The morning sun filtered through the grime-streaked window of the apartment, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.
Ye Feng stood in front of his cracked bathroom mirror, staring at a stranger.
Yesterday, he was a malnourished, hunchbacked courier with dark circles under his eyes that looked like bruises. Today, the man in the mirror stood 1.85 meters tall. His shoulders were broad, his muscles defined like carved marble, and his skin—previously sallow and rough—was now smooth and possessed a faint, healthy luster. Even his eyes seemed to hold a mesmerizing depth, like deep pools of dark water.
"The Perfect Body Cleansing..." Ye Feng muttered, flexing his hand. "It didn't just clean me; it re-wrote my genetic code."
In this era, appearance was often linked to cultivation. The higher your stage, the closer you moved toward perfection.
[Current Status]
[Name: Ye Feng]
[Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 4 (Early)]
[Physique: Pure Spirit Body (Low Tier)]
Ye Feng washed his face, his mind drifting to the reality of this world.
It had been fifty years since the "Cataclysm." In 2024, the fabric of reality tore open. Spiritual Qi from higher dimensions flooded Earth. The laws of physics were rewritten. Animals mutated into Demonic Beasts, destroying 60% of human civilization in the first year.
But humanity adapted. Ancient martial arts texts, previously thought to be scams, began to work.
The Cultivation Hierarchy was etched into every child's mind from birth:
Body Refining Realm (Stages 1-9): The foundation. Tempering the skin, flesh, muscles, bones, and organs. A Stage 9 cultivator could stop a speeding truck with their bare hands.Qi Condensation Realm: The elite. Only 1 in 10,000 reached this. They could manifest Qi externally, fly on swords, and cast elemental spells. They were the CEOs, Generals, and City Lords.Foundation Establishment: The legends. These beings could destroy a city block with a wave of their hand.Golden Core & Beyond: Myths. Nuclear deterrents in human form.
"For a normal person without resources, reaching Body Refining Stage 3 takes ten years," Ye Feng mused, pulling on a clean black t-shirt and a windbreaker he found in the back of his closet. "I did it in ten minutes. And today... I'm going shopping."
He patted his pocket. 50,000 Credits.
It was a fortune to a commoner, but in the world of cultivators, it was barely enough to buy a shoelace.
"The System said the 'Star-Sword Fragment' would sell for cheap because it looks like scrap. I have to trust the Eye of Truth."
River City University - Auction Hall
River City University wasn't just a school; it was a fortress. The campus was surrounded by massive walls inscribed with defensive runes. It was the breeding ground for the next generation of elites.
Ye Feng stepped off the Mag-Lev bus, ignoring the sneers of the well-dressed students around him. Even though he looked handsome now, his clothes were clearly cheap, lacking the shimmering silk threads of expensive "Spirit-Weave" brands.
The Auction Hall was a massive domed building in the center of the campus. Today was the "Monthly Exchange," where students and alumni sold artifacts found in the wilderness.
Ye Feng walked toward the entrance. Two hulking guards stood by the velvet rope, checking IDs.
"Stop," one guard grunted, holding out a hand the size of a dinner plate. "Student ID or Invitation."
Ye Feng didn't have an invitation. He had dropped out six months ago when he couldn't pay tuition.
"I'm here to buy," Ye Feng said calmly.
"No ID, no entry. Scram, kid. This isn't a wet market," the guard sneered.
Ye Feng sighed. He really didn't want to cause a scene. He looked at the guard.
[Eye of Truth: Active]
[Target: Guard Wang]
[Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 5]
[Secret (White): He is desperately holding in a fart because his crush, the female receptionist, is watching him from the lobby. If he moves or speaks too loudly, he will lose control.]
[Secret (Blue): He accepted a bribe of 5,000 credits to let a blacklisted student, 'Fatty Zhou', into the auction ten minutes ago.]
Ye Feng stepped closer, invading the guard's personal space.
"Officer," Ye Feng whispered. "Fatty Zhou is already inside, isn't he? 5,000 credits is a nice tip."
The guard's face turned purple. His eyes bulged. "You..."
"Also," Ye Feng glanced at the receptionist inside, then back at the guard. "You should probably go to the bathroom. Holding gas in while circulating Qi can cause internal backlash. It would be a shame if you humiliated yourself in front of her."
The guard looked at Ye Feng with pure terror. How did this kid know about the bribe? And the gas?
"Go in," the guard choked out, stepping aside stiffly, afraid to make any sudden movements. "Just go."
Ye Feng smiled politely. "Thank you for your service."
He walked through the doors.
[System Points +50]
The interior of the Auction Hall was lavish. Crystal chandeliers powered by Spirit Stones hung from the ceiling. Rows of plush velvet seats faced a marble stage.
The hall was already packed. Ye Feng scanned the crowd. He saw scions of wealthy merchant families, young geniuses from martial dojos, and...
His eyes landed on the VIP box on the second floor.
Sitting there, sipping wine, was Zhao Ming. The man who burned his hand yesterday. Next to him sat a beautiful woman with icy blue hair and an expression that could freeze water—Su Qing, the 'Ice Queen' of the Business Department.
"Enemies on a narrow road," Ye Feng muttered. He pulled his collar up and found a seat in the back corner.
The auction began.
"Item 1: A 100-year-old Fire Ginseng! Starting bid: 20,000!"
"Sold for 45,000!"
"Item 2: Beast Core of a Stage 3 Iron Wolf! Starting bid: 15,000!"
"Sold for 30,000!"
Ye Feng waited patiently. He wasn't interested in these trash items.
Finally, after an hour, the auctioneer—an old man with a goatee—cleared his throat. He gestured to an assistant, who brought out a tray covered by a red cloth.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this next item is... unique. It was found in an excavation of a pre-Cataclysm ruin."
He pulled the cloth away.
A collective groan echoed through the hall.
On the tray lay a rusted, jagged piece of metal. It looked like a broken bumper from an old car. It was covered in reddish rust and mud.
"This is... an unknown metal fragment," the auctioneer tried to hype it up. "It is incredibly heavy and resistant to heat. Perhaps a material for forging? Starting bid: 5,000 credits."
"Are you kidding?" A student in the front row laughed. "That's scrap metal! I wouldn't pay 500 for it!"
"Pass! Bring out the Spirit Swords!"
The auctioneer wiped sweat from his brow. "Anyone? 5,000?"
Ye Feng sat up straight. His eyes glowed faintly blue.
[Target: Rusted Metal Fragment]
[True Name: Shard of the Astral Thunder Sword (Divine Artifact)]
[Status: Sealed by time and grime.]
[Secret (Gold): If cleansed with the blood of a Pure Spirit Body (Host), the rust will fall off, revealing the Star-Steel underneath. It contains the inheritance of the 'Thunder Sovereign'. Value: Immeasurable.]
Ye Feng's heart hammered against his ribs. Immeasurable.
"5,000," Ye Feng raised his hand casually.
The room went silent. People turned to look at the idiot in the back row wearing a cheap windbreaker.
"He's buying trash?"
"Probably a poor commoner trying to act like a collector."
"Haha, let him have it."
"5,000 going once..." the auctioneer said quickly, afraid the buyer would change his mind.
"Wait."
A lazy voice drifted down from the VIP box.
Zhao Ming stood up, leaning over the railing. He looked at Ye Feng. He didn't recognize him immediately—Ye Feng looked too different—but Zhao Ming was a petty man. He enjoyed stepping on people just for fun.
"That metal looks interesting," Zhao Ming smirked. "I need a new doorstop for my dog's house. 10,000."
Ye Feng clenched his fist. Zhao Ming.
"15,000," Ye Feng said calmly.
"20,000," Zhao Ming countered instantly, swirling his wine glass. "Come on, peasant. Do you even have that much money? Or are you going to wash dishes to pay for it?"
The crowd laughed.
Ye Feng checked his balance. He had 50,000 total.
"30,000," Ye Feng said.
"40,000," Zhao Ming yawned. "This is boring. Just give up."
Ye Feng's eyes narrowed. He only had 50,000. If he bid 50,000, Zhao Ming would just bid 51,000 to spite him.
He needed a strategy. He needed a secret.
Ye Feng looked up at the VIP balcony. He didn't look at Zhao Ming. He looked at the woman sitting next to him—Su Qing.
[Target: Su Qing]
[Identity: Heiress of the Su Merchant Group / Student Council President]
[Cultivation: Qi Condensation Stage 1]
[Secret (Purple): She is currently wearing a necklace artifact called the 'Heart-Guarding Locket'. It is fake. Her fiancé (arranged marriage) swapped the real artifact for a forgery to steal her family's cultivation method. She suspects nothing.]
Ye Feng took a deep breath. This was risky. Su Qing was powerful. But he had no choice.
"45,000!" Ye Feng shouted.
"50,000!" Zhao Ming laughed. "Is that your limit? I can do this all day!"
Ye Feng stood up. He ignored Zhao Ming and looked directly at Su Qing.
"Miss Su!" Ye Feng's voice projected through the hall using a bit of Qi. "I don't have enough money to beat Young Master Zhao. But I have information that is worth more than gold. Would you be willing to lend me 50,000 credits in exchange for a truth?"
The hall went dead silent. Everyone stared at Ye Feng like he was a dead man.
Zhao Ming's face darkened. "You dare speak to her? Guard! Throw this trash out!"
Su Qing raised a slender hand. The guards stopped.
She stood up, her icy blue eyes locking onto Ye Feng. "A truth? What kind of truth?"
"A truth about the necklace you are wearing," Ye Feng said loudly. "And the man who gave it to you."
Su Qing's expression flickered. Her hand unconsciously went to the locket at her throat.
"If I am lying," Ye Feng said, "You can cut off my tongue. If I am telling the truth... you lend me the money to shut Zhao Ming up."
Su Qing stared at him for a long moment. Then, a ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. It was terrifyingly beautiful.
"Interesting," she said. "Zhao Ming, sit down. I want to hear this."
Zhao Ming turned red. "Su Qing! He's just a scammer!"
"I said sit down," she commanded, her Qi Condensation aura flaring, cracking the wine glass in Zhao Ming's hand.
She looked down at Ye Feng.
"Speak. If the information is valuable, I will buy that scrap metal for you myself."
Ye Feng grinned.
"Deal."