Early dawn, at the Western edge of Dongzhou.
Cold mist seeped through the cracks of the makeshift hut, blending with the silence that resonated from the surrounding forest.
Fang Laoyun's harsh voice broke through the serene environment, calling out loudly. "Up!"
Wei Shun flinched awake. The warmth from the fireplace had long gone out, replaced by the coldness that spilled across the floorboards.
"Come over and eat." Fang gestured, urging Wei Shun to follow.
Wei Shun got up and noticed that his clothing seemed clean and tidied up. Did he just...
He sat across from Fang, who was tearing a piece of dried meat with his teeth. A wooden bowl of hot porridge steamed between them.
"Eat. You'll need it," Fang said. "The body will not listen if you're hungry."
Wei Shun obeyed and took a spoonful of hot porridge from the bowl into his mouth. He immediately felt the aroma of herbs rushing through his nose, revitalizing him. The warm taste of salt and bitterness mixed evenly, each bite longing for more.
"Senior," he said after a pause, "did you clean my clothes?"
Fang snorted and took out a bluish-white talisman from his chest. "You were reeking of blood. I'd rather not have wolves sniffing around the hut midnight."
"This is...? You use talismans too?" Wei Shun was surprised, thinking that Fang Laoyun wasn't the type of man who would utilize a cultivator's item.
"Brat, I may hate cultivators but I am not fully blinded by hatred." Fang shook his head and stored the talisman. "There are some useful things from them too. Better to be resourceful at times."
"I see." Wei Shun understood his point and continued eating his breakfast.
After a while, Fang set down the empty bowl and looked at Wei Shun, his tone returning to the usual sharpness.
"Good. Now that you can move, we test how you can keep moving."
Wei Shun blinked. "Senior, shouldn't we have a ceremony first?"
Isn't it the tradition to offer a cup of tea, burn incense, wash myself, and kneel while I prostrate to him, becoming his disciple?
Fang laughed, his hoarse voice echoing within the hut.
"Fool! The moment I took you in here, you were already my disciple. All I needed was to wait for you to wake up so that I could tell you myself."
"So..." Wei Shun scratched his chin, "No ceremonies, no teas, no procession, no prostration?"
"Brat, if you want to prove yourself, get up and move!"
Fang's figure moved like a ghost to the door, his broad back framed by the rising dawn.
Outside, the forest air bit cold into Wei Shun's skin. Dew covered the grass, glistening under the faint light. The thick fog covered the distant mountains, bringing an eerie silence to the area.
Fang pointed at the green flag he planted nearby. "From that flag, run into the forest until you see a red one. When you find it, turn around and come back. Don't stop until I say so."
Wei Shun gritted his teeth, planting one foot near the green flag. He took a deep breath, steadied his footing, and burst with speed as he ran straight into the forest.
Fang watched him go, eyes narrowing. Not bad for someone who could barely stand last night.
Meanwhile, Wei Shun sprinted through the uneven ground, soft mud giving way to roots and scattered stones. Each step jolted through his legs, cautioning him to tread carefully.
A single misstep and he might be gravely injured.
The cold air burned his lungs, but his body didn't break as easily as it should have. Despite the rough terrain, he remained steady in his advance — his speed barely affected.
Strange. This must be the power brought by the Unrivaled Physical Prowess skill.
Minutes passed, yet he still hadn't seen the red flag Fang Laoyun mentioned. Wei Shun could feel his legs slowly tire out, but the added Endurance kept him moving.
Not long after, he noticed a red glint from afar.
The red flag!
He gathered momentum, kicked off a root, and used a tree trunk as a springboard. His feet planted sideways on the bark, body twisting mid-air.
With a burst of strength, Wei Shun propelled himself backward toward the hut, cutting through the mist like a drawn arrow.
Fang Laoyun's figure emerged from the shadows. A wide grin could be seen on his rugged face. Then, his body vanished in place, following Wei Shun's figure darting to and from the two flags.
Two hours passed by.
Wei Shun stumbled near the green flag. His chest heaved, with mud and broken leaves sticking on his face.
"That all?" Fang's voice came sharp and calm.
"I... I cannot continue! I need to... rest for a while..."
Wei Shun gasped for breath. Fang snorted and grabbed him upright. Wei Shun's legs trembled, but soon obeyed.
Fang gave him a short nod. "See? Your body listens, even when your mind complains. Continue."
Wei Shun had no choice but to do so, until half an hour later, when he collapsed for real. This time, Fang let him stay down.
He knelt beside him and tossed a waterskin.
"Drink slow, or you'll cramp from it."
Wei Shun took small gulps, staring at the man beside him. He hadn't noticed how this guy moved from the shadows. Fang's breathing hadn't changed; he wasn't even sweating.
The master is always a hundred steps ahead. What realm is he even in?
He pondered for a while before the fatigue settled in. Should I add more points to Endurance?
Without hesitation, he added seven more points to his Endurance, bringing it to 27. Then, increased his Agility and Strength to 10.
[ Strength +1. Agility +2. Endurance +7 ]
[ Unallocated APs: 37 ]
He felt his muscles slightly becoming flexible and stronger. Warm current also flowed through his veins, calming the unsettled limbs.
He exhaled, letting the pain dull, yet only for it to start again.
Fang Laoyun stood up and glanced at Wei Shun's slightly recovered body. What intense recovery rate!
In all his years as a martial artist, he had never seen a mortal move with such speed, strength, and balance. And the boy was only fifteen.
No, I cannot be complacent. I have to train this youngster and forge him hard enough to complete his vendetta! As his master, this is what I can only do for him.
Cultivators would always stand a mountain above anyone else in the realm. As a martial artist who had gone through blood and hell, he knew how rough the path ahead for Wei Shun was.
"Rest's over," he said, standing over Wei Shun, arms crossed.
Wei Shun had barely recovered this time, yet for some reason, he could feel that Fang Laoyun's demeanor had turned much more brutal than before!
Fang tossed him a wooden staff, striking the dirt beside him with a dull thud.
"Pick it up. Let's see if your arms are as strong as your legs!"
Wei Shun groaned but obeyed. His palms still burned from falling earlier, yet the moment his fingers wrapped around the staff, a strange calm settled in his chest.
Fang tapped the ground with his own staff. "Feet apart. Lower."
Wei Shun adjusted his footing, yet Fang's voice turned relentless.
"Lower."
Wei Shun crouched deeper, feeling a slight burn on his thigh. I've practiced martial arts before… why does this feel so different? Why can't my body hold still?
"Back straight. Elbows close. Breathe from your gut, not the throat."
Fang circled his slowly, his eyes sharp but patient. The only sound to hear was rustling leaves and Wei Shun's steady breath.
Good. His endurance is top-notch!
Fang inwardly nodded at Wei Shun's persistence. If it were anyone else, they would have long groaned and complained with shaky breaths.
"You seemed to have practiced before. A market copy? Hah! Forget them. I will teach you how to be a monster instead!"
Fang stepped in front of him, pointing his staff.. "Now, follow!"
Wei Shun adjusted his body, mirroring the movement.
"Next!"
Fang's voice resounded across the clearing. Each shout drew a new stance, a new strike. Each motion tightened the muscles, refined the breathing, and carved rhythm into the bone.
By the time the sun had shone over their heads, Fang Laoyun's staff had barely moved, but Wei Shun's own movements cut through the air — evidence of raw power seeking form.
Fang's eyes brightened at the sight, content at how quickly Wei Shun could adapt his body and exert force as needed.
"Enough. Time to take a short rest." He put down his wooden staff on the side. "Stay in the hut. I'll hunt something for us to feast."
Wei Shun nodded and put his staff beside his master. He went into the hut and sat on his wooden chair, caressing his head with his sweaty hand.
My body can endure, but my mind cannot. I feel dizzy after all that practice.
Wei Shun glanced at his attributes and wondered if he should rather focus most of his stats on Willpower and Perception instead.
---
Host: Wei Shun
Mark Stage: Forehead - Seed of Rebellion
Kill Count: 1 Cultivator, 0 Spirit Vein, 0 Demon Beast, 0 Spirit Artifact
Realm Equivalence: Low – Qi Gathering Stage
Skill Points: 4.5
Attribute Points: 37
Attributes
Strength: 11 (33)
Agility: 15 (45)
Endurance: 29 (87)
Willpower: 15
Perception: 12
Defiance: 10
Core Skills
Unyielding Presence (Level 1): Immune to low-level cultivation aura.
Impervious Sight (Level 1): Outline weak points and resist low-level illusions.
Indomitable Spirit (Level 1): Ignore basic charms and bewitchments.
Qi Exterminator (Level 1): Nullify qi techniques on physical contact.
Unrivaled Physical Prowess (Level 1): Strength, endurance, and agility tripled.
---
He wondered how his attributes had suddenly increased until his eyes caught an additional prompt at the bottom.
[ Practice Encounter Finished ]
[ Gained: Strength +1. Agility +5. Endurance +2. Willpower +2. Perception +1 ]
[ Gained: Skill Points (SP) + 0.5 ]
Wei Shun abruptly stood up, his hands trembling over the system panel in front of him.
Can I gain attributes this way, too? No, there has to be a catch in this.
He once read some novels where gaining attributes or points would become harder and harder as his body became stronger.
Yes, that must be the catch. I won't increase my attributes for the time being and let it be. I will make use of my practice with my master and gain attributes naturally.
A plan was formed in his head, but was disrupted as his master entered the hut.
The scent of earth and fresh meat drifted through the cracks just before the door opened.
On Fang Laoyun's arms was the body of a boar larger than anything Wei Shun had seen. Its neck dented inwards, yet blood could barely be seen spewing out.
Master... is such a precise hunter. I wonder if I could be as good as him.
Fang noticed Wei Shun absent-mindedly looking at him and took it as Wei Shun's silly antics. He put down the boar and pulled out knives from the kitchen, handing one to Wei Shun.
"Brat, what are you spacing out there for? Help me cook this!"