The morning light filtered gently into the kitchen as I began preparing breakfast.
As usual, I didn't rely solely on my hands.
Two familiar strands of spiritual energy extended from my fingertips, thin and translucent like silk threads, moving with precise control. They stirred the soup, flipped the meat, and lifted utensils effortlessly, each motion smooth and natural.
I focused.
Carefully.
My breathing slowed.
My body became stronger after skin tempering it felt far more responsive than before. The circulation of qi through my arms and shoulders was smoother, steadier, as if invisible obstructions had been shaved away.
Now…
I gently pushed more spiritual energy outward.
Slowly.
Painstakingly.
A third strand began to form.
At first, it trembled, unstable, flickering in and out of existence like a candle in the wind. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I maintained focus, adjusting the flow of qi bit by bit.
Then slowly.
The thread stabilized.
A third spiritual thread hovered in the air.
It wasn't as strong or flexible as the other two, but it existed.
I couldn't help but grin.
With a thought, I guided it beneath a bowl, lifting it gently into the air.
Three threads.
Three helping hands.
As I moved the dishes simultaneously - one stirring, one flipping, one plating, I suddenly froze.
A strange sense of déjà vu surfaced.
"…Hah."
An image from my previous life popped into my head.
Doctor Octopus.
Mechanical arms extending from his back.
If someone saw me now, wouldn't I look exactly like that?
I sighed inwardly.
If my mastery increases beyond proficient… what then?
Tentacle monster Shen Yuan?
I shook my head, amused by my own thoughts.
Still…
Many things that were considered fiction on Earth might simply be knowledge that humanity hadn't reached yet. Cultivation, immortality, dimensional travel, none of these were impossible here.
My gaze drifted momentarily.
If I truly become an immortal… could I cross worlds? Reach my previous world?
The thought lingered for only a breath before I exhaled softly.
Pipe dreams.
For now.
But dreams were meant to be chased, not discarded.
I set those thoughts aside and finished cooking.
The dishes floated behind me as I walked out of the kitchen—three bowls, a pot of soup, and a plate of meat suspended midair by spiritual threads.
I was walking completely empty-handed.
"Browther! wook! wook!"
Mo Ling's excited voice rang out.
She pointed dramatically at me, eyes wide with amazement, then turned to Mo Fan.
"Brother, wook wook! Big brother shen grew another hand!"
Mo Fan sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead.
"…Those are spiritual threads," he corrected patiently. "Not hands."
Mo Ling shot him a strange look.
A look filled with absolute disbelief.
She crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks.
"Brother is stupid."
Mo Fan choked.
She pointed at the floating bowls.
"Can a rope hold bowls in the air? Only hands can!"
Then she turned to me, nodding solemnly.
"Don't worry, big brother Shen. My brother is sometimes stupid."
She walked over to Mo Fan, patted his back seriously, and said in a comforting tone, perfectly imitating me:
"Don't worry. I will take care of you. My stupid browther. If someone bullies you don't cry, come and tell me, okay?"
Mo Fan's face turned bright red.
"You—! When did I ever cry?!"
Mo Ling tilted her head thoughtfully.
"…Okay okay."
She silently reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of candy.
"Do you want candy,...kid?"
That was the final blow.
Mo Fan exploded.
"MO LING!"
He lunged forward, trying to grab her.
She squealed and ran, darting across the house with surprising agility. The two chased each other in circles, laughter echoing through the room.
At that moment, Grandfather walked in.
He looked at the chaos in the living room.
Then looked at me.
"…What's going on?"
I shrugged helplessly.
He snorted softly and waved his hand. "Children, wait dont fight."
I gently guided the dishes down with the spiritual threads, placing them neatly on the table, then separated the kids before things escalated further.
Soon, everyone sat down to eat.
The atmosphere was warm.
Peaceful.
After eating his fill, Grandfather put down his bowl and looked at me carefully.
"So," he asked quietly, "how was the body cultivation?"
"It was successful," I replied honestly. "But it's slow and consumes a lot of resources."
He nodded.
"I plan to take missions from the Spiritual Farming Hall once my strength increases. Earn credits. Exchange them for cultivation materials."
Grandfather didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he stood up.
His eyes were slightly red.
He placed a rough, steady hand on my shoulder and gave it a firm pat.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Then he turned and walked toward the backyard, picking up some wood pieces to carve.
I watched his back for a long moment.
Then my gaze shifted to the children quietly eating.
I remembered
Their father…
He had gone missing since 2 months ago.
The next harvest would be ready in about ten days.
I'll go to the market two days after that, I should ask around about him.
With that in mind, I headed to the fields leaving the children at home to help and stabilise grandfather emotions.
----
The farm greeted me with the familiar scent of soil and greenery.
I watered the jade spirit rice in one mu field nearing maturity, carefully regulating the Spiritual Rain Technique. After that, I inspected the ground for pests and checked the fences.
Several underground sections had been damaged by moles.
I repaired them one by one.
I should buy beast-repelling powder, I thought. And ideally, an array formation plate for concealment.
If I wanted to expand the cultivation of Vermillion Blood Rice, concealment would be absolutely essential. Exposing even a trace of the rice and its abnormal growth would invite unnecessary attention and danger.
At the same time, two mu of land were far from enough.
If I cultivated Jade Spirit Rice on only one mu, the yield would barely cover the village tax and daily consumption, let alone leave surplus for trade or cultivation. The remaining mu would be entirely consumed by Vermillion Blood Rice, which is necessary.
That simply wouldn't do.
The fields beside mine had been vacant for a long time.
Untended. Forgotten.
If I could include them in the next harvest, the pressure would ease significantly.
I should talk to Old Zhang when I submit this batch of rice.
If I showed him some surplus grains it will be real, tangible proof convincing him to allocate another two mu wouldn't be impossible. Village decisions were always pragmatic. Results spoke louder than words.
After finishing my inspection, my gaze drifted upward.
Towards the mountain wall behind my fields.
On a sudden impulse, I walked toward it and began climbing to test my body strength.
My fingers dug into the rough rock with ease. The newly tempered skin barely felt friction, let alone pain. Each grip was firm and steady, my fingers felt more like steel hooks than flesh.
So this is the difference…
Without realizing it, I had already climbed nearly a hundred feet.
I paused.
From here, the fields and village below looked small, almost fragile.
Peaceful.
For a moment, I simply stood there, letting the wind brush past my face.
Then I continued climbing.
At one hundred fifty feet, the wind grew stronger, tugging at my robes. My body swayed slightly, balance tested with every gust.
If I fall from here… death would be immediate.
The thought alone was enough to scare me.
Sensing the danger, I began climbing down carefully, controlling each movement and keeping my breathing steady.
When my feet finally touched the ground, a wave of warmth surged through my body. Qi circulated vigorously from the exertion, flowing smoothly through my meridians.
It felt… good.
Physical labor really is the best catalyst for body cultivation.
Satisfied, I returned home.
I cooked lunch, and the time passed quietly.
In the afternoon, I resumed spiritual cultivation in my room.
At present, my dantian was fully filled up to sixteen meters.
I opened the system panel.
Without hesitation, I used a Verdant Dew reward.
Spiritual energy surged violently, pouring into my body and rushing toward my dantian. The seventeenth meter began to fill with spiritual energy, inch by inch, expanding under the pressure.
The sensation was intoxicating.
Without waiting, I activated another Verdant Dew reward.
This time, the energy settled smoothly. The seventeenth meter stabilized completely, solid and refined.
Then I followed up my practice with spirit stones, carefully adjusting my strength and consolidating my realm, ensuring no instability remained.
At night, I cooked Vermillion Blood Rice again.
But this time, three times the previous amount.
One full pound.
When everyone had gone to sleep after dinner, I stepped into the backyard alone.
Midnight.
Stars hung silently above.
I sat cross-legged beneath the open sky and ate the rice.
The moment it entered my body, blood energy surged like a tide. I guided it carefully under my spiritual sense, spreading it evenly through every inch of my flesh.
Then I began the body movements.
Invisible yet tangible starlight descended, enveloping my body.
Heat surged.
My skin flared red, slowly tempering under the combined effects of blood energy and celestial force.
After completing one full cycle, I stopped. I did not force the process further.
Instead, I resumed meditation, correcting mistakes, stabilizing the tempered skin, and allowing my body to adapt naturally.
Each day after that followed the same rhythm.
Morning - farming.
Afternoon - spiritual cultivation.
Night - body cultivation.
Occasional Verdant Dew usage.
Vermillion Blood Rice consumption also steadily increased.
I deliberately left one Blood Energy reward and two Verdant Dew rewards untouched.
They were reserved.
For critical moments
For emergencies.
For breakthroughs.
Ten days passed in silence.
On the morning of the eleventh day, I opened my eyes.
My body felt light.
Yet powerful.
The early stage of skin tempering was nearly complete.
My dantian was fully filled to eighteen meters.
Qi Refining Sixth Layer, peak.
I couldn't wait for today's harvest.
And for the system's reward.
Needed for the next breakthrough.