The silence that followed Wei's retreat was heavy. Han didn't relax; he knew that in a martial sect, a humiliation like that would either keep a bully away or bring them back with a bigger shark. He needed power, and he needed it now.
"System," Han whispered, "Open the Starter Gift Box."
The golden icon in his peripheral vision shattered like glass, revealing three spinning orbs of light that merged into his inventory.
[STARTER GIFT BOX OPENED!]
Received: "Heavenly Devouring Manual" (Rank: Unknown) - A cultivation technique that ignores spiritual root quality.
Received: "Dragon-Bone Needle" (Weapon) - A concealed weapon that ignores 20% of Qi defenses.
Received: 3x Low-Grade Body-Cleansing Pills.
Han's heart hammered. In the Azure Continent, cultivation manuals were guarded more fiercely than gold. To have one that ignored his "trash" talent was a literal godsend.
But before he could study the manual, his gaze fell upon a loose floorboard near his bedroll—the place the "old" Han had been guarding with his life. He pried it up, reaching into the dirt. His fingers closed around a cold, jagged object.
It wasn't just a Spirit Stone.
The stone was pitch black, pulsing with a faint, rhythmic violet light. As soon as Han touched it, the System let out a sharp, high-pitched chime.
[HIDDEN ITEM DETECTED!]
Item: Fragment of the Void-Shattering Star.
Status: Soul-Bound to Host.
Effect: Provides a 5x multiplier to Qi absorption but attracts "Eldritch Corruption" if used improperly.
Note: This is why your predecessor was killed. They didn't want the stone; the stone was eating his life force.
"So it wasn't just bullying," Han muttered, tucking the dangerous shard into his System inventory. "This thing is a beacon for trouble."
With the shard secured and his new gear ready, Han knew his cramped shack wasn't safe for what came next. He needed to break through to the next stage of Body Refining. He slipped out into the night, moving like a shadow toward the back of the mountain where the Spirit Spring lay.
The Spring was a natural pool of concentrated Qi, usually reserved for "Inner Disciples," but at this hour, under the cover of the mountain mist, it was deserted. The air here was thick, tasting like ozone and pine.
Han sat cross-legged at the edge of the glowing water and swallowed a Body-Cleansing Pill.
"Activate Heavenly Devouring Manual," he commanded.
Immediately, the world changed. The "clogged" feeling in his veins—his muddy spirit roots—felt like they were being hit by a tidal wave. The System interface turned blood-red as it began to forcibly pull the Qi from the Spirit Spring and the Black Shard in his inventory.
[WARNING: EXTREME PAIN DETECTED]
Process: Breaking and Reconstructing Meridians.
Progress: 12%... 45%... 88%...
Han gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked. Sweat poured off him, turning black as the pill pushed the impurities out of his pores. It felt like hot lead was being poured into his bones.Suddenly, a loud BOOM echoed in his mind.
[BREAKTHROUGH!]
Current Realm: Body Refining (Stage 3 - Middle)
Strength: +15
Agility: +12
New Passive Unlocked: [Spirit Sense] - You can now detect the cultivation level of anyone within 50 meters.
Han opened his eyes. They were no longer the dull eyes of a sick man; they glowed with a faint, predatory violet light. He stood up, his movements now possessing a terrifying grace. He felt like he could punch through a brick wall.
His Spirit Sense suddenly flared. Someone was coming—two powerful signatures, far stronger than Wei.
"Who dares trespass on the Spirit Spring?" a cold, feminine voice rang out through the mist.
Han didn't panic. He checked his inventory and felt the weight of the Dragon-Bone Needle.
(The real game was finally beginning)