Kael's gaze was immediately drawn to a single line in the inventory panel.
Breakthrough Pill (Qi Gathering).
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
"So you were hiding here," he murmured.
However, his hand stopped just before touching the item. His eyes shifted to the other menus on the screen, Sell and Market. Curiosity briefly overcame his excitement.
He opened the Sell menu first.
[Sell]
Sell factory products to obtain Coins.
Commodity:
Rice (1 Sack = 1 Coin)
"Just that?" Kael frowned for a moment, then gave a small nod. The system was simple. Too simple, even.
One sack of rice… one coin.
No bargaining. No price fluctuations.
Kael closed the menu and switched to Market.
The moment the panel opened, his eyebrows rose.
[Market]
Purchase all factory-related needs.
Land:
Coal Mine (50 Coins)
Lumber Yard (50 Coins)
Alchemy Garden (50 Coins)
…
Items:
10 Mana Stones (1 Coin)
Iron Sword (1 Coin)
Skill Book: Strong Fist (10 Coins)
…
Food:
Venison Soup (1 Coin)
Milk Soda (1 Coin)
…
Kael's eyes widened.
"Milk… soda?" he muttered.
The word felt strange, yet oddly familiar at the same time.
If this really was the same soda he knew from his old world, then this factory system wasn't just a support tool. It was something far more dangerous.
And far more valuable.
For a brief moment, a small spark of hope slipped into his mind.
Could there be… a way back?
Kael slowly shook his head, forcing his thoughts back to reality. It was far too early to think about things like that.
He went through the Land and Item menus again. Everything was there, from farming tools to cultivation equipment. Everything… could be bought.
With one condition.
Coins.
"In that case," he muttered as he closed the panel, "I just need to make this system work."
He turned toward the small table in the corner of the warehouse and pulled open the lower drawer.
Inside lay a transparent glass box.
At the center of the box rested a blood-red pill. Its color was deep, almost as if it absorbed the light around it.
Kael's breathing slowed.
"This is it."
He opened the box carefully. The moment the pill touched his fingertips, a chill spread across his skin, uncomfortable, but not painful.
Without further hesitation, Kael lifted the pill and placed it into his mouth.
The pill melted instantly.
There was no bitterness. No sweetness. Only a cool sensation flowing down his throat, spreading throughout his body.
Kael stood still.
Alert.
He waited, holding his breath, checking every inch of his body. His heartbeat was steady. No pain. No explosive surge of energy like the ones he had read about in novels.
Several seconds passed.
Then…
[Congratulations.]
[You have entered Qi Gathering - Stage 1.]
Kael let out a long breath without realizing it.
"…That's it?"
But when he focused, the world around him changed.
The air.
There was something in the air.
Tiny, faintly glowing particlesm, almost invisible, floated freely around him. Kael stared at them, his breath catching.
With a single thought, he drew them in.
The particles moved slowly, gathering in his palm. A soft blue light formed, pulsing gently like a living breath.
"Heh…"
Kael clenched his fist.
The air around him trembled.
Pah!
He threw a punch forward. The air was struck, pushed aside with force, as if hit by something solid.
Kael stared at his own hand, then broke into a wide smile.
"So this is the power of a cultivator…"
He redirected the flow of Qi to his legs. Blue aura formed again, wrapping around his calves and feet.
One kick.
Pah!
The grass in front of him was pressed down, the ground trembling slightly.
Kael stopped.
The image of someone taking that hit flashed through his mind and he knew that anyone struck directly would not come out unscathed.
He relaxed the flow of Qi. The blue light slowly faded, merging back into the air.
Kael took a deep breath.
"Alright," he murmured calmly, though his eyes shone brightly. "The first step is done."
He turned toward the factory door.
Outside, Skyland was waiting.
And this time, he was no longer completely helpless.
***
Not far from the village, on the eastern side of Skyland Island, vast rice fields stretched as far as the eye could see. The area, covering roughly a hundred square meters, was filled with rice plants turning golden—some still green, others already ripe and ready for harvest.
Several farmers worked quietly. Some bent over to plant seedlings, while others cut rice stalks with dull sickles that had been sharpened countless times.
Near a simple hut, a small family was separating rice grains from the husks. Rough hands moved rhythmically, striking bundles of rice against a wooden separator.
"Husband, take a break. Lunch is ready," the wife said as she spread out a worn tarp and opened a food container.
"Just a moment," her husband replied without looking back. He finished the last bundle of rice, struck it once more, and watched the grains fall free, leaving empty husks behind.
Only then did he let out a breath and walk over.
The woman smiled faintly, then her gaze shifted into the distance. There, a young girl was harvesting rice with a sickle. Her movements were quick and practiced, despite her slender frame.
"Xue Ying," the mother called gently, "that's enough for now. Come eat."
"Yes, Mom. I'm coming," the girl replied, wiping the sweat from her forehead before walking over.
The three of them sat at the edge of the field, eating a simple meal that was still warm. A gentle breeze blew past, carrying the scent of damp earth and ripe rice.
For a moment, everything felt peaceful.
Midway through the meal, the father glanced at his daughter. His expression was hesitant, as if weighing his words.
"Xue Ying," he finally said, "about what I asked last month… have you thought about it?"
The spoon in Xue Ying's hand paused. Her face flushed slightly, but her eyes remained firm.
"Father," she said softly but clearly, "I'm still young. I don't want to get married anytime soon."
Her answer made her parents exchange looks. The mother let out a long sigh.
"Xue Ying," she said, trying to persuade her, "youth only comes once. If you delay too long, your life will be harder later." She began telling stories of village women who married late and ended up living difficult lives.
But Xue Ying only lowered her head, choosing to stay silent. Her fingers clenched tightly in her lap.
"That's enough," the father cut in at last. "We'll talk about it another time."
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, though a trace of tension still lingered in the air.
Until…
Footsteps approached.
Three men appeared from behind the ridge of the rice field. Their manner of walking was anything but relaxed. Their eyes swept the area, cold and calculating.
The father stood up at once.
"You two stay here," he said briefly to his wife and daughter. He stepped forward, blocking the three men.
"What do you want?" he asked firmly.
The man at the front looked the oldest. His robe was neat, clearly not that of a farmer. His eyebrows were sharp, and the faint smile on his lips carried no warmth.
"I'm here on Young Master Fei's orders," he said bluntly. "Pay your debt. The young master is in need of funds."
The father's body stiffened. The debt did exist and it had been overdue for more than four months.
"Sir," he said, forcing his trembling voice steady, "please give me one more week. This harvest…"