Ding: Mental Energy Replenished (120/120).
The faint, crystalline tone of the System's voice echoed through Li Shen's consciousness, drawing him out of slumber. His eyes fluttered open, the morning mist outside his courtyard veiling the bamboo groves of Azure Veil Peak in tranquil serenity.
He sat up, still half lost between dream and waking thought. For a moment, he wondered if everything that had happened yesterday — the battle against the Coiled Serpent, Elder Zhang Rui's descent from the heavens, his sudden rise as a personal disciple — had merely been an illusion spun from fatigue and wishful thought.
But the silk robe draped across his shoulders said otherwise. Light-blue fabric, embroidered with faint green leaf motifs, caught the morning glow as if the cloth itself breathed qi. A symbol of Azure Veil Peak — and the mark of a personal disciple of a Grand Elder.
Still dazed, Li Shen rose and freshened himself. Cool water ran through his fingers, sharp and clear, grounding him in the present.
"System," he murmured. "Show my panel."
A translucent screen unfolded before his eyes like rippling water.
Name: Li Shen
Cultivation: Body Tempering – Mid
Sect Coins: 28
Qi Density: 55 Q Units
Mental Energy: 120 / 120
Item: Iron Spirit Blade
Cultivation Techniques:
Verdant Breathing Art (Tier I) [Mastered]Cutter's Vital Rhythm (Tier I) [Proficiency: 5%] [Efficiency: 100%]Verdant Blade Form (Tier I) [Mastered]
Li Shen tapped his chin thoughtfully. "System, how many times can I improve the proficiency of Cutter's Vital Rhythm without suffering a backlash?"
Ding: Host can spend 50 Mental Energy to raise the proficiency to 55%. Note: Host's adaptation and life-and-death encounters have accelerated the assimilation of the recently mastered Verdant Blade Form.
He smiled faintly. "Then let's begin."
"System, spend 50 Mental Energy."
Ding: Cutter's Vital Rhythm (Tier I) [Proficiency: 5% → 55%] [Efficiency: 100%].
Li Shen exhaled slowly. Immediately, he felt the rhythmic flow of qi pulse through his meridians — the Cutter's Vital Rhythm wasn't just a technique, it was harmony itself, the cadence of breath and blade converging into one.
Once his inner energy calmed, he sat in meditation. The verdant aura of Azure Veil Peak gathered naturally around him, drawn by his breathing like mist toward a valley.
Ding: Qi Density: 55 Q Units → 63 Q Units.
Li Shen's brows lifted. "Eight units? Last time, I only gained four after several hours of meditation."
Ding: Due to the exceptional qi density in your environment, qi gain efficiency has doubled.
"So this is the benefit of being under a Grand Elder's domain," Li Shen whispered, a tinge of awe coloring his voice.
He spent the next few hours refining Cutter's Vital Rhythm — body and blade moving as one beneath the rising dawn. His steps traced invisible sigils on the dew-drenched ground, and the wind whistled in rhythm to his motions. The air split cleanly with each swing, as if his strikes were no longer against air, but against the flow of the world itself.
By the time the sun crested the horizon, he felt the rhythm settle naturally into his body.
"System, show my panel."
Name: Li Shen
Cultivation: Body Tempering – Mid
Sect Coins: 28
Qi Density: 63 Q Units
Mental Energy: 70 / 120
Item: Iron Spirit Blade
Cultivation Techniques:
Verdant Breathing Art (Tier I) [Mastered]Cutter's Vital Rhythm (Tier I) [Proficiency: 60%] [Efficiency: 100%]Verdant Blade Form (Tier I) [Mastered]
He sheathed his blade and smiled. The system's cold numbers might not show it, but he could feel the transformation — his strikes smoother, his control deeper, his understanding clearer.
After bathing, he donned his Azure Veil robes and descended the mountain. It was time to retrieve his old belongings and visit those who had once shared his struggles.
The path down from Azure Veil was steep, wreathed in fog and birdsong. When he arrived at the outer sect's Ironwood Gathering Point, familiar laughter and the scent of sawdust greeted him.
"Elder Feng!" Li Shen called, spotting the cheerful old man directing laborers near a pile of timber.
Elder Feng turned — his broad grin froze mid-motion. His eyes widened at the sight of Li Shen's azure robe, then broke into hearty laughter.
"By the heavens! Little Shen? You look like a proper immortal now! I nearly didn't recognize you!"
Li Shen scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Elder Feng jests. I merely changed robes."
"Changed robes? Hah! Those are Azure Veil Peak robes, boy! Even inner disciples bow to those. So it's true then — you've been taken in by Elder Zhang Rui himself?"
The surrounding outer disciples who overheard gasped, their gazes turning reverent. Murmurs spread like wildfire.
"Elder Zhang Rui's disciple?"
"Wasn't he just an outer disciple last week?"
"He must have slain a powerful beast…"
Li Shen gave a polite nod, modest as always. Elder Feng chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"You've done well, boy. But don't forget your roots. Even a grand tree began as a seed in humble soil."
He reached into a pouch and handed Li Shen a small wooden box.
"Your packed lunch. I was saving this for you even if you didn't return."
Li Shen accepted it, smiling warmly. "Thank you, Elder Feng. I'll never forget your kindness."
From there, he wandered toward the dormitory grounds, intent on retrieving his things. But as he passed, he couldn't help noticing one absence.
"Strange," he murmured. "Where's Lan Xue?"
A passing outer disciple replied, "Senior Sister Lan? She's at the Mission Hall now. I think she took on a task earlier."
Li Shen blinked. "Perfect. I need to go there as well."
The Mission Hall was bustling as usual — disciples bartering, registering missions, exchanging beast cores. Yet the moment Li Shen entered, the chatter softened. Heads turned; whispers followed.
"Isn't that… Elder Zhang Rui's personal disciple?"
Unbothered, Li Shen strode to the counter and presented the five cores wrapped in silk: one from the Coiling Serpent and four from Iron Fang Rabbits.
The clerk's hands trembled slightly. "T-this… this is a Meridian Opening Realm beast core!"
"Reward for Iron Fang Rabbit cores: 20 sect coins each, total of 80 coins.
Reward for Coiling Serpent core: 300 sect coins.
Total payout: 380 sect coins."
She looked up, eyes full of respect. "Disciple Li Shen, please confirm."
Li Shen merely nodded. "Thank you"
As the sect coins poured into his pouch, he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"You really did slay that serpent."
He turned — Lan Xue stood there, mission scroll in hand, silver-threaded hair glinting beneath the lanterns. Her cold demeanor was unchanged, but a faint curve graced her lips.
"Lan Xue," Li Shen greeted warmly. "You've advanced again."
"Mm," she replied softly. "Late Body Tempering now. I was about to take a mission to Moonridge Hill myself. Seems I'm a step late."
He chuckled. "You'll surpass me soon enough."
Her gaze softened for a moment. "You always say that."
The atmosphere lingered — unspoken camaraderie, a quiet recognition forged from shared struggle.
He finally said, "When I settle in, let's take a mission together. For old times' sake."
Lan Xue's lips curved into the faintest of smiles. "I'll hold you to that."
As Li Shen departed the hall, whispers trailed behind him once again, though now tinged with awe.
"So that's Elder Zhang Rui's new disciple…"
He walked past them without arrogance, only quiet resolve. The weight of the azure robe reminded him — strength was not a symbol to display but a promise to uphold.
By noon, he ascended Azure Veil Peak once more, the sun painting the vertical gold. Before entering his courtyard, he bowed deeply toward his master's pavilion.
"Master," he murmured, "your disciple has returned."
The wind stirred gently in response, carrying the faint scent of verdant leaves — as though the mountain itself acknowledged him.
Li Shen smiled faintly, heart calm as still water.
Each step he took from here on would echo louder than before — for he no longer walked alone beneath the sky.