The Adventures of a Waste Material and a Mysterious Female Spirit
PS: I wish y'all a satisfying read.
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On the Kyushu Continent, within the remote Barren Province—
At the border of Tianhuo Country.
A young man concealed in dark robes crouched at the mouth of a cave, his figure thin but sharp, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling light.
Zhang Lingxiao licked his lips unconsciously, wiping away saliva that wasn't even there. His breathing grew shallow, his body stiff with barely restrained excitement.
Inside the cave, a breathtaking woman clad in a long crimson dress was rolling helplessly across the rocky ground.
Her snow-white skin was flushed an unnatural pink, her beautiful eyes unfocused and misty. She clawed at her already-tattered red dress, tearing it further as if trying to escape her own body.
Between ragged breaths, she cursed a name again and again—
"Nangong Mengyao… damn you…"
A faint pink mist filled the cave, poisonous yet alluring, slowly drifting outward toward the entrance.
Zhang Lingxiao inhaled lightly.
Fragrant.
His pupils shrank.
As the woman's movements grew more desperate and unfocused, Zhang Lingxiao swallowed hard.
"What… what is she doing?"
"Could this be some kind of aphrodisiac poison?"
Before he could think further, the woman tore away the last of her clothing.
A haze clouded Zhang Lingxiao's eyes.
For reasons he could not understand, the rationality he prided himself on shattered completely. His breathing grew heavy, his heart pounding like a drum.
With a low growl, he tore off his black robe and lunged into the cave.
"To die beneath a peony flower is a romantic fate!"
"Female benefactor, I am merely helping you detoxify and accumulate merit—please do not blame me!"
The woman felt a sudden weight press down on her.
Her eyes snapped open slightly, her voice hoarse yet fierce beneath the haze.
"Shameless bastard… taking advantage of someone in danger…"
"When this is over, I'll kill you!"
Zhang Lingxiao heard her threat—but by then, it no longer mattered.
The poison had already devoured his reason.
He surrendered completely.
---
Several hours later.
Zhang Lingxiao staggered to his feet, leaning heavily against the stone wall. Cold sweat soaked his back, fear lingering in his chest.
"What… what came over me?"
"Even if I enjoy women, I shouldn't have lost control like that…"
His head throbbed, his limbs weak.
"That pink mist… was it her poison? Was I affected too?"
He glanced at the unconscious woman and grimaced.
"Still… she's terrifying. My so-called 'antidote' almost killed me."
"Could she be a Martial Artist? Otherwise, how could even I—"
He shook his head and hurriedly dressed.
Just then, a sudden silver light flashed.
A ring slipped from the woman's finger, glowing brilliantly as it floated into the air—then shot straight toward him.
"What the hell?! It's flying?!"
"A Spiritual Artifact!"
Despite being unable to cultivate, Zhang Lingxiao was well-read. He instantly recognized it as no ordinary item.
He dodged instinctively.
The ring chased him, shrank, and snapped tightly onto his finger.
"Hey! Get off!"
"When she wakes up and realizes this is gone, she'll skin me alive!"
No matter how he tried, the ring refused to budge.
Judging by its aura alone, it was worth at least a hundred Spirit Stones—far more than his yearly allowance.
His heart pounded.
Steal it and run?
Just as he stepped out of the cave, he froze.
Her words echoed in his mind.
I'll kill you.
A flicker of struggle passed through his eyes.
Kill her?
Eliminate future trouble?
In the end… his conscience won.
He sighed, looked back at her sleeping face, and drew his dagger.
With quick movements, he carved two deep lines into the cave floor.
What happened today was unavoidable. I was controlled by the love poison.
This ring came to me of its own will—I could not refuse it.
If fate allows, I will return it one day.
"Farewell, beautiful woman."
"If you can find me… I'll return it."
Clang.
He sheathed his dagger and fled into the night.
---
By the time Zhang Lingxiao returned to the Zhang Family estate, the streets were empty. Only guards remained at the gates.
One of them sneered upon seeing him.
Long-suppressed resentment erupted.
"You worthless dog—back so late? Making your grandpa wait!"
Zhang Lingxiao stiffened.
He was the son of Zhang Yunfeng, Second Family Head of the Zhang Family. Even as a non-cultivator, his status far surpassed a mere gate guard.
"What did you just call me?" he snarled.
The guard laughed and struck first.
He was at the First Heaven of the Qi Wu Realm, a genuine Martial Artist.
Martial Dao Realms: Qi Wu → Ling Wu → Xuan Wu → Earth Martial → Tian Wu → Nirvana → Venerable → Emperor
Each Realm contains Nine Heavens, divided into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak stages.
The punch sent Zhang Lingxiao flying.
He hit the ground hard, blood spilling from his lips.
The guard sneered.
"So what if I call you a dog? You're trash. Even if I let you hit me, could you hurt me?"
"You dare hit me?" Zhang Lingxiao spat blood. "Aren't you afraid of my father?!"
The guard burst out laughing.
"You still don't know?"
"Your traitor father attempted rebellion. He was executed on the spot by Family Head Zhang Yuntao!"
"There is no Second Family Head anymore!"
Zhang Lingxiao froze.
Thunder roared in his ears.
"Men!" the guard clapped mockingly.
"Criminal Zhang Lingxiao is hereby captured. Escort him to the dungeon!"
He resisted desperately—but mortals cannot oppose cultivators.
---
Inside the dungeon.
Zhang Lingxiao sat on rotting straw, his heart shattered.
Though reckless, he had loved his father.
The truth struck him like a blade.
He vomited fresh blood.
The blood touched the silver ring.
Buzz—
Silver light erupted.
His vision went dark.
---
A faint, ethereal figure emerged above the ring.
A white-robed woman with flowing snow-white hair hovered in the air, her legs crossed gracefully. Her beauty surpassed mortal limits—her eyes completely white, unfathomable and divine.
She gazed down calmly.
"This child… is still a mortal, yet possesses a physique even I cannot fully discern."
"The Life Ring chose him for a reason."
"Very well."
"I shall clear your meridians and unseal your destiny."
"In return, you will one day reshape my physical body."
She extended a finger.
A stream of pure Spiritual Qi surged into Zhang Lingxiao's body.
Moments later, she dissolved back into the ring.
---
When Zhang Lingxiao awoke, his body was naked—and reborn.
Blocked meridians had shattered.
Impurities poured from his pores, yet his skin glowed faintly, untouched by filth.
He stared in shock.
"Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi… it's entering my body?"
Firefly-like motes illuminated the dungeon.
"I can cultivate?!"
Joy exploded in his chest.
Then—his fists clenched.
Killing intent surged.
"Zhang Yuntao."
"You killed my father."
"This hatred is irreconcilable."
"Father… even if it costs my life—"
"I will avenge you."
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