Chapter 35: System Rewards and Silent Resolve
As the final clash neared, the crowd leaned forward, breath held. Their instincts proved right.
Lei Tian lost.
Wu Yuan, battered but unyielding, ended the fight with a flurry of brutal precision: first, a sharp knee from behind, slamming into Lei Tian's lower back. Using that momentum, Wu Yuan sprang upward, his body twisting midair, and came crashing down with a thunderous fist atop Lei Tian's head.
Before his opponent could fully collapse, Wu Yuan delivered one final strike—a spinning kick mid-fall that slammed into Lei Tian's ribs, sending him crashing to the wooden stage.
Lei Tian lost consciousness.
The crowd erupted into a deafening roar.
"War God Wu Yuan!"
"War God Wu Yuan!"
Though victorious, Wu Yuan didn't walk away unscathed. To conceal the true extent of his strength, he had deliberately lowered his defense—allowing Lei Tian's strikes to wound him. Blood trickled down his arms and mouth. Several bones were fractured. His breathing was ragged.
But his eyes burned bright.
The boy who refused to yield had chosen pain over exposure.
And just as his knees buckled, a figure moved through the crowd like a shadow.
Wu Lin.
Silent, swift, and unreadable, Wu Lin caught his son before he fell. The cheers still echoed around them, but his eyes weren't on the crowd. They were on Wu Yuan—his son, his puzzle, his responsibility... and perhaps something far more.
Before Wu Yuan could be fully lifted by Wu Lin, a familiar translucent screen flashed before his eyes.
[System Notification Received]
But Wu Yuan, too exhausted and injured to care, dismissed it immediately with a blink. He wasn't in the mood to read rewards or stats—survival and secrecy came first.
Cradled in his father's arms, Wu Yuan was carried away. Yet the aftermath of his battle still echoed across Wu City like thunder after lightning.
Though his figure had vanished from the duel ring, no one in the crowd moved. They stood rooted, murmuring, debating, reliving what they had just witnessed.
At the periphery, major clan elders turned and left in silence. Their minds, however, were far from calm.
Especially the disguised Lei Clan elders.
Their hearts were heavy.
Their plan—thoroughly derailed.
They had come to Wu City with a quiet agenda, expecting to control the situation from the shadows. Instead there first move itself failed in front of whole Wu city.
And now... suspicion loomed.
Before they could regroup or spin a new scheme, they had no choice but to withdraw—and think.
The other great clans also returned to their compounds, but not in silence. Behind closed doors, voices rose in debate, warnings, and urgency.
What should be done about Wu Yuan?
What Jiang Clan will do?
What if the Wu Clan had a true monster on their hands?
In courtyards and meeting halls, the city's old powers began to shift, slowly, like tectonic plates beneath the surface—unseen, but unstoppable.
And above it all, a storm was brewing. Quiet for now. But not for long.
Inside the Wu Clan, in Wu Yuan's personal courtyard, the clan's best healers had already applied medicine and spirit salves to his wounds. Wrapped in clean robes and bandages, Wu Yuan now lay asleep, his breathing steady and calm—like a warrior finally resting after a long campaign.
Outside his room, the tension was finally easing.
Patriarch Wu Lingtian looked around at the gathered elders and family members. After confirming the boy's condition wasn't life-threatening, he spoke with quiet authority.
"Since Wu Yuan is stable and has no internal injuries, let him rest. Once he recovers, we'll speak with him then."
With a few nods, the crowd slowly dispersed.
Wu Xiao hesitated the longest. Her eyes lingered on the closed door, her hands clenched into small fists. But she knew she couldn't stay—she wasn't family. She left reluctantly, her footsteps light but her heart heavy.
Only Wu Lin and Su Qing remained inside.
Su Qing knelt beside the bed, gently brushing Wu Yuan's hair away from his forehead. Tears ran freely down her cheeks.
"Why… why did he have to fight like that?" she whispered, voice cracking. "As if nothing else matters… as if winning was worth more than his life?"
Wu Lin was silent for a moment, then moved to her side and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Qing'er," he said softly, "you watched the same battle I did. He looked reckless… but from start to finish, he never lost control."
He glanced at their son, unconscious but serene, his body lined with bruises and broken bones.
"Injuries happen—especially when you're fighting someone stronger. But do you think he'd go that far without a plan? He wasn't gambling his life. He was proving something."
Su Qing shook her head, still overwhelmed. "Even so, why must he bear so much on his own? Why won't he talk to us first?"
Wu Lin's gaze turned serious. "Because he's no longer a child. There are things he's planning—goals he hasn't shared yet. And the fact he hasn't means… the time hasn't come for us to know."
He paused, voice firm but gentle.
"You have to be his support, Qing'er. Not the chain that binds him. If he wakes up and sees you like this—so broken, so scared—he might start holding himself back. He might even give up on what he's aiming for. And that could be far worse for him in the long run."
Su Qing looked at him, eyes full of uncertainty.
Wu Lin smiled faintly. "He needs your love—but he also needs your strength. Trust him. He's choosing a path none of us expected, but he's walking it with eyes wide open."
The room fell silent again, except for the calm breathing of Wu Yuan.
And outside, the first clouds of evening began to gather—quiet, cold, and waiting.
With a final nod to herself, Su Qing took a deep breath. She gently leaned forward and placed a kiss on Wu Yuan's forehead, her touch soft and filled with motherly warmth.
"Rest well, my son," she whispered, voice steadier now. "We'll be here when you wake."
Then, finally composed, she rose and stepped out, leaving Wu Yuan in peace to recover.
By now, news of the duel had spread across all of Wu City like wildfire. From the bustling markets to the quiet courtyards, from lavish clan manors to humble tea shops—everyone was talking about the battle.
And not just talking. Reverence had begun to form.
The boy who defeated Lei Tian, a supposed genius backed by the mighty Jiang Clan—no, by someone even more powerful hiding behind their name—had left a deep impression. More than his victory, it was how he fought. Calm. Cold. Unshakable.
Soon, even those who had never seen Wu Yuan before were speaking of him with awe.
Some said he was a genius sent by the heavens. Others believed a hidden elder must be guiding him. But no matter the theory, the name on every tongue was the same.
Not "Young Master Wu Yuan."
Not "great elder's Son."
They called him something new.
"The War God of Wu City."
Even in distant corners of Verdant Mountain, whispers began to stir—among powers that had long gone to sleep, and among reclusive families who rarely interfered. Something… or someone… had awakened in Wu City.
And his name was Wu Yuan - War god of Wu City.
Inside the temporary courtyard of the Lei Clan.
The atmosphere was heavy, silence pressing down on every corner.
Second Elder Lei Fengzhan glanced at the grim expressions around him and finally spoke, his voice low.
"Let's rest for today. No one's in the right state of mind to discuss anything further."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away toward his room. The other elders followed in silence, their footsteps dragging with fatigue and defeat.
Inside the medical quarters, Lei Tian lay bandaged and unconscious. Though first aid had been administered, the healers had made it clear—recovery would take a long time. His injuries weren't fatal, but the damage to his body... and pride... ran deep.
Worse, five of their juniors were being treated for wounds dealt by the same boy.
A single Wu Clan junior had humiliated them all.
No one in the Lei Clan had any appetite left for conversation tonight. Only bitterness lingered.
Lei Jinghong sat down heavily once inside his private chamber. He didn't light the lamp. Darkness suited his mood better.
"It shouldn't have gone this way," he thought. "We were supposed to crush the Wu Clan's morale, fracture their unity, prove their rising star was nothing more than a flickering ember."
Instead…Wu Yuan.
He hadn't just withstood the Lei Clan's probing. He had rewritten the entire game.
"That boy… no, that child… he hides his strength too well. Ruthless, cunning, and calm.
Lei Jinghong's jaw tightened.
"Second Elder… you underestimated him. I underestimated him."
Their juniors defeated. Their heir broken.
They hadn't simply failed.They had lost face.
"This isn't over," he thought. "But the next move... must be made carefully."
The morning sun filtered through the paper windows of Wu Yuan's courtyard, casting warm, golden lines across the wooden floor.
Inside, Wu Yuan stirred.
His eyes fluttered open. For a brief moment, he didn't move—just stared at the familiar ceiling above. Then, slowly, he sat up.
A sharp ache lanced through his side.
"Ugh…"
He winced but didn't cry out. Instead, he checked his body with calm precision, starting from his arms, down to his ribs, and legs.
His hands trembled slightly as he lifted his shirt—bandages wrapped tight around his chest and abdomen, already stained with dried blood.
He let out a slow breath.
"A few cracked ribs. Muscle tears. Not life-threatening," he muttered, voice hoarse. "They did well hiding the worst of it."
Wu Yuan leaned against the wooden frame of his bed, eyes still drowsy but sharpened with purpose. After a moment's hesitation, he raised his right hand.
"Open system."
A translucent screen blinked to life in front of him.
[System Notifications]
✅ [Mission Complete]Objective: Defeat a Level 6 Body Tempering Realm cultivatorReward: +10 SP
✅ [Mission Complete]Objective: Help the Wu Clan regain its face by defeating all opponents in the duel ringReward: +200 SPBonus Items Received:
Spark Essence Pill Bottle ×1 (12 pills)
Spirit Awakening Pill ×1 (12 pills)
🎉 [New Items Unlocked in Store]
Pill Recipe: Spark Essence Pill – Cost: 100 SP
Pill Recipe: Spirit Awakening Pill – Cost: 300 SP
Pill Recipe: Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pill – Cost: 200 SP
Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow as he scrolled through the details.
"This… is better than expected," he murmured.
He tapped to open his Status window.
[STATUS]
Name: Wu YuanAge: 8Clan: Wu ClanRealm: Level 11 – Body Tempering Realm (High Grade)
Stats:• Strength: 90• Endurance: 90• Agility: 90• Defense: 90
Cultivation Progress:• Lightning Root – In Progress• Lightning Body – In Progress• Lightning Soul – In Progress• Lightning Spirit – In Progress• Lightning Chakra Progress: 85%
System Points (SP): 404
Inventory:• Spark Essence Pills ×38• Spirit Awakening Pills ×12• Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pills ×8
Techniques:• Aura Veil (conceals true cultivation)• Heaven‑Eating Pulse Conduction• Thunderflash Step• Lightning Punch
He smiled faintly.
"Finally… I can afford to be a little wealthy," he thought.
"Spark Essence Pills, Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pills… And I'm just a step away from the top-grade of Level 11. Once I stabilize there, I'll shatter the wall to Level 12."
He glanced toward the Ironblood Body Tempering Scroll listed in the store.
[Store Preview]
Vital Core Stim(Unavailable) – 1000 SP
Temporary Clarity Scroll – 10 SP
Lightning Essence (Body Tempering Realm) – 5 SP
Spark Essence Pill – 20 SP
Ironblood Body Tempering Scroll (Top Grade Yellow Rank) – 200 SP
Spirit Awakening Pill – 20 SP
Pill Recipe: Spark Essence Pill – 100 SP
Pill Recipe: Spirit Awakening Pill – 300 SP
Pill Recipe: Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pill – 200 SP
Over the past two days, Wu Yuan had consumed four Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pills. While their effects weren't as explosive as the Spark Essence Pills, they had still provided steady reinforcement to his body. Every bit counted when preparing to breach a new level.
Now, as his cultivation settled and his breathing calmed, Wu Yuan's gaze turned sharp.
"The Ironblood Scroll…" he murmured.
"Once I break through, I'll purchase it and study it thoroughly. If it's as valuable as I suspect, it might not just help me—it could elevate the entire Wu Clan."
He paused, then clenched his fists.
"I can't hoard everything. Not anymore."
He let out a slow breath, feeling the tingling sensation of suppressed lightning beneath his skin.
"Two days. Give me two days, and I'll ascend past Level 12."
Wu Yuan took one final glance at the glowing screen before him.
"Two days," he murmured. "That's all I need."
With a blink, the translucent interface dissolved into nothingness.
Knock knock.
A soft voice followed.
"Young Master? Are you awake?"
Wu Yuan leaned back, folding his arms behind his head.
"Come in."
The door creaked open.
Wu Xiao stepped inside, carrying a tray of steaming food. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw him already sitting, fully awake and composed.
"You're... already up?" she asked, blinking. "I thought you'd be knocked out till noon after yesterday's madness."
Wu Yuan gave a faint, teasing smile.
"What do you take me for? A weakling bedridden by a few little duels?"
She gave him a flat look.
"A few duels? You made those mysterious 'Jiang' youths cough blood onstage and flee like beaten dogs. Half of Wu City's still buzzing."
Wu Yuan chuckled. "Let them talk."
Wu Xiao set the tray on the table, but her gaze lingered. Something about him had changed overnight. His movements, his tone… there was a weight behind his calm, as if he were no longer playing the same game as the rest of them.
She stayed just long enough to watch him finish his meal, then quietly excused herself.
As the door clicked shut behind her, silence settled over the room.
Wu Yuan's eyes narrowed.
The calm mask fell away, replaced by something sharper. Colder. Hungrier.
"Let the world talk," he whispered."I'll show them why I was born."
A faint crackle of lightning flickered beneath his skin—too subtle for the world to notice, but impossible to suppress.
"The storm hasn't even begun."