Right now, Adrian's first priority was to fully heal his dantian. Without wasting any more time, he opened the door of the Normal Cultivation Room and stepped inside.
The room was breathtaking. Instead of a ceiling, it opened into a vast, blue sky, as if the heavens themselves had been enclosed within these walls. In the center stood an enormous, ancient tree. Gentle lights hung from its branches, casting a soft glow across the chamber.
Beneath the tree was a polished stone platform. Adrian crossed over to it and sat down cross-legged.
From his system's welcome package, he retrieved the Divine Healing Pill.
Just as he held it, the system's cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"Host is advised to first assimilate the knowledge of the Book of Divine Energy Gathering. This will allow you to absorb any excess energy from the pill to advance your cultivation level."
Adrian nodded lightly. He immediately opened his system panel.
Navigating to the rewards section, he tapped on Divine Energy Gathering.
As soon as he did, the system's voice began resonating through his consciousness—
"Information Transfer Process Initiated…"
— Information Transfer Progress: 10%
— Information Transfer Progress: 50%
— Information Transfer Progress: 90%
— Information Transfer Process Complete.
In a single instant, all the knowledge of cultivation flooded into Adrian's mind, as clear as crystal.
He now understood precisely how this world's energy functioned, and exactly how he could advance his power.
Without hesitation, he placed the Divine Healing Pill in his mouth and swallowed it.
The moment it slid down his throat, golden light burst across his entire body. All around him, a furious vortex of energy began to spin, drawing in spiritual power from the surrounding space like a raging storm.
An intoxicating wave of relief washed over him.
He felt as though every fiber of his being was dissolving and then being remade—stronger, purer, whole.
He remained seated in that state for a full hour.
When the golden brilliance finally receded, he sensed that every weakness in his body had been burned away, replaced by a fresh, resilient vitality.
Then the system's voice echoed again—
"Congratulations, Host. Your dantian reconstruction is complete. You may now use the remaining pill energy to advance your cultivation realm."
The Divine Healing Pill's energy had completely restored Adrian's dantian. Now it was several times larger and far more resilient than before. But the power of the Pill did not end there—within him still surged such an overwhelming force that it could elevate any ordinary Martial Cultivator to the threshold of a Half-Saint in a single attempt.
He was sitting in the Self-Dimensional Space's Normal Cultivation Room. The luminous walls shimmered with waves of divine energy. Adrian's entire body had become like a blazing furnace. Blue radiance glimmered in his veins, as though lightning itself flowed through them.
He settled into the posture of the Divine Energy Gathering Technique, both hands resting on his knees. The moment he activated the Technique, the Pill's energy began to spiral within his dantian like a coiling serpent.
The system's voice echoed in a cold, mechanical tone:
"Congratulations to the Host for reaching Martial Beginner Stage 1."
A first explosion of power erupted within him. For an instant, golden lines flashed across his skin.
Beginner Stage 2.A deep tremor surged through his entire body.
Stage 3… Stage 4…With each Stage, Adrian's expression grew more focused, more unyielding. His dantian was continuously expanding, transforming into something vast as an ocean.
Upon reaching Stage 7, the system announced again:
"Congratulations to the Host for reaching Martial Advanced Stage 1."
A fierce burning sensation spread down Adrian's spine. Energy sank into the marrow of his bones, incinerating old frailties and birthing new resilience in their place.
Advanced Stage 2… Stage 3… Stage 4…His breaths grew heavier, labored. Sweat streamed down his temples, but he kept his eyes shut, commanding every surge of power with unwavering focus.
After Advanced Stage 7, Adrian began to feel his consciousness sway. A strange dizziness hovered at the edge of his mind.
Then the system's voice came again:
"Congratulations to the Host for reaching Martial Master Stage 1."
Suddenly, the force within him intensified so fiercely that the runic engravings along the walls burst into radiant light. Adrian's breath caught in his throat. If he held this power inside even a moment longer, his dantian would rupture.
Stage 2… Stage 3… Stage 4…With each advance, white vapor-like energy billowed from his skin.
At Stage 7, the system's voice sharpened into a stern warning:
"Your body is nearing its limit. Remaining energy will be expelled."
In the span of a heartbeat, serpent-like currents of energy were torn free from Adrian's veins. Brilliant light flooded the entire chamber.
The system declared:
"The Host is advised to stabilize their cultivation base immediately. Without stabilization, structural cracks may form within the dantian."
Adrian's heart thundered so violently it felt as if his chest might shatter. He began chanting the Stabilization Sutra of the Divine Energy Gathering Technique at once.
Inside his dantian, the energy that had raged like a hurricane began slowly settling, transforming into the calm surface of a tranquil lake. All sense of time faded.
Forty-eight hours passed.
At last, his breathing grew steady. Every vein in his body thrummed with collected, ordered power. His consciousness returned to perfect clarity.
The system spoke one final time:
"Congratulations to the Host for advancing to Mortal Master Stage."
Adrian slowly opened his eyes. For a moment, it felt as though his vision could pierce through the very walls and see across the distant horizon. Strength coiled through his arms—he was certain he could level an entire mountainside with a single strike if he wished.
Adrian Thorne knew this was merely the beginning. Within him surged an ocean of power—strength beyond anything he had ever imagined. Yet he controlled his mind with deliberate calm."Arrogance is the root of ruin…" he repeated these words to himself, like a silent vow.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and drew in a deep breath. That was when he noticed a sharp, almost acrid odor rising from his skin. While cultivating with the Divine Pill, every impurity had been forced out of his pores.
He stepped out of the Cultivation Room. The moment he exited the Self-Dimensional Space, the cool air of his chamber brushed across his skin, sending a fleeting chill through his body.
He walked back into the same luxurious room where he'd first awakened that morning—silken sheets, marble walls, heavy velvet drapes, and glimmering lanterns.
Adrian made his way to the bathing chamber. Inside, the bathroom resembled a miniature palace. Jewels embedded in the marble walls glowed with a soft, tranquil light. In the center lay a pristine blue pool, gentle steam rising from its surface.
He slowly undressed, slipping out of the precious garments he had worn. When he glimpsed himself in the mirror, he couldn't look away for several heartbeats. His shoulders had broadened, thick with muscle. His chest no longer looked frail—now it appeared sculpted and powerful.
Yet, a single thought bloomed within his mind:"I want to make this body even more perfect. This is only the first step…"
He scooped the warm water into his hands and began washing the dark layer of impurities from his skin. With every motion, his body looked cleaner, clearer—almost luminous.
Afterward, Adrian stepped into the pool, immersing himself until the water reached his collarbones. The heat seeped into his exhausted muscles, easing the tension coiled deep within. He closed his eyes.
His thoughts drifted through everything he had endured—how he had arrived in this body as an unknown soul… how the Divine Healing Pill had granted him new life… how he now possessed power so vast it could, if he willed it, change the entire world.
"Now I have a family… and I will never again be humiliated or helpless…" he repeated silently.
Time melted away. He didn't even notice when an hour passed.
Adrian finally opened his eyes. His gaze fell to his own hand, and he felt certain it held the strength to shatter a stone wall in a single blow.
"I need to learn how to wield this power… but carefully."
He stepped out of the pool, water droplets sliding over his muscular frame. When he looked in the mirror again, he saw no scars—no lingering marks of weakness. A faint golden luster now lived in his skin.
He took a fresh black silk robe and slipped it over his shoulders. Every movement he made seemed infused with quiet confidence.
Adrian sat on the edge of the bed. A question rose unbidden in his mind: If he continued to cultivate, would anyone be able to sense it?
He drew a slow breath and asked aloud—"System, is there any way I can conceal my cultivation from everyone?"
The system's voice replied in its calm, mechanical tone:"The Host need not be concerned. As long as you wish it, I can fully obscure your cultivation. No one will be able to detect it—not even Saints."
Hearing that, a small, satisfied smile curved Adrian's lips."Perfect…"
He rested his head against the cushion. In the gentle lamplight and the profound quiet of the chamber, sleep drifted over his eyes. For the first time, it truly felt as if he had been reborn into a new life.
(A/N Note - In chapter 6, the names Lin Tian and Elena have appeared. Actually, I had first thought of naming Evelne Thorne as Elena and Adrienne as Lin Tian and had kept the novel a Chinese base but later I decided not to keep it a Chinese base, hence that error occurred. Sorry for my mistake. This is my first book, so some errors might be there, but you guys please take out some of your precious time and review or comment so that I can correct any mistakes. I don't want to stop the book midway; I want to complete it, so if there is any mistake, please forgive and guide me.)