Tianxu walked slowly, his mind racing as he sifted through the memories of the original host, trying to make sense of this world he now inhabited.
He had to admit — even as cannon fodder, the host's background was impressive.
By the time he reached the small town entrance, he had a clear understanding of who's who and how this world truly operated.
From what he could gather, this world devoured the weak. Weakness was a sin, and strength was determined not by wealth, but by cultivation and heritage.
Material wealth and status were his — but cultivation? Right now, he was a joke. And it infuriated him.
[Pop-Up Mission: Prevent the first meeting between Chosen One Han Yuming and First Female Lead Shen Yao. Reward: 50 FP]
Zhou Tianxu grinned. A chance to earn FP this early? He wouldn't let it slip by.
He scanned his surroundings and soon his eyes landed on her.
A young woman, barely twenty, lay sprawled on the ground, blood pooling beneath her.
Her long jet-black hair hid her face, and a faint groan escaped her lips.
Zhou Tianxu approached and crouched beside her.
"System… what happened to her? I'm not ready to get involved in trouble yet," he thought.
[First Female Lead: Name: Shen Yao Age: 19.]
"Why is she so special to Han Yuming?"
[Shen Yao is the real heiress of the White Lotus Immortal Sect who was lost amongst the mortals. The power of the White Lotus Immortal Sect will help Han Yuming climb higher in ranks of society]
Tianxu grinned, excitement sparking in his chest. He knew the White Lotus Immortal Sect very well.
This sect had a century year old history and with their ancestor ascended 300 years ago. In the whole of The Ninefold Heaven Continent, everyone said if White Lotus Immortal Sect couldn't create it, that pill didn't exist.
Every disciple was a prodigy in alchemy, and rumors said the current sect leader was on the verge of reaching the Spirit Severing Realm.
"Even without FP, I wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip away."
He lifted the young woman and carried her on his back and continued walking home.
Zhou Tianxu was in Azure Sky Province. The original host had arrived here a month ago on a mission from his father.
He soon reached his residence, where two maidservants rushed forward, bowing respectfully.
"Young Master"
Tianxu nodded, carefully setting Shen Yao down, then addressed one of the maids.
"Clean her up and tend to her wounds," he instructed one maid. Turning to the other, he added, "Prepare a bath for me and some food."
The two maids nodded each going about with their given tasks.
He walked toward the main courtyard, where a young-looking man waited — though in his memories, this man was over a hundred years old.
Ah… the beauty of cultivation, he mused inwardly.
The man had a fierce aura and a murderous glint in his eyes.
As Tianxu approached, the man immediately dropped to one knee.
"Greetings Young Master"
Tianxu just acknowledged him with a nod and walked towards the bathroom.
This man was Liang Chen, a man who was at Void Refinement Realm. He wondered why this man, who never left the clan gates, was here. Perhaps a message from his father? That could wait — first, a long bath and some food.
After an hour long, much needed bath and a change of clothes Zhou Tianxu walked to the main where the scent of hot food called out his name.
Liang Chen was already standing by the table, waiting.
"Young Master… your cultivation?!" Liang Chen's shock was unmistakable.
"Let me eat first, okay? Then you can tell me why you're here."
The man nodded and sat down.
After having his fill, Tianxu told Liang Chen of his encounter with Han Yuming, of course he didn't tell him that the original Tianxu was dead and a new soul from the modern world had replaced him.
"Damn it! Frostmoon Sacred Sect! How dare they lay hands on our Young Master!" Liang Chen fumed, fists clenched, knuckles white.
"Calm down, Frostmoon will get what they deserve but now is not the right time" Tianxu replied lazily, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Now… why are you here?" Tianxu quickly shifted the topic.
"Young Master… the old Master was worried for your safety and sent me to be your personal guard and to assist in your mission" Liang Chen replied respectfully, clasping his hands.
"Hmph… that old man still thinks I'm a child," Tianxu scoffed, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
"The old Master cares for you, after all you are his only heir. The future head of the clan" Liang Chen explained, also with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah… I've heard it a thousand times. Anyway, I have work to do. Don't disturb me unless it's necessary."
This residence had five courtyards, the main courtyard used for eating and receiving guests, his courtyard, three other empty courtyards and the servants courtyards.
"Now let us test this pill" he muttered as he locked the door.
He sat in a meditating position and took out the pill and threw it into his mouth.
He needed power. He had to get stronger.
How could a villain be this weak?
The pill's effects hit immediately, qi surging through his entire body.
This realm had ten levels of cultivation:
Body Tempering Realm
Qi Condensation Realm
Foundation Establishment Realm
Core Formation Realm (Golden Core)
Nascent Soul Realm
Spirit Severing Realm
Void Refinement Realm
Dao Integration Realm
Heavenly Ascension Realm
Immortal Lord Realm
And each level has stages: Low, Medium and Peak.
At peak, one is closer to breaking through to the next realm.
Zhou Tianxu was currently at the lowest level of the Body Tempering Realm — a disgrace he could not tolerate. He remembered that the original owner had been at the peak of Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Damn Han Yuming," he muttered under his breath.
The pill started its work.
At first, it was subtle, like sunlight brushing his skin. But seconds later, it turned violent — an inferno of energy ripping through his body, tearing at his meridians like molten iron being poured into fragile clay.
Pain exploded in his muscles and bones, forcing him to collapse onto the ground. Every heartbeat felt like a drum hammering inside his chest, sending shockwaves through his limbs. His veins were lit with a golden glow as his blood seared, carrying spiritual energy to places that hadn't felt life in decades.
"Ugh… ahh…!" he groaned, teeth clenched, nails digging into the floor. Each breath felt like fire filling his lungs. The system's robotic voice cut through the pain:
[Warning: Extreme internal stress detected. Host meridians at 20% stability.]
Zhou Tianxu gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. He forced the energy to obey him, his consciousness diving deep into his body, pushing, twisting, untangling the chaotic flow of qi. Slowly, he felt the first surge settle, every fiber of his being screaming, yet finally aligned.
[System Notification: Host has stabilized Low Body Tempering Realm.]
He coughed, sweat streaming down his face, muscles trembling. His vision seemed sharper, his senses keener. A small grin crept onto his lips.
The golden glow in his veins flared again, stronger, as if the pill hadn't finished its work. This time, the pain was a symphony — sharper, more precise. His bones felt like they were being reforged, cracking and grinding into perfect alignment.
He could feel his qi flowing like molten rivers through newly formed meridians, each surge stronger than the last. His body felt lighter, his blood sharper, and a strange exhilaration ran through him — a mixture of agony and power that made his mind spin.
[System Notification: Host has reached Medium Body Tempering Realm.]
Zhou Tianxu laughed, low and dark, the sound echoing around the empty courtyard.
The energy pulsed outward, causing faint tremors in the wooden floor beneath him. His hair floated slightly in the aura that had begun to radiate from his body, faint sparks of golden light dancing like fireflies.
Then, the pill's final surge came — a tidal wave of spiritual energy crashing into him from all directions. He screamed as his body convulsed violently, limbs flailing as the energy tried to tear him apart. His bones cracked in unison, meridians realigning at impossible speeds, each muscle fiber reforging itself into perfect harmony.
The golden aura erupted around him like a miniature sun, searing the air and making the shadows twist violently. Every nerve in his body sang with raw power. Pain and ecstasy collided, making him laugh and groan at the same time.
Finally… finally I can feel every cell alive… every tendon a blade… every drop of blood… sharpened.
His vision cleared completely — he could see the faint flow of qi in the air, subtle currents swirling invisibly around the courtyard. Sounds sharpened, smells intensified. The world was… more vivid, more alive than he had ever felt.
[System Notification: Host has reached Peak Body Tempering Realm.]
Zhou Tianxu slowly rose to his feet, trembling slightly, sweat dripping, hair plastered to his face. He flexed his fingers, and the golden glow in his veins pulsed with a steady rhythm. The power hummed under his skin, alive, obedient, ready.
The system interface materialized before his eyes and that cold, detached robot voice came again.
[Host successfully prevented the meeting between First Chosen One and First Female Lead. FP earned: 50 FP. Current FP balance: 50 FP]
"Perfect… now, it's time to figure out exactly how to bleed every last Fated Point from that insufferable Han Yuming."