Looking at Xue Lian, I smiled—genuinely this time, with a touch of warmth I didn't even know I had.
"You can start cultivating now," I said softly. "Master will give you a proper cultivation technique once you're strong enough."
Of course, that was a lie. Internally, I sighed. The system is the only thing I can rely on right now.
She simply nodded, obedient as ever, then sat cross-legged on the ground. Before beginning, she popped the pill I gave her into her mouth without hesitation.
I watched silently, then clicked the invisible system panel floating in front of her. Her information materialized before me in neat rows.
---
[Xue Lian]
Cultivation Realm: Qi Gathering Realm (Mid Layer)
Cultivation Technique: Lu Clan Foundation Manual
Body Refining: Skin Tempering
Techniques:None
Physique: Cold Ice Physique
[Body tempered by the harshness of winter. Cultivation speed is 10x faster and with ice technique attack or snow the outputs will deal 10x the damage]
Spiritual Roots: Four Spiritual Roots
---
I smiled bitterly. She's stronger than her own master... already. Shaking my head, I consoled myself. It's fine. I have the system. I don't need talent. I just need cheat codes.
I muttered that last part under my breath like a mantra. Repeatedly. And with increasing desperation.
Just as I was about to sink into a full spiral of jealousy, the system chimed in again, its familiar, smug tone ringing through my mind.
---
[Quest: Reach the Mid Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm]
[Reward: Cultivation Technique – Doubles cultivation speed. Quadruples if user has a special physique.]
---
My eye twitched. This damn system... it's messing with me, right? There was no way this wasn't meant for Xue Lian. Still, reaching mid-stage Qi Gathering wasn't impossible. I just had to start right now.
Meanwhile, Xue Lian was already in full cultivation mode. Apparently, she'd accidentally picked up the Li Clan's manual—by mistake, no less—and learned it with ease. She only had thirty minutes of free time each day, yet somehow, that was enough for her to reach mid-layer within a week.
She was confident that, if she cultivated through the night, she'd break into the late stage by morning. A faint smile tugged at her lips—a mix of pride and gratitude.
If not for that expert... I'd still be a servant, scraping crumbs off the kitchen floor. Her expression turned bitter for a moment before she pushed those thoughts away and resumed her cultivation.
Time passed.
By the end of the day, I managed to reach the Mid Layer myself. Just barely. If I'd started a minute later, I might have failed the quest. As I broke through, I felt my qi become denser—sharper. My dantian expanded, and the flow of energy doubled in volume and smoothness.
---
[Quest Complete – Reward Received: Eternal Breathing Technique]
[Eternal Breathing Technique: A Chu Sect creation. Doubles cultivation speed through breathing alone. Quadruples for those with special physiques.]
---
"Now this is what I'm talking about." I stretched and cracked my neck as the morning sun poured over the mountain, warming the earth. I cultivated outside, enjoying the calm, while Xue Lian remained inside, submerged in her frozen meditation.
Then, I sensed a figure approaching.
Raven-black hair, eyes as blue as a frozen lake. She moved with silent grace, then stopped in front of me and bowed respectfully.
"Master greets disciple," she said, cupping her hands.
Nodding like a wise expert (which I definitely wasn't), I asked, "Have you reached the Peak of the Qi Gathering Realm yet?"
She gave a small, bitter smile. "One layer away."
Though her voice was humble, I could tell she was proud of her progress. Still, her expression faltered slightly—she remembered what I'd said about reaching peak layer before getting real techniques.
I nodded solemnly, as if it was no big deal. Internally, I sighed. She really might have more cheats than me.
Placing my hand gently on her shoulder, I activated the system.
---
[Would you like to transfer the Eternal Breathing Technique to your disciple?]
---
I muttered "yes" under my breath, and the moment I did, Xue Lian's eyes lit up with cold brilliance.
"Thank you for the gift, Master," she said, kowtowing. Even with gratitude in her tone, her face remained as stoic as ever—like she was carved from ice.
Before I could bask in my masterly benevolence, the system chimed again.
---
[Rewarded for gifting your disciple a cultivation technique: 105x as return]
[New Technique Unlocked: Black Python Cultivation Technique]
[Effect: 5x cultivation speed during the day. 10x at night. Created by the Chu Sect. Only usable by those without special physiques.]
---
Now I was really smiling. "Finally, something for me," I muttered. Maybe the system doesn't hate me after all... But the Chu Sect again? What's with that name?
Xue Lian, without another word, returned to seclusion, her aura growing stronger by the hour. She immediately felt the difference. Her cultivation surged ahead like a river thawing after a long winter. She allowed herself the faintest of smiles—this time full of genuine joy.
I have a good master, she thought. Maybe… just maybe, I'll never have to be weak again.
---
Meanwhile, in the lower mountains…
Two young brothers stumbled down the slopes, shivering like puppies in a snowstorm. Their faces were pale, their legs wobbly from fear. What they'd seen was no illusion.
"Th-the rumors were true," one whispered.
"There really is an expert living up there…"
When they reached their mid-sized clan's territory, they burst into tears and ran into their mother's arms. She was plain-looking, wore a faded pink robe, and had lived a hard life—but she was their rock.
Upon hearing their tale, she paled and ran straight to the Clan Head.
The Clan Head—an early Core Formation cultivator—sat in deep thought after hearing the story. Their territory was rich in spiritual qi, and while he was strong enough to protect them from most invaders, this news changed everything.
"So it's true…" he muttered. "A hidden expert lives on the mountain peak."
His eyes lit up. If he could recruit such a person into the clan, or at least gain their favor, their clan would soar above all mid-sized clans. No one would dare challenge them again.
He smiled—the same kind of smile the two brothers had worn earlier. The kind of smile that made people want to punch it
[4 powerstone for extra chapters TvT]