The first sensation that greeted Tian Jue was pain. His skull throbbed as if an iron hammer was striking inside it, his vision swimming. He groaned, pale-faced, and with trembling hands reached for the jade vial at his side.
He tilted it carefully just a few drops of Spirit Nourishing Milk slid down his throat, cool essence spreading into his battered spirit sea. His ragged breathing calmed slightly.
Settling cross-legged, he pressed his palms together and sank into meditation. His breathing slowed, each cycle of inhalation and exhalation stabilizing the frayed threads of his spiritual power. The minutes bled into hours.
Finally, when he opened his eyes, exhaustion still lingered, but his mind was clear. He let out a long, heavy sigh.
His spiritual power still ached a faint tearing sensation remained but the capacity itself had swelled enormously. Curiosity sparked in his dim gaze, and he summoned the system panel.
[Status Panel]
Constitution: 80
Strength: 45
Dexterity: 35
Spiritual Power: 300
Intelligence: 130
Wisdom: 170
Tian Jue's eyes widened, breath catching. It doubled… no, more than doubled.
Last night's agony replayed in his mind—the blood, the splitting headache, the near-collapse. Now, looking at the soaring numbers, he understood.
"The Deduce Function truly is a double-edged sword…" he muttered, voice low. "It grants power beyond imagination, but the price…"
He clenched his fists. If not for the Spirit Nourishing Milk, his spirit sea might have cracked permanently, leaving him crippled.
Analyzing the chaos, he realized the flaw: "It was my lack of physique martial insight. I should have begun with qi cultivation methods—I have far more discernment there. The system filled the gap by consuming my spirit power until nearly nothing was left."
His gaze sharpened despite his pale complexion. This wasn't a tool he could use recklessly. If he misjudged again, next time even Spirit Nourishing Milk might not save him.
Still, he couldn't help the quiet thrill that curled at the edge of his lips. Spiritual power three hundred, intelligence one hundred and thirty, wisdom one hundred and seventy… Even inner disciples several years older would struggle to match such stats.
"I'll recover in a few days," he whispered, gently rubbing the side of his head. "But next time… I'll prepare. I won't let the system drag me into blind pain again."
He closed the panel, eyes flickering with both caution and anticipation. A terrifying weapon had been placed in his hands—if he used it wisely, he could carve his own path through the heavens.
The afternoon sun slanted across Shenxian Sect's courtyards, scattering warm light on stone pathways and the neat rows of medicinal plants.
At Tian Jue's gate, a familiar voice called out cheerfully,
"Brother Tian, I came to buy some of your soup again! Yesterday's batch was so good, I could feel my meridians clear even after training—"
The gate creaked as Huan Tao stepped inside, a small pouch of spirit stones in her hand. She was smiling brightly, her fox-like ears twitching lightly, but her smile faltered the moment she saw Tian Jue.
He was sitting on the wooden bench near the herb racks, his face pale, hair slightly disheveled, and his aura uneven—like flickering lantern flame barely holding together.
Her ears stiffened, and she froze, eyes narrowing. "What happened to you?" she demanded, stepping forward, tone sharper than usual.
Tian Jue waved his hand dismissively, forcing a faint smile. "Nothing serious. Just… overexerted myself in cultivation. I'll recover in a few days."
Huan Tao frowned, her childish demeanor vanishing in an instant. The aura she exuded was sharp, almost domineering, like the one she wore in the forest. "Don't brush me off. Your complexion is terrible. Did you try something reckless again?"
Her words hit uncomfortably close. Tian Jue lowered his gaze, pretending to tidy up a bundle of half-dried herbs on the table. "I was… experimenting with combining some techniques. The backlash was worse than expected."
Silence hung for a moment. Then Huan Tao let out a sigh, setting the pouch of spirit stones down without a word. She sat opposite him, eyes scanning his condition.
"Brother Tian," she said, softer now, "you keep acting like an old cultivator who has to gamble with death every step. You're seven. You have time. Don't tear yourself apart chasing power faster than your body can hold it."
Tian Jue looked at her really looked—and for a brief moment, her concern reminded him of another life, of a woman who once stood by his side no matter how wretched he became. His chest tightened, but he quickly masked it with a chuckle.
"You talk like an elder," he teased lightly. "But thank you. I'll be careful next time."
Huan Tao's ears flicked, and her cheeks colored faintly, though her expression remained stern. "I'll hold you to that."
She glanced at the bubbling pot in the corner, where medicinal broth simmered faintly. "I'll still take that soup, though," she added, tail flicking in an almost bashful way, "but only if you promise to drink a bowl with me. You look like you need it more than I do."
Tian Jue smiled despite himself. "Deal."
The two of them sat together, sharing the steaming herb soup in the quiet of the courtyard. For Tian Jue, the warmth of the broth eased not just his body, but the heaviness of his heart.
The steam rising from the wooden bowls curled into the air, carrying with it the fragrant blend of peach leaves and marrow-nourishing herbs. They sat beneath the hanging lantern at Tian Jue's courtyard, the fading daylight painting long shadows across the herb racks.
Tian Jue lifted his bowl, blowing on the hot liquid before sipping. The warmth slid down his throat, calming the faint ache that lingered in his chest. Across from him, Huan Tao slurped unceremoniously, tail swishing lazily behind her.
For a while, neither spoke. Only the soft clink of bowls and the simmering pot filled the silence.
Then Huan Tao set her bowl down and leaned back slightly, her fox-like eyes narrowing as though she were weighing her words. Finally, she murmured, almost too softly for Tian Jue to catch,
"Do you know why I keep coming back for your soups, Brother Tian?"
Tian Jue arched a brow, smirking. "Because they taste better than the dull tonics in the sect shops?"
She gave a small huff. "That too. But… it's more than that." Her voice dropped, uncharacteristically serious. "Every time I drink it, the… noise inside me quiets down."
Tian Jue tilted his head. "Noise?"
Her gaze flickered, and for once, the childish glint in her eyes dimmed. "That wildness you saw when I fought the demonic beast… it's always there. My cultivation technique makes my blood boil, makes me want to tear and crush without end. It feels like I'll lose myself if I don't keep it chained." She pressed her hand against her chest. "Your soups somehow they… steady me. Like they anchor my heart."
Tian Jue stared at her, bowl halfway raised. He hadn't expected such honesty. He remembered the suffocating murderous aura that had poured from her when she killed the demonic beast—how even he had nearly faltered under its weight. For her to admit this so openly was no small thing.
"…So that's why you look so peaceful after drinking," Tian Jue said quietly. "I thought you were just being greedy."
Huan Tao's ears twitched, and she flushed lightly. "I am greedy. Greedy for something that lets me breathe like a normal person." She gave a small, almost embarrassed laugh. "You might not realize it, but you're helping me more than anyone else in this sect."
For a long moment, Tian Jue didn't answer. He thought of how, in his past life, he had been the one clawing for stability, always relying on his wife's presence to remain whole. Now, here was Huan Tao—wild, untamed, but leaning on his efforts to find balance.
A strange warmth stirred in his chest.
He raised his bowl and clinked it softly against hers. "Then I'll keep making them. As long as you bring the peaches, I'll supply the soup."
Huan Tao's eyes widened slightly, then she broke into a grin—bright, genuine, the childish side of her peeking through again. Her tail wagged happily as she raised her bowl back at him.
"Deal!"
The two of them finished the meal together under the quiet evening sky.