After leaving his master's residence, Lin Xuan returned to his courtyard with a calm but determined expression. The setting sun cast golden rays over the stone paths, and a gentle breeze rustled through the plum trees lining the walkway. Despite the peace of the evening, Lin Xuan's heart was far from tranquil.
Once inside, he lit a few incense sticks and sat quietly for a moment, reflecting on the words his master had spoken. Her disappointment still lingered in his mind.
"She cares," Lin Xuan murmured to himself. "Even in her anger, she's trying to wake me up."
Shaking away the emotions, he clapped his hands twice.
"Lan'er," he called.
A few seconds later, a young girl in plain servant robes entered the room. Her appearance was simple, yet her eyes sparkled with loyalty and admiration for her young master. She was around sixteen, with a strong physique from years of labor and body training.
"You called, Young Master?" she bowed politely.
Lin Xuan stood up and walked toward a nearby drawer. From it, he pulled out a small jade bottle filled with faintly glowing pills.
"These are Qi Refining Pills," Lin Xuan said, handing them over. "You're already at Body Tempering Level 9. Start cultivating. With your talent, breaking through into Qi Refining is just a matter of time."
Lan'er looked at him, shocked. "Young Master... these pills are useful for your breakthrough. I... I can't take them."
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. "Did I ask for your opinion?"
That was enough.
With wide eyes and a yelp, Lan'er quickly bowed, grabbed the pills, and ran off. The door shut behind her, and a system prompt rang out in Lin Xuan's mind.
Ding! You have given 5 Qi Refining Pills. As per the Gift Return System—50 Qi Refining Pills received!
A smirk curled on Lin Xuan's lips. "Perfect."
He sat cross-legged on his bed, the moonlight now beginning to glow outside his window. Taking out three pills for himself and placing 80 low-grade spiritual stones around his cultivation mat, he inhaled deeply.
"Qi Refining Level 6… here I come."
The energy around him thickened, and brilliant light surrounded his body as he absorbed the pills and stones. The room trembled faintly, and a small energy vortex formed above his head. A boom echoed in the courtyard, though muffled by formation seals.
Moments later, a wave of powerful spiritual pressure burst from his body.
Qi Refining Level 6 – Achieved!
His eyes snapped open—sharp, focused, powerful.
"It took others a month to break through. Me? One day."
But Lin Xuan didn't let his satisfaction linger. He immediately penned a letter to the Lin Family—his origin. Though he had distanced himself from them for years to care for his adopted sisters, it was time to utilize the power and wealth he'd ignored for far too long.
"Lan'er!" he called again.
"Yes, Young Master," she appeared quickly, this time more cautious.
"Deliver this letter to the Lin Family. Request 1,000 low-grade spiritual stones. Tell them it's urgent."
"Understood!"
As Lan'er left, Lin Xuan took a breath, preparing to plan his next moves.
Suddenly—Bang!
The door shattered open with a thunderous crash.
Startled, Lin Xuan looked up to see a young girl standing there, hands on her hips, pouting angrily.
It was Tang Xiaoran, his seventh adopted sister.
She had once been a starving child running from bandits. Lin Xuan had saved her, taken her in, and given her everything—food, shelter, resources, and affection. Now fifteen, she had grown into a lively and beautiful girl, already at Qi Refining Level 5.
"You've got ten low-grade spirit stones, don't you?" she huffed, storming inside like a tornado. "And you didn't even come give them to me! You've been missing for two days, so I came to collect them myself!"
Lin Xuan blinked at her in silence.
"And by the way," she continued arrogantly, "who told you to fight a Qi Refining Level 6 beast? You're too weak. Don't act cool when you're not! Hurry up and give me the stones or I'm leaving!"
She didn't notice Lin Xuan's cold stare—or the visible cracks in his patience.
He looked toward the destroyed door, then back at her with dangerous eyes. The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Then, without a word, Lin Xuan stood and moved.
Slap!
Tang Xiaoran stumbled back, clutching her cheek in disbelief.
"You... you hit me?" she whispered, stunned.
But it wasn't over.
Lin Xuan stepped forward, grabbed her by the collar, and pushed her to the floor. Without mercy, he raised his leg and placed his foot on her head, pressing her down with force.
"You break my door… walk into my room… and demand spirit stones like you're entitled to them?" Lin Xuan's voice was icy. "Who gave you that right?"
Tang Xiaoran struggled, shocked and overwhelmed by the suppression of his Qi. She was speechless—not from pain, but from the humiliation.
"I-I'm sorry..." she managed to whisper.
Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes and kicked her square in the face, sending her flying out the door and into the courtyard.
"Don't ever come into my room again," he growled. "You're not welcome here anymore."
Tang Xiaoran clutched her chest, staring at him in horror. "I... I'll tell the Sect Master and Senior Lan! You bullied me!"
Several disciples had witnessed the scene and stood frozen nearby. The arrogant seventh sister—thrown out like trash?
Lin Xuan stepped out slowly, his Qi pressure still rolling off him like thunderclouds.
He gave them one look.
That was all it took.
All the onlookers bowed their heads and scattered in panic, not daring to stay another second.
Lin Xuan didn't say anything more. He turned back inside and shut the broken door quietly.
But in his mind, he thought:
"This is just the beginning. The old Lin Xuan is gone. From now on, I will rise—one step at a time."