The last drops of congee slipped down their throats, and silence fell over the room. Then, in the next instant, their bodies began to glow.
A faint blue light seeped from their skin, threads of essence weaving like mist into their veins. The glow was strongest around the young miss. Her entire figure shimmered in brilliance, her delicate face flushed red, her breath ragged, heat rolling off her like a furnace. Her eyes widened in alarm as her body trembled.
"What—what is happening to me?" she gasped, clutching her chest.
Her companions quickly realized what was unfolding. Ling Yue and Jian Feng exchanged startled looks, but it was Jing Hua who moved first. Without hesitation she caught the young miss in her arms, lowering her to the floor.
"Calm yourself, Young Miss," Jing Hua said firmly, her voice both steady and urgent. "Do not fear. This is the sign of awakening. The master's food has ignited your dormant spirit core."
"The awakening…?" Ling Yue whispered, stunned.
"Yes," Jing Hua confirmed. She set the young miss into a sitting position, steadying her. "She must be guided properly or else this chance will be lost."
Jian Feng and Ling Yue knelt beside them at once, forming a protective circle. Jian Feng spoke with quiet resolve.
"Don't panic, Young Miss. We are here. Nothing will harm you."
Ling Yue nodded, her gaze softening. "We will keep you safe no matter what happens. Just trust us."
The young miss's lips quivered, her breath quick and shallow. Her eyes darted between them, then closed for a moment as she drew strength from their presence. When she opened them again, the panic in her gaze had dimmed.
"…Thank you."
Jing Hua allowed a small smile. "Now listen carefully. Place your hands in a circle. Rest your arms upon your thighs. Yes, just like that. This posture will help you guide the flow of essence."
The young miss followed her instructions clumsily at first. Ling Yue reached out to adjust the angle of her fingers, correcting the alignment. Jian Feng pointed out the curve of her wrists, steadying her form until the circle was complete.
"That is it," Jing Hua said. "The posture is correct. But now comes the true trial. From this point on, everything depends on you alone. None of us can walk this path for you. Young Miss… are you prepared?"
The young miss inhaled sharply, then gave a firm nod. Her eyes glistened with both fear and determination.
Jing Hua's smile widened just a fraction. "Good. Then close your eyes. Do not resist the sensations. Simply feel. Feel everything within you—the beating of your heart, the pull of your muscles, the blood rushing through your veins. Feel the smallest movements. When you have touched every corner of your body with your awareness, then release. Separate your consciousness from your flesh, and let it fall upon the core within your lower dantian. There, gather the scattered energy swirling through you, and condense it. Form it into one single ball of light. That will be your spirit core."
The young miss hesitated, her lips trembling. "But… how do I even do that? It sounds impossible."
Jing Hua's eyes softened. She shook her head gently. "No one can tell you exactly how. Not even the most exalted cultivator can explain the mystery of awakening in full. This step is yours alone."
Jian Feng clenched his fists, frustration flashing across his face. "Then should we not seek guidance from the Master? Surely someone like him knows the way. And if danger arises, he could protect her."
But the young miss raised her hand weakly, silencing him. "No… We have disturbed the Master too much already. He granted us shelter, healed Jing Hua, and even after we spied upon him, he shared his food. For him to give me this chance—how could I bring him more shame by relying on his handholding? If I cannot awaken on my own… then I am not worthy."
Her words struck deep. Jian Feng lowered his head, guilt and respect clashing in his chest. "…Understood, Young Miss. I will support your decision."
Jing Hua looked at her with quiet pride. "Then let us begin. Remember: the most important thing is to remain calm. Your spirit must flow freely. Do not force it."
Ling Yue added softly, her hand resting on her young miss's shoulder, "Relax. Trust yourself."
The young miss swallowed hard, then nodded. She straightened her back, closed her eyes, and began.
Her breathing slowed. She listened first to the thump of her heart, each beat resonating louder and clearer. Then she felt the shifting of her muscles, the faint twitches and strains. She traced the current of her blood as it surged through her veins, warm and constant. Deeper still, she sensed the faint hum beneath it all, a whisper of energy that had always lingered within but never before stirred.
Her companions mirrored her, each settling into their lotus positions, each seeking to seize their own breakthrough as the master's meal carried their cultivation forward. The air of the courtyard thickened with essence, the blue glow pulsing brighter, as though heaven itself held its breath to watch the four of them step into a new realm.
Outside the kitchen, Zhang Wei leaned back into his rocking chair with the air of a man who had already conquered the world. The empty bowl in his hand still smelled faintly of rice, but to him, it was nothing more than bland congee.
He let out a long sigh, muttering in a tone that was half complaint, half poetic self-pity.
"System, you are truly brainless. Of all the divine treasures in this world, you gave me only some strange leaves and roots. No meat, no fish, not even a dried sausage. A master such as I, condemned to eat watery porridge? How tragic. How pitiful. If the universe had eyes, they would weep for me."
His words drifted lazily into the courtyard, the old chair creaking with every sway. Oblivious to the storm brewing within the western wing, where his four unexpected guests were on the verge of transformation, Zhang Wei instead pondered fate.
"It has been but a single day since I woke in this world," he murmured, eyes fixed on the bright morning sky. "Yet already, people have stumbled to my doorstep. Coincidence? Or some hand guiding it from the shadows? Could it be you, System? Or some being beyond your petty circuits? Heh… questions that demand no answer are often the best ones to ask."
For once, he almost sounded like a true philosopher. But before the thought could ripen, the world themselves interrupted.
Above the courtyard, the brilliant blue sky darkened without warning. Black clouds gathered in a suffocating whirl, blotting out the sun, their edges rimmed with violet sparks. In the space of a breath, the warmth of morning turned to a biting chill.
Zhang Wei blinked at the sudden change and sat up straighter.
"What in the cultivation world is going on here? A minute ago, it was sunshine. Now this? Oi, System, is this some sort of serious climate problem? Don't tell me this world has… global warming?"
The system remained silent.
"…" Zhang Wei tapped his bowl, annoyed. "No answer? Hmph. Useless."
Still, he waved his hand dismissively. "Well, if it rains, I'll just head inside. Not because I'm afraid, of course, but because letting my clothes get wet is beneath my dignity as a master."
Then, an idea struck him, and his eyes lit with inspiration.
"Wait… no, that won't do. If I run inside at the first drop, won't those juniors think me weak? A true master does not flee from the rain. No, when the world pour their petty water upon this house, I shall command it to disperse! Yes! The scene will be perfect—rain dissolving into mist before it even touches my robes. They will think me a barrier expert, perhaps even a weather-controlling sage."
He nodded vigorously at his own brilliance, utterly pleased. "Yes, yes, that is how it should be. Hah, come then, rain! Test yourself against me!"
But instead of rain, the world answered with fury.
Violet thunder split the sky, ten colossal bolts crashing down like falling mountains. Each strike lit the courtyard in blinding brilliance, the roar shaking the ground as though the world itself were breaking apart.
Zhang Wei nearly leapt from his chair. "Wha—!"
The sound ripped through his ears. His body moved before thought, flinging himself sideways with an undignified yelp. His rocking chair clattered across the tiles as he scrambled to the nearest shelter.
The protection domain of the courtyard flared silently to life. A translucent dome shimmered over the compound, each bolt of thunder colliding against it with a deafening explosion before scattering into harmless sparks. Not a single trace touched the wooden beams or the tiled roof.
But Zhang Wei, pressed flat against the wall of the eastern wing, did not notice such details. He clutched at his chest, his pulse racing, his breath shallow.
"Too loud! Too sudden! By the worlds, are you trying to scare me to death?!"
Another bolt descended. Then another. Again and again, thunder poured down like rain, until the air itself seemed to tremble beneath its rage. For ten long seconds, the world was nothing but sound and light.
Then, silence.
Zhang Wei, crouched in the shadow of the eastern wing, slowly raised his head. His ears still rang. He peeked around the corner with exaggerated caution. The sky had already cleared, the clouds vanishing as quickly as they had come.
"…Is it done?" he whispered. Only silence answered.
At last, he let out a heavy sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his lips twitching bitterly. "This damn world has the worst weather I've ever seen. First sunshine, then a thunderstorm from nowhere. Truly terrifying. If I hadn't kept my composure, I might have screamed."
He paused, remembered the sharp cry he had actually let out, and quickly corrected himself. "…Thankfully no one was around to hear that."
A thought struck him, and his face paled slightly.
"Wait… the visitors. They were still in the kitchen. Did they hear that? If they saw me jump, no, no, impossible. I didn't scream. A master does not scream. I was merely… testing the acoustics of the courtyard. Yes. That is all."
Before his guilt could dig deeper, the familiar voice of the system echoed in his mind, dripping with sarcasm.
[Congratulations, Host. Your survival instinct was flawless. When danger literally fell from the sky, you immediately sought shelter. Truly, a future cultivator of the Great Perfection Realm.]
Zhang Wei's face brightened. "Ah, System, finally you speak sense! Yes, yes, you are right. My reflexes were impeccable. My evasion flawless. To recognize danger and retreat in an instant… truly, this is what perfection looks like."
[…]
He lifted his chin, striking a pose as though basking in unseen applause. "If future generations record this moment, they will surely write: 'In the face of heaven's wrath, Master Zhang remained unshaken, his soul untouched.' How elegant. How profound."
The system wisely withheld further comment.
After several seconds of self-admiration, Zhang Wei frowned. "…Wait. You vanished again? How rude. Truly, no manners at all."
Shaking his head, he glanced toward the western wing where his visitors had gone quiet. "Hmm. Strange. With thunder like that, I expected at least a shriek or two. But not a sound. What could they be doing in there besides eating? No… best not to ask. After all, I am the master. A master does not meddle in the trivial affairs of juniors. Yes, that is far more refined."
Reassured by his own logic, Zhang Wei strolled back to his rocking chair with slow, deliberate steps, as though he had never left. He lowered himself into the seat, adjusted his posture, and closed his eyes.
When the door finally opened and the four emerged, they would find him composed, serene, and utterly unfazed like a true master untouched by worldly storms.