Li Tian rubbed his eyes instinctively, but the clarity remained. For a moment, he just stared, disoriented by the crispness of it all.
He shifted his weight without thinking. His elbows slid back against the straw mat, and he pushed up. For a brief moment, he braced himself for the usual wave of nausea or muscle strain—but it never came.
His body responded smoothly. No resistance. No cracking joints. No pain.
He was sitting upright, fully upright, without even breathing hard. It felt so natural, so effortless, that it took him a second to realize what he had just done.
He stared ahead, stunned, both hands pressed against the bedding to ground himself.
Then he noticed the other changes.
His chest didn't feel tight. He took a full breath and let it out without a wheeze or a cough. He moved his hand across his ribs and paused.
His fingers didn't tremble. His muscles didn't ache. The skin under his hand felt smooth and solid.
He sat up, waiting for the usual spike of pain in his back or knees.
Nothing.
His movements were light, controlled, and easy.
He looked down at his arms. No discoloration. No swelling. The veins weren't sticking out. They looked young, like they had three decades ago.
This... this can't be right, he muttered, his voice steady, firm.
He pressed his fingers against his cheek. No sagging skin. No sweat. No weakness.
Everything told him it was real.
DING!
[Congratulations, host, on becoming young again.]
[System Activation Complete! Connecting to Host… initializing emotional interface… linked!]
[Heeeey, you're finally awake! Thank you soooo much for feeding me qi all these years, Master! You're the best!]
Li Tian stared at the glowing text in his mind, mouth slightly open. He blinked twice.
...What?
[Ah! Let me introduce myself! I'm your personal system! I've been sleeping deep inside your spiritual sea, but your decades of cultivation finally filled me up with enough energy to wake up! Thanks again!]
"You mean… I was cultivating for thirty years, and you were just... lying around?"
[Not lying around! I was absorbing! Storing! Nourishing! And now you get your reward! System fully activated! Functions unlocked! And because you've been such a patient host, you get your full starter pack!]
Li Tian sat silently for a moment as he recalled everything that had happened to him once again, this time with clarity.
He had lost his family, his sect, his youth. He had nearly died, alone and forgotten. All that time spent struggling in vain—just to feed a dormant system he never knew existed.
And this chirpy thing had been sucking up the only thing he had left—his effort.
"…Do you have any idea what I went through?" he muttered.
There was a pause.
[...I-I do. I mean, I sensed it, but I couldn't act without full activation… I-I'm really sorry, Master.]
The voice wavered slightly. It didn't sound artificial. It sounded… apologetic.
Li Tian exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.
It did give me back my youth, he thought. And it's not like being angry changes anything now. Plus, it sounds cute....
"Fine. You're awake. What can you do?"
[Hehe~ That's more like it! Okay, here's what you've unlocked so far!]
[Ding! Starter Pack – Delivering now!]
[Received: 1x Beginner Spiritual Medicine – Origin Root Elixir!]
[Received: 1x Basic Cultivation Technique – Azure Vein Qi Scripture]
[Received: 50 System Points!]
A glowing scroll and a small jade bottle materialized on the floor beside his bedroll. He stared, blinking slowly, unsure if they were real. His hand twitched slightly, part of him expecting the items to vanish the moment he reached for them.
"...You can create physical items?"
[Only low-tier stuff for now. Most rewards come from missions and system points. Complete missions, earn points, trade for things you need—techniques, pills, even rare materials! As you level up, the rewards scale! We're gonna be amazing together, Master!]
He picked up the scroll.
The Azure Vein Qi Scripture. Just reading the name made his brow lift.
"Azure Vein...?" he murmured.
[Isn't it a beautiful name?! It's the best cultivation technique ever! Even better than those so-called divine-grade techniques! Because it's made just for you, Master! Only the best for the best!]
Li Tian blinked. Better than divine-grade? His lips twitched.
He sighed. "Alright, since you're so excited—what do I do first?"
[Heehee~ Take the medicine first, then open the scroll! Start with the breathing cycle on the first page. It's designed to unlock your spiritual sea and get qi flowing right away! I'll guide you if you mess up!]
Li Tian started reading the first page of the old book.
The instructions were simple but detailed—guiding the user to open their spiritual sea, stabilize the breath, and form a closed circuit through the three major meridians. It emphasized internal flow, refinement of pure qi, and compression into the dantian.
He sat cross-legged, holding the jade bottle. When he uncorked it, a sharp herbal aroma flooded the room, clearing his mind. He drank the contents in one long gulp, feeling it heat up the moment it touched his throat.
His body immediately felt hot.
He took a deep breath, steadying his racing thoughts. His fingers curled into his knees as he centered himself, recalling every word of the technique's first step. Then, he closed his eyes and followed the scripture's guidance.
Qi rushed into his body. This time, it didn't vanish. It swirled—thick, powerful, forceful. It flowed through his meridians like a current that had been waiting to be unlocked.
This… this is real.
Pressure built in his chest. His limbs trembled. He clenched his teeth and kept breathing. Muscles tightened. Bones cracked and realigned. Sweat poured down his back.
[BREAKTHROUGH IMMINENT! GO GO GO!]
He exhaled hard—
—and something inside him snapped loose. Not in pain. In release.
His entire body relaxed. A warmth settled in his dantian.
[Congratulations! You have reached Layer 2 of the Body Tempering Realm!]
Li Tian opened his eyes, chest heaving.
He stared at his hands. They were firm. Strong. Alive.
I did it... After all these years.
He closed his fists, slowly.
This time, I won't be left behind.