Soft warmth brushed against Lin Yuanfeng's eyelids.
He frowned, twitching slightly, then slowly opened his eyes as morning sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves above.
For a moment, he didn't understand why he was lying beside the small pond… why his body felt so heavy… why dried blood clung faintly to his skin.
Then the memory of last night crashed into him.
The Blood and Vitality Card.
The overwhelming surge of blood energy last night.
The burning veins.
The loss of consciousness.
Falling into the water.
A chill ran down his spine.
I… survived?
His breath quickened in fear. His heart pounded, imagining what could have happened.
Organ melting. Meridians bursting. Body exploding from internally pressured blood energy.
His hands trembled slightly.
He inhaled shakily, running a hand through his messy hair.
Then remembers,
If not for that rare, absurdly protective constitution - Dust-Free Immortal Physique, activated an emergency reaction, releasing the excess Blood and Vitality Essence through his skin pores…
He wouldn't be here alive now.
"…thank you," he whispered internally, exhaling shakily. "System… thank you. I… owe you my life." He said quietly to the unseen system. "If not for you… I would be dead again."
He placed a hand on the ground and pushed himself up
His entire body felt hollow, like he had been scooped out and left with only a thin shell. His limbs moved with the sluggish weakness of someone recovering from near-death.
He staggered slightly but managed to steady himself.
Slowly, he made his way around the pond and slipped back into his room through the back door. A faint metallic scent clung stubbornly to his skin. The moment he closed the door behind him, he leaned against it, exhaling long and slow
He stripped off his bloodstained clothes, washed carefully with warm water, and changed into fresh blue-black robes.
His reflection in the polished copper mirror looked pale, tired, yet somehow sharper—like someone who had seen death approach and walk away.
He removed a bottle from his system inventory and uncorked it.
and swallowed a Qi Nourishing Pill.
Warmth spread gently in his meridians, easing the lingering exhaustion.
He sat cross-legged on his bed, closed his eyes, and meditated until his breathing stabilized.
When he finally walked out into the courtyard, sunlight fully illuminated the estate. Birds chirped in the surrounding woods. The faint scent of rice porridge drifted from the kitchen.
As he stepped onto the stone path, he spotted his mother crossing the little bridge to the Tea Pavilion, carrying a wooden tray.
She looked up, pleasantly surprised.
"Yuanfeng! You're awake. Come, breakfast is ready."
He returned the smile, though a hint of fatigue lingered in his expression."Yes, Mother. I'll come." and followed her to the pavilion.
They sat together in the pavilion, the pond water reflecting the soft morning shimmer.
The meal was simple steamed buns, porridge, and a small dish of vegetables but the warmth of home made it comforting.
While eating Yuanfeng was lost in thoughts
"My physique protected me, but relying on it blindly will only get me killed sooner or later."
"The system is a blessing, but uncontrolled power is no different from poison."
"If I'm going to continue on this path… I need structure. A method. Someone experienced to guide me."
Suddenly his fathers image appears in his mind.
"Oh!...Yes. If anyone in this house has a strong body and a proper body cultivation art, its his father. But father usually hides his strength than he is actually capable of...."
"Should I ask him? He won't refuse… right?""No. Even if he does, I have to try. I can't gamble my life again."
His father noticed his son staring at him occasionally while eating.
But he didn't bother to ask and ate quietly.
Once they finished eating, his mother gathered the utensils.
"I'll clean up. You two sit."
She walked off toward the kitchen.The moment her footsteps faded, the pavilion fell into a hush.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then finally Yuanfeng inhaled, steeling himself.
"Father… I have something to ask."
Lin Changshang raised an eyebrow. "Mm?"
"Father, do you know... any body cultivation techniques?"
His father froze slightly, as if struck by a memory.
Silence hung between them.
A minute passed yet to Yuanfeng, it felt endlessly long.
Did he ask something improper?Was this something his father didn't want to speak of?
Just as he stood to bow and excuse himself
"Forgive me, Father. I shouldn't have.."
"Sit."
The single word froze him mid-turn.
Yuanfeng slowly sat back down.
His father gazed at him with a quiet seriousness rarely shown.
"You want to temper the body?"
"Yes."
"You want strength?"
"Yes."
Lin Changshang leaned forward slightly.
"Then answer me this, Yuanfeng."His voice deepened, carrying pressure.
"Body cultivation is pain… real pain. Bones cracking. Muscles tearing. Blood boiling.
Do you have the perseverance to continue even when your body screams to stop?
Do you fear hardship?"
Do you fear pain?"
Yuanfeng didn't look away, eyes unwavering.
"Father, I'll endure whatever it takes."
His father watched him, searching his face for hesitation.
He found none.
Lin Changshang looked at him for a long moment… and nodded.
"Come find me in the evening. We'll start then."
Relief and determination swelled in Yuanfeng's chest.
His father added casually as Yuanfeng turned to leave:
"By the way, did that small fish you picked up yesterday survive?"
Yuanfeng froze.
"…fish?"
Then everything came crashing back the tiny weak carp he placed in the small pond… and how he fainted right afterward.
'Ah! did I roll over that poor fish last night? Don't tell me I turned it into paste…'
Panic burst in his chest.
"Oh! Father, it's time to feed it! I'll go check!"
Trying not to seem anxious, he walked calmly toward the bridge…
Then, once he was out of his father sight
He sprinted.
He rushed behind his room, toward the small pond and stopped dead in his tracks.
The small, weak white carp was gone.
In its place…
A sleek, vibrant black-and-white carp nearly two feet long, its spine adorned with dark scales that shimmered faintly in the light.
Its previously dim aura now pulsed with quiet vitality.
"…You! When did you become this big?" Yuanfeng whispered.
The carp sensed him, immediately rushed towards his direction and swam in circles happily, water rippling like playful laughter.
He stared, dumbfounded.
This growth… impossible.…Unless..
"Look's like you have mutated"
Then he thought back to what happened last night: After falling into the pools the excess blood essence was released from my pores, mixing into the water.
A realization struck him.
So during its birth it had gone mutation with good potential but due to insufficient energy it was born weak with an incomplete mutated body.
Now with my blood - Infused with blood and vitality Essence and purification effect of the blood from Dust-Free Immortal Physique
Became the perfect medicine it needed to complete its transformation and it looks like it has gained some bloodline…
A strange warmth spread in his chest.
They were both incomplete creatures struggling to grow stronger…
Both reshaped by chance and survival.
"This… fate, huh?" he muttered softly.
He took out a single grain of Vermillion Rice and tossed it lightly.
Before it even touched the water—
SPLASH!
The carp leapt up and swallowed it in mid-air, then circled excitedly, demanding more.
He fed it six grains one by one until it slowed down, clearly satisfied.
Smiling, Yuanfeng crouched and reached his hand into the water.
The carp gently bumped its head against his palm, affectionate and trusting.
"…I'll take care of you," he murmured.
"Ah! I have to remind Father not to have any bad intentions about you, before he turns you into stew."
After playing with the fish for a while, he gathered his tools and went to the fields.
He first sprayed the three mu of spirit land with spirit rain technique, feeling the soil's lively hum beneath his feet.
Then he took out his Wood Qi-Guiding Staff went to the medicinal plant area and began nurturing the medicinal plants.
One by one, he guided wood-type qi into the sprouts, feeling them respond energetically.
Calculations ran naturally through his mind.
Normally, these tier-1 plants take forty-five days to mature…
With my physique, which triples cultivation efficiency… fifteen days.
And with this Wood Qi Staff enhancing growth…
"I can bring them to maturity within five to seven days."
His heart pounded with excitement and disbelief.
His farming speed… was monstrous.
As the sun peaked in the sky, he returned home, enjoyed lunch with his family, and later relaxed near the pond, feeding the carp and taking a short nap while waiting for evening training.
Meanwhile
Far away at the town lord's manor, shadows moved.
Multiple groups dressed in distinct sect robes approached the manor gate: gold-white, deep green, icy blue, and fiery red.
The town lord, was already informed of their appearance secretly through talisman transmission, did not stand at the town entrance as custom dictated.
Instead, he waited respectfully at the manor gates, officials and the family heads lined behind him.
Soon, echoes of footsteps approached.
A group in gold-white robes entered first Spirit Sword Sect, the strongest among the four.
A middle-aged man led them, sharp-eyed and radiating a quiet pressure that made even seasoned family heads and officials lower their gaze.
Three more groups followed:
Deep green-robed cultivators of Beast Taming Sect.Blue-white disciples of Heavenly Maiden Pavilion.And crimson-sleeved envoys of Tyrant Blade Sect.
All four sects arrived within breaths of each other, forming a square of influential power at the manor entrance.
The town lord bowed deeply.
"Honored envoys, welcome to Qingshui Town."
The gold-white robed leader nodded slightly.
"We appreciate the discretion."
The Frost peak envoy glanced around the quiet manor.
"No one else knows of our arrival?"
"No one," the town lord assured.
The envoys exchanged meaningful looks.
Something had brought all four sects here at the same time.
Something important enough to be concealed from the public.
Whispers of quiet strategy drifted through the air.