, then stiffened.
His thoughts blurred into a haze.
Too… strong… I can't—
Another surge tore through his chest, stealing the remaining breath from his lungs.
His fingers loosened.His muscles slackened.
His consciousness slipped like sand between trembling fingers.
Darkness swallowed him whole.
His body went still quiet, unmoving half-floating in the reddening water as the night wind whispered across the pond.
-----
Deep in the pond, the sickly Mist Carp trembled.
It sensed something.
Something ancient.
Something nourishing.
The water itself whispered with life.
Blood.
Warm.
Rich.
Powerful.
It swam toward Yuanfeng's limp body as if in a trance.
The moment it tasted the water touched with his blood.
BOOM!
Its tiny heart thudded violently.
Warmth exploded inside its frail body, spreading from its fins to its tail.
Its dull black scales brightened, reflecting the moonlight.
Its sickly qi steadied, then strengthened.
Greedy instinct overrode every other thought.
It drank again.
And again.
And again.
Each sip infused it with vitality it had never known.
Its dying aura vanished replaced with a budding spark, a fragile yet unmistakable glow.
Finally exhausted, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of strength, the little carp drifted to the surface pressing its small head gently against Yuanfeng's limp hand.
As if thanking him.
Then it curled beside him and fell asleep.
A soft, luminous radiance pulsed faintly from its body, illuminating the pond.
Ripples shimmered under the moonlight.
A quiet, hidden transformation had begun
one that would change both boy and fish…
and perhaps the entire fate of the Lin family.