Morning haze still clung to Qinghe's fields when Jiang Yuefeng led Lin Xue into the forested hills east of the village. She followed in silence, clutching the battered sword he had insisted she borrow. Though her steps were light, every motion revealed the bruises of years spent fighting without guidance.
"Stay close," Yuefeng said. "Spirit beasts are rare here, but desperate men are not."
"Thieves?" she asked.
"Worse—wannabe cultivators," he replied, parting a curtain of vines. "They steal herbs they can't refine and swallow them raw, hoping for miracles."
Beyond the vines, a hidden glade opened around a cracked stone pedestal. Tiny motes of blue‑white light floated above it like fireflies.
Lin Xue's eyes widened. "Spirit qi!"
"Residual qi," Yuefeng corrected. "Left behind by this." He knelt and brushed away moss to reveal a withered plant—a single silver root coiled around a gem‑like seed. "Moon‑dew Ginseng. Low‑grade, but enough to help you touch Qi Gathering."
Her hand trembled. "We… we can sell that for a fortune."
"We could," Yuefeng agreed, "and remain weak. Or you can consume it under my guidance and grow strong." He broke the root in half and offered her the larger piece.
"But what about you?"
"I'll make do." His calm smile masked the system prompt that flashed in his mind.
> [Quest: Ignite the Disciple's Dantian]
Reward to disciple: +1 stage, Qi Gathering (Early).
Cashback to host: 10% of spiritual gain.
Bonus: Dual Cultivation module—10 % unlocked at first successful breakthrough.
Yuefeng crushed his share between his teeth, feeling only a faint tingle. With no cultivation base, the herb's power slipped through him like water through a sieve.
Lin Xue hesitated no longer. She sat cross‑legged, swallowed the root, and closed her eyes. Yuefeng placed two fingers on her back, guiding the herbal energy toward her lower dantian.
"Breathe slow. Picture a candle in darkness; draw air to feed its flame."
Minutes passed. Then an hour. Sweat beaded on her brow, but her expression remained determined. At last, the air in the glade pulsed; strands of silver‑blue qi spiraled into her, swirling like newborn stars.
Crack.
An invisible shell broke inside her body. Lin Xue gasped—eyes snapping open, irises glowing faint azure. A thin aura rippled around her skin.
Qi Gathering, early stage.
Yuefeng's own chest warmed—threads of the same silver‑blue qi drifted from her back into him, settling in his still‑empty meridians.
> [System Notice]
Cashback received: 10 %
Host cultivation: 0 → Qi Gathering (bare threshold).
Dual Cultivation functions unlocked to Tier 1.
Bond Resonance: 12 %.
Next milestone: assist disciple to mid‑stage.
The sudden rush nearly made him dizzy. To taste qi again—after waking as a crippled mortal—felt like rain on scorched earth.
Lin Xue exhaled, awed by the strength now coursing through her limbs. "I‑I did it…"
"You did," Yuefeng answered, steadying his breath. "But power draws envy. Keep your breakthrough quiet."
A rustle of leaves proved him right. Three youths stepped from the treeline—local bullies draped in ill‑fitting sect robes they must have bought second‑hand. Their leader swung a rust‑edged spear.
"Knew I saw someone sneak into our hunting ground," he sneered. "Hand over the herb you found, girl."
Lin Xue rose smoothly, newfound qi subtly swirling. "Come take it."
The bully laughed—then lunged. But before his spearhead reached her, Yuefeng's foot swept low. The youth crashed onto his back, winded. Yuefeng did not waste a second; he pressed a finger to the boy's throat, channeling a sliver of qi.
"Meridian Seal," he whispered. The ruffian went limp, eyes wide with terror—unable to move a muscle.
The other two froze.
"Decide," Yuefeng said softly. "Leave, or share his fate."
They fled. Yuefeng released the seal; the leader scrambled away, whimpering.
Lin Xue stared at him, half fearful, half reverent. "That technique—how can you know such things with no cultivation?"
"I've walked this path before." He turned toward the ruined pedestal. "And now, so will you. Qinghe village is too small for what we need. Pack your things. At dawn, we leave for Greencloud City. There, we'll find manuals, elixirs—opportunities."
Her answer was a firm nod.
As they stepped out