"System," he muttered aloud, his voice low and steady. "Show my status."
A familiar blue panel flickered into existence before his eyes, its light reflecting faintly in his pupils as lines of information began to scroll.
Name - [ Awner Xuanyan]
Relem- [ Qi Condensation Realm] , [ Stage 4]
Luck - [ 80 ]
Charm [ 120 ]
Special skills -
Natural charm - [ Double your charm attribute and give more positive impression when meeting a new people]
Alchemist - Major Alchemy Talent [ Your alchemy attainment has risen to to Master level ]
Passive skill unlocked - Yin-Compatible Physique [ Allows you to cultivate faster near Yin-type female cultivators ]
Skill -
• Cloud-Bound Steps -[ Yellow rank ]
• Basic Marshal Arts
• Qi senseory Technique
Cultivation skill - Nether Abyss Mainland sect skill [Earth grade ]
System Point [ 16000 ]
Harem Member -
Mei Lingling - Devotion Level [ 100 % ]
Physique -
Basic Yang Physique [ Unclaimed ]
Xuanyan stared at the blue panel in silence, his mind momentarily blank as the sheer amount of information settled in. The number of system points alone was enough to make his thoughts derail, and before he could stop himself, laughter bubbled up from his chest, sharp and unrestrained.
"Sister Lingling, I love you. I love you so much!" he shouted, sounding dangerously close to delirious. "So many points… so many rewards… I'm rich! I'm actually rich! Fuck yes—yes—mommy
His excitement cut off abruptly as he choked on his own words, doubling over while a violent coughing fit seized him. By the time he straightened again, his breathing was ragged, eyes watering slightly as the last echoes of laughter faded.
As his breathing calmed, his gaze drifted back to the panel, fixing on the final line he had nearly overlooked. The words Basic Yang Physique — Unclaimed seemed to pulse faintly, drawing his attention no matter how hard he tried to ignore them.
So that was it.
The realization came naturally. Lingling's devotion reaching one hundred percent must have triggered it. A reward born from intimacy, compatibility, and complete emotional surrender—cold system logic translated into flesh and consequence. His fingers curled unconsciously.
"Claim it," he muttered.
The system's emotionless chime echoed through his mind, and the next instant, agony exploded within him.
An overwhelming surge of yang energy detonated inside his body, flooding every corner of his flesh with searing heat, as though a miniature sun had been forced into his mortal frame. His limbs went numb almost instantly, sensation draining away before stiffening entirely, refusing to obey him as a crushing pressure settled over his chest and turned every breath into a struggle.
When the energy reached his meridians, the true pain began. It did not flow gently or harmonize with his body—instead, it crashed through him like a rampaging beast, tearing forward with savage intent. His bones trembled as if on the verge of cracking, his blood roared like molten metal rushing through his veins, and his muscles spasmed violently, every fiber screaming as though reforged by fire.
His vision blurred, the edges of the world warping and stretching as dizziness threatened to drag him into darkness. Still, he refused to fall. He clenched his jaw and forced himself upright through sheer will, denying the heavens the satisfaction of watching him collapse.
The suffering was immense, relentless, and suffocating—but he endured it. He accepted it.
After all, he had no one to blame but himself. He had chosen this path. He had claimed the reward. And now, the universe was kindly letting him marinate in the consequences.
Finally, after what felt like an hour trapped inside his own burning body, the pain began to settle. Xuanyan sucked in long, shaky breaths, grateful that he could even breathe at all. Sensation slowly returned to his limbs, first as dull numbness, then as weight, then as control. The moment his body felt even remotely responsive, he pushed himself upright, sweat clinging to his skin and heat still radiating from his pores. Annoyed, exhausted, and more than a little curious, he focused inward, deciding to check the so-called benefits of this "special physique" he had just suffered through.
The system responded immediately, outlining the nature of the Yang-related physique. His body would naturally emit heat. His Qi circulation would become hotter, faster, and far more violent than before. His vitality was enhanced, and his affinity toward fire had strengthened significantly.
Xuanyan stared at the panel, squinting slightly as he read through the list. "…It doesn't feel that special," he muttered under his breath. After a brief pause, he added thoughtfully, "Maybe that's because it's still just a Basic Yang Physique."
But as he continued focusing, the subtle changes began to make themselves known. A gentle warmth spread through his limbs—not the brutal heat from earlier, but something deeper and steadier. A constant buzz of energy hummed beneath his skin, as if his body had settled into a more efficient rhythm. The heavy exhaustion from last night quietly dissolved without his awareness, replaced by a fresh, almost overflowing vitality that made every cell in his body feel awake for the first time since arriving in this world.
A grin slowly crept onto his face, then stretched wider and wider until he finally burst out laughing. "Hahahahaha!" He threw both hands into the air, looking like an overexcited idiot as his voice echoed faintly through the cave. "Sister Lingling, just you wait—next time, I'll be the winner!"
After calming down a little, Xuanyan exhaled a long breath and finally allowed his thoughts to settle. The excitement from the physique awakening had faded enough for reason to take control again, and with it came a clear realization—raw power meant nothing without proper planning. If he wanted to survive what came next, he needed to use his system points in the best possible way.
He already knew his priority. Earlier investments had improved his foundation and potential, but they were still incomplete. Aptitude was the core of everything: cultivation speed, breakthrough stability, long-term ceiling. Without a strong aptitude, all effort eventually hit a wall.
"System," he muttered quietly, focus sharpening. "Use points to increase my aptitude until it reaches B rank."
The response was immediate and mercilessly simple.
[Host — 1000 System Points deducted]
This time, there was no pain.
A warm sensation spread through him, gentle and deep, nothing like the violent surges he had endured before. Xuanyan could clearly feel where the energy was going—not his meridians, not his flesh, but inward, seeping directly into his soul. It was as if something fundamental was being reinforced, polished, and strengthened at its core. His thoughts felt clearer, his perception sharper, and even the circulation of Qi within his body became smoother, more obedient.
The process didn't last long. Barely two minutes passed before the sensation faded completely.
Xuanyan knew immediately that it was done.
With his aptitude now at B rank, he could finally attempt a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm without relying on external aids. It wouldn't be easy—he was still standing at the edge of a major realm, after all—but the invisible barrier that once sealed his future had cracked open.
"System," he said calmly. "Show my status."
The familiar blue panel appeared.
Aptitude: B Rank — 45%
(500 System Points required for each 1% increase within B grade)
Xuanyan studied the numbers for a moment before a faint grin appeared on his face. This wasn't empty progress or temporary strength—it was real growth, something that would continue paying dividends long into the future.
But improvement alone wasn't enough.
Once he finished reviewing his aptitude, his attention shifted toward something far more urgent: survival. Power meant nothing if he couldn't protect himself, and cultivation realms alone did not decide life and death.
It's time for some op skill